Vanuatu to the Solomon Islands

WOW! Almost a whole month has gone by since my last blog! My, how time flies - well, out here anyway, sometimes. Since leaving Fiji (which I miss so dearly and would love to return to one day), we spent a little over a week in the Islands of Vanuatu (lovely people, with very beautiful features, dark skin, and the most incredibly white and straight teeth I have ever seen - and no braces or dental care either)! The most memorable day in Vanuatu would have to be on the Island of Ambrym, where we saw a traditional Rom dance in the small village of Fanla, the boys went on a pig hunt with the locals (and got 3 pigs - one of which Karen killed by wacking it with a spear. I couldn't watch), and we had a wonderful beach dinner, complete with a real pig roast right there on the shore in front of where our boat was anchored with some of the village people (I know that sounds weird, but lets not think of Men dancing around singing YMCA just now). I met some of the young girls who were preparing our dinner and helped them set up by cutting up the vegetables and laying them all out on banana leaves on palm fronds on the sand. We feasted on taro, sweet potato, cucumbers, sweet bananas (the mini ones), coconuts, and - of course - pig, although I declined eating any of it. But I learned my lesson, and that is to stay away from the cocount cream that they put on some of the vegetables, and to not have too much coconut milk or meat (although it is really tasty)!
We finished our tour of the Vanuatu Islands by the end of October, and celebrated Halloween onboard with a fun dress up party, complete with trick-or-treating, prizes, and best costume laughs (there are many pictures, hopefully Jose will post those). We entered into the Solomons by the beginning of November, and checked into customs in Honiara, Guadalcanal, which is the capital of the Solomons. It was by far the dirtiest and "sketchiest" place we have ever been, and after being there for a couple of days, to pick up some supplies, food, and get fresh water showers, we were out of there as quickly as possible, on to more remote islands, and quiet, paradise bays! We motored onto Gizo, where I am now, and on the way stopped at a tiny Island where we went snorkeling, swimming, walked around the small Island, played volleyball, frisbee, football, and some of the guys went spear fishing. The weather continues to get hotter every day, and - if you can imagine - I think the stove is too! I must be losing weight, purely by all the sweating I'm doing! But I drink tons of water too, so I probably just gain the water weight back! I haven't seen any sharks yet, but after snorkeling today in the murkiest water, full of "floaties" and small undetected jellies (I got lots of small stings on my arms and legs, that have since disappeared) I am quite glad I didn't come across any jaws-like characters! Swimming in water that is dark and where I can't see below me or even know what is underneath me is scary enough! I still have to have someone jump in the water with me whenever I take a shower or go swimming. I need to get over that fear! But if there's any chance that someone else will get attacked before me, then I'll take it. Ha ha ha. Just kidding, Mom! It's totally safe! I'm fine, besides, I only have to swim faster than just one person, right? I also try to wear bright colours and my red mask and snorkel to make myself look most unlike any type of sea prey.
The Solomons have been wonderful so far, by the people are nowhere near as friendly as Fijians, or the people of Vanuatu, especially in the villages! They all chew this awful Betelnut stuff, which rots and stains their teeth red, and you see red splotches all over the ground from where they spit it out. Smoking and chewing are very bad habits down here, but I guess every place has it's "thing". I enjoy the swimming, snorkeling, hanging out on the boat, swinging off the ropeswing, and the occaissional venture to land, that is a quiet tiny Island where there are no people, and I can walk around the Island and dig my feet into the soft, white sand! It's heavenly! I never imagined the Solomons to be like this!
I am learning so much about their cultures down here; we visited "Skull Island", where they used to bring the heads of their dead chiefs and worship them there in the altar/grave they created for them. There were literally hundreds of skulls, but I didn't take any pictures (I felt it was a sacred place and it is a tomb, and very special to the people their). But I will never forget it. I was particularly interested in how old they were (over 100 years or more), and I enjoyed looking at the bone structures and analyzing the biology and how intact or severely broken many of the skulls were. It was really neat to see my memory of University Bio classes coming back into play at such a far away place in the world (Frontal lob, occipital lobe, etc...)! I miss that so much!
This morning we snorkeled/swam to Kennedy Island, which is aptly named after the late J.F.K., who swam to this tiny Island back in the 40s (or 50s?) when his famous U.S. boat (P.T. 109) was hit broadside by a Japanese war ship, by fluke. It was very cool to be on that Island, so small, knowing that 60 years ago JFK himself was here, and to read about and learn of WWII and how that affected the people here, what was going on, how the Japanese, Australians, Solomon Islanders, Americans, and South Pacific Islands were all involved! It's so great to learn about that time in our world's history, and to see and read about the places first hand! This experience is just so much more grander than I ever thought possible! The reading material is never short, either, on the boat!
Well, my time is almost done here, and tonight we are all invited to a live music and dance party at the yacht club, where food and drinks are cheaper for us (as honorary members) as well as laundry and showers! YAY! I already dropped my laundry off, and I will be taking a shower before dinner! VERY exciting! They have ice cold, bottled water, which is fantastic, and I am just happy to have some fresh vegetables again! Gillian and I did a bit of shopping today in "town" (Gizo) and the market, but we couldn't find eggs anywhere! It's a rare commodity here, and apparently when then come, they are sold very quickly! Oh dear, I guess it will be fruit salad and porridge tomorrow morning...which is fine with me, I love that!
Unfortunately, they don't have Skype here, or the headsets to use it anyway, so I apologize for not being able to call anyone (Matt, Mom and Dad, Amy, Jeff, EM, Jamie and Judy), but I hope you can all read this and know that I am doing well, having a good time, and enjoying myself. I am safe, tanned, and happy - when I'm not terribly homesick (I cried last night). But I am loving all that we get to do and see, and the interactions we have with others and with trainees are irreplaceable! I don't regret a single thing!
Time is going by quickly, and I am trying to make the best of each moment! I think of all of you back home very often, and I am thinking of you and praying for you, especially during this time as the Fall semester comes close to the end and exams begin, the holidays are fast approaching, the weather is no doubt getting colder, and the end of another year is ending. I hope that you are all doing well, and enjoying life, wherever you may be! I love you all, and miss you very much!

Love you and miss you, Matt! Take care, and I hope to talk to you soon! Maybe when we get to PNG, but I don't know what the internet situation will be like there either. I will try my best! I'm thinking of you and praying for you constantly! Have a great time in Edmonton for Dan and Nicholine's wedding! I wish I could be there! Give them my best wishes and please tell them I say congratulations! Say a big hello to all of your family for me too, please!

Love always, Sailor Katie

Leaving Fiji

After 10 days in Lautoka, Fiji (minus the few days we spent at the Safari Lodge on a small Northern Island), we will be leaving tomorrow (Monday), after Gillian and I do a big fresh shop at the market for fruit and vegetables! We were able to get a ton of food at the supermarket yesterday, but as today is Sunday, nothing is open, so we will have to go tomorrow to get what we need. We will be going to the Yasawas first (and island group off of the Northwest coast of Fiji), and then we will be coming back to the big Island of Fiji before leaving again next week for Vanuatu, then the Solomon Islands, and finally ending this fourth leg of the Offshore journey in Papua New Guinea, by Christmas time. This trip is 77 days long, the second longest Leg (the longest is 79 days), which is 25 days longer than Leg 3, and is longer than Leg 1 and 2 combined! So, we will have a lot of time to get to know each other, and to visit all of the Island we will be going to. Our time spent at the Safari Lodge was fantastic! We had 3 glorious days at this beautiful beach-front resort, with all the watersports available that you can imagine! I got to go waterskiing and wakeboarding, kayaking, swimming, and I even learned how to windsurf and kite-board, only the wind wasn't strong enough, so it was more kite-bodysurfing (without the use of a board). It was fantastic! We all had a ton of fun, and some of us got burnt, during the 2 days spent non-stop in the water and in the sun! I had such a fabulous time there, and it was very difficult to leave on Saturday morning. I am hoping to go back there again someday. I was in my element with all the watersports they had to offer! I highly recommend that place to anyone who is adventurous and who wants to have fun with the company there, meet new people, and just get away from the busy stresses of life. It is the perfect remedy! But now we are back on the boat, and preparing to leave on our 4th Leg of the Offshore journey. I had a great time in Fiji, and would love to come back some day! Meeting other people who are also travelling and working abroad has expanded my desire to go to more places in the worlds, and experience life elsewhere, such as places all over Australia, New Zealand, Greece, the Philippines, and even Africa! So much to do in such a short life, but we may as well do as much as possible! I am excited to leave on this Leg, and looking forward to getting to know the new trainees, who all seem so great, and to see new places!

I trust that everyone is doing well, and that you all had a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving back back in Canada last weekend. I am thinking of you all, and praying that the rest of your year goes well!
My love goes out to all of you!

Love always,
Sailor, Katie "Popeye" Neale

P.S. Here are the addresses for our next 3 ports at the end of Leg 4, 5, and 6, just in case anyone would like to send something to me. (I absolutely LOVE receiving mail! It is the highlight of the whole trip!) Just make sure you send it about a month and a half or so ahead of time, in order for it to arrive from Canada to whatever port we are at.

KATIE NEALE c/o Pacific Grace
D&S Seko Ltd.
PO BOX 993
Madang, Papua New Guinea
(Arriving approximately December 20, send by early November).

KATIE NEALE c/o Pacific Grace
Penavico Shanghai Pudong Co., Ltd.
5/F., No. 175 (Wang Jiao Plaza), Yan An Road.,
Shanghai 200002, P.R. China
(Arriving approximately March 10, send by late Jan/early Feb.)

KATIE NEALE c/o Pacific Grace
Waldron Norton Lilly Intl.
521 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 255
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825 U.S.A.
(Arriving approximately April 25, send by mid March).

Thank you! Hope to hear from some of you!

Fiji, finally!

After about 46 days since leaving Tahiti, we made it to Fiji. Fiji is a wonderful place, sort of. It is very hot, dirty, tons of people around, and probably not the safest of Islands, as they frequently have Coups, but we are docked in Lautoka, which is about a 4-5hour drive from Suva (a more dangerous and unpredictable place). Lautoka is on the North-West corner of Fiji, and is where we will be until we leave on Leg 4 next week (October 14th). As usual, it is quite busy once we hit land and especially at the end of a Leg. Our work days are Sunday and Monday, so Gillian and I have a third of the trainees to help clean out the Fo'c'sle, Hold and Galley, and scrub and scrape everything clean! The others will be with the Watch Officers to do sanding/painting the hull, deck work, and rigging for the two days. As the exterminators are "blasting" the boat during our days off (Oct. 11-12), we can't do our big grocery shop until the 13th, so the first thing Leg 4 trainees will be doing is stowing all the food! Yay! We have to clean out everything and take all the food up on deck where it will be for about 2 days while the boat is exterminated. But because this is such powerful stuff (the same thing Saddam Hussein used), it will kill every living thing on board - no survivors)! Hence why all the food has to come out, along with any toilettries, since they absorb into the skin, nobody can be on board for 2 days, and we have to do another clean after it is all done (washing dishes, wiping surfaces, etc). But I am positive and hopeful that we will have no more bed bug or bug problems from now on (cross my fingers). Our Leg end dinner will consist of all of us going to a nice hotel for a catered buffet meal. Halleluliah! Gillian and I don't have to cook or clean, everything is paid for within our budget, and we can all sit and relax, in our own rented room, with a slide projector included so we can view the Leg end photos that Jose has put together for the final slide show! Fantastic! That will be on Monday night (Canadian Thanksgiving), so we will be having Pumpkin soup, which was our choice for the soup option, in an attempt to have some sort of Thanksgiving food. We certainly have a lot to be thankful for! Safe travels, health and happiness, good weather, wonderful memories, and more to look forward to! There have definitely been hard times as well, but it's all a learning experience, and I have learned so much in these last 4 months, and have grown immensely because of it. 8 more months to go! I am counting the days. 252 days until Offshore is done, 80 days until Christmas, and 7 days until Leg 4 begins. Carolyn and I spent the day in Nadi yesterday, went to a few stores, spoke with a tourist info lady from Quebec, got waxes, and went out for a lovely fish dinner. We have the "luxury" of free cold yet refreshing fresh-water showers on the dock, but it's really just a hole in the wall where the water comes out of (and if the men's showers are on, the water just trickles down the wall), the door doesn't close, the drain doesn't fully drain all the time, and basically the whole bathroom is a bit sketchy, but we don't care. We go in pairs, and so love the running fresh water! It's wonderful! I shower every day now! We will be staying at a resort in between Legs for 2 days, while the boat is fumigated, so hopefully that will be a nice time to rest and relax. It's been very busy and hectic lately. There is a lot going on and much more to do while we are here. ONce again, I will be glad when we leave - being on the water is much more peaceful and less stressful than these big cities and smelly, hot pollution. I hope that everyone is doing well at home. I miss you all terribly (as usual - what else is new?) but I am staying strong and having the best experience that I can have. It's my highlight to get a letter, a message, an email, or a little note on Facebook. That just makes my whole day, my week, my year! Thank you to all for your thoughts and prayers! They mean so much!

Love to you all!
Love always, Katie Popeye Neale

Fire Dancers in Samoa!

Hello again! Now we're in Samoa - Independent Samoa - on the Island of U'polu. We are headed for Suva'i tonight at 1800hrs. We arrived on Thursday afternoon, and I was able to spend a few hours on land before dinner, just walking into the town, going to the bank to exchange currency, dropped of some laundry, and went to the grocery store to get some snacks (nuts) and ice cold water! Our boat is docked at the farthest most possible spot from the town, so it allows us all to get some great exercise in walking to and from the town every day, often multiple times a day! Friday (yesterday) was spent mostly shopping for food with Gillian. We took 2-3 trips to and from the grocer's and market in taxis, carting food to the boat, loading it on, and stowing it all away. I had to leave Gillian at the market early because I needed to be back to the boat to make dinner (Judy, I made your famous chili again, with my own incorporation of chick peas, black beans, corn, and some extra spices, and cornbread)! But I didn't eat at the boat. Gillian and I used the showers near the boat after a long, hot, sweaty day of shopping and stowing down below with the oven on, washed off all the grime of the day's work, and then went out with Karen, Jordan, and some other trainees to a buffet dinner and a fire-dancing show! It was awesome! The guys were the fire dancers, and really amazing entertainers! It was great! At the end of the show, one of our trainees kissed "the godfather" (the name of the biggest firedancer) and then she got up to dance with the dancers on stage, and many of us got up there as well! (I was taking pictures and laughing at our table). It was great fun! And after all our dance practices in the Marquesas, Tuamotus, and Cook Islands, it was really fun watching everyone bust out their South Pacific moves! Later, we all went to "Vbar" for some more dancing, but we were the only ones dancing. It was fun! Dancing to songs like 500 Miles, and other recognizable tunes (Matt, you would have loved it - I imagined you there dancing with us)! It was very hot there, though, so I was happy when we finally decided to go back to the boat. It was an incredibly hot day, but Gillian and I were able to do some laundry, and get all the food put away, so I'm happy!
Today, Gillian, Karen, Jose and I all went up to Robert Louis Stevenson's House (which is now a Museum) and got a tour of his place. IT was incredible! (R.L. Stevenson, for those who don't know, wrote many books and poems, the most famous being "Treasure Island", "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde", and "Kidnapped"). His house was really quite amazing, with all original furniture, artwork, pictures, instruments, original copies of his first books, and so forth all there. I learned a lot about his life, and his time spent in Samoa, and then we hiked up the hill to where his and his wife's gravesites are (at the top of a hill overlooking the town and ocean - just magnificent)! Jose took a video of us up there, so when I get his website I will add it to my links so you can all take a look! He has many great pictures and videos of the trip so far, and I think it would be very beneficial to check those out! I will get that as soon as possible! After the hike, we went to a cute little cafe for lunch and fruit drinks, and now, here I sit in the internet cafe, just finished listening to Usher.

We are leaving soon, so I just want to say a big Hello to everyone and that I miss you all a ton (especially you, Matt!) By the way, my camera stopped working, and my Ipod and charger got stolen on Palmerston Island (the last Cook Island we went to), so I am really upset and sad at this loss of technology. I am hoping to get Mom to maybe get me a new digital camera and Amy to get another IPOD (both for good deals) and download all the music onto it and send it to the SALTS office within the next couple of weeks, so it can come out with the next group of trainees, who are meeting us in FIJI on October 10th. Loren Hagerty (SALTS's executive director) as well as Sarah Brizan (the Watch Officer) and Gillian Hoyer's Dad are all coming to Fiji, so one of them can bring them out. Of course, I will pay you back, but I am just really upset about no camera or IPOD (You can't imagine how necessary those items are on a trip like this!) and I would SO LOVE to take pictures and listen to music - that's all i need! That, and Matt's hugs and machine gun kisses from MOm~hee hee~

I love you all! Take care, and I will see you all soon (in my dreams)!

Love always, Katie

Beautiful Aitutaki!

Well, we made it to Aitutaki, after about 24 hours of an expected 12 hour sail. (Someone wasn't plotting properly, if at all). Oh well, we're here now, and in quite possibly the most beautiful Island I have seen yet. It's not so much the Island itself, as much as the clear-blue water, palm trees, and coral atolls that surround Aitutaki that make it so gorgeous. But, as I was talking with Leslie earlier, I could never live here. Visit and tour around, yes, but not permanently. The lifestyle here is so laid back and relaxed, and I think that would get to me after a while. But for right now it's fun just to see people in their 70s, with gray hair, riding around on motor-scooters in Floral shirts, with no helmuts! It's hilarious. But everyone rides around on those scooters, everywhere! Not just the elderly, although they are the typicals. Anyway, We had to anchor about a half mile from shore because of the coral reefs, and a tour boat offered to transport all of us to shore, which was great because it would have taken us forever to have transported everyone in the Zodiac (our dories are full of food and supplies for people in Palmerston, from friends we made in Rarotonga, as favours for them).

Gillian and I were finally able to do our BIG shop on Saturday, after the bed bug clean, before we left for here, so our boat is now full of food, plus all the stuff we are bringing to the small Island of Palmerston for people in Rarotonga. Apparently, no supply boats - or boats barely ever - go to Palmerston (the next one is in March). So when word got out that the Grace may be heading over there, a lot of people asked if we could take things there for them. Making good, friendly connections is always beneficial, so we ended up taking a bunch of food and supplies for one man's family who live there half of the year, along with a washing machine for the Police, a whiteboard for the school, a propane tank, and some other things for the Mayor of Palmerston. They told us to expect people to invite us into their homes, and stay a couple nights on land with them, like billeting, with full use of their showers, and new washing machine (that we are transporting over there)! It's quite hilarious! But we really enjoy helping others out, since that is what everyone has been doing for us!

The people down here are so friendly and sweet. Everyone knows everyone, and they all support each other. They just want to help you out and befriend you, and everyone is genuinely concerned for your well-being and really want to get to know you, and really curious about what we do on the boat. We get a lot of visitors regularly, and the boat even made it into the daily newspaper in Rarotonga! A couple trainees, as well as Skipper and Bo got their pictures in there too! I bought a copy to keep for my records!

Well, that's all for now. We have a pet Gecko that hitched a ride on the bunch of bananas that we are transporting, which I don't like, but people assure me it's a good thing because he eats bugs, so hopefully he will take care of the bed bug problem (they are still here, but so far only confined to the 4 bunks). I hope they don't spread! We will have to be regular with spraying the bunks down, and then doing another boat-gutting once we hit Fiji!

I hope everyone is doing well! Take care, and enjoy the rest of the lovely summer weather wherever you are!

Love always, Katie

Cook Islands Gong Show!

Well, we made it to the Cooks unscathed. Sort of...We have discovered upon just arriving hear that we have some unwanted visitors onboard: BED BUGS! AAAAHHHH! Quite possibly the worst thing that we can ever imagine on board, minus a deathly squall or the boat sinking, or a shark attack, or something like that. But for right now I think it's the worst thing (as we have weathered many squalls on our way here already). We had a great time touring around the Society Islands near Tahiti (Moorea, Huahine, Tahaa, Raiatea, and Bora Bora). We left French Polynesia on September 1st, and made it to the Cook Islands yesterday (September 6th). We are on the Island of Rarotonga, which is one of the main - if not, THE main - Island in the Cooks. It's fabulous! It used to be owned by New Zealand, so everyone here has that Kiwi accent, but they are all French Polynesian looking. They all speak English - which is GREAT (it's so good to find things and buy food that way) - and they are very friendly and sweet. They drive on the left side of the rode, with the wheel on the right side of the car, and the stick-shifts on the left (naturally), which, if you talk to Karen, is VERY confusing! I haven't had a chance to drive yet here, but Gillian and I did get our driver's licenses at the police station yesterday for only $10Kiwi dollars! It's awesome! I also got a hat and a few golf shirts from the police station as well, along with some pictures. I took the liberty of asking the woman cop there what it too to become an officer, and she laughed, then said you had to be 18, apply, and that was about it. She said you don't even have to have been born there! WOW! How easy is that? They don't even carry guns. But they get to drive motorcycles - probably because it's so hot. I'm not really sure exactly what they do all day, but yesterday they were busy making driver's licenses for all the tourists who wanted to rent cars. Anyway, after Gillian and I scoped out where we were going to purchase all our food, and went to the bank to exchange money, we returned to the boat to discover that we had to take ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING out and put it up on deck - due to the bed bugs! Fortunately, we think only 4 bunks have them (3 in the Hold, where some guys were bit, and Jordan's bunk in the Galley - which are at the opposite end of the Hold where Gillian and I sleep, but still in the same area)! You can imagine the scare! The girls in the Fo'c'sle are so far untouched, but we still had to clear everything out for the exterminator today. So that is what we did all day today! It was a mess! Imagine everyone putting all their clothes and bedding into plastic bags, all of it going to the laundromat to get washed - ALL OF IT! (Gillian and I had 3 huge garbage bags each just full of clothes). Then we put all un-washables in other bags and up on deck. EVERYTHING was taken out! EVERYTHING! And I mean EVERYTHING! Mattresses were stripped, individually looked at, sprayed, hung, dried, (still hanging and drying up on deck as I write), mattress covers taken to get washed separately, everyone's stuff up on deck in a specified area, all our food, dishes, supplies, EVERYTHING out of cupboards, drawers, seat lockers, under bunks OUT! EVERYTHING is up on deck now! WE had to clean everything, vacuum, sweep, bleach water wipe everything, scrub, scrape, everything! WE were up before 6am and didn't finish until after 9am! I put together a fruit salad and yogurt for breakfast, but people were hungry by 10am, so I had sandwiches, apples and granola bars ready by then (I took a quick trip to the store when it opened at 8am to have that prepared on deck for people). We all had to individually inspect our stuff up on deck, transport the laundry to the cleaner's (Karen did this with Arwen), and everyone else was helping to get everything up on deck, clean, spray, inspect and just make sure it was all okay. The "bug guy" came at about 10 to do his thing. So right now he is probably finished, but we can't go down there until about 4pm, as the stuff he uses is toxic - which is why we had to get everything out from below (our boat is completely gutted, and everything is up on deck, minus all the clothes and bedding that is at the laundromat, which we won't get back until tomorrow, so we'll be sleeping on mattresses tonight - I'll be on my thermarest)! Anyway, it was - is - a gong show! Gillian and I can't do our huge shop until this is all done, so for right now, we're still making a list of everything we need, and then we'll get it tomorrow. We were able to find a place to make pizza for us all tonight (since we can't use the stove) and we'll have an early dinner before everyone starts putting the boat back together before sunset tonight. It's been a long day. I've just had a little time to use the internet before we have to go back to the boat to get people to help us carry all the pizza back to the boat.
WOW! The excitement of Offshore! I just hope this exterminator guy kills the living bugs. We will have to wipe down and spray bunks every week, and then do this same boat-gutting again when we get to FIgi, and then another huge spray, because the new eggs will hatch (nothing but fire or drowning will kill the eggs - and we can't do that on a wooden boat)! It's a real problem, but we're all hopeful it will be taken care of and we will get rid of them! At least the whole boat is clean, and I have an excuse to reorganize all my stuff! Gillian and I have by far the most out of everyone - because we're girls, we have 3 bunks between the 2 of us, we have a ton of storage space, and we keep buying more things. Plus - we weren't planning on needed to move anything, so we are living out of plastic bags for the moment, and won't be able to completely unpack everything until the problem is completely taken care of.
But enough of that. I'm still enjoying myself and loving the Cook Islands! Gillian and I had our first real, naked fresh shower since Tahiti! We even got to shave! WOW! I feel so clean now! We found a public washroom with a shower stall. Don't worry, Mom, I wore my sandals!
Well, that's all I really have to tell you for now. I will let you know more about the bed bug situation at a later date. For now, the weather is still hot, everyone is getting along, Leg 3 is going well, lots of Island hopping and many things to still see on this part of the journey, and we will be crossing the International Date Line soon, so we'll be almost a full day ahead, rather than 3/4 hours behind Vancouver! Love to you all!
Happy 24th Birthday, Melissa and Andrea, on August 25th and 26th!
Happy 3rd Anniversary, Amy and Jason on August 31st!
Happy 24th Birthday, Ashli, on August 31st!
Happy Anniversary, Jamie and Judy, on September 2nd!
Happy 39th Birthday, Jason, on September 10th!
GOod luck with school everyone - I wish I was there with you all (sort of). I love it out here though, and although I miss all of you and do miss University, I am glad I'm out here travelling, exploring, and experiencing all there is to see and do out here!

Love all of you so much, and miss you terribly!

To my Matt - I love you more than words can say, and I definitely miss you the most! I hope you are doing well up in Boyle, and enjoying your job! I think of you all the time, and I hope you are being safe and have a good experience! I love you!

Love always, Popeye Katie

Leaving Tahiti Tomorrow!

Well, today Leg 3 trainees board, and we will be off tomorrow (August 21st). I am excited to be leaving, finally, to get out on the open water again, but sad that the other trainees are gone, and my dear Sara is leaving us tonight (she has been the most amazing Watch Leader on the past 2 Legs). But we are getting 13 more trainees, and with that always comes more adventures and new excitement and enthusiasm! I am cooking today, and have to be off to the store to get a few more supplies, so will be leaving soon. Today is quite hot and sunny, but we have the tarps up on the boat, so it's nice and shaded. I have enjoyed my 10 days in Tahiti, and am looking forward to heading out to see new places. Moorea is our first stop, only a five hour sail from here, then Bora Bora, Raritonga, then off to the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, and ending in Fiji in October. We will be crossing the International Date Line 3 times this Leg, and will be travelling about half the distance in nearly double the time as our last Legs. That means more time spent in each Island group, which is very nice and relaxing! Thank you all so much for your messages and comments. I look forward to hearing from you again, and I hope you are all doing well with work, school, renovating the house, moving, etcetera...I miss you all, and want you to know that I am doing very well. Making lots of friends, and learning a lot about myself, the world, and life in general. Talk to you all from another part of the world, later...Also, my email is not working, and I barely have time to Facebook, so I apologize for the lack of communication. I will try better. I am thinking of and praying for all of you! Sending my love your way, Love always, Sailor Popeye Katie

Tahiti and Bandaged Thumb...

Yes, Mom, it's true. I cut my thumb badly this morning as I was cutting up Honeydew for breakfast, but Jeremy and Sarah have helped me bandage it today, and I am doing just fine. I feel sort of silly, though, typing with this huge bandage on my thumb (picture Karen's finger when she slammed it in the truck door at 5yrs). Anyway, I had a wonderfully relazing weekend in Tahiti. Most stores are closed on the weekends, so I did a lot of journalling, writing, cooking, and hanging out with Gillian, the Andersons and whoever else stayed on the boat (many people take off for the day to travel around the Island in rental cars and go sight-seeing, which is what I hope to do on my days off this next weekend). I went to a church service yesterday with Bonice, her 4 youngest, and Gillian, and then we walked to the grocery to get some food (I got fruit, granola, yogurt and water - heavenly!) and then took a beautiful walk back to the boat by the water. It was a very hot day, so I stayed on the boat for the most part, sitting in the shade, and then went shopping with Gillian before dinner. We had some Tahitian thief sneak onto the boat at 4am this morning when we were all sleeping up on deck, and he tried to steal one of the trainees Ipods. Luckily, Noah saw him and "raised the alarm", and Skipper dived over everyone and grabbed the guy, yelling at him just as he was about to jump ship. The guy fell into the water between our boat and the dock, dropping the girl's headphones down to where they lay on the ocean floor now, but she got her Ipod back. It was quite the excitement, and nervousness after that, and everyone took a while to fall back asleep, or just stayed awake. The officials came over from guarding the cruise ships and held the guy in custody, but because he's a minor they can only hold him for about 6 hours, unless we decide to press charges. Quite the nerve of the guy, to climb on board with all of us sleeping on deck. Anyway, we had night watch all last night (which is not typical when we are docked) just to make sure it doesn't happen again. We also tied further away from the dock, so we're not as close to it, and the lifelines are all up, making it more difficult to climb aboard, and more difficult for us to jump off. But it's much safer now! I am enjoying Tahiti, and love that I get to go to the market and buy fresh produce and fruit! I went early yesterday morning to get a bunch of produce for the boat (it's open from 3-8am on Sundays) and I got some trainees to pick up some fresh baguettes and cream cheese for lunch today - they loved that! We have our two work days this Tuesday and Wednesday, so we will be doing a lot of shopping, cleaning, and stowing! Our fresh shop will most likely be done next Sunday, the day before Leg 3, to allow for the freshest, and best selected produce, meat, and fruit! I must go soon, so I can start dinner for tonight, and do a few more errands before the stores close. Love to you all! I am doing well, and basking in the hot South Pacific heat!

P.S. Pictures are very difficult to download here, and take a long time, but I will try to get some on if possible, in the meantime, check out Gillian's blog (access by my links) or go to the SALTS website to find links to other blogs, such as Jose's or Antony's or Jordan's - they have AMAZING pictures!

We are in Tahiti!

I am at a French computer right now on a French keyboard, so typing is a bit slower. Marquesas Islands were AMAZING! French Polynesia is so wonderful! I know now why they refer to it as "paradise". We visited an Island chain in the Tuamotus for a couple of days, before sailing to Tahitit. We will be here until August 20th. I hope I get mail today. SO now I'm on an English keyboard - I switched mid-way - and this is way better! I am waiting for the bank to open so I can exchange money for grocery shopping (Skipper gave me a big mother load for getting food)! We are all out of everything: no onions/carrots/potatoes, no oil, eggs, milk, enough meat for one meal, no produce, no fruit, no butter/margarine, no canned veggies. NOTHING! It's a little scary! Thank goodness we're in a busy city now and we can get supplies, but it's just a matter of things actually being open so we can purchase them (Island time: everthing closes at lunch, and re-opens at 1:30). It's just after 1pm now (4pm Vancouver time), so we will be leaving soon to go to the bank and then shopping for food (with Sara and Gillian). We have been having amazing weather! Really hot, some tropical rain to cool off and fresh water rinse in, and some wind coming over from the Marquesas and Tuamotus. Papeete (in Tahiti), is just another big city, so we will be here for the same amount of time we spent in Honolulu, restocking the boat, stowing all the food, getting more fuel, supplies, etc...having our two work days next week, each crew member gets 2 days off (Gillian and I get next Saturday and SUnday). I will probably be staying on the boat and eating out, as that saves money. I want to get some pearls down here. They're absolutely GORGEOUS! (LAdies, expect some good gifts - Mom, Amy, Bec, Judy)! They are so beautiful! I got about 4 just given to me in French Polynesia already. On a necklace, bracelet, hair decoration, and one just plain. They are amazing! The people down here are so generous and hospitable! WE have received so many gifts, mostly coconuts, pamplemousse, mangoes, small bananas, jams, jewelery, and just the amazing experience of the culture down here! Of course, with all the fresh, free, fruit, many people have had "G.I." problems (gastro-intestinal). I have lucked out and haven't got hit with that yet, but my Pepto-Bismol remains close at hand. Mostly the guys too - we think it's the copious amounts of pamplemousse, which makes for good jokes and poking fun. But I made bran raisin muffins last week, and Gillian and I are pushing the starchy foods and bran, and less fruit and local juices, so hopefully people will feel better soon. I just stick to my bottled water and moderation of all foods, and I seem to be doing well (thanks for all your tips, MOm). I am getting quite dark, but can't seem to shake the shorts tan. OH well, that's not why I'm here. This Leg has been so amazing, and it will be very difficult to say good-bye to some of the trainees (but 10 of them are staying on for Leg 3, to Fiji)! I am writing to Matt every day in my journal, so I have every moment documented, and I need to catch up with my letter writing soon, so I can send those off before we leave in 10 days! I have much to say and many thanks to give out to everyone, especially those who participated in my 22nd birthday gift (22 pictures with different people in each one holding/making letters that spell out "Happy 22ND Birthday Katie")! It was the most amazing birthday gift I have ever received - all due to Karen's scrupulous planning and idea from the start (she began last Fall). I have each picture perfectly hung above my bunk so I can look at everyone whenever I am lying down! It's great! I both laughed and cried when I was looking at the pictures! Thank you to everyone for that! And a special thanks to Mom, Dad, Amy and Jason for your birthday cards, Jamie and Judy for your present, EM for your gift to me (I've worn then already!) and to everyone for thinking of me on my 22nd birthday (July 25th). We crossed the equator on my birthday! It was also Jose's 33rd birthday (one of the first mates), so we had quite a bash that day! Singing, we got to wear our birthday pins, ("Birthday Girl" and "Birthday Boy") I had my favourite breakfast - granola, fruit and yogurt - and Jose got his - Shepherd's pie! At night we made a dance party in the hold, with lights out and everyone's headlamps on "flashing mode", and Jose and Tavish played drums while all of us danced around. I had to put on a coconut bra (over my shirt) and got to dance on the table, while we were sailing so it was really rocky, and the table was "gimbled", so the table moved as the boat moved around it! So awesome! A birthday I will never forget. We all got initiated the next day for crossing the equator by boat. We were all blindfolded and got sprayed down by the fire hose, one guy got his head shaved, some people had to eat nasty stuff, and we all got molasses guck spread in our armpits and I got "slopped" (food saved up from the previous week thrown on me)! I got a tame one, compared to some of the guys who had to have armpits/legs/chest shaved, and some girls had the guys' hair stuck on their bodies. So gross! I was cooking that day, so I just went down into the galley when it got really messy. But it was fun! WE have pictures! Now we're in beautiful Tahiti, right in the middle of the city (we have a perfect dock spot, for free for the next 10 days close by to everything). I have yet to take a fresh water shower (without a bathing suit on) and do some laundry! Nearly all of my clothes are dirty in some way, and I am desperate for clean clothes! But this is all the experience of sailing on a boat for the year. I am having a great time, and just loving all the excited adventures! I went snorkeling off of Tahuata in the Marquesas and saw a huge stingray swim right beside me! SO COOL! I have some underwater pictures, but was in shock when I saw the ray, so I wasn't able to get a picture of that. I am looking forward to enjoying some "down time" and relaxing while we are here in a port for longer than 2 days. I can't wait to sleep on deck again, rather than down in the stuffy hot cabin that Gillian and I share. I am getting along with everyone, and feel a lot more comfortable and familiar in my role, more so than last Leg. Getting more excited as the days go by, to see more Islands, and continue our circumnavigation of the PAcific. Sara (the amazing watch leader for these last two LEgs) is leaving us on the 21st, and I will miss her terribly, but we will get to have Stephen Duff as our new male watch leader, and then Sarah Brizan in Fiji! YEAH! I can't wait, Sarah! I love you and miss you! I miss all my family and friends back home! I think of you often and wonder what you are up to and how you are all doing! I am praying for all of you in your various roles. I can't seem to access my email here, which is quite frustrating, but I will try to mail letters and send my love over the ocean blue! I love all of you so much!

Matt, I am thinking of you all the time! Constantly! EVERYONE knows about you! I talk about you A LOT! I cry sometimes just lying in my bunk, thinking how much I miss you and love you, but I always feel better reading your letters, looking at pictures of you, and talking to others about you! I am praying for you, and hoping you are enjoying your summer! I will try to call you again today! And hopefully every day that I am here in Tahiti! Sometime around 5 or 6 at your house! I love you so much, Matt! Sending you all my love to you over the distance that I am away. Love always, your Katie xoxoxox

Take care, everyone, I love hearing from you and reading what you have to say, and all that you are doing!

Love always,
"Popeye"

Last Day Before Leg 2

Today was filled with having fun with Ang, before I have to be back on the boat tomorrow when the new trainees arrive. I slept in until 9am, and Ang had scrambled eggs, toast, apples and cherries already out for breakfast (how so incredibly sweet)! We did some minor things at home before leaving for the Beach near Ewa (on the west coast of Oahu). We spent a few hours on this beautiful beachfront, where we sort of snuck into the resort and dipped into the lagoon, layed out on the beach chairs, swam in the pool, saw fish, stingrays and other sea creatures in the pond there, read, slept, saw a couple getting wedding photos done on the beach, and had a surprise call from Ang's parents and Bec Shulba! It was so nice to chat with her. Apparently BC is having record-breaking hot weather (38degrees), as compared to here in Honolulu (28degres today). But I shouldn't get too used to this nice weather, since we will be heading down South soon, crossing the equator and visiting the South Pacific Islands; an area where Skipper says the heat is constantly humid, and you are always sweaty! Oh great. But I'm really looking forward to Leg 2 to begin and to be out on the water, sailing again! I have had a great time here in the Big City - Ang and I went out for appetizers with her friend and her friend's baby, and then to buy a new digital camera and case for myself, and out for dinner with her and Domi - and so I feel prepared and ready to leave and see new places, have more experiences, meet new people, travel, and explore the areas we will be visiting. I miss you all, and I hope that you continue to follow the ship's daily log on salts.ca, complimentary of Bonice (Skipper's wife). They are amazing, as they include specifics of each day, where we are, what we're doing, and are updated more often than my blog! I encourage you all to visit that website. Also, I just recently joined Facebook (I finally succumbed, with help from Ang with setting it up), and so feel free to add me, and send me messges. I will get them the next time we are in port and I have access to a computer (in about another 2 weeks or more). Take care everyone. I love hearing from all of you and knowing what is new and what you are all doing! I am thinking of you all, and praying for you in your individual and personal lives. Love always, "Popeye" Katie

Spending Time with Ang

Thank you all so much for your posts! I love them! Please keep them coming, as the only form of communication I get from home is through the internet.
So, after 2 weeks of Island hopping around Hawaii, we made it to Honolulu, on the Island of Oahu on July 2nd, in time for the July 4 fireworks on the night of July 3rd. They were amazing - very patriotic (it's the States). We went hiking, snorkeling, and up to the top ofc the world's TALLEST mountain (dormant volcano, Mauna Kea) in Hilo (on the big Island), snorkeling in Molokini, shopping and swimming in Lahaina, Maui, more hiking, swimming, and surfing on the Island of Kauai (my favourite), and now we are in Honolulu, where we have been for over a week, and won't be leaving until this Friday, July 13th, to begin Leg 2 - on our way down to the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, and Tahiti.
I have loved sailing around the Hawaiian Islands, but after being in Honolulu for so long, I feel ready to leave and head out onto the open water again (for about another 2 weeks before we hit land). Gillian and I have been very busy shopping and restocking the boat for food and provisions for this next Leg of our Offshore journey. We have really been enjoying our time in port, and just getting to shop and hang out, spending thousands of dollars (not our money) on food. We are having a great time looking for shopping places, walking around, and learning how much to get of each item. Looking forward to going down South and over East where stores will be harder to find the things we need.
The Leg 1 trainees left yesterday, and Leg 2 trainees arrive on the 12th (Thursday) to leave the next day. All of us crew get 2 days off, and these two days in between Legs (the 10th and 11th) are holiday time for me, Gillian, and Jose (one of the first mates). I am spending these two days with Ang Haugo, who is living in the Big City here with her boyfriend, Domi. She has been great, coming by the ship to say Hello and pick me up, bring me back to her place to take a bath, check Email, go shopping, and show me the sights of Honolulu. She also did my laundry, booked me an appointment at the spa, and gave me a few bath "goodies" that I can use on the boat! She is so amazing, and sweet, and has been so incredibly generous and hospitable for me! I am really looking forward to these 2 days off and get time off the boat and a chance to look around the Island.
Karen had her two days off on the weekend, so Sunday (one of my days off of cooking duties), we went to Pearl Harbor and got the whole tour and went out on the boat to see the sunken U.S.S. Arizona, then took the bus to Waikiki, went out for sushi, shopped, laid on the beach, went swimming, tanned, wrote some postcards, went out for dinner, and then to see the new movie, "Transformers". Karen had already seen it, but she said she didn't mind seeing it again because it was so good. I was pleasantly surprised - a very good action movie. Cheasy in some parts, but it had the comedic, romantic breaks that were needed. I highly recommend it!
Other than that, everything else is going well! The weather is very hot here, so it should come at no surprise that I am really looking forward to sailing again and getting some sort of breeze, however warm it may be. Skipper is reminding us of how hot the tropics will be, and that as we travel further south, it will just get more humid and more difficult to stay cool - oh great! As if the galley isn't hot enough already! We are process of looking for fans for our cabin and for the Galley, so Gillian and I can stay a little bit cooled. I am doing very well, healthy and mentally stable, and I am enjoying every new experience there is.
Ang and I are off to the spa, so I have to take a shower quick before we leave. Thank you again for all your comments and prayers. They are much appreciated! I miss you all, and hope to post pictures soon...! Love to you all!

We made it to Hawaii!

19 days travelling across the Pacific Ocean, and we finally made it to the port of Hilo, on the big Island of Hawaii late Friday night. It was a fabulous 3 weeks of sailing on such a big expanse of water, learning to live with 36 other people in such a small area. We are now in Maui, after visiting the big Island, and snorkeling in Molikini, and we are off to Kauai tonight, then we will end our Island hopping in Honolulu, Oahu by July 2nd, where we will be until July 13th (when we head for Marquesas, Tuamotus, and Tahiti). It is all very exciting, and there is much going on right now! I have a bit of time to kill before I need to go shopping for groceries, so while the trainees are off on the Island, looking around, I need to shop for food supplies. Gillian was cooking yesterday, so I had a day off to tour around Lahaina, Maui, and today is my day cooking, so I made fresh bread early this morning for sandwiches, with apples and pretzels for people to take to the Island, and now I have to stock up with fresh fruit, veggies, and other food we will need for the next few days until we get to Kauai, or Honolulu. Weather is fabulous, very hot here, so it's nice when we get to sail and have some fresh, cool breeze! Bonice (Skipper's wife) is writing a log every night or so of the trip, and what's going on. It's fabulous, so go to www.salts.ca to read about our trip. Right now, I am in the internet cafe with the two first mates, Jose and Antony, as well as Lindsay (a trainee) who will be helping me with shopping for food, and then Jordan (the bosun) will pick us up in the Zodiac and motor us back to the boat (as we are anchored, not tied up to the dock here in Lahaina). It's a beautiful place, but there's really no place like home. Yes, I do miss home already, but I'm looking forward to seeing the other places we will go to and all the things we will be able to do. Deck bucket showers are refreshing every couple of days. Shaving has reduced to once every week or more. Fresh water showers are glorious under a hose at the end of a dock, but my favourite is just getting to swing off the rope swing, or dive off the end of the bowsprit, go snorkeling, or bowsprit hanging off the front of the boat while underway (it's exactly what it sounds like - two people put harnesses on, clip into a rope and carabeener, and jump into the water off the very front tip of the boat while we are moving, under 6knots, and hand into the water, somewhat like shark bait, only we have had not casualties yet). I have gone twice now, but the second time I went with Karen, and she almost drowned me with her leech-like legs and arms, flailing about and trying to grab me and hold onto me. It was quite the scene, I have lots of pictures to prove it! Getting up is quite difficult though, as you can imagine. We have to wait for a big swell (wave) to come so the boat dives down into the water so we are floating and can reach the hanging rope. Then we have to climb up, pulling ourself vertically out of the water, harnessed in still, and shimmy our way up the bobstays (big wire bars) into the whiskers (netting) under the bowsprit and climb over onto the bowsprit, where we have to then reclip ourselves with another line and walk back along the whiskers onto the deck. It's quite elaborate, and - as Karen may tell you later - very difficult (we had to have two people pull her up because she was too tired after several tries to pull herself up). It's really a great workout! Another great workout is trying to cook and carry all the large pots while the boat is rocking side to side and front and back! I have already got a burn on my forearm, finger, and toe (spilled hot oil), and a few minor cuts, but nothing major. I'm getting really good at balance (good core muscles from all those years of dance)! There is so much more to tell, but I have to go shopping for food now. I never got seasick, but many others did! I am learning a lot about cooking, as well as dealing with many people on such a small boat (37). I am having a great time, but miss you all so much! Please send a message on my blog, as I will check this and update more often than my email! Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. I will be updating again, hopefully in Honolulu (I have a few days break in between Legs 1 and 2. Love to all of you, my dear family and friends!

One Week Before Departure

Well, Gillian and I finally finished stowing all of the food (seen in the second picture, before it was loaded onto the boat), with much appreciated help from our sisters, Karen and Jen, and other S.A.L.T.S. volunteers. The top picture shows the staff and crew of S.A.L.T.S. in the stern of the Pacific Grace, taken in early May. We have all been very busy the past week; Gillian and I with figuring out what we need, ordering, getting all the food on the boat, below deck, and then stowing it. It took us 3 full days, but it's all done! I was busy in the bilge (the sole, underneath the floorboards in the forward most part of the boat) for most of the 3 days storing all of the cans - literally, hundreds . All that is left to do is our fresh shop (fruits and veggies) and get our cabin ready (which is still awaiting a book shelf and - hopefully - some reading lights, as the one in there doesn't work very well (it decides when it wants to turn on). We are having more fun now that the food situation is taken care of, and are down to our final stages of preparing to leave. Everyone is in a state of a little nervousness, maybe some anxiety, perhaps some stress, and an underlying excitement. Families and friends are expected to arrive this week, as well as all the trainees for Leg One. Everyone boards on Saturday, but a few of us will be sleeping on the boat the night before. We set sail on this Sunday, June 3rd, but I don't think I'll feel like it's really happening until the following week, or so Skipper Tony tells me (he has sailed numerous Offshores, with his wife, and 6 children, and they are all coming - the most lovely family too)! I am getting nervous myself as the days draw nearer, but I am looking forward to seeing Matt, my family, and some of my friends, who are all coming out this weekend! 4 more days...WOW!

First Week Cooking Alone

Well, this past week proved successful in terms of my cooking skills. I was officially on my own. After 2 3-day trips helping Gillian cook and learning from her, I was on my own for a full 5-day trip (the last Spring trip on the Pacific Grace before we leave on the big Offshore trip on June 3rd). It was pretty exciting! I was a bit nervous to begin, but after the first day, I felt a bit better and got myself into a "groove" of my cooking schedule. It was quite exhausting at times, but I learned to love it! My routine is very different than any of the watch officers' routines:

0530 Wake up and start breakfast (for 35).
0720 First breakfast sitting.
0800 Second sitting. Eat. Rest.
0930 Begin lunch.
1120 First lunch sitting.
1200 Second lunch sitting (sometimes one-sittting at 1200). Eat. Rest.
1400-1500 Begin dinner (sometimes before or after depending on what it is).
1720 First dinner sitting.
1800 Second sitting (sometimes one-sitter). Eat. Rest.
1930 Begin mug-up (dessert and hot drink).
2130 Serve mug-up. Clean up galley.
2200 Devos with crew.
2300 Asleep and rest for same schedule next day.

It's quite a schedule. But I love it! I think my favourite - and most memorable - meal I cooked was the last night (Thursday). I cooked a huge Beef Roast (this thing rivaled the one seen in How the Grinch Stole Christmas), seasoned with olive oil, Rosemary herbs, Montreal steakhouse pepper, garlic cloves inserted into the meatiest parts of the meat, and I think some thyme or other seasoning. But after having to defrost this chunk of meat for hours, and then cut it up in its raw stage - to be able to fit on the pan and into the oven - I can understand how some people are vegetarian! In order to have it ready for first sitting, I had to have it in by 2:30, just to be the perfect tenderness for 3 hours later. The roast was accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes (I threw some grated cheese in to liven the flavour, which the trainees LOVED), along with peas and yorkshire pudding. The pudding didn't turn out quite how I wanted it to (I used half whole wheat flour to make them more healthy, but that prevented them from rising). Skipper assured me it was okay, but that next time I should stick to the recipe. He helped carve the roast, which was quite a challenge as we were sailing and the whole boat was keeled over to the port side, then the starboard, then port, and then starboard again (we were tacking). You can imagine how difficult this was for cooking! I will have to get used to that, though, as we will be sailing all over the Pacific! Anyway, with some paper towel, sticky mats, and help from the crew and trainees who weren't heaving over the side of the boat, everything got under control, and the meal was served somewhat on time. Everyone loved the food. The mashed potatoes went the quickest (we would have had more, but some potatoes were lost overboard when I asked some of the trainees to help me with the peeling process). I lost a potato overboard too, so I guess next time I will have to begin with 70 potatoes instead of 60 to allow for mistakes. All in all, it was a great trip! My hands are proof of how much I used the stove (after cleaning it for an hour, I was left with a nasty black film under my nails). Food was good (according to the feedback I received), trainees were amazing for our last trip of the Spring season, and my crew was awesome, although they weren't the full crew I will be sailing with Offshore. I am really looking forward to getting to work with everyone, and seeing how we will all get along for the year! We all went out for dinner together last night and I got a little taste of how great everyone is and what each person will contribute to our overall community on the boat. It's truly amazing, and I thank God everyday for this amazing opportunity and such wonderful family and friends!

This next week we will be working on preparing for our Offshore trip and getting the final details put together (a LOT of things to do)! Karen and I will continue to be living in Victoria at the place we are renting from two of the sweetest ladies, so we actually get to shower and sleep in a stable bed for the next few weeks before we set sail. Please continue to pray for the strength, energy, and persevearance we all need to get everything that we need to get done before June!

First day away from home...in Victoria

I made it! To Victoria anyway. Karen (my sister) and I arrived late last night, and I am all settled into the place she lives, in Oak Bay. We are sharing a room, and my bed is a mattress on the floor. Quite cozy. I have two drawers for my clothes, some hangers in the closet, a part of a rack in the fridge for food, a piece of her table and dresser top for other stuff, and the rest is crammed in suitcases. I guess I have to get used to living with little and having next to no space. We set up the room today after breakfast to accomodate the two of us, then we went shopping for groceries and miscellaneous things we will need for our Offshore trip. The weather was quite nice, so we took a walk to the library (the only computer/internet available for us to use), and later tonight we have a meeting with our Offshore crew at Skipper Tony's house. I was very sad to leave home (many tears, and cried myself to sleep last night), but I am looking forward to the new schedule I will have soon, and getting accustomed to life away from home, family, friends, and Matt (I miss you)! I think I will be better once I start work tomorrow on my first sailing trip of the year, and getting to hang out with my crew. It may take a while to feel at home again, but I know I will fit in just fine. I miss you and love you all! I haven't got pictures yet to show, but I will work on that...

Graduation has finally come!

I AM DONE! Well, my University education anyway. Master's anyone? 4 years goes by so fast, but I have enjoyed every moment! I will be graduating with a Bachelor's of Human Kinetics from Trinity Western University tomorrow (Saturday). I leave that night to go live in Victoria for the month of May for training before we set sail on Offshore, June 3rd, 2007. Thank you to everyone for all of your love and support! I will miss you - and hot 30-minutes showers, well, really just showers in general - but I will post as much as possible while I am away! Until then, keep the memories vivid and the laughter overflowing...