I’m a little ashamed that it’s taken me this long to share my summary of last week. I took my #MarkItMonday pictures on time, but it also took me several days to recover from my journey home last Saturday. Another case of needing a vacation to recover from my vacation, lol. The cruise was quite wonderful though, and those memories will help me hang in there as I don’t have another big trip on the calendar for quite some time. Here’s what I have to share from the week of July 6 through 12.
Stitched or Still-in-Progress
Spending so much time on the ship, I did a LOT of knitting! I have a half-finished object to share as I finished the patriotic-themed sock I’d been working on. I used some of the blue stripe from another segment of the yarn to work the heel, and that gave the full sock quite a uniform look! I’ve started on the mate with hopes of finishing it before Sock Week ends on Sunday, but we’ll see!
The boomerang shawl also got a lot of attention. I’ve used over 35 grams of the 100-gram skein so far. This design is great for using a maximum amount of yarn. I’m not sure if I’ll finish this project during the Down Cellar Studio Splash Pad Party (ending July 31) but I’d like to. I’ve gotten better at reading my knitting, so I don’t need to reference the pattern as much, but it’s definitely not a project for knitting in the dark.
Lastly, I made a LOT of progress on my Camp Loopy project for July! It’s actually finished as of Monday night, but I’ll save the FO reveal for next week. I’m looking forward to wearing this throughout the summer and into the fall!
I didn’t touch the patriotic cowl, nor did I have the headspace for spinning after getting home. I did manage to get some “quality” FO pics of a couple recently finished objects – one of my key reasons to participate in the on-board photo ops! I’m sorry that I didn’t think to pack my recent test knit for Paper Daisy Creations – I just didn’t think of it!
Cast-on Conversations
I started one project after returning home. Knitty Natty’s Sock Week launched on Sunday and runs through this Sunday (July 19) with the challenge to knit a sock during that eight-day period. I’m sure I’ll finish one sock, but I’m hoping to finish two! My priority project is this one, using one of the commemorative color ways for the event:
When I returned to Boston, I made my way to a Local Yarn Store for at least one souvenir. My primary target at Boston Fiber Company was a spinning guide, but I couldn’t resist selecting a token skein of sock yarn plus a braid of fiber. Both will help to extend the nostalgia from my Semiquincentennial Adventure!
Grandson Glimpses
My son picked me up from the airport Saturday evening. He’d invited the munchkin to join him earlier in the day, but he was sound asleep when it was time to head to the airport. Sunday morning, they told him I was home when he woke up, and he made a beeline to come downstairs to see me. That was the best hug I’ve had in a while!
Travel Tales
I hope you have a cuppa or something to enjoy as this section is going to be a long one! I’ll preface this by saying that there were a few disappointments along the way, but also a number of pleasant surprises.
When I posted last week, I’d been to two destinations: Boston and Saint John, New Brunswick. I have a couple commemorative photos from the cruise line to add there.
Monday evening, I finally made it to my reserved seat in the Main Dining Room where I met a lovely couple from New Jersey. The three of us were the only ones at the table, and we only dined together Monday and Tuesday. Still, it was a great connection, and I’m planning to visit them in the future.
Tuesday afternoon we sailed into Norfolk, Virginia, home to Naval Station Norfolk, a massive naval station on Chesapeake Bay. It’s a slow entry into the bay, then a turn into the Elizabeth River. We were delayed getting into port, and the heat was pretty intense (90F+/32C+), so I had to abandon my plan to visit the Virgina Zoo, mostly because it closed at 5PM and it would have been nearly 4PM by the time I got there. Instead, I opted to tour some of the city on foot. While heading toward the MLK Monument, I happened upon a mermaid status, and that changed my whole plan. I skipped MLK, and while I did stop by the Douglas MacArthur Memorial, most of my wandering was in search of mermaid statues. The city is home to over eighty of these lovely sculptures, inspired by Chicago’s “Cows on Parade.” My rapid search attempts only directed me to a handful, and I found six in total on my two-mile walk. I’ve since found a visitor’s guide with more info, so when I return (to visit with a friend and tour the Yorktown Battleground) I’ll have a better plan!
On Wednesday, we sailed into New York Harbor as a number of military ships and Tall Ships from around the world were exiting. The parade of ships was bound for Boston where they would have another parade in Boston Harbor on Saturday. Our ship’s captain and our narrator both told us that we had received special permission from Port Authority to sail past the Statue of Liberty, even though we would be moored in Brooklyn. Again we were late sailing in, and this time I watched from the deck as the port staff worked to connect the gangway for us. As soon as we could, I was off the ship and racing to Manhattan to see Hamilton. I made it in time! The show was wonderful, as always. Afterwards, it was quite the experience to get back to the ship for bed.
Thursday was spent almost entirely in Manhattan. I started off in the Financial District, seeking a number of connections to Alexander Hamilton. While I was taking in the 9/11 memorial pools, I got word that the friend I’d scheduled lunch with would be unable to meet me on time. So, I made the most of the free time and headed uptown to Harlem where Hamilton Grange National Memorial pays tribute to the man in the restored home he built as a summer home. “It’s Quiet Uptown”
My friend checked in with me while I was on the tour of the home, and he said he’d try to get back to the WTC complex for 2PM. After the tour, I made my way south, stopping to grab some food and a cool drink. We finally connected about 2:30PM, giving us just enough time to chat a little and catch up on family stuff before I had to enter One World Trade Center (aka Freedom Tower) for my visit to the observatory.
While this was one of the biggest disappointments of my time in NYC, the rain clouds that blocked our views for most of the time I was there also provided an excuse to rest. I probably stayed longer than expected, I waited to be able to at least get a glimpse of some of the iconic sights of The City. Patience paid off, and I ended up getting a very intriguing shot of Midtown Manhattan! I was also able to see the cruise ship, the only full shot of the vessel that I could get.
One of the best surprises I had also came out of that OWO visit. My digital guide that told me all about the buildings I mostly couldn’t see also had recommendations for restaurants. I’d decided I wanted to get some NY pizza, and the recommended pizza restaurant happened to be near the theater district. Perfect! That pizza was absolutely delicious – big shout out to Don Antonio on West 50th! I ate the entire pizza and then walked over to West 48th Street to see my second Broadway show: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).
Sadly, because we had a strict all-aboard time before sailing out of Brooklyn, I wasn’t able to see the whole show. I watched Act One, then scrambled to get back to the ship. I loved everything about the first act, so I’m determined to return to see the entire show sometime soon!
Our last full day was spent at sea, and I relaxed all day long. I met up with one of my table mates for a chat in the Crow’s Nest, and we talked about a lot of things. Since we both had specialty dining reservations for dinner, I wouldn’t see them again until very late. I had dinner at the Pinnacle Grill, and while I didn’t have a window seat in the restaurant, I was able to catch a few glimpses of the whale(s) and dolphins that were spotted a few times. And the sunset was gorgeous. I closed out the last night on board with karaoke. I opened the event (“Eternal Flame” by The Bagles) but was never called on again. Thankfully the closer invited folks to join him on stage for the finale: “Don’t Stop Believin’.” And my new friend popped up to sing alongside me – her hubby took a photo of us which I have permission to share. It was a fitting song to end the adventure with! “Hold on to that feeling!”
On Saturday, I walked off the ship when my group was called. I collected my luggage and then I began schlepping my stuff for a while. The Parade of Tall Ships event created some challenges because the city transit system adjusted routes as a result. Still, I made my way to the Boston Fiber Company, and then I headed to the airport to wait for my flight towards home. I do have some trips coming up, but nothing on the scale of this grand adventure. I’ll keep reflecting and making plans for the future as I really enjoy the cruising life!
Knit on. 🧶
Kninja Knitter 
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