One more sleep to go...

Hello – Col here! What an amazing feeling being this close to our new lifestyle when you can say “just one more sleep!” Believe it or not, a wonderful feeling of calm has overcome us knowing all the “t’s” are crossed and the “i’s” dotted and we can sit here having a cleansing ale looking down the passageway to the front door and see the suitcases and carry-on bags parked behind the door ready for the trip to the Brisbane International Airport tomorrow morning. Passports checked and double-checked, cases weighed and swapping items between the four of us is complete to stay under the check-in bag limit. 

 

Thanks to everyone who has called, emailed, “liked” our new web page, sent best wishes, expressed their “wish it was them” feelings and provided their encouragement and well done’s over the last few months.

Once we arrive in Croatia on Wednesday, the remainder of this week will be getting onboard, having a handover of all the ins-and-outs from the previous boat owner and heading just up the coast from Sibenik to a marina at Murter where “finally my darling” will come out of the water for her annual maintenance. Mike and I want to be heavily involved in that five-day task, while Pam and Brooke go and do secret women’s business in the shops for bedding, galley supplies and the like.   

Added today are a couple of new photos with the 20’ shipping container being loaded recently for its trip to the Port of Brisbane. The container sails tomorrow for Singapore, then to Valletta in Italy and finally to Split in Croatia arriving around the end of April. Its primary passenger being my new trike and floats. 

I was reminded today by a very close friend that you seldom regret the things you did; but you always regret the things you didn’t do. Looking forward to our next post coming to you direct from the Eastern Mediterranean.   Good night!

Realizing a lifelong dream

To say this adventure has been a long time coming would be an understatement. 

The way in which the journey has unfolded and evolved into a family affair may not have been the original intention – but with the kids all happily married, seven terrific grand kids to dote over, mum and dad knew it was time to make their dreams come true. 

I've said it before, but as long as I can remember my dad (Col), a retired Royal Australian Navy and Vietnam veteran, has talked of one day retiring on a yacht and cruising the world. It may have taken him a lifetime to convince mum (Pam) that it would be a much more interesting way to spend their senior years than on a rocking chair on the patio, but for Mike and I it took a lot less convincing... hell to be truly honest I think we pretty well invited ourselves...  Having us along will not only answer the extra crew issue, but will hopefully help mum get over her anxiety, particularly after she has always described herself as someone who gets seasick at the picture of a wet lawn!

Fast forward several decades of hard work; countless hours of research, discussions and web surfing; several international trips and near purchases; sketches and bold ideas; diligent saving and daydreaming; and two bouts of different cancers later - dad's dream is moments away from being realized. Along with his loving and devoted wife Pam by his side, plus Mike and I along for the ride - life is almost packed in boxes and storage and soon we will be on our way.

From time to time we hope you'll check in and join us on this completely open-ended, no-set itinerary journey. I'm not much of storyteller and my photography skills are amateur at best - but no better time than the present to brush up. Time will certainly be on our side! I've kicked started the "family" blog here - but leave the pages open for interpretation and first-hand experiences from my fellow crew members. And so begins a new chapter of life at sea!

First stops: Split and Sibenik, Croatia - March 6, 2013. 

Here are some fav snaps from Mike & my first visit to Croatia back in summer 2006.