Sailing to and in Australia's Whitsunday Islands

Welcome to Whtiehaven Beach, voted, again, the # 1 beach in the world. It has been the top beach for about 5 of the last 10 years. The sand is pure silica and is almost as fine a icing sugar. There is no trash and in our case, there was hardly a soul. It was ours, we danced, made sand angels, drank champaigne, jumped and goofed around-it just came naturally. It is pure heaven!





































I'll let the photos do the talking. We left Mooloolaba May 19th(after Don Pedro's annual haulout-you see 2 shots of us covered in Avatar Blue) and took almost 2 weeks heading up the coast through gorgeous little islands with numerous protected anchorages and stunning beaches-all empty. Pick one-it's yours!! We did. For the last 10 days Linda and I, along with good friends, Dave and sis Delia who joined us for the last 4 days have been exploring and enjoying these beautiful islands and perfect sailing conditions. Also in this posting are some shots of our visit to the famous Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brissy(Brisbane-Aussies can't resist abbreviating every word in existence!) Melbourne is Melbs, chardonnay is chardy etc, etc. et. There are a couple of shots of a beach and anchorage, they are of Airlie Beach which is the nerve center and tourist departure hub for the Whitsundays. Also there is an odd shot of 4 women looking down towards a men's urinal-great sence of humor these Aussies have-bizarre, naughty but quite funny. I couldn't resist including it. There are a couple of photos of the couples who we spent a lot of time in OZ with, Glen, Marilyn and Jaryd off of Tin Soldier who hail from White Rock and Bruce, Nicola and their daughters off of the good ship, BOB, yep, they named their boat, BOB. They are Kiwis-need I say more!! Great people. Sorry Bruce, the only photo I have of you has some guys index finger right in front of your handsome face!!Linda returned to Canada yesterday to be with and help a very close friend. She'll be gone for about 6-7 weeks so I'm just hangin out at Airlie Beach and in the Whitsundays waiting for my youngest, Erin, who is coming to visit the beginning of August. So, without further ado-who invented THAT word, ado-it sounds toopid!!! As they say here(even tho they know they will never see you again, "See ya later"!

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

On the road again!

In 1 of the photos is a man, Andy, his son, Christopher, his daughter, Danielle and Linda standing near a termite mound. We met Andy while in the Mesquiline Islands in Vanuatu where he was rebuilding an old plantation house on a remote island he had purchased. During dinner that evening he invited us to come stay with him and his family on his "little" 1300 acre farm near Canberra. His farm is self sufficient for water and electricity. That is his solar array and wind generator in 1 photo and the massive battery bank in another. We went for a "bush" walkabout to view Wombat holes, kangaroos and the beautiful bush forest on his land. Our stay with him, his sweet wife Robyn and family was a definite highlight of our 4 week roadtrip. We also stayed in their lovely cabin at Mystery Bay on the coast after our visit with them on their farm. They are a shining example of just how friendly, outgoing and generous Aussies are.
The images of us driving a 4 wheel truck on a beach is from Bribie Island, just N of Scarborough. Jens and Norma who bought our friend's(Brett and Naomi) boat, Fearless,(who we had crossed the Pacific with) are also new aquaintences and they were kind enough to give us their 4 wheeler when they were away for a week. Driving on sand within 5-10 yeards from crashing surf was quite an experience. We had visions of getting stuck and watching the tide roll in over the truck. No worries, mate!!!!!
The city photos are of Melbourne, a most beautiful city with great food, fun, parks and waterfront. We took trams throughout the city and spent Australia Day there celebrating with a million Aussie hosts. 21 gun salutes, military flyovers, parades, barbies(not as in Barbie doll, Bar BQs). A great time was had by all. Small world department. The first person we met in Melbourne was from Victoria and her dad lives in Sidney(our Sidney) she was the on duty manager at the hotel we had booked into so she upgraded us to a mini suite!!! As they say here, Sweet As! Thats about it for now. Love to all. John and Linda


























Greetings, Linda and I are on a 4 week driveabout of E and SE Australia between Brisbane and Melbourne. This is 1 BIG country. I'll expand later but will upload some photos today. We are presently on the coast staying in a friend's cabin about 150 miles from Canberra, Australia's capitol. The photos are from The Blue Mountains, Melbourne, an old hippie town called Nimbin and a wine area called Mudgee. Nimbin is unique in that the law turns a blind eye to the sale of drugs in the streets and alleys. This is the only place in Australia like it. In 1962 they had an Aquarian Festival in the mountains around Nimbin and nobody went home...ever..they just stayed and turned the town into a Shangrila of their own lifestyle. Meanwhile, back in the real world... Later. John and Linda