We did it!

12 000 miles, 21 months, hundreds of tins, plenty of fish and many full moons later…and we arrived in Australia! Although she only presented herself a mere 10 miles out of Bundaberg (no wonder Captain Cook only discovered her in 1770), we did it! Happy? Yes! Sad? Yes! Many emotions filled us when entering the port. I don't think our achievement has properly sunk in yet and I doubt it will until we go back to the 'real' world. The 800 mile passage from Noumea was pleasant, favourable winds most of the time and flat seas, mother nature obviously wanted to give us a fabulous send off. We even had a full moon to guide us in.

I remember buying the Pacific Crossing Guide for Dylan's 30th almost 3 years ago now and thinking, wow it would be great if we pulled this thing off…and we did! Who would have thought it. We visited those places photographed in the guides, swam in the clearest seas and met a fantastic assortment of people. And you know what? It wasn't that difficult. Sure, the long ocean passages got a little tedious and constantly washing my hair in salt water turned me into a scarecrow but all said and done, it was the best experience of our lives to date.

Along the way we got engaged, ticked off a number of bucket list items and added a heap more. This journey (and after all it is about the journey and not the destination) has challenged us as both individuals and as a couple. To reminisce on a few highlights; going through the Panama canal, crossing the Equator, blowing bubbles in seal's faces in Galapagos, landfall in Fatu Hiva after 3000 miles, having an island to ourselves in the Tuamotus, getting up close and personal with a whale in Tonga, consuming far too many homemade curries in Fiji and witnessing the spectacular volcano in Tanna. All these unforgettable moments will stay with us for the rest of our lives…or at least until dementia sets in.

So what now you ask? Watch this space!