July 19, 2025

KETCHIKAN, ALASKA - 4th of July - part 2

After our team of Lumberjacks won the contest, we went back to the Ship, to have breakfast. Then out again to explore  the boardwalk area of Creek Street, looking for wildlife and checking out the shops. We saw some salmon spawning, bald eagles and seals.

We had lunch on the ship and then went to my balcony to watch the parade go by. It started with a helicopter flying in a large American Flag. There were about 10 floats with the bulk graduating high school classes, 1985 my favorite with fun t-shirts and  a porta potty right on the front of their float - very practical1! We ran into Uncle Sam aka Bosco at Lunch.

After the parade we were off to our 2pm excursion, looking for bears and other wildlife. We saw this young bear scratching his butt on a front post in a neighborhood home, more eagles, salmon, another founding father and lots of totem poles.

When the tour finished we walked the remaining parts of town we missed prior, sampling the Orca Corn ( the kettle corn was yummy), the secret recipe of owner Rhonda. The deliciously aroma was wafting through the streets. Shout out Rhonda, come and join us on the Odyssey, you would love it and we need your secret recipe !!

The day ended with a bbq dinner and fun and games afterwards.  We watched the Fireworks anchored off shore at 11 pm

Fireworks photo credit goes to Basia  - love her blog www.basiak.blog check it out!

KUANTAN, MALAYSIA

By Pat Patrick • October 12, 2026
Just the other day a friend asked me if I got enough down time while living this lifestyle. My answer was "you have to make it !" In the beginning, it was go, go, go, every port. We had lots of FOMO ( fear of missing out ) and we tried to cram in as much as possible at every port. Sea days, were our only down time and there were never enough. It was a tad exhausting. Now two years into this life, I can say there are some ports that just don't call me and I opt to get other things done. Kuantan, Malaysia was one of the Ports. I never got off the ship, either day we were here. I intended to this morning, but we had storms with loud thunder late into the night and then was awoken by a crew alarm around 6:45am. My energy was low, there were shuttle issues, town was an hour ride away and there is alot of air pollution, ( due to neighboring Indonesia burning organic materials, in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season ). So I bagged my plans and continued working on my never ending TO DO LIST!

Sad Passing of ODYSSEY Shipmate

By Pat Patrick • October 11, 2026
During our two years of sailing we have had several Shipmates come and go for a variety of reasons. Their health, has sadly been the reason for many departures. Cindy Harvey , would have loved to have lived out her days here on the Odyssey and even bought a second cabin and had an adjoining door added, to have a care provider, stay with her full time. However, Cindy's limited mobility, pain and confinement got to be too much - so she left us a few months ago. She went to an assisted living facility, on the coast of Oregon, to be near her family. Tragically she fell, was trying to recover, slipped into a coma and sadly passed away this week.

SANCTUARY OF TRUTH MUSEUM, CHONBURI, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • October 8, 2026
The Sanctuary of Truth Museum is the world's largest hand carved wooden castle, located on the coast of Pattaya, Chonburi Province, Thailand . Conceived in 1981 by Thai visionary Khun Lek Viriyaphun the structure is built entirely from 4 types of wood - Teak, Mai Daeng, Mai Takien & Mai Panchaat and put together using Thai nailless wood joinery - mainly dovetails, carrying poles and tongue & groove. We started the tour in the workshop where the artisan, mainly woman, were hard at work. Since conception, the Museum has been an active construction site, thus we all wore hardhats! The artisans continue handcarving sculptures and columns, daily and will most likely continue for years to come.