Scenes from a Roadtrip (Read 8,166 times)

[Kpatch]

Ciara and Claire are taking my dream trip. I would love to go to the Pike Place Market and the original Starbucks. Chocolate covered cherries are a Northwest delicacy. They should also go to Fran's Chocolates and The Dilettante.

[fluffysmom]

What a fun day! I want some cherries and a frapuccino.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 13

HARBOR
The next morning, the girls had to get up early again. But, this time, they stood in line for a ship that was coming into the harbor.
CIARA: Look at that ship! It's huge!
The ship they stood in line for was a luxurious cruise liner. The ship was named the Sapphire Princess.
CLAIRE: It's beautiful!
It took a while, but eventually, Ciara and Claire got on board.

SAPPHIRE PRINCESS
It was even more beautiful on the inside. The girls looked in wonder as they made their way to their cabin.
CIARA: Wow!
CLAIRE: Can you believe this?
CIARA: It's amazing!
CLAIRE: I know!
Soon enough, the girls found their cabin. It had a bunk bed, television, dresser, closet, two chairs, and attached bathroom.
CIARA: I call top bunk.
CLAIRE: I'll take the bottom.
The girls began putting their clothes into the closet and the dresser. After a few moments, they heard a whistle, and then a voice.
CAPTAIN (VO): Good morning, ladies and gentlemen...
The girls jumped.
CLAIRE: What was that?
CAPTAIN (VO): This is your captain speaking...
Quite soon, the girls found the speaker in the corner of the room.
CLAIRE: Oh.
The girls laughed.
CAPTAIN (VO): Welcome aboard the Sapphire Princess. We hope that you will enjoy your time here. Throughout this next week, we shall be visiting three cities in the southern region of Alaska: Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. We will also be traveling the coast of Canada and Alaska, so there will be plenty of opportunity for you to look around. We shall be heading out to sea in just a moment. Once again, please enjoy your stay.
The girls continued unpacking. After a few minutes, they heard a loud whistle, and felt the ship, very slowly, begin to move.
CIARA: Here we go.
CLAIRE: This is so exciting!
CIARA: I know!
CLAIRE: This reminds me of when I was a little kid and mom and dad took me on the Fancy Face IV! Except, this is a lot bigger! You've been on ships before, right?
CIARA: Nope.
CLAIRE: Never?
CIARA: Never. Mom and dad never took me sailing, for whatever reason. I've always wanted to go, though.
CLAIRE: And now you finally are.
CIARA: Yeah. So, what do you wanna do?
CLAIRE: I have no idea. The ship is so big!
CIARA: We could take a look around, if you want.
CLAIRE: Sounds great. Let's go.
The girls headed out to explore the ship.

[heroicmuse]

Oooh. I've always wanted to go on a ship too. I'm glad I will get to go on this one vicariously.

[fluffysmom]

The cruise to Alaska sounds interesting. I'm looking forward to exploring the ship.

[Kpatch]

They ARE taking my dream vacation. Someday we want to take a cruise to Alaska. I liked the mention of Claire on the Fancy Face IV with her parents. Who's funding this trip? Do they have any extra for me?

[André DiMera]

Chapter 14

SAPPHIRE PRINCESS
Ciara and Claire spent that day, as well as the next, exploring the decks of the Sapphire Princess. Their second morning on the ship, they were sitting down to breakfast.
CIARA: This place is amazing!
CLAIRE: It's so cool!
CIARA: How'd you like the buffet?
CLAIRE: It was great! How'd you like it?
CIARA: So good!
CLAIRE: All that food! It all looks so good!
CIARA: There's so much of it, too. We could probably eat there every meal every day and still not have tasted everything there.
CLAIRE: Well, I hear they change it up every other day.
CIARA: How is that possible? It seems like they have every food imaginable.
CLAIRE: I know! And, that games room was awesome!
CIARA: Did you play that Star Wars game?
CLAIRE: There's a Star Wars game?
CIARA: Yeah. It's that really old one Shawn and Belle had when they were kids.
CLAIRE: I need to see this!
Then, they heard the usual whistle that meant that the captain was coming over the P.A.
CAPTAIN (VO): Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. We hope you've all slept well, and are enjoying your time on the Sapphire Princess. Just wanted to let you all know that we'll be coming into our first port of call, Ketchikan, Alaska, within the next hour. For those of you who wish to get out and explore please feel free to do so at any time during the day. We will be docked there until 5 o'clock this evening. Current local time is 10 o'clock in the morning.
CIARA: I'll show you tonight when we get back on the ship.
The girls finished their food and went back to their room. They were both getting their backpacks that they had bought for this trip.
CLAIRE: Do you think we should bring our coats?
CIARA: It's Alaska in February. I think I would be a good idea.
CLAIRE: Okay.
The girls got their coats and backpacks, and headed out.

ALASKA RAINFOREST SANCTUARY – KETCHIKAN, ALASKA
A few hours later, the girls were on a nature walk through a rainforest. They were trying their best to be quiet, just in case any animals showed up.
CLAIRE (whispering): Look at that.
Claire pointed up. In a tree above the girls was a large, black bird.
CIARA (whispering): Is that a crow?
CLAIRE (whispering): It's too big to be a crow. I think it's a raven.
Indeed, it was. The raven opened its mouth and let out a deep “ka-kaw!”. The girls continued walking. Along the way, they heard a howling sound.
CIARA (whispering): What's that?
CLAIRE (whispering): It's nothing. Just a wolf.
CIARA (whispering): Just a wolf?
CLAIRE (whispering): Yeah.
Claire walked a little further, with Ciara closely behind. They came upon a small cave, but stood well back. Outside the cave were six full sized wolves, and two smaller wolves. The largest of them all let out a howl, which the other five adult wolves returned. The girls knelt down and tried their best to stay out of sight. Claire pointed at one.
CLAIRE (whispering): See that one? The big one? That's the Alpha. The leader of the pack.
CIARA (whispering): Whoa.
CLAIRE (whispering): Look at the cubs.
The two smaller wolves had begun play fighting with each other. The girls smiled to each other and chuckled.
CIARA (whispering): They're so cute.
CLAIRE (whispering): They're adorable.
The girls stayed and watched the wolves a bit longer, then quietly left.

[heroicmuse]

OMG the Alaskan rainforest is beautiful! I was going to ask if you had a photo to go with this chapter but I don't have to, really, after your description. I had to laugh at Ciara saying it's Alaska in February. DUH of course they need coats!

[Kpatch]

I love this virtual trip to the Northwest. André DiMera, I presume you've been to all the places you take us on a guided tour of.

[André DiMera]

I've been to most of them, Kpatch. The only one I haven't been to is Fargo, which is why that chapter is pretty nondescript.

I'm glad you're all enjoying the story so far!

[fluffysmom]

The rain forest sounds very cool. I'm enjoying the journey.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 15

SAPPHIRE PRINCESS
Ciara and Claire enjoyed their time in Ketchikan, and were sorry when it was time to get back on the boat. However, they were looking forward to their next adventure: Juneau. That evening, the girls were unpacking their backpacks.
CIARA: I still can't believe you actually bought that.
CLAIRE: It's a gag gift.
CIARA: It's called Puffin Poop Soap!
CLAIRE: It's supposed to be funny!
CIARA: It sounds gross.
Claire took out a small bar of soap and sniffed it.
CLAIRE: But it smells so good!
Ciara made a face.
CLAIRE: Oh, come on. It's no worse than that Moose Droppings ice cream you love.
CIARA: I guess.
Claire got out her phone.
CLAIRE: Did you text your pictures to grandma and grandpa?
Ciara shook her head.
CIARA: I didn't get any pictures. I forgot to plug my phone in last night and it died.
CLAIRE: That sucks.
CIARA: Yeah.
CLAIRE: Well, I'll send mine to grandma and grandpa. And, I'll send them to you, too.
CIARA: Okay, thanks.
The girls ate dinner and played in the arcade for a while. Then, they went back to the room.
CIARA: Are you as tired as I am?
CLAIRE: Definitely. It's been fun, though.
CIARA: It totally has!
After sitting up and talking for a while, the girls got changed into their pajamas.
CLAIRE: Well, I don't know about you, but I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open.
CIARA: So am I.
Ciara and Claire stood up.
CIARA: Well, good night, Bear.
CLAIRE: Night, Ci.
The girls hugged, and Ciara climbed up the ladder to the top bunk.
CLAIRE: Sleep good.
CIARA: You too.
They were asleep almost before their heads hit the pillows. It had been a great day, though. The next morning, Claire woke up early. Try as she might, she could not go back to sleep. After trying to for an hour, Claire got up, as quietly as she could so as not to wake Ciara. She got some clothes and a swimming suit and walked out of the room. A few hours later, Ciara woke up. Not seeing Claire anywhere, she got her clothing on and went to look for her. She walked down the decks until she got to the swimming pool. There, she found her best friend. Claire did a back flip into the water. She saw Ciara once she came up for air, swam to the side of the pool, and climbed out.
CIARA: Hey.
CLAIRE: Hey.
CIARA: How'd you sleep?
CLAIRE: Good, until about six. You?
CIARA: Great.
CLAIRE: That's good. You wanna jump in? The water's really nice.
CIARA: Sure. I'll go and get changed.
CLAIRE: Great. Hey, what time are we supposed to be docking in Juneau?
CIARA: Not until around noon, I think.
CLAIRE: Gotcha.
CIARA: Anyway, I'll be back in a minute.
CLAIRE: Cool.
Ciara walked away to get her swimming suit, as Claire did a cannon ball into the water.

[heroicmuse]

Hahaha Puffin Poop Soap!

Was Claire just excited or was she still thinking about her parents and what Jan claimed and all that?

[Kpatch]

Hope that pool is heated. It's cold all year round in Alaska.

Looking forward to more of the trip.

[André DiMera]

heroicmuse, it was mostly excitement. However, there was a little bit of something else in there, seeing as this is Claire's first big trip without her parents.

And now...

Next Week...

The Alaskan adventure continues.
A familiar face is found on the ship.
The girls head back to Washington, as the cruise ends.