The Sea Witch Stole My Voice! Our Two Week Land and Sea Adventure! COMPLETE 4/12

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I think the hallways would make me feel a bit claustrophobic. I would need a room with a verandah.

The hallways by the rooms were tiny! Everywhere else on the ship they were nice and spacious. The halls by the rooms and the stateroom bathrooms were the only real indicators (when it came to the size of things) that we were on a ship.

 

[PopArtGal]

Awe, nothing beats Sound of music songs hehe

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Awe, nothing beats Sound of music songs hehe

Yep, I thought it was too funny that I even got my Dad singing along.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

After lunch our adventure continued, Dad informed us we were now going off trail and he was taking us up to the top of Lakeview Mountain. Well if any of you saw my Facebook messages while I was gone you know that this hike up the mountain did not go well for me.

First some more pictures from around the lake

So we have started the climb, so far things are going well, it was a tough climb but nothing traumatizing yet.

This is a view of the "twin lake", it was just over the hill from where we ate lunch.

Now see all the rocks and boulders in the picture? Well we had to climb up over those and they were not stable. You really had to watch your footing and test the rock where you wanted to step next to make sure it would not shift under your footing. The pictures do not really show exactly how steep the incline was so you will just have to believe me that it was steep.

So Alek, Erich and Dad motor on up to the top where the rocks end really quickly while I was moving really slowly. I was petrified, I thought I was going to slip and fall or one of the rocks was going to give out and I would fall so halfway up I froze and started crying, I was so scared. I figured out that I really do not like heights! So Alek, Erich and Dad were at the top having fun, goofing around, Erich even decided to climb back down to the bottom and "race" back up, he did it in 23 seconds! I, of course, saw all this while I was clinging to the rocks afraid for my life, Alek even took a video of Erich doing this, it was insane!

Alek eventually came to the top to see where I was and encouraged me to keep going, he took the walking stick from me so I would not have to deal with it while trying to climb. I eventually got to the top and when I did I sat down and had a good cry. My stinker brothers even took a picture of me crying.

Looking down at the lake we had left

Yes, that is snow!

We still had more climbing to do!

The view on the opposite side of the mountain

Now you are probably thinking it must have been pretty cold up there for there to still be snow in August but it wasn't at all.

Alek and Erich had a snowball fight and they got it on video, I won't post it though as there is some swearing but in the background you would have gotten to hear me complaining about a stupid fly that kept buzzing around me and my dad getting exasperated with me.

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

At this point we were almost to the top all we had to do was climb up another one of those crumbling rock cliffs again.

I started climbing before the rest of them since I was so slow. Well I guess they decided to climb up a different part than I did as I lost sight of them. I then began to panic again, this cliff was much steeper and much higher up than the previous one. I was completely frozen and couldn't move. I was already distressed from before and now I was a total and complete mess. I tried to push through and keep moving but I got to one part where I could not find a foothold that would not shift, I just could not move after that and so I clung to that rock wall for my life all the while crying my eyes out. I kept calling out for the others to see where they were but they didn't respond which caused me to cry even harder. Eventually I heard very faintly Alek calling my name. I responded and he showed up at the top. He was going to leave to go tell them he had found me but I begged him to stay, seeing him at the top made it seem like a much easier task to climb the rest of the way.

I later saw a video that Erich took of Dad and Alek arriving at the top of the mountain. After they did their little victory dance for getting to the top they looked around and couldn't find me. Here is a direct quote "Where's Lessa?","I don't know", "Oh ****" That is when they started to call out for me.

When I got to the top I had no emotion left to feel a sense of accomplishment, instead I felt sick with fear at being up so high and I was still sniffling. I think Dad felt bad, who would have figured that I would have such a fear of heights? I sure didn't!

I looked around and the views were magnificent, I don't know if I would put myself through that again. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't had to climb up those shifting rocks, I don't know, all I know is that I wanted down!

Well to get down we had to do down another shifting rock face! I was slow moving at this as well but I got down without another crying jag. I cut my legs and arms up pretty good on all the rocks, I even got a nice rip in my pants, right on the butt! I wasn't too sad about that though as they were only $10 and I had bought them specifically for the hike and wouldn't be wearing them again anyways.

Next we had to climb down a very steep flower meadow. It was very pretty but very hard to climb down.

At one point I slipped and fell and banged my leg up pretty badly, I had a nice purple bruise on my leg the next day. Of course I was already upset from earlier so this just sent me to crying again, I am such a wimp! When I stood up my ankle was hurting, I could still walk on it though.

We finally got back on the trail (thank god!) and it was smooth sailing from there.

I was so happy to get back to the car. We had seen some amazing sights but I would have been much happier if we had just stopped the hike at the lakes and not gone off path and up the mountain. It would have avoided my trauma, both physically and emotionally.

Back down the logging road we went until we emerged in farmland again.

Two hours later we were back in Vernon, the plan was to visit Grandma before going back to the house but we had to wait 30 minutes or so as it was her dinnertime. So what did we do? Dad took us to A&W again! I went into the bathroom and cleaned myself up a bit as I was completely coated in dirt.

We drained our root bears and then went to see Grandma. We told her about our day and she told us "That we are her best friends, and her nose" She always made us laugh.

Back at the house I immediately went down to my room to get some clean clothes so I could shower. I encountered Maria and Angelica in the rec room watching tv so I told them laughingly all about my trauma and showed them the rip in my pants. Angelica laughed but Maria just sat there frowning, okay.....

I felt so good after the shower, clean again!

Dinner that night was awkward. Once again Angelica did not eat with us. What made it awkward though was that Maria was obviously pissed off about something as she did not say a single word to anybody and sat there glaring and stabbing at her food. She wouldn't even talk to dad. Alek tried to make light of the situation by joking but he was met with silence. Awkward!

We had been planing on watching a movie with Dad that night but he was informed that she was going to bed at 9pm and that there was going to be no movie as "it would keep her awake", even though the tv room is nowhere near their bedroom..... She basically told Dad that we was going to bed too. What a witch!

We were still all completely baffled as to why she was angry. We had been gone all day so what could we possibly have done to offend her!

Sunset, you can see how the smoke is making everything hazy.

We had no plans other than to veg around the house all day the next day with a possible last hike the day before we left. I had a feeling that was not going to happen though as we were all pretty tired.

 

[carissanboys]

Hey Lessa! I'm finally all caught up (man - I feel like I've said that a thousand times lately).

I am so loving hearing about the cruise and seeing pictures! And it really has me convinced that I want to try it out one day. Can't wait for more.

I'm also caught up on your BC TR. Still loving the beautiful pictures. It sounds like your dad was really excited to share his new home with you guys and show you the beauty of the area.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hey Lessa! I'm finally all caught up (man - I feel like I've said that a thousand times lately).

I am so loving hearing about the cruise and seeing pictures! And it really has me convinced that I want to try it out one day. Can't wait for more.

I'm also caught up on your BC TR. Still loving the beautiful pictures. It sounds like your dad was really excited to share his new home with you guys and show you the beauty of the area.

I think you would like cruising. You get to relax on your sea days and explore new places and see beautiful sites on your port days. A nice mix of relaxation and adventure.

Yeah, I think he definitely was showing off his new home. He keeps pushing for us to move out there, maybe he wants us to move out there so badly so he can have an escape from his horrid wife.

 

[englishrose47]

Lessa I sooo feel your fearof the Hike !! When I wnt on the cruise to Jamaica, we climbed Dunn Falls !!I was petrified !! NEVER again!!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Lessa I sooo feel your fearof the Hike !! When I wnt on the cruise to Jamaica, we climbed Dunn Falls !!I was petrified !! NEVER again!!!!

I felt so silly afterwards being so scared but when I was up there on those rocks and they kept moving under my feet and I looked down and it was such a long way down well I couldn't help but freak out.

 

[englishrose47]

Lessa I know the feeling !!!Ionce totaly froze climbing up inside a Windmill and coldnot go down

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Mom and I relaxed in the room for a bit before getting dressed for the night.

We watched a bit of An American Girl Movie:Chrissa. It was all about bullying and mean girls. Girls are horrible and I am ashamed to admit that back when I was in middle school I was horrible too.

It was formal night so after getting into my dress I pulled out my strappy heels. Well my feet were so swollen still that it was near impossible to get them on and they were uncomfortable once on. I had another pair of dressy shoes but they hurt even worse than the strappy shoes. I decided to suck it up, it was only for a few hours and most of that time I would be sitting down anyways.

Minnie Mouse was out for photos in her formal dress near the theatre. The line was already pretty long so I decided I didn't need my picture with her.

Once again we showed up nice and early for the show. Tonight it was The Golden Mickeys which is Disney's play on the Academy Awards and they went all out with this theme. I was very much looking forward to this show as I always read glowing reviews about it.

Once they opened the doors Mom and I headed in to scout out some good seats. Initially I went right for the front row dead center but then I reconsidered as it was a bit too close to get pictures of the whole stage. So we moved over to the side and grabbed some seats right on the aisle towards the middle of the theatre. This ended up being the best place to sit both for our view and for taking pictures. I could take pictures/watch the show without peoples heads getting in the way thanks to being on the aisle and I could get good close-ups plus overall views of the stage. Perfect spot

Once again the servers were out in full force catering to your every alcoholic need. Mom and I chose not to imbibe, we are not big drinkers.

A fun part of the Golden Mickeys is that as you arrive for the show you walk down the "red carpet" before getting to the theatre. "Rona Rivers" was there "live on the red carpet" to interview various people (mostly kids) as they arrived for the "award show". She would ask them such things as "Who are you wearing?", "Who selected your outfit?", "Who is your favourite Disney character?", and "Who are you hoping to see tonight?". It was incredibly cute especially the little boys all decked out in their little tuxes. These interviews were aired on a big screen inside the theatre so you got to watch them as you waited for the show to start.

Rona Rivers

Soon the show started, it started like any award show would with a song and dance.

Once the opening number was over things start to "go wrong". The host of the award show has not arrived and so a stage technician is forced into the role of host for the show.

We are treated to a "live" speech from Roy Disney.

After that the show really started. Each Disney film that was "nominated/won" in its category had a number. I don't remember which film was meant to represent each category but each musical number was fantastic! I took TONS of pictures and since I was told not to scrimp on the pictures I am going to post nearly all of them. Video and flash photography are strictly forbidden in the shows which makes photographing the shows difficult.

First up was Snow White

Those are meant to be birds flying around her, they were moving too quickly for the camera to capture without the blur.

A cute part of the Snow White number was when several of the children were brought up onto to the stage as the seven dwarves. I thought that was really sweet that some lucky children got to participate in the show.

Continued in next post

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Next up was The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Then Tarzan, all the ladies in the theatre appreciated his "performance".

Mulan

Then there was another little Tarzan number but with Turk and the shows host

Then Elvis Stitch came out to play around with the host

After the interlude with the host Ursula showed up for The Little Mermaid. They had her face up on the screen and then they actually had octopus tentacles coming out of the stage and moving around. I wonder if this is when the sea witch placed her curse on me to steal my voice or if she had done that already when I saw her back at Hollywood Studios?

101 Dalmations, this was one of my favourite numbers of the night.

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[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Yes, Cruella has her minions jumping through hoops, hilarious!

Toy Story

Time for another interlude with the host and a Lady and the Tramp song. The host got serenaded with "Bella Notte".

Sleeping Beauty

Pocahontas

The Lion King

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[Lifelong_Dreamer]

The stage tech/host then came out all dolled up in a fancy dress and her hair done up. She gave a "speech" about how she never thought she could do something like this and it helped her realize she can do anything, yada yada yada. She sang a little song

Then the final number

I LOVED this show, it was amazing, fantastic and everything I hoped it would be. Disney Cruise Line definitely knows how to put on a good stage show. Definitely broadway quality type theatre, not to be missed!

Click here to continue

 

[jcc0621]

Wow!

I got nothing but...

Wow!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Wow!

I got nothing but...

Wow!

I trust that is a good wow.

This wasn't even the best of the three main stage shows.

 

[ladybugmom]

Another WOW here!! That show looks AMAZING!!

 

[GeminiAngel]

You are the TR master! Awesome job!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Another WOW here!! That show looks AMAZING!!

You are the TR master! Awesome job!

Thanks guys, you are good for my self-esteem.

Disney really knows how to put on a show, I was super impressed.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Oh my goodness! That hike was a definite dosey!!! Good thing you didn't break something! Did you ever figure out what was Maria's deal???

That show looks great! Your pictures turned out wonderful...it's so hard to photograph without flash sometimes and you did it! I can't wait to see your formal dinner! Hope you got some pix of you and mom all decked out!