Awaking from the Dream

How did this all start? When did it begin. I, for one, am not sure. All I know is, I had this beautiful yacht, Don Pedro and my nephew, Patrick, made a comment about doing what I did many years ago with Amigo and if there was a chance I would want to do it again, he would "be there". I contemplated it for awhile, 5 seconds, maybe, then jumped at the thought. Making another ocean voyage, living on Don Pedro in the Tropics, exploring the South Seas, circumnavigating our globe.......wahinnes, sunshine, clear waters, swaying palms and exotic new things to be discovered.
This was all happening when I wasn't very sure that Linda would be spending the rest of her life with me or........ As it turned out, she got swept up into "The Dream".
For the mild mannerd, sweet natured and not so adventurous person that she is..or ..was, Linda not only accepted the idea, the possibility or whatever it was at that time, but also went with it, jumped in with both feet and the actuality of the dream was now hers too.
Well, here we are, in Australia, having crossed an Ocean that covers 2/3 of the world's surface, having experienced ancient cultures, having enjoyed jade lagoons, sweet scented breezes and people that you never could imagine. People untouched by the tentacles and temptations of our "modern world". Thank God for that!!! The Pacific remains, and will remain, a part of our world, too far, too inaccessible for the masses to ruin it with what we think is better for any people who have lived quite contrarely to our way. What we think is CIVILIZATION. They live happily with their few processions, pleasures and perceptions. Somtimes you wish you could be one of them.
Three years have passed since we pushed off our dock at Deep Cove, BC, sailed the West coast of America, wintering in Mexico, spending 21 days crossing to French Polynesia, traversing the Pacific, discovering a world we never could have imagined. The Marquesas, Tuamotus, Tahiti, Bora Bora, The Cook Islands, Nuie, The Kingdom of Tonga, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and finally to here, Australia.
However, the realities of a circumnavigation have come home. The possibilities of losing your life at the hands of a jumpy, amateur wannabe pirate, cyclones, typhoons, uncharted reefs....yes, they are out there. From here on, if we were to continue, these realities are tenfold from where we have been. Also, we miss being nearer to and spending more time with our families and friends. And, it's not the same now that Patrick has moved on. We are so happy he has found something so much more suited for him than what he was doing before. He is employed in the crewing of Mega yachts and working in an industry that will carry him to the most exotic and interesting places in our world instead of sleeping in the crew cab of a truck at 40 degrees below zero in an oil field in northern Canada watching a surf DVD filled with bikini clad young vixens. Linda and I miss him very much, his smile, his laugh, antics.... Pat, I miss your shoulder..you carried a big weight with me..gracias amigo.
However, its more important to us for him to be happy doing what he is. Even if he were still with us, this adventure of ours would still be coming to the end it is.
It's time for a change, change is good and we are looking forward to it.
This June we will make a last swing back through the western Pacific revisiting Vanuatu, the jewel of the Pacific, New Caledonia, a wee bit of France with a Kanak native twist, also a jewel. If time and tide permits we may enjoy a brief visit to the Solomon Islands. After this last hurrah we will return to Sydney, Australia,(looking for crew...anyone interested? see some of New Caledonia then a 7-8 day crossing to Sydney, Oz.??). On arrival, we, sadly, will place our dear friend, our home, companion and protector, Don Pedro, on the market, say goodbye and "thanks for the memories". We will never forget that day! Donde voy, ahora?
March 17, 2010 St. Patricks Day Scarborough, Queensland, Australia Slante
Love to you all. John and Linda