Entry 54
September 6, 2011
We are back in town safe and sound. It was a great trip. We've posted photos.
Margaret and I took her mom, Greta, on a cruise to Alaska that started in Vancouver and ended in San Francisco 12 days later. The Alaska part of the cruise was pretty damp and cool but we went prepared. Once we reached Prince Rupert the weather improved and the seas (even west of Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island) stayed quite moderate. We saw lots of marine mammals; Humpback, Fin, Gray, and Orca whales as well as multiple pods of porpoises. While clear skies were at a premium on the Alaskan portion of the inland passage, the blue, grey and white tone on tones were still beautiful set against the mountainous backdrop.
Very early morning on the 10th Deck as we neared the pier in San Francisco.
That's Alcatraz in the background. Click on image to enlarge.
After the cruise, we hung out in San Francisco for an additional 3 days, exploring the city and area. We took the 49 Mile Scenic Tour, got up to charming Sonoma and the Napa Valley, wandered down to Cupertino and visited the Stanford University/Palo Alto area. Margaret and I have been to SF twice now in the last two years for multiple days and have really come to appreciate it. I don't know if it is possible to get a bad meal there.
Margaret's mom did very well managing most of the trip from her lightweight transporter wheelchair. All I can say is that if I make it to 92 and have her kind of moxy I will be very pleased. She is quite the lady.
Today I had an appointment with my urologist, Jeff Saranchuk to discuss the results of Friday's blood tests and with Gayle Nikol, the Primary Nurse at the Manitoba Prostate Centre to have my third Zoladex injection. My PSA levels remain undetectable.
The next injection in December will be followed by a "drug holiday" of up to one year. There is evidence that the antiandrogen drug that is administered intermittently is as effective as that given continuously. I will still have blood tests and assessments every three to four months for the year. Apparently it takes a while for the PSA to rise. When the PSA reaches a significant level, most likely in whole numbers, the hormone therapy will resume.
