And They're Off...Leaving for Australia

 

We've been here for months and we've always known we were heading back. We've had our airline reservations made for a couple weeks. Why then, do you suppose, we're in such a dither when it's actually time to get ourselves and our belongings together and take off?

It's the packing. We've accumulated so much stuff over the past couple of months, just a little at a time. The boat parts came in and then we ordered a few more. Then I did a little thrift shopping and David got a few tools and some supplies. I wanted to pick up a few food items we can't buy in Australia like green chiles, for instance. Little odds and ends that seem to have taken on a life of their own. We're each allowed two 50 lb (23kg) bags plus our carry-on luggage. That's 200 lbs (96kg) of stuff we can check on the airline and now we're scurrying around trying to cram it all in.

We dragged everything out onto Mary's living room floor. David's a good packer although once the security folks at the airport go through everything, it's a toss-up as to whether any breakables will make it to Australia … three flights of loading and unloading and rough handling. He carefully packed the duffels, using my thrift shop purchases for padding and wrapping. We hauled out the bathroom scale and when each duffel started feeling heavy, he'd weigh it. We did this for all four, shuffling things from here to there to even out the load and identifying any nook or cranny that could ostensibly hold just one tiny item without breaking the weight restriction.

Our flight wasn't until mid-afternoon which allowed us some time in the morning to finish up last minute things at Mary's house … laundry, moving some furniture, a final goodbye to my old computer, and most importantly, loading all those duffels and luggage into Mary's car. We stopped to hug Becky goodbye … always an emotional time for our family and for us.

And then we were unloading all those bags and checking into the Delta/Virgin desk to begin our long flight back to Cups. Three flights actually … Las Vegas-Los Angeles-Melbourne-Perth. We'll be down under in around 34 hours. See you on the other side.

Making Plans to Head Home

Becky's well and seems comfortably installed in her new digs. Things have settled down and it's finally time to think of heading home … home to Nine of Cups. It's been awhile … Marcie's been gone since the end of May and David since early June. Though friends in Mandurah have watched and checked on Cups, all reports indicate she's fine, but lonely. The feeling is mutual.

Since we traveled on different airlines at different times getting back to the States, making reservations to get back to Australia on the same airline at the same time has been a challenge. After much research, many hours “on hold”, and the patience of Job, we've managed to accomplish our goal. We're traveling on different airlines (Delta and Virgin Australia), but on the same plane, at the same time, in adjoining seats. Don't ask … it's too complicated for mere mortals to understand.

It's still a couple of weeks away and already we're feeling the angst of getting things done here and leaving family, as well as the pressure of returning and getting Cups ready for a quick departure. The lists are getting longer, but we're chipping away at them. Has everything been purchased and/or ordered to insure delivery before the first week of August? What will Cups need to make her shipshape for a trip across the Indian Ocean? Anything else need to be done here for Becky or Mary before we depart? (David, finish that patio redo.) Then there's the concern about the weather in Western Australia at this time of year … marginal, at best, and only in short windows.

But the reservations are made and we've started to assemble all the stuff that needs to pack with us for returning to Oz. We're each allowed two 50# (23kg) checked bags and don't think we won't be using each and every ounce of it. We've contacted our friend, Ross in Mandurah, and he's promised to be at the Perth airport to pick us up. Now all that's left is the waiting. Let the countdown clock commence.

Cruising Enthusiasm...Pass It On

 

One of the many advantages of writing our daily blog, publishing articles and keeping up the website is the number of people we “meet” along the way. We receive lots of e-mails from folks who ask questions about sailing or life aboard and perhaps want to comment on the articles we've written. We welcome them all and try to answer each and every inquiry as quickly and as completely as we can.

Sometimes, we become quite good friends via the internet, sharing successes and disappointments as plans are made and changed, houses are sold and boats are purchased.

We've had knocks on the hull from time to time from folks that might have followed our blog or website and recognized the name “Nine of Cups” in an anchorage or a marina. We didn't expect to meet up with anyone in the middle of the desert, however. So when we got an e-mail from Marnee in Seattle asking if we'd like to meet up with her husband, Blaine when he was in Las Vegas, we were flattered and quite pleased with the possibility.

Blaine readily admits he's a “newbie”, but has had the dream of sailing off into the sunset since he was a kid … just like David. He'll retire from the US Army in a year and their countdown clock, though set for several years down the road, is ticking. They've made a plan. Goals are set and they're working hard to make it real.

Blaine had lots of good questions that gave us not only food for thought, but caused us to reminisce a bit about the same questions and concerns we had starting out nearly 15 years ago. We remember quite vividly sitting down for breakfast with Pam and Andy Wall at our first SSCA gam in Melbourne, Florida. We were gushing with enthusiasm and questions and they patiently answered every one. Andy subsequently taught David some rope splicing skills and Pam offered lots of insight into living aboard.

So … thanks, Blaine for meeting up with us AND buying us dinner. Thanks, Marnee, for taking the initiative to make this meeting happen. We hope you'll do the same for newbies once you've got some miles under the keel.

Advice to newbies: Join SSCA. You'll never find a more knowledgeable, generous group of cruisers to learn from and with.