American-ish Samoa
I was beginning to drift out of sleep as we were pulling into Pago Pago when my phone jolted me out of my haze. A phone call when I am in that half asleep state immediately puts me on alert. … Continue reading American-ish Samoa
Author: Rich McClear
60 Years Together
Suzi and I met 60 years ago on January 20. We could not celebrate on January 20th because that day did not exist on Zaandam. It was the day we crossed over from American Samoa, east of the dateline to … Continue reading 60 Years Together
Two Fists Full of Sea Days
We are two weeks into the cruise, at about the time most cruises are either over or ending and we just seem to be getting started. On our 14 days we have had 4 port days and 10 at sea, … Continue reading Two Fists Full of Sea Days
Snowbirds
Snowbirds leave northern winters for warmer climes. In Alaska if they never winter over, they are chechakos. When they winter over, they become sourdoughs. As they get older many sourdoughs decide to go south for the winter and become snowbirds. … Continue reading Snowbirds
Fire Refugees
In Maui we went whale watching. But because of the fire in 2023 that destroyed the historic whaling town on Lahaina we docked at an industrial port, Kahului Harbor, on the other side of the island. We took a bus, … Continue reading Fire Refugees
Black Sand, Green Turtles
The last time we drove Saddle Road across the Big Island of Hawaii it was 1979, unpaved and car rental companies didn’t allow you to take their cars on this road. We read the fine print after we drove it. … Continue reading Black Sand, Green Turtles
Fountain of Fire
We got up early to be on the first tender because our friend, Karen, who lives on the Kona Coast of the Island of Hawaii offered to take us on an excursion and we had limited time in port. We … Continue reading Fountain of Fire
Luggage Saga, or is it Soggy Luggage?
When we got in from our whale watch we saw two bags sitting in the entry to the ship. THEY WERE OUR BAGS! But only two? Security approached us as we were looking at the bags and asked, somewhat accusingly … Continue reading Luggage Saga, or is it Soggy Luggage?
Aloha Hawaii.
I rolled over I bed and saw a red glow where the curtains parted. I grabbed my phone and my pants and went out onto our balcony. The sun was rising behind me. As we turned into Honolulu Harbor the … Continue reading Aloha Hawaii.
Counting Dominos, Too Much Fun!
The explorations café is loaded with games. Suzi, our friends John and Pam, and I play Mexican Train Dominos. There were 6 sets. (Our set is who knows where but not here, we may find it in Hawaii). We picked … Continue reading Counting Dominos, Too Much Fun!
A Different but Familiar Universe.
It’s not Déjà vu, it’s a little different from that. We’re sailing on our third R class Holland America Ship, Zaandam. All R classes have nearly identical floor plans but different decors, and with each going into dry dock at … Continue reading A Different but Familiar Universe.
San Diego Sidebars
And they’ll all want lifts to Brown’s Hotel ‘Cause some of them’s been travelin’ for quite a spell. All the way from Phil-a-del-fi-a (sic)NB On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe The San Diego Santa Fe railway station is … Continue reading San Diego Sidebars
Homeport San Diego
My homeport is Sitka but Holland America considers three Pacific cities to be it’s homeports, Seattle (company HQ), Vancouver and San Diego Koningsdam, Niew Amsterdam and Zaandam are currently homeporting in San Diego, but with Zaandam being gone for 93 … Continue reading Homeport San Diego
2026 MS Zaandam Grand Australia and New Zealand Voyage.
Ninety Three days, forty two ports counting San Diego. We will miss two ports because we are taking an 8 day overland trip riding two classic Australian trains, the India Pacific and Overland trains. See a list of posts below … Continue reading 2026 MS Zaandam Grand Australia and New Zealand Voyage.
Into the Mystic
I’m always nervous before traveling. I don’t relax until the plane rotates on takeoff and I watch Sitka glide by, catch a glimpse of my house, and fly into the mystic, the clouds that sometimes make Southeast Alaska Communities feel … Continue reading Into the Mystic
Prayers to St. Anthony
Our little red sutcase seems to have enjoyed its travels last cruise because it has convinced the rest of our baggage to go walkabout with it. FedEx, Contracted by Luggage Forward, picked up our bags on December 16th. According to … Continue reading Prayers to St. Anthony
2025 McClear Family Christmas Letter.
This is our family Christmas letter. Merry Christmas everyone! Continue reading 2025 McClear Family Christmas Letter.
Turning STEM into STEAM. Sitka Whalefest 2025
At Festivals I withdraw from daily life and immerse myself in something different and stimulating. Throughout the year Sitka gives me several chances to take such a staycation immersing myself in chamber music or jazz. But in November a long … Continue reading Turning STEM into STEAM. Sitka Whalefest 2025
Boardwalk Patterns
It’s been a while since I logged onto the blog. I have been posting on Facebook but have been busy enough that I haven’t done much writing. The last week we have had a succession of storms battering our coast. … Continue reading Boardwalk Patterns
The St. Croix River
Around a century ago Suzi’s grandfather bought some farmland along the St. Croix River off the main channel on Paige’s Slew. The St Croix is the boundary river between Minnesota and Wisconsin. It originally was an outlet for Glacial Lake … Continue reading The St. Croix River
People’s Republic of Seward
The Seward neighborhood in Minneapolis is an urban jungle. No, not in that way. This used to be a neighborhood of well-kept lawns in front of Sear’s Craftsman bungalows. But the neighborhood has gone wild, in a cultivated kind of … Continue reading People’s Republic of Seward
Making Noodles
“For those who love this dish there is nothing quite like real, home grown, spaghetti.” Thus ends the April 1, 1957, segment of Panorama on BBC TV. I, as a broadcaster, I am very familiar with this classic BBC broadcast … Continue reading Making Noodles
Our Middle Child, KAXE
In 1970, on Suzi’s 24th birthday, five friends sat around Sandie Anderson’s kitchen in Minneapolis and signed incorporation papers for what would become Northern Community Radio. All of us, Dave Molvik, Dale Constantine, Sandie, Suzi and I had been “utility … Continue reading Our Middle Child, KAXE
50th Winnipeg Folk Festival!
We weren’t there at the beginning, but darn close. The Winnipet Folk Festival was in 1974 to celebrate Winnipeg’s centennial. We first attended in 1976. This is the fiftieth because of two years lost to COVID. We’ve been to 41 … Continue reading 50th Winnipeg Folk Festival!