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Alaska Retreat Sixty-nine retreatants returned to cruise again with 247 fellow members as TOPS went North to Alaska in 2005. What an adventure everyone had.
Among the retreatants were several members of TOPS Board of directors
and TOPS President.
One outstanding couple returning for this second TOPS Cruise are John
and Gail Bent. John and Gail renewed their wedding vows on their 40th
anniversary aboard ship. Gail had to take in her prom dress to fit for
the occasion. Since the Caribbean cruise, she lost almost 200 pounds
and earned honors as international queen runner up. She and John were
Washington State King and Queen.
Retreat directors Terri Ord, Cynthia Mack and Barb Cady facilitated
sessions for all and helped us keep focused on our mission while all
had a great time.
Tops members walked briskly every day and were awarded with a sticker
for every four laps. They so inspired other passengers on Board that the
Walking coaches gave out over 7,000 stickers to TOPS and other
passengers who joined us in moving more.
When at sea, we attended sessions, sipped hot pea soup, shared successes
and encouragement, dined sensibly, line danced, had fun visiting and
participating in ship board activities and took thousands of pictures of
the Chocolate Midnight Madness. (Pictures have no calories!)
We visited glaciers, watched them calf, kayaked in frigid water, enjoyed
beautiful rain forests and enjoyed whales, seals, polar bears, puffins,
moose and bald eagles free in the nature environments. We helicoptered,
fished for salmon, walked on glaciers, viewed precious icons in Russian
Orthodox Churches and saw native Russian dances, saw totems and Eskimo
lodges, and rode Harleys in the wild!
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