Day 342, Year 6: Lost in the South Pacific
Date: Saturday, October 1, 2011
Weather: Rainy Overnight, Clearing During the Day, Temps in the Low70’s
Location: Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
On October 1, 2005, we were in Shipyard Quarters Marina in Charlestown, Massachusetts, making the final preparations for our voyage around the world. Heather and Jed, Justin and friend Jeremy, and Mark’s brother, sister, and brother-in-law were there with us on that day to help us. What a special October first.
On October 1, 2006, we were on the second day of passage from Samoa to the Kingdom of Tonga. Our visit to Samoa was very special because our son Justin joined us for his 29th birthday. Many things were special about Tonga, but seeing the mother and baby humpback whales was such a thrill.
On October 1, 2007, we were in Ouvea in the Loyalties, New Caledonia, enjoying more than twenty-five miles of white sand beach with no people to be found and the most beautiful turquoise tropical waters one can imagine.
On October 1, 2008, we were exploring one of the twenty-seven paradise islands in the Karimunjawa Archipelago in Indonesia with our son Justin and his wife Jo.
On October 1, 2009, we were right here on Cape Cod visiting with Heather, Jed, Jonah, and Sam while Windbird awaited our return in Langkawi, Malaysia.
On October 1, 2010, we were in Moramba Bay in Madagascar in a fairy land of baobab trees, lemurs, and tiny mushroom-shaped limestone islets.
And on October 1, 2011, we are back on Cape Cod, but this time we are here with Windbird. It was cool and rainy when we got up this morning, but the rain let up a little just at the time I took Mark to shore in the dinghy. He worked all day at West Marine and I got lost in the South Pacific. I was trying to write about our second year in the South Pacific when we visited Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. I didn’t get very far because I kept getting lost reading logs from some of the most beautiful places on earth. By the end of the day, I began to question my sanity. Why are we here where it is cool and rainy when we could be on some beautiful tropical island? I got my answer in the late afternoon when I went to Heather and Jed’s for a birthday celebration for Heather. When I see those two blonde-headed little boys, I know exactly why we are here. It is going to get very cold, but Sam and Jonah will bring sunshine to us throughout the cold New England winter. And at some point, we’ll fly to New Mexico to get a little Ziggy sunshine. So tomorrow I will continue writing about our adventures. I’ll continue to get lost in beautiful places, but hopefully I’ll make it to Australia and maybe on to Indonesia.
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| 111001 Day 342 Cape Cod, USA–October 1 from 2005 to 2011 |
