There wasn’t a complete lack of hygiene. I did once wash my hair in a bucket of saltwater. Other than that, we just had to keep layering on the deodorant. We included Kirk, my mom Heidi, Christina and Nathalie (my friends from Sydney) and myself. A bunch of scruffy sea dogs we were. Though, ask any of us, and each would tell you the same: it was utterly worth it.

Here’s a photomovie of the trip:

Do you know the disappointment you feel at the end of a vacation? Usually bittersweetness. The time is up, now only the memory remains. This particular sailing charter was not just a vacation. (Or, ‘holiday’ as the Aussies say). This week was a big stepping stone. A ‘we could do this for real’ preview of the future. After this trip, I am absolutely delighted. I really feel cruising could be a big part of my life.

Back on solid ground, I turn on the faucets in the shower. Before I step in, I run my fingers through my hair. It’s stiff and caked with time spent on the ocean. Under the shower head the sterile water douses away the last of the salt, sweat and sun. It’s odd to feel squeaky clean. I wonder how long it will be until I’m back on the ocean, on a sailboat once more.

• finish packing
• say goodbyes to our roommates ryan, mikey, celeste & andy
• take last minute photos of the beach & the house
• bus from byron to brisbane
• sit at a café, order coffee and a burger, play hangman
• taxi to mark’s apartment, hang out, chat
• dinner:  mark’s wicked lasagna, tim tam crushes for dessert
• Toohey’s Extra Drys, watch I Love You, Man

• check internet & grocery shop
• $10 supreme pizza w/Toohey’s cider
• hang out on the beach; kirk goes for a surf
• take photos of railroad at sunset
• PARTY!  BBQ on verandah w/ housemates, Christina & Natalie, housemates’ friends; into the night

• rain, rain, rain
• begin organizing all photos from Australia
• drive w/ Andy to his yellow house & to his brother Nick’s sprawling bachelor pad in the woods
• lunch; crack open Yalumba rosé
• have a few beers with the roommates; turn on all burners of the stove to warm the freezing kitchen, fire alarm goes off