After traveling up the Atlantic Ocean for the first time by freighter, we began to discover the meaning of ‘rolling’. The ocean was relatively calm…only about 8 foot waves (which are virtually nothing for a ship of this size) but without ‘ stabilizers’…you begin to ‘experience’ the roll of the seas. It certainly was nothing compared to the possibilities that may await us, as we set sail across the Atlantic in just a few hours.

The trip up the Delaware River to Philadelphia took a little over six hours. Bud and I managed to awaken and enjoy a few hours in the midst of the night to take in the skyline and wonder if this massive ship was really going to ‘fit’ under the famous Ben Franklin Bridge…of course, she slipped through like a charm…..

Well, we are ready to sail across the ‘ocean blue’ …and …of course Bud is as calm as can be just reading the paper to catch up on all the US news before we set sail….
I am busy making sure that everything is ‘secured and buckled down’ for the ride!!

We had a wonderful time in Philly! Here are a few pics, in case you haven’t had an opportunity to visit this historical spot.

Here’s the Liberty Bell the easy way (with Spartan Spirit and Flat Stanley) “through the glass”, so you don’ t have to wait in the tourist lines:)!

OK…so here’s the ‘real deal’ without glass….I went back ….as every patriotic American should do!!

Here are my ‘traveling buddies’ also seeing Independence Hall!

Oh….where is my ‘real buddy’??? Oh, there he is…parked on a bench with a bag full of something..gosh wonder what he may have been purchasing to prepare for the ‘big sail’?

Of course…the diet coke…was only ‘a cover’ for yours truly to sneak on board!!

I was surprised to learn that Philly has the third largest Chinatown area in the US….following San Francisco and New York ( of course)!

Of course…if you know us well…..you know that we had to take the trolley tour all through the city. We actually always enjoy the ‘overview ‘ and then decide where we want to spend the remaining time. Here I am with Peter, the Brit, who now lives in Brazil. It ended up that all of us took the ‘double decker’ for a few hours….

The Post Office was very interesting, as it is the ONLY Post Office in the US to NOT fly a United States flag, as it is used to designate its distinction as the first US Post Office.

More pics to give you a feel for this port stop:

That last pic was not only the ‘back of buddy’s head’ but also the home of Betsy Ross!!

Now, if you have still hung with us through this post until now…..here are a few shots of the gentlemen as we enjoyed some ‘deck time’ last evening as we sailed up the Delaware River and into Philly!
Here’s Lynton from Australia….

And a few more glimpses ….

They are -of course – all retired to be able to pull off this length of time away. The ‘blokes’ are all finishing their round the world by freighter trip. Only two of them actually knew each other before coming on board. Those were the Aussies, paul and Lynton, but all get along fabulously !!! We will miss them, as they will all be going their separate ways by the time we leave Genoa, Italy. Allow me to introduce them to all of you. From left to right are:
Terry (New Zealand -retired pilot); Paul (Australia – Alcoa Supervisor); Bud (of course!); Lynton (friend of Paul’s from Australia – special project manager in spots all over the world…Nigeria/South Africa); and Peter (Brit now moved to Brazil…purser on the Cunard Cruise Line for years…and other investment ‘policing’)….all great and interesting shipmates!

Of course here is a shot …just to ‘humor’ the only female on board, yours truly!!

Well, off to dinner for our last meal in the USA for a long time!! I will try to capture our ‘menu board’ so you will have an idea of our seafaring selections as we sail!!

We wish you all well….
Cheers, mates!!!