I could not find time to write Friday’s story on Saturday, meaning I will combine Friday and Saturday this evening.

Friday

The morning started with Deborah rushing off to her last sessions at the Long Beach Convention Center conference. I made Deborah coffee in the room, finishing all my Dunkin Donuts Kruge capsules. The hotel housekeeping had supplied us with extra coffee. We both had a cup before all the usual stuff to get ready.

Deborah was off to sessions, so I went to find a new breakfast place. Creme De La Crepe got my attention, so I abandoned my location and sat down to enjoy an excellent breakfast of buckwheat flour crepes stuffed with sausage and cheese. It was wonderful and no more expensive than breakfast the day before.

I wrote the blog there while I ate slowly. It seemed a friendly place to write. They were OK with me staying extra time to write.

Sadly, I had a problem and had to use the bathroom often. This was likely caused by the food on the QM, which was too rich for me. Still, it made for an uncomfortable afternoon.

I walked (with a few stops) to the CVS pharmacy about a mile from our hotel, The Hyatt Regency. The part of Long Beach was with barred windows and some security guards. The primary language was Spanish. At the CVS, I got Deborah her needed vitamins and OTC allergy meds. I then walked back to the hotel. It was a long walk made with some enthusiasm to reach the next restroom! The issue soon faded.

Deborah was done about 1ish, and we had lunch at Waba Grill’s excellent and inexpensive chicken and beef with veggies over rice. Deborah wanted to check out some final items at the conference expo, so I headed to the room. Soon, Deborah turned up in the room, more coffee was made, and soon we headed out for dinner.

King’s Fish House is a local place that serves live lobster (in tanks) and the usual expense report-priced meals. We went more basic with simple items, and Deborah thought she could get a better piece of salmon in Troy, Michigan. Mine was not salmon, but I thought it was good for a white fish. We had coffee (our drinks were slow coming, and the meal was done before we finished them). The dessert was shared, bread pudding with locally made ice cream, which was excellent. Overall, the fish joint was a leftover from the 1990s with high prices and the usual overcooked and under-flavored fish of corporate restaurants.

We stayed up late, looking at travel options and things to do in Long Breach, until almost midnight. Saturday

Saturday

We did not rise with an alarm and spent the morning drinking coffee in bed and enjoying a slow morning together. We finally looked for breakfast late in the morning and picked Creme De La Crepe for Deborah to try. We enjoyed the sunny, warmish morning, walking ten minutes to the place. There, Deborah enjoyed a crepe stuffed with cheese and other goodies. I had the old-school Egg’s Benedict. It was all good.

We walked to the breach area for another ten minutes and then to the Pacific Ocean for another ten minutes. There is a vast beach of sand to cross. Deborah was happy to touch the cold water. We then walked back through the marina and the tourist area to Chili’s.

Along the way, there is a wall of locks, like in France on some bridges. Deborah and I buy a lock, engrave our initials on it, and add them to the many. Romantic!

(The brass lock is ours)

(We did not buy with all my 401K an investment in a pirate ship)

At Chili’s, we sat outside and had drinks and a few snacks. We then stood in line and boarded our whale-watching tour boat. There were long rollers or swelling-like slow-moving waves, sometimes multi-feet tall. We soon found a gray whale to look at. I just saw some of it, and Deborah saw more.

Next, we hear the announcer stumble on words as Killer Whales are visible. They don’t see them here. This is unique! We got a clear view of them multiple times, and folks even applauded. I have never seen a Killer Whale in the wild. Sorry, dear reader, my only pictures are fins, as I missed the better shots. It made the whole trip worth the price!

Aside: With my brain surgery and loss of some of my balance-controlling structures, it was a question if I was safe on boats and what would happen. All was good.

Dinner was a shared pizza at the California Pizza Kitchen across the street from the Convention Center. The bread and the pizza were excellent bread products. Better than the usual.

After that, I wrote this blog, I am tired, but I wanted to get something out before I forget everything.

Thanks for reading.

Aside: Mom Wild is now moved to a facility. She moved in today.