There are milestones in every person's life. Some, like a divorce, may not be occasions for celebration, and others, like an anniversary, might be happier moments. But whether the emotions associated with a milestone are happy or sad, most certainly they mark a turning point in life. For me, this weekend marks a significant turning point in my life. Twenty years ago, on Labor Day weekend, I moved to Seattle.

Back in 1987, I had what was a rare moment for me: a desire to make a dramatic change without much forethought or consideration. I talked with my boyfriend Grant, and he agreed (despite some misgivings) to move. We considered Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland. Ultimately, Seattle was our choice because my brother already lived there and other family members were nearby in Olympia. We had no Internet back then. We couldn't do much research. I had never been to Seattle before. True, my family had passed through during vacation trips. But we never got out of the car. I knew very little about the Pacific Northwest but for that which I could glean from a roadmap. Furthermore, neither Grant nor I had a job. The move was definitely a risk, and that means it was a test - of our character and our strength. But, there would be loss too.

In San Diego we both quit lucrative jobs in the title insurance industry. We left that behind in favor of a new adventure. All our friends thought we were crazy. Why would anyone give up the sun and beauty of San Diego for the rain of Seattle? Why would a sane person give up a job that pays well in favor of an uncertain future? From the day we made the decision until the day we drove north was a period of only two weeks. I have no answer for those who thought we were insane, other than to say we did it for the adventure. Believe me, there were tears too. Both Grant and I were scared, but we did it anyhow.

Now, with benefit of hindsight, I believe I moved to prove to myself that I was a man and I could handle anything, including making a place for myself in a new city with a new job and new friends - a new life! But,there was also the problem of my reputation.

Back then (and still today I suppose) I had a reputation for being too stable, too mature, too predictable, and too rigid. My friends referred to me as, "The 40 year old man in a 20 year old body." I have no doubt that my decision to move 1200 miles away to an unknown city was a rebellion against a reputation I both resented and embraced. I didn't like being pigeonholed as old before my time. But, I was proud of the fact that I had lived on my own since graduating from high school. It was a badge of honor that I had my own car, my own apartment, I paid my own bills, and I needed no one to support me financially. Some of my friends we leaches on their parents and sometimes on me because at 18 they hadn't been brave enough to take a leap in maturity and assume full responsibility for their lives. I may have been predicable and stable, but I think I was also brave and thoughtful at a very young age.

Sometimes my parents have reminisced with regret the loss of the outgoing young boy they raised, but who lost his nerve in adolescence. I think they are right. I did retreat socially during most of my teen years (many people do). But by the time I was nearing the end of high school I had regained much of my self-confidence. But the re-growth of my determination and will were demonstrated in a different way from my youth. Moving out on my own in 1984 was only the first sign that my former independence was returning.

Then I came out to my family in 1984. I took on a leadership role in the Gay Youth Alliance in San Diego. Later, my 1987 move to Seattle was another step toward full adulthood. Sadly, when Grant and I split up in 1990, another step toward self-sufficiency was forced on me. But the results were positive in the long run.

I'm forty-two years old now, and I've lived in Seattle as an adult for far longer than I lived in San Diego. I met Gene in 1993. I went to college in 1994. I achieved my master's degree in 1999 and made a change of career. I'm still growing. I'm still becoming. And this weekend I celebrate one of the most significant turning points in my life - taking on the mantle of mossy northwesterner. Though I celebrate the anniversaryof one particular turning point this weekend, all the major crises in my life are connected. I cannot look at one without remembering the others for they are all part of who I am.

I would not be the person I am now if I hadn't made that significant decision two decades ago. I chose to uproot myself and jump off a cliff into the unknown. My life changed - I became a man because of that choice. Now, after twenty years, I finally feel like a grown up.

I've long believed I can do anything I want to do even though it may take time and struggle. Today I toast myself for being brave, mature, daring, self-confident, open to change. I honor the smart choices I've made in life, and my willingness to grow. But I also salute myself for being practical, thoughtful, and goal oriented. Here's to you Seattle. We've grown up together over the last twenty years. But most of all....here's to me!

It's time to celebrate. I'm going to Vegas, baby!

Surely the secret may be decoded today. Put all the clues together and hope for the best. Two days of relaxation and entertainment await.

CLUE 5

A lofty column scrapes crystal sky.

Habitual changes and vistas defy

The jumble of past and future below.

Walk 'round the world in this pueblo.

To those who read this clue and all previous hints: Words have many meanings. Clues direct us not only to answers of what is, but also what cannot be.

CLUE 4

Some there are pious, many are coarse.

In bygone times god's fort was the source

for a sect made safe while on the roam.

That old fort has strayed so far from home.

It's about 4 weeks and counting until my new car arrives. I recently received the build order confirmation from Ford. The car will be built in Ford's Kansas City plant , their only plant that produces hybrid vehicles like the Escape, Mercury Mariner, and the Mazda Tribute. Take a look at one of my favorite Escape commercials above. Or, because the quality is worse when embedded on a blog, you can go direct to YouTube HERE. My car should look just like the one in the commercial, and it will run 90% cleaner than an average 2004 car according to California Partial Zero Emission regulations.

My production confirmation included a list of my ordered features. Some are standard features unique to the hybrid model. In short, I ordered every possible option. Cool!

1. Front wheel drive 2.3 liter 4 cylinder hybrid gas/engine with 155 combined HP.
2. Black clearcoat paint and tan interior
3. Leather bucket seats and leather wrapped tilt steering wheel
4. Heated front seats
5. 6 way power driver seat adjustment
6. Dual zone air conditioning (passenger can control his/her air temp separately)
7. Fog lamps (std)
8. Special chrome trim package
9. Integrated side step rocker bar
10. 16" Aluminum wheels (std)
11. Heated side mirrors
12. Color matched door handles and mirrors (which means gloss paint instead of flat)
13. Chrome trimmed roof rack
14. Garmin audio GPS navigation system with LCD display
15. Electric moonroof
16. Sirius Satellite radio
17. Audiophile stereo in dash 6 CD changer with 7 speakers
18. iPOD/MP3 jack (std)
19. 110 volt standard electricity outlet (std)
20. Power windows and locks (std)
21. Continuously variable automatic transmission (std)
22. Outside temperature gauge and compass
23. Retractable cargo cover and cargo tie-down hooks
24. 2 lighted vanity mirrors and auto-dim inside mirror
25. Reverse collision sensing system
26. Front and side curtain air bags (std)

Gene keeps guessing. Has he been correct? I think today's posting will clarify that his guesses so far have been off target.

CLUE 3

Amidst brilliant sun and gritty sand,

Recline by a liquid basin grand.

Libation ready, attendant near,

Time protracted since entertained here.

Today I offer another clue in the puzzle of our arcane mini-vacation. This one took a little longer to write, and I had to change some of the rhythm from yesterday's poem. But who cares? This is a dido, not a serious paean. (could my verbiage be more ostentatious?)

CLUE 2

In recluse town with houses opaque,

At pacific tempo we will stake.

Two and one half will journey abide.

There prospers a place where marshes lied.

Add this clue to your bank of information and see if you can delimit the possible destinations. There are approximately six more clues to be posted.

Can we afford it? No.

Will it break the bank, empty our pockets, or devolve us into destitution? No.

On Labor Day Weekend, I'm taking Gene on an unexpected trip. We leave Seattle mid-day on August 31st, but to where we journey he has nary a clue. We will return home on Sunday September 2nd.

The house sitter is engaged. The dogs have been informed. Reservations have been made. The time has come to break the rules and be spontaneous. Well, as spontaneous as we two plotters and planners can be.

Work has been stressful for Gene. And, for the first time, I'm not excited about starting with a new class at school. We both are in a funk. So why not end summer with a bang by traipsing off to a distant land?

In an effort to draw out the anticipation and distract me from my impending doom at the hands of 26 primary munchkins (my largest group in 9 years), I'm going to make a game of this. I am the only person who knows where we are going. Can you discern our destiny from a trail of crumbs couched in poetry? Give it a shot.

CLUE 1

The oppidan burg you seek is plane.

It will not enjoin a visa lane.

But clasping a navy text, is true,

'Twill assist you through a lengthy queue.

Hmmm...this might be fun. If you wish to hazard a guess, leave a comment. I will post another clue on each subsequent day until the day before departure.

I am not the only one changing cars. Today Gene bought a used Lexus to replace our old Lexus. The new one is gold with a tan interior. It's the GS300, which is a small step in luxury above our old ES300. The nice thing about this new car is the low mileage. It's a 2004 model, but it has only 16,800 miles on it. That was a big selling point.

Though I was the first to move toward a new car, Gene is the first to take delivery. I hope it serves him well for many years.

Last week I ordered our first hybrid car. For the last few years we've been thinking about how we can save energy and reduce our contribution to global climate change. The number one contributing factor is the amount of carbon dioxide our lifestyle puts into the air. That includes the commonly known factors like driving cars, heating homes, and using electricity. But it also includes things like how much new clothing we buy and the kind of food we eat (meat production produces a lot of CO2). We've taken several steps to save energy. We keep the thermostat at 67 - 68 during fall and winter, and we have replaced about 1/2 of our incandescent bulbs with the fluorescent variety. But we need to do a lot more.

Today I tried to calculate our "Carbon Footprint." There are a variety of resources available on the Internet to do that, but the information generated is inconsistent - tremendously so. Does the program include food consumption or not? Is it per person or per household. Does it use averages or more precise personal data. The best household calculator I found that uses averages is the Nature Conservancy. The best calculator that uses more precise figures is at Carbon Footprint, but that particular source is most useful for an individual footprint, not household.

Overall, Gene and I rate as below US average for the amount of carbon dioxide we put into the air. According to the Nature Conservancy, we produce 43 tons. The US average is 53 tons, but the world average is 11 tons. The Carbon Footprint website rates me individually at 16,500 kilograms per year with a 19,000 kg/year US average and 4,000 kg world average.

Basically we average less carbon production when it comes to electricity and natural gas use. We get a greater credit because much of the power used in the Seattle is hydro electric. Also, Gene and I drive fewer miles (and I calculated our impact with mileage for the new hybrid car). And, those of us in Seattle also recycle much more often than the national average.

However, the big shock for me was the impact of our vacation travel. Apparently we fly so much more than average, that our jet travel wipes out many of the gains we make through energy conservation. According to BeGreenNow.com, we produce 3.5 tons of carbon per year just from air travel, while the US average is only .5 tons. That's 600% more than average! And that probably doesn't include our share of carbon produced by cruise ships! I can't imagine cutting my world travel. Fortunately, our air flights account for only 16% of our total carbon output. But, still that is a significant percentage.

Now, knowing all this information, what are we going to do to further reduce our carbon footprint in the coming year. First and foremost I am going to try and further reduce our electricity and natural gas usage. I intend to buy more fluorescent light bulbs and we'll turn down the furnace this coming fall and winter. I'll probably shorten the time periods that we heat the house. I'm also going to add more timers and motion sensors to our outdoor lights, reduce the number of hours I have water pumps running in our water features, and turn off computers and monitors every night.

In small ways, I think we can reduce our carbon output and increase our health by eating less meat and eating more organic products. We already recycle almost everything, but we could dramatically reduce the amount of pre-packaged products we buy. If we monitor the air pressure in our car tires and try to combine trips, we can probably save some fuel. Perhaps I can carpool more often with the two ladies that live in my neighborhood and work at the same school as I. Basically, we have more work to do. The fact that we produce 300% more carbon than the average human is not something that can be ignored - by any of us.

For the first time in 24 years, I have bought a new car. Back in 1984 I bought a new Ford Escort from Corral Ford in Lemon Grove, CA. I bought it off the lot on a Friday night at a cost of about $8,000.

Separating today's purchase from the Escort isn't just two decades of time but also the definition of the word "new." You see, this time I'm not buying off a dealer's parking lot. At this point, the new car hasn't even been assembled. Today, on the phone and on the Internet I ordered a vehicle for delivery in 6 - 8 weeks. When it arrives in October, it will be exactly as I want, without compromising on color or accessories. It will even be cheaper than if I had picked one off the lot (though I don't understand why). Ordering a custom assembled car makes today's purchase unique.

Gene and I have bought several cars in our years together, but they have always been used. In the last 14 years we bought a MG convertible, a BMW convertible, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and most recently a Lexus ES 300. During that same time frame, we have always had a Toyota SR5 pickup too. Now our days with the Toyota are numbered. When the new car is delivered I will use the old pickup as a trade-in.

What car did I buy? First let me say, it was not the one I thought it would be. As pictured below, I have ordered a black 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid with all the bells and whistles included. Some of the special items incorporated are a satellite radio, LCD/DVD navigation system, special chrome upgrades, and heated leather seats. But especially pleasing is the 34/31 mpg economy rating which comes along with its hybrid status. That kind of gas mileage is unheard of for a regular SUV, even a small one like the Escape. None of our current vehicles get that kind of mileage.

I spent much of this week researching new cars. For the last couple months I've been thinking about a way to go scuba diving comfortably. Neither our Lexus or Toyota truck are conducive to carrying loads of diving gear here in the rainy Pacific Northwest. The Lexus is too small and the truck bed was not covered. Small problems with each car also were starting to get annoying. The stereo and antenna in the truck don't work correctly. The Lexus has a door that binds and one of the small instrument panels had come loose. The truck is 15 years old and the Lexus is 10. Gene has been wanting to replace the Lexus and I started thinking I would like to replace the truck as well.

During our recent vacation stop in Victoria, I drove a Ford Sport Trac rental. I really enjoyed that truck, but when I looked up the price on the Internet it was clearly too expensive - and the mileage was horrible. Also, Consumer Reports gave it a mixed review.

Gene and I have been talking about buying a hybrid car, so I started looking into options for that type of vehicle. That's when I found the Toyota Highlander, which I also drove on vacation (in Skagway) but by which I was not impressed. Then I found the Ford Escape, the Saturn Vue, and Mercury Mariner as well. After more reading I soon dumped the Saturn and the Mercury from consideration.

Soon I discovered that the Escape got above average ratings from Consumer Reports, and the Highlander did even better - but at a much higher cost. On Monday I test drove both the Highlander and the Escape and I was most pleased with the Ford. I never thought that would be the case because I've always liked Toyota products, but the Highlander struck me as boring and too expensive. When spending the less money I could get a brand new Ford with everything on it, or a used Toyota for the same price as a new Ford. I wondered what Ford owners thought of their Escapes (especially the Hybrid which has a dramatically different drive train and transmission).

Private reviews on the Internet confirmed that most Escape Hybrid buyers remain very pleased with their purchase (though regular Escape buyers have a more mediocre response). Then I considered the fact the Escape Hybrid is so popular that car dealers can't keep them on the lot for more than a day or two, just like  the Toyota Prius. I was sold.

As for Gene, he too is looking into buying a car to replace the Lexus, but he's moving more slowly than I am. He's looking at buying another Lexus, though I have suggested a Toyota Camry Hybrid might be good. A new one costs the same as a used Lexus and its level of luxury has risen of late. Unfortunately, the hybrid Camry is so popular we haven't found one to test drive yet. We'll see what Gene ultimately chooses.

Yes! We are in the process of buying two cars at the same time! Through the creative use of savings and a car loan I have no doubt that we can afford to buy two cars. And, if financial disaster befalls us in the next 2 months, I can back out of my purchase without financial penalty.

So automotive changes are on the horizon, and needless to say I'm very excited. Buying new cars is so much easier than buying a new house (as we tried to do last year at this time.) I'm not feeling any of the fear or dread that overwhelmed me last year. Car changes should be a lot more fun, don't you think?

Our first Alaska cruise has come to an end. Not only was this itinerary a first for us, but is was also the first time we have cruised with my parents. I thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and especially the fact that we had another couple with which we could share part of our day and some of the new adventures.

We disembarked from the Sun Princess at 8:30am today - exactly on time. Within 15 minutes we had picked up our luggage and were through with both customs and immigration. A taxi brought us home by 9am. Wow! Sailing from one's hometown is very convenient.

Over all the cruise was excellent. Here are some high and low points (mostly high):

Embarkation/Disembarkation: It has never been easier. Since this cruise was in celebration of Gene's 30th anniversary working for the same company (that's unusual these days and well worth celebrating) I ordered a limo to take us to the cruise terminal from our home. When we arrived at 1pm, we noticed a long line of people with luggage. Immediately I was worried. The line didn't appear to be moving. I signaled a porter to come help us with our luggage. He loaded up his cart and took us into the terminal, bypassing the long line. Apparently, all the people in line wanted to bring their own luggage onboard - without help. Therefore they had to be screened through a metal detector which slowed down the process. Why they chose to stay in that line instead of turning their luggage over to a porter is beyond me. After only 15 minutes we had turned in our luggage, checked in, and passed through security. Our feet touched the Promenade deck at 1:15 and the cruise began.

On the way home the situation was just as good, but in reverse. Immigration passed everyone with a US passport through with only a cursory glance. Non-US citizens were screened more closely. I suspect immigration was quick because the vast majority of the cruise took place in the state of Alaska with only a short stop in Victoria, Canada.

The Ship: The Sun Princess is about 12 years old. In some spots the age is showing, but overall the ship is in very good condition and it is well maintained. It also seemed especially stable. As usual, the crew was cleaning and painting the ship throughout the cruise. The atrium on the Sun class ships is very large and pretty. Unfortunately, the atrium elevators don't travel the entire height of the ship. They are limited to the four decks of the atrium space. Some folks in other online reviews have complained that the elevators are slow on the Sun. Well, all I can say is I usually took the stairs if for no other reason than it's the healthy choice and saved time. Leave the elevators to the infirm and those traveling more than 4-5 decks. When I used the elevators to travel from deck 5 to deck 14, I thought it was annoying that so many healthy people were using the elevator just to rise 1 or 2 decks.

The Food: On a cruise, food in of paramount importance. Overall, the food on the Sun Princess was very good. I appreciate that the ship has a Sterling Steakhouse onboard. Even though they lack an exclusive venue, using an isolated section of the buffet instead, we did enjoy the food and atmosphere. As usual, the beef was excellent and cooked exactly as ordered. However, I think they need to do something to improve the quality of their side dishes. Sadly, Gene and I both thought the buffet was lacking in selection - especially at breakfast. But I did like the freshly prepared omelets. I would say the Sun Princess buffet was better than that on the Regal Princess, but not as good as on the Grand class ships. Late in the cruise we did go to the Verdi's restaurant. It was good but not terrific. The menu is limited. Gene enjoyed the calzone. I had a pizza and found it to be adequate. It's a true thin crust Italian style pizza, but the toppings available lacked creativity. Finally, the food in the dining room was excellent as usual. I'm hoping with the new menus that Princess is starting to distribute throughout the fleet they will do more to improve the presentation of their food in the main dining rooms.

The Service: We found the service by crew members to be as good as that on any Princess ship. Most impressive was our steward, Edison. He was the first person to actually read and follow our online Princess Profile. Our fruit preference was delivered on the first day and bath robes were waiting for us. He had the twin beds prepared as a king size bed (some stewards have made the wrong assumption that two men together aren't supposed to have the bed made up as a king). As has always been true for us on Princess, Edison was quiet, efficient, and had everything prepared on time. We had no extra requests because he took care of everything in advance.

We also enjoyed the one gay passenger gathering that Princess hosted. It was one of the largest we have been to with about 16 passengers present. The situation on the Sun Princess was unique. The bartender (Jose) and a waiter that are routinely assigned to the smallest lounge onboard were both gay. They hosted the gay passenger reception and basically assured us the tiny Rendez Vous bar was a "family" bar. So those of us who attended the reception were always welcomed and recognized on later nights when we dropped by. Jose even arranged to play music that's popular with gay folks (and straight too) and he sometimes had extra snacks available. Though the Rendez Vous wasn't exactly a gay bar, it was definitely mixed - especially in the evening. It felt like home.

Finally, we usually had dinner under the umbrella of the Anytime Dining program. This was our first cruise taking advantage of that flexible option and frankly, I didn't care for it. I learned I prefer to have the same dining time every night. We usually dined at the same table because we liked the waiter. But it a couple times we couldn't get a reservation for our preferred time. In the future I think we will stick with traditional dining even if it means we get the first seating assignment rather than our preferred second seating. The predictability of traditional dining fits us better than always having to think in advance about making a reservation or just walking up to find we must wait.

The Entertainment: We saw all the production shows plus a magician/comedian. We attended a few of the trivia games (always scoring in the top three) and we won three games. The shows were terrific with the exception of Extreme Country. It just wasn't my cup of tea though I do like some of the songs they used in the score including a Garth Brooks tune. We especially enjoyed Save the Last Dance. When I took the back stage tour in the Princess Theatre I found out that show is also a favorite among several of the singing and dancing cast members. Finally, for the fifth time we saw Piano Man. Usually we would not have gone to that show, but it was the first opportunity for my parents to see that show and since we think it is the best show Princess has, we wanted to tag along.

Sadly, I enjoyed the magician but apparently no one else in my family did. Gene thought he was boring and his act was "dumb." I admit, it was nothing fancy or amazing, but I found it simple, funny, and clean. I also appreciated that the magician spent a lot of his off stage time teaching the few kids on the ship how to do magic tricks. As a teacher, I appreciate when adults provide kids with some good clean fun that doesn't involve TV or video games.

The Ports: We liked them all. We spent the least time ashore in Ketchikan and the most in Skagway (though our time was dedicated more to the Yukon than the small town of Skagway). In the future, I would like to see Misty Fjord's National Monument in Ketchikan. Our greatest disappointment was that we ran out of time in Juneau. We wanted to see more of the city after we completed our scheduled tours, but we ran out of time since dinner scheduling became a problem. Also, there was insufficient time in Victoria. I think Princess could leave Victoria a little later and still make it back to Seattle by 6am.

The Passengers: Without a doubt, this was the oldest crowd we have cruised with in eight cruises over the last 18 months. And, unfortunately, is was also the most slovenly. Yes, I'll say it - I thought I was on vacation with a bunch of rednecks and cowboys - I just wish they would cruise on a line like NCL or Carnival which are geared more toward casual cruisers. Yet, I want to give credit where credit is due. Those that didn't want to dress up for dinner on formal nights went to the buffet or Italian restaurant instead of the formal dining rooms. However, on regular nights we saw plenty of jeans in the dining room and even baseball caps. I'm sorry, if you can't take your cap off in the dining room, then your momma didn't bring you up right! Yes, I am a snob and elitist. I am not a shit-kicker or a farmer or a Texan. Yeah, I'm ragging on Texans this time because the two ugliest moments on the cruise both involved folks from the state with the most bravado and is home of our least intelligent President.

In the first incident, a man from Texas was yelling at a crew member at the purser's desk. I assume he was from the Lone Star State because that's what it said on the thin T-shirt that barely covered his big belly. I don't know what the problem was, but it definitely wasn't a pretty situation and neither was he or his behavior.

In the second incident a lady from Texas was complaining in the elevator that when she paid for something in Canada and used US dollars, she got her change back in "useless" Canadian dollars. Hello! We were in CANADA dumb ass! The ugly American strikes again!

Ultimately, despite the rare nastiness of a tiny minority (not all Texans are obnoxious - but they seem to have more than their share) or the limited choices in the buffet, it was a wonderful cruise. The scenery was nothing short of spectacular - and especially so on the three sunny days of the cruise. Add to that the fact that we had no significant rain during the whole trip and I think I can easily state we were blessed by mother nature. The fact that we could celebrate Gene and his long term commitment to a company that has not always treated him well, and also share the cruise adventures with my parents (who dress very nicely <smile>) made for a terrific 7 day experience. I have no doubt we will see Alaska again some day. I remain a happy Princess Cruises customer.

We spent most of our day at sea, arriving in the capital of British Columbia at about 5:30pm. During our time at sea I went to a lecture about the place names of Alaska and I made a twenty dollar donation to the Princess Grand Casino. Fortunately, it took about an hour to make the donation, which is longer than usual.

There was thick fog along the coast of Vancouver Island which slightly slowed our progress. The captain used our horn to signal approaching ships when we were in the densest part of the fog bank.

When we arrived in Victoria we called Budget Rental Car and they sent their shuttle to the pier. We chose to rent a car and go to Butchart Gardens because the equivalent Princess tour was more expensive for four people than a car and paying our own admission. It was a logical choice. Besides, with a rental car we determined the pace of our evening and we didn't have to tag along with 50 other strangers - some of whom were sure to be obnoxious (more about that in my final review).

It had been 11 years since my last visit to the Butchart Gardens.We arrived at about 7pm. That left us half an hour to tour the sunken garden. Then we ate a lovely dinner in the Dining Room Restaurant which is located in the orignal home of the Butchart Family. We were seated in the beautiful conservatory wing - the same area in which Gene and I ate dinner back in the summer of 1996.

After dinner the sun had set. Most visitors were over in the fireworks viewing area. Because we knew we had to leave early, we toured the Japanese Garden and the Italian Garden, skipping the fireworks. The lighting in the Japanese garden was especially effective. And, the view over Butchart Cove at sunset was lovely.

We headed home at 9:45pm. I dropped everyone off at the cruise terminal then drove back downtown to return the rental car. I hopped onto a shuttle bus to return to the terminal and re-board the Sun Princess for the final night of our cruise. Gene and I had a nightcap on our balcony and then went to bed at about 11:30pm.