What an amazing trip it's been! During our 180 days around the world a new community was created. There's the large group 350+ but there were also many smaller groups. It always amazes me how everyone seems to find their place. There were the Bridge players; "Sing Out Loud" singers; the morning chat and needlepoint crowd; the artists; the smokers and the cigar group; the Mah Jong players; the gamblers; the Bingo players; the folks who participated in every ship event to earn "Big O Points" to redeem for stuff; the trivia teams; the Mensa Quiz folks; the dedicated Happy Hour gangs and so on. 
When you're away this long the world continues on too! We had folks who flew home for funerals and then returned; passengers who died; passengers who had major injuries and recovered; passengers who went home for treatment or tests and returned; lots of crew changes; segment travelers, people who joined us for a leg or two who came and went; and finally - the inspiring group, all the folks who were onboard despite physical limitations, early dementia or at an age where they are less likely to make it to the end. Scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, canes and personal attendants making sure folks got to experience their dream. So much love - inspiring couples who've been together for 50+ years and others who were on their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th marriages and in love again. 
We all have a story and there was no shortage of stories with this lot.
An incredible group of strangers who built a small community - many of whom will stay in touch forever!!

And just like that we're back where we started! Full circumnavigation complete. We arrived this morning in the fog and drizzle just as we left on January 15. Many of us were up early to watch us arrive and go under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Prideful Post
As we come to the end of this voyage I can't help sharing how happy I am that both of us have managed to end the cruise without gaining weight! A huge thank you to Adrian for his support and patience with my many food idiosyncrasies. He's been supportive of our non-drinking days, our intermittent fasting and he even occasionally used, the world's smallest scale, that I insisted on bringing. We've spent our port days walking and walking and our sea days walking in circles on deck 10's track. We even managed to make afternoon tea a weekly and not daily treat. We've made a great team!!
I started this latest weight loss journey in 2019 and while losing weight is hard. maintaining weight is harder.
We're both so excited to be coming home able to enjoy summer.

Great day in Victoria! Adrian's daughters, Liz and Carrie came onboard and had a tour of the ship and then we met up with the rest of the family - Liz's husband Brad, and their kids, Owen, River, Gabe and Ellie for lunch. After lunch it was off to the Beacon Hills Park to see the gardens, peacocks, ducks, petting zoo and playground. We ended our visit with a fantastic ice cream in downtown Victoria! Victoria's a beautiful city and today it was packed for their Pride Parade.
​Wonderful day with family.

Today was our second last sea day. Lots of shipboard activities, a cooking demonstration, fresh salmon in a cream sauce with a vegetable and mushroom duxelle. (I had this for dinner and it wasn't great): a passenger boat building challenge, boats had to float empty and with their cargo of 6 cans of soda; a fashion show; and a play 'tales from the Laundromat". Full day of entertainment. Excited for tomorrow when Adrian's daughter, Carrie, and his daughter, Liz, and Liz's family, husband Brad, and children, Owen, River, Gabe and Ellie will join us in Victoria for the day!!!

The fog lifted this morning and we've enjoyed a gloriously sunny day in Prince Rupert! So excited to see the sun. Back in Canada so we took the time to mail some stuff home and catch up on banking and bill paying. All this "work" inspired a walk on the trail. The waterside trail was gorgeous and great fun on a beautiful day. Lunch was the biggest bowl of wonton soup I've ever had followed by a blueberry lemon square that was to die for! As we count down to home we have lots of farewell dinners with friends and the remaining sunsets to enjoy..

The sun is out - hallelujah! Today we had our ship's white elephant sale! This is an opportunity for passengers to give away things they bought for which they now have buyers remorse, or no luggage space, along with anything else they don't wish to take home with them. The items are auctioned off to the benefit of the crew. Most of the clothes and some of the art just became "make us an offer" items and anything left over is simply offered to the crew. It's pretty hard to describe how much fun this was. From the absurd things people bought and/or brought with them (aka a can of baked beans) to the things they wore onboard - one couple arrived in matching space style seatsuits, everyone recognized the suits in the sale! 
We've had two cruise directors while onboard, Ray who started with us and left in Dubai (I think) an Dottie who replaced him. This was Ray's event - he's back and brought his fabulous sense of humour with him. Most items were bundled with others and he often threw in a free gift - the free gifts were Kissing Chickens, gifts the ship gave each of us "Around the World Folks" in Vietnam that are heavy coal objects - that many folks donated back to the sale! (Ours will remain on board when we depart). Such fun.
We arrived in Ketchikan about an hour early, so we had the opportunity to go ashore as soon as the auction ended. Wow - so much change - I was in Ketchikan about 40 years ago and remember very little. Originally a lumber based community, when the mill closed, and about 1/3 of the community lost their jobs,  they worked hard to grow their fledgling cruise industry. Converting the Mill into a cruise terminal I'd say they succeeded - not less than 6 large ships in port today. Don't miss the picture of our ship dwarfed by the one docked next to us!!!
This is certainly a tourist community, gift shop after gift shop - sadly all offering similar stuff - were everywhere. Lots of restaurants, food  like the rest of Alaska is expensive here. Lunch for one can easily cost $70  US including tip! Much of the community is built on stilts above the water, not sure the pictures due this feature justice.
The streetscapes are very similar to gold rush architecture you might see in Whitehorse or Dawson City.

Today the ship is anchored just off the community of Sitka. Once ashore we're right in town. It's a gorgeous coastal community in the foreground with mountains as a backdrop. Small community but packed with gift shops, artisans, restaurants, a museum, fish hatchery, coastal totem pole park. The sun even came out for a bit to welcome us! The restaurants all feature seafood but the prices are high! Best halibut I've had in a long time though! Lots of Russian influence here - just like the other communities we've visited.