Cruising the Eby Way

This is an article about the joy of cruising to Avalon Bay in Catalina Island, California. It is written by Gary Eby, whose new book, The Eby Way, will be released this September by Sterlinghousepublisher.com.

Boarding the Carnival Cruise ship, we walk up the ramp, and are impressed by the enormous size of the white boat structure with wings of red as smoke stacks. The on-board elevator quickly takes us up six decks to the Lido area.

The walls are decorated with colors of abalone shells. We stop for awhile to sample the buffet, and try the exotic drink of the day served in a pink, Carnival, souvenir goblet.

Choppy waves, gray seas, overcast sky: the first day of cruising spent with some unease about the lack of sunshine. But, it is also a day of relaxation, laughter, and quiet contemplation.

From our cabin portal, the ocean dances and swirls in hypnotic, constant motion. Sea foam and baby white-cap waves punctuate water rhythms, which glide and sway as far as the eye can see. Sleep came easily that first night.

A new day of cruising, spent in eager observation from the Veranda deck, looking out at Catalina Island and Avalon Bay. The sky cleared with patch-quilt clouds and splotches of powder blue, spinning hot sunshine on my neck and face.

Sea gulls dip, dive, and soar effortlessly. Some land on our guard rail; others waddle close to our blue deck chairs.

The ocean is much calmer today. I imagine it looks like a giant, dark and purple, silk scarf that nature uses to capture endless, rippling water, and to catapult soft, fresh, cool breezes our way.

Island mountains, further in the background, resemble a family of prehistoric, green and brown, spotted lizards. Small, white, leisure boats are moored peacefully in AvalonBay. A solitary parasail peacefully floats by, painted blue, yellow, green, and orange. And in the center of my vision, the vertical and square structures of Avalon nest white, pink, yellow, and red as a gleaming, pristine, portrait of modern art.

On the Lido, one deck below us, Reggae music flows with its distinctive, undulating rhythms, and steel-drum sounds. Our senses are further enhanced as my wife and I drink several blended and lime flavored Margaritas.

To my amazement, I spot a school of Dolphins jumping wildly out of the water in cadence with the slight pitching motion of our ship. These sea clowns brought a smile to my face as I sat totally enthralled by their entertainment.

In a flash the show ended, replaced again by the infinite view of the sea. Taking another deep breath of the pleasantly cool, salty air, my eyes roamed the undulating horizon.

There in the distance between our ship and the horizon, jets of sea spray cascade down like fountains from the blow holes of mighty whales. Oh my; what a glorious sight to behold.

Unfortunately, the pod of whales, vanish too quickly from my view. I feel my eyelids grow heavy with absolute peace and contentment.

Such a cruise, like this one, is well worth remembering. I will return there often in my mind’s eye to bask in the joy of being alive and at peace in the mystical embrace of Avalon Bay.