Located near the village of Fitzroy Harbor on the shores the mighty Ottawa River.
This 47 hectare site consists of forested woodlands and wetlands that will appeal to nature enthusiasts of all ages. Morris Island Conservation Area is a "living classroom and laboratory", and a great place for outdoor education. Mississippi Valley Conservation manages this site along with volunteers for day-use recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, canoeing, fishing and natural interpretation. Morris Island Conservation Area is open to the public year round and is jointly owned by Ontario Power Generation and the City of Ottawa.
San Diego harbor is home to one of the biggest collections of historic ships found anywhere.
One of the biggest marinas too.
5:00pm, January 7 2017, Westerdam sets sail for Cabo San Lucas Mexico
January 8, 2017 Sea Day
8:00 am January 9, 2017, Wsterdam arrives at Cabo San Lucas
Tendering ashore in one of the many local water taxis with the familiar rock formations which lie at the entrance to the cozy harbor of Cabo and our ship in the foreground.
Time for a little break from touring and a complimentary Mexican beer at a nice classy roadside hotel.
8:00am, January 11, 2017, Westerdam arrives at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
After a short taxi ride to the town center of Puerto Vallarta its time for a long walk along the famous Malecon.
Mexican Christmas Tree
12 January, 2017, Sea Day
7:00am, 13 January, 2017, Westerdam arrives back at San Diego California
January 14, 2017-San Diego
12:00 Welcome Aboard!
4:00pm Lifeboat drill
5:00pm sails for Hilo
Sea miles 2196, average speed 15.5 knots
Passengers getting ready for Hawaii.
Friday, January 20, 2017 - Hilo, Hawaii
8:00am Westerdam docks at Hilo
12:00nn Weather: cloudy skies, Moderate breeze,
Smooth seas, 27C
In this museum they teach the Hawaiians how to tie knots.
Class of school kids spending a day at the museum in Hilo.
Below: A stuffed giant 12 foot wing span Albatross.
Hawaiian school kids learning about plastics which continually drift up on their shores.
Museum displays a sample of fish found in Hawaiian waters.
A sample of the trees that were planted by celebrities after the 1946 tsunami which destroyed this low lying area.
If a picture is worth a thousand words then, surely this one is a least a million.
Statue at entrance to the tsunami museum in Hilo Hawaii
January 20, 2017, 5:46 Westerdam sails for Kona
9:45pm Scenic Cruising Kileauea Volcano
Our captain sailed the Westerdam so close to the lava pipe that we could just hear the sounds of the explosions from the hot lava pouring into the ocean
Over 1000 acres of new land has been created since this latest eruption began.
View of lava hose (pipe) from our veranda taken with our iPad Mini.
Click the item below to see a crazy Hawaiian swimmer in the hot water close to the lava flow.
Lava flows have added 5 acres to the shore this month (January 2017)
The same scene taken by the ship's photographer.
Saturday 21 January 2017 - Kona, Hawaii
7:30am Westerdam position mode in Kona
12:00nn Weather: Cloudy skies, Moderate breeze
Smooth seas, 27C
5:25pm Westerdam sails for Honolulu
Ship's tenders shuttled passengers to and from Kona all day but from our veranda it didn't look like we were missing much by staying right where we were.
Sunday, January 22, 2017 - Honolulu, Hawaii
7:26am Westerdam docks in Honolulu after a 156 mile sail through rough seas and high winds (tropical typhoon).
The captain warned about using verandas or going on deck during the night.
Sunday, January 22, 2017 - Honolulu, Hawaii
7:26am Westerdam docks in Honolulu
12:00nn Weather: Sunny with light clouds, High winds, Rough seas, 25C
After a long drawn out side trip to the Maui Divers jewelry factory we were delivered to the Westin Surfrider a short stroll through the reception area and open air restaurant we arrived at the beach which after the jewelry factory was a beautiful sight.
Every day 11,000 people visit Waikiki beach but it is so long you would never know it.
The mountain at the end of the beach is called "Diamond Head".
A week to unwind and regain our land legs after 24 days at sea.
Our stay in Carlsbad was at an RCI timeshare called the Seapointe Resort
Capistrano California
February 4 2017
This must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. I first visited it in the 1960's and remembered it as a nice place to visit, but since then the local society has done a magnificent job on its restoration.
Ruins of the massive stone church that was destroyed by an earthquake around the turn of the last century. This is were the famous swallows come nest on the 17th March after their long flight north from their winter nesting grounds in Brazil.
This old church dating back to the early Spanish days on this coast is still to this day a very active working church with lots of worshipers.
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day you promised to come back to me
When you whispered, "Farewell", in Capistrano
Twas the day the swallow flew out to sea
All the mission bells will ring
The chapel choir will sing
The happiness you'll bring
Will live in my memory
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me
All the mission bells will ring
The chapel choir will sing
The happiness you'll bring
Will live in my memory
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me.
Tuesday February 4,2017
Carlsbad California
Carlsbad is a lovely town filled with active people who seem to spend their days cycling, walking/jogging the shore, looking for that big wave for an exciting run ashore or taking Yoga lessons on the beach.
Our last night at Jay's Sea Food Diner in Carlsbad.
This 47 hectare site consists of forested woodlands and wetlands that will appeal to nature enthusiasts of all ages. Morris Island Conservation Area is a "living classroom and laboratory", and a great place for outdoor education. Mississippi Valley Conservation manages this site along with volunteers for day-use recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, canoeing, fishing and natural interpretation. Morris Island Conservation Area is open to the public year round and is jointly owned by Ontario Power Generation and the City of Ottawa.
