Page 254 - Michael Frost-Voyages to Maturity-23531.indd

Princess Patricia approaching Skagway

And there, on the end of the cruise ship pier in Vancouver, lay Princess
Patricia, a vessel of some antiquity, operated by CP Rail, that operated a series
of Alaska cruises. I enquired, and found that there might be a position available,
for which I had a very pleasant interview with Mr Yates, the company Marine
Superintendent. I had lucked out again; his son-in-law, whom I knew reasonably
well, was in my law-class. It appeared that CPR operated a number of ships, a
Victoria-Port Angeles ferry, a Vancouver-Nanaimo ferry, and a couple of smaller
rail-car ferries between the mainland and Vancouver Island. Asked whether I
would mind the summer on the Alaska cruise run, my response did not take long
to formulate; I was to be 3rd mate this time, but that was because CP had a solid
slate of long-term officers.

So, we made our plans. Instead of Judith staying around at home for the
summer, we elected for her and David to fly down to Port of Spain (Trinidad and
Tobago) where her parents were now stationed and rent out our house. I would
work for CPR (they liked the idea that I wanted NO leave) and we would resume
family bliss in early September. Before we did so, we had Malcolm over for dinner,
and Judith invited over one of her friends from Eatons (with the unlikely name
of Mardi), a darkly attractive young lady. Malcolm had obtained employment
elsewhere and was in a good enough mood to enjoy a convivial evening. And
he did, though I was interested in seeing how his low-keyed charm worked so
well on the fairer sex. Not that I now needed any help, but it was a joy to watch a
master at work.

253