Wash, wash, wash your hands
Twenty seconds at a time
Merrily, merrily, merrily,
Don’t even try to mime!
I’m writing this blog post from the Tasman Sea, about 9,000 miles from my home in South Dakota, USA. This sea is between New Zealand and Australia and is known to be “incredibly dangerous.”
At the time I left home, Covid-19 was barely on the US radar. I’d left South Dakota a day early, March 1, to make sure weather would not delay my arrival into Los Angeles for my Air Zealand flight to Auckland the next day.
When I was getting ready to board at LAX, I received an email from Viking Ocean Cruises offering a way out of the cruise. I consulted by text with my kids, and they concurred I could stick to my long-planned “trip of a lifetime” and get on the flight. Had I not also planned to take a pretrip extension in Auckland, I would have gotten the Viking email while I was still at home. That may have given me pause.
So now, after stopping at several NZ cities and towns, our ship is on its way to Australia. We are spending three days total in the South Pacific Ocean that will be broken up tomorrow with a stop in Tasmania.
This “incredibly dangerous” sea is providing me with a seesaw experience…my entire body, plus my stomach. Luckily, I’m on a lower deck which rocks less than higher up.
But I awoke in the middle of last night feeling as though my ship was an ATV charging through, not over, a maze of rocky boulders. Thump, bump, thump. Bump, thump, bump. Thankfully, since I’d not purchased antiemetic patches at home, I’d found a “Chemist” store off Queen Street in Auckland to buy some, so I read the directions and applied one behind my right ear. Then slept till noon.
My sister reminded me this morning by email that “It is Well with My Soul” was written on the high seas. Remember the phrase “when sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well, it is well with my soul”?
Seems to me that line is especially apropos as my online connections around the world are warning of the dangers of the Covid-19 virus. It is time, as an email from a former pastor said, in these times of closings and warnings to honor “social distancing,” to think of Psa 46:10. “Be still and know that I am God.”
As my rock-a-bye ocean travel and the pandemic continue, I’m thanking God for the smallest things—Viking’s insistence that we wash our hands before and after every meal, every excursion off ship, and every informational program on ship, and my housekeeper’s song to me last night in our narrow corridors that we don’t need to worry because God is in charge, followed by a quarter hug when we acknowledged our mutual faith. He is a young father of two who loves working for Viking as jobs at home in the Philippines don’t allow him to provide for his family the way he wants to, and “Viking treats us so good.”
The Captain just announced we’ve travelled 1000+ miles since Auckland. I’ve taken dozens of photos. Here are a few from today:
I could write a book on what I’ve learned about the unique cultural background of these countries I’m visiting. I’m, as usual, taking copious notes. But, most importantly I’ve learned that those of us in the USA are but a tiny part of this beautifully diverse world. And as Mr. Rogers implied in the “neighborhood” movie I saw yesterday on board, we only need to love and respect each other to make this world a better place. Every one of us.
Be well!
Write Along with Me 
Wonderful trip. Thx for making it real to all of us. Look forward to more posts
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Thanks, Sandra!
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I hope your cruise continues without interruptions! We completed a fabulous sixteen night cruise through the Panama Canal and Central America on Regent yesterday. We felt extremely safe. Today Regent suspended operations for thirty days and they are flying passengers currently cruising home.
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Good to hear! Thanks.
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Thoughts and prayers for a safe journey. Great pictures!
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Thank you!
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I remember rocking and a rolling on that same sea! May you remain healthy!
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So you know!! Thanks!
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An experience of a life time. Glad you decided to go. Love following your travels and seeing your pictures.
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Yes! Adopting the mantra of all’s well that ends well.
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Wish more could travel and gain your perspective expressed well at the end! There really are great people and practices all over!
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I know. I feel like a microscopic pinpoint on the map of this world. I’m very grateful to be able to travel.
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Love that last ocean photo – moody sky and roaring waves 🛳 it most be ver therapeutic to soak up those views.
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It is!!
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What wonderful letter, Lois! You made my day. Enjoy your trip! Shirley
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Glad I could cheer your day, Shirl!
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I enjoyed our very short visit Lois. I hope the rest of your trip goes well. Tasmania is an interesting place, convicts et al but we never have enough time in any place on our trips to faraway places to really get to know the place.
Enjoy your travels.
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Hopefully flying home tomorrow. Even though all ports are closed, Melbourne let us dock today, but we couldn’t get off the ship except for customs.
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Good to hear from you., Lois. Our church (Hillside Community) had worship via Livestream only today as did many others in Michigan. Enjoy your adventure!
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Adventure is right! Our three stops in AU were cancelled, and I should fly out tomorrow. Viking is busy making up to 700 reservations changes for us.
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Hi Lois, it’s been awhile since I have been here but looked for you as Judith told me you two ere able to meet up in Wellington recently. Judith and I started our blogs about the same time in 2011 and now we FaceTime twice weekly. I am glad you are on your journey and look forward to catching up on your blog! Chris
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Thanks, Chris! Judith told me about your chats. That is really nice. It was delightful to meet up with Judith and put a face to a name. My trip has now been cut short due the virus, so I’m waiting to get info tonight about my flight arrangements from Viking.
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Safe journey Lois. It may have been cut short but even that is an adventure worth a story or two, or more
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Thanks, Chris. I’m safely home!
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You are a brave soul – and may it “be well with your soul.” I found your blog via Judith – would love to met her too but never will. May you have a safe voyage back home to the USA bu things re not quite the same. Great photos!
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Thank you, CC, for the good wishes. I’m awaiting news now of a flight out of Melbourne. Trip was supposed to end Sunday, but we’ve now lost our stops in AU.
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So good to hear from you, hope you can get home before this virus gets any worse, not looking good, just heard of another person in SD having the virus. Praying for all, God is in control!!
On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, 8:54 PM Write Along with Me wrote:
> Lois Roelofs posted: ” Wash, wash, wash your hands Twenty seconds at a > time Merrily, merrily, merrily, Don’t even try to mime! I’m writing this > blog post from the Tasman Sea, about 9,000 miles from my home in South > Dakota, USA. This sea is between New Zealand a” >
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Luckily, I’m on my way home. Several glitches but I’m at the Melbourne airport now. Then to LA, Denver, and home. Due to time changes, even though it’s Tuesday morning here, I’ll arrive around 8pm Tuesday in SF. I’ll be ready for a week in bed! I wanted adventure and I’m getting it!
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Great news of you being in GOOD OLD South Dakota!!!!! You had us on the edge of our seats, with all your adventures!!!! God is SO GOOD!!!! Welcome home!!!!!
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Thank you, Lois! As a recent international traveler, I’m following state guidelines for staying at home for at least two weeks. My daughter is my grocery genie. I’m thankful!
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