The strong wind gusts have now affected two of our port stops, Koper, Slovenia, and Katakolon (Olympia), Greece. All-day-at-sea today means we miss out on seeing Ancient Greece, the site of the first Olympic Games, but at least we’re headed for warmer temperatures and calmer waters. As a result of yesterday’s time changes, it was still dark when I got out of bed this morning for the first time on this cruise.

As I stepped out on the promenade deck for my morning laps around the boat, I noticed we were nowhere near land, and that today’s activities would undoubtedly be altered. As the bow of the Viking Star cut into the choppy surf ahead, the boat rocked and rolled unsteadily. Walking was a challenge, let alone running, as I weaved about like a drunken sailor, knowing I only had three martinis last night. Also, the wind tossed me back-and-forth like a child’s rag doll, either pushing me forward in a mad dash or stopping me cold in my tracks, depending on the direction I was moving. For half a lap, it was behind me with a forward thrust, but as I rounded the bow of the boat each time it was fiercely in my face. For twelve laps, 3-miles, I fought its forces, hoping that it didn’t shove me over the edge and into the water. I tried to stay on the inside of the deck, using the rail for occasional support, but on one occasion I stumbled and the side pocket of my windbreaker caught on a stairway rail, ripping my coat down the seam. Before the pocket tore away, momentum spun me around like I was dancing with a partner who had hold of my hand. Fortunately, it was sixty-degrees, the warmest temperatures we’ve encountered on this trip; it was not the cold, stiff wall of wind that I jogged against in Amsterdam, but just as challenging. In today’s case, I was like a pinball careening from side-to-side, rail-to-rail in a wind tunnel. 

As I left the promenade deck with my tattered coat, the crew was putting “Closed due to High Winds” signs on the exit doors. Thanks for the warning!I’m still glad I didn’t have to run on the treadmill, grasping the side handles to keep from falling off, as was the case with our last cruise. By the time I weaved my way back to our stateroom, the announcements of itinerary changes were starting to take place, and breakfast was delivered. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get to see the Olympic birthplace ruins in the shadow of Mt. Kronos, but I certainly understand the brutality of these winds. I would have to say, it was one of the more challenging three miles that I’ve ever run during the course of my streak of now 3,375 consecutive days. I will always remember it as my “Rag Doll Run,” and will have to see a seamstress or buy a new windbreaker when we get back home.

The ragdoll is one of the oldest child’s toys made from spare scraps of material. One was found in a Roman child’s grave dating from the first to fifth century AD. The most famous is probably Raggedy Ann, with her mop of red hair. Knowing that my windbreaker now needs “stitches” made me think of this popular character created by American writer Johnny Gruelle back in 1915. Raggedy would have been a tragedy in this morning’s fierce winds, so I’m glad I was a much heavier version, though I felt like a child’s toy helplessly tossed about by the cruel wind. I’m just glad I never heard these words: “Rag Doll Overboard – man the lifeboats!”

There are lectures, cooking classes, wine tastings, and meet-and-greets to take our minds off missing the much-anticipated Olympic ruins tour. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is disappointed. The rowdy winds on the first day of our cruise also caused us to miss the port of Koper and a stop in the country in Slovenia. There were many who hoped to cross it off their lists of total countries visited. It too will have to wait for another visit to this area. We now look forward to the volcanic island of Santorini and its whitewashed, cubiform houses, and deep blue Aegean waters. Maybe we’ll get a little sunshine on these white, rag-doll-like legs?