Hard to believe we’ve been in Australia for 2 months. What an incredible place and the people are lovely. Vanessa took Cullen to Butler to get school started so I’m blogging without my wing man. Cullen, call me sometime will you!!!!)
Oyster had a party for rally members and family on Hamilton Island. It was really special. Waiters in wetsuits and snorkel gear served huge seafood platters to start. It was very special and great to see so many of the other crews as we were pretty spread out across the Pacific.
Mike had Cecelia and his family come to visit and they had a wonderful time. We took Mike’s family out to Whitehaven Beach and had a BBQ and a swim in the Whitsunday Islands. It was a great day!
Heading North to Cairns
We had a lovely time in Hamilton Island but it was time to head north to Cairns to do extensive diving on the Great Barrier Reef. We had some unexpected guests on our trip up. See below
Cairns/ Gateway to Great Barrier Reef
Daily swims were over near shore but talked Mike into going out to the reef on a live aboard dive boat- felt like a youth hostel and Mike and I were the senior section- fun but tiring.
Issy’s Birthday Party
We arrived in Cairns and had Issy’s Birthday party on board. Mike and I prepared appetizers, bought some sushi and were the waiters in our matching outfits while wearing our Fijian Sulus(skirts). Very proper you know!
HEADING HOME!!!!
Well, Mike and I fly home in 48 hours. I get home on Sunday and will head to club pool for a last swim and a burger at the club on Labor Day. The ship that we’re putting the boat on is arriving 3 weeks early so it’s time to go. It’s been a great adventure watching my lifetime dream of sailing 12000 miles across the Pacific from Caribbean come to life. It’s not over yet. Irish Blessing will land in Florida in 5 weeks and we’ll start the journey south to BVI, St.Barts, Mustique, Antigua, Tobago Cays and finally Grenada to meet up with Rally boats and spend a month returning to Antigua for the Oyster Rally farewell party mid April.
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream .Discover.” Mark Twain
The Irish Blessing continues…. john
Sorry you lost that fish on the way to Cairns. Looked like a good fight. What pound test line were you using?
No words to say how amazing the journey was. Congratulations! Well played!
Well done on a fantastic adventure !!! I must be the only one bummed you did not make it to the Cape of Storms. Glad to see Mike and John can still clean up nice after 12000 miles at sea.. Excellent job !
CONGRATULATIONS you two. Little disappointed you couldn’t land that fish.
Safe travels home.
RB