Alissa Hits the High Seas - Both North and South

NORTH TO ALASKA

HI, my name is Alissa and I have been traveling all summer.

In July I went to Sitka, AK with Eunice, her DH and 2 DD with their husbands. We boarded the boat with the captain and his wife.

I got so excited because I decided maybe something here would get me on a TV show.

Here I am getting ready for Fear Factor.

I thought of Deadliest Catch too, but I found something better to do with the catch.

One of my biggest secrets got out while I was here. I turn into The Knitting Fairy whenever I get around yarn and all this Noro really did it to me.

This is what some of the Noro turned into.

SOUTH TO TAHITI

After 5 days of eating, knitting, and catching fish, I along with Eunice and her DH flew to Los Angeles and on to Tahiti. Boy that was a long flight. I couldn’t believe it when they decided I needed to get on another boat!

Now they put me to work. There were 8 crew members sailing this boat for 1500 miles to a Bible School in Samoa. I was part photographer (they knew I lived with an excellent one), and part cook.

The second day we stopped at Bora Bora and had lunch at Bloody Mary’s.

Hey I could play the lead in “South Pacific” and stay on this island.

After that we traveled for 3 days in rough seas and never saw land or another boat. I did great and never got seasick, but had to sleep on my back so I didn’t roll out of bed. The view was the same from every window! Are we alone in the world?

I found the best place to rest was in some malabrigo and yes, The Knitting Fairy showed up again.

After 9 days at sea we were in sight of Apia, Samoa. We put up the Samoan flag and blew the horn. The students and staff on shore all cheered.

We were happy to get off the boat and head for a hotel. Why are we all walking so funny and why does the ground seem to be moving?

Wow, I just found out that ”Survivor” is being taped here. Maybe I could be on that show! Too bad their whole filming crew is staying at the other hotel.

I spent the next few days visiting the Bible school, touring the island, and hanging around all the beautiful flowers.

After being gone for 3 ½ weeks we flew back to DFW. What an adventure. Next time I am going to take my DH along and stay in the honeymoon cabin.

And, by the way, I didn’t get on a TV show but I did make the cover of a magazine!

Alissa’s Excellent San Francisco and Napa Adventures

Alissa helped with all the research to plan the perfect vacation to San Francisco and the Napa Valley.

She said good bye to Katana. Alissa knew Katana would have fun at the doggie resort.

She grabbed her back pack and headed out the door.

Alissa got to check out the cockpit of the plane. The flight crew was so cool.

More throttle, Alissa! More throttle!

This is the nice lady Alissa met at the car rental center. She got married when she was 75 years old! We were almost that old by the time we got the car.

In San Francisco, the first order of business was a cable car ride. Hang on tight, Alissa!

Alissa checked out the souvenirs in Chinatown…

…and enjoyed a tea tasting. Jason said to drink lots of white tea.

We went to the S.F. Museum of Modern Art. There was a great Richard Avedon Exhibit. Stop fooling around with the exhibits, Alissa! The guards might catch you.

The guy at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel wasn’t happy to pose for the picture, but he did. Oh well, he’s ugly and his mother dresses him funny.

At breakfast the next day, Alissa couldn’t tear herself away from the juke box.

A street preacher gave Alissa what for.

What’s a vacation without a stop at a local yarn shop. This is ImagiKnits, in the Castro. Oooh, hand spun!

Everything a girl needs to be happy. Well, almost…

CHOCOLATE!!! Alissa loved the Scharffen Berger shop at the Ferry Building.

Alissa tried on some jewelry at the street fair.

Then we left for Napa.

The cookies are always warm at the Cedar Gables Inn. How do they do that?!?

Of course we had to stop at some wineries. When in Napa…

Still in Napa…

Alissa was the ring-bearer for Karen and Randy’s hot air balloon wedding. We flew a mile high! Alissa wasn’t scared at all.

After the wedding, we had lunch at Bistro Jeanty. Alissa picked up the tab. She’s so generous that way.

We had to get up and 4:00 a.m. for the wedding. Time for bed. Comfy, comfy bed at the B & B. Sweet dreams!

A gourmet breakfast at the Cedar Gables Inn. Remember the movie, “Yours, Mine and Ours”?One of the owners of the inn was one of the 20 kids in that family.

All buckled in and ready to fly home.

Where will we go next, Alissa?