Goodbye Mediterranean

Amaris sails the world

Approaching Gibraltar

Seas - calm, Weather clear and crisp

36 deg 11.93 Min North

005 deg 16.03 Min West

Goodbye Mediterranean

We are approaching Gibraltar with both a bit of excitement and a bit of sadness.  We have had so many wonderful adventures over the last 4 months - and it honestly is difficult to count them all.  The weather was brutally hot at times (usually when i had to do some type of task in the engine room) and cool at others (usually during a night sail accompanied by rain-- Shawn and I taking turns standing in it.  Reminiscent of sailing around the Puget Sound, I suppose).  We had wonderful periods of solitude, wonderful visits from friends, and met tons of amazing people.  I can honestly say that we are welcoming the change that is happening within our lives and attitudes.  The stress of the last 10 years is melting away and we are becoming "cruisers."  One translation - we now welcome the afternoon nap and life without an alarm clock and we can let a day go by without checking our e-mail.

A few of the highlights of the last 4 months;

• France putting on a fireworks show to welcome my 40th birthday - (or celebrating Bastille Day)
• Having 50+ packages with birthday "crazy" socks from so many of our friends in the states
• Tasting some desert in France called "floating islands" (or something like that in French)
• Having Cody come stay with us for a month - and letting him explore France, Corsica, Sardinia, and Italy on his terms.
• Cody's quote "Docking doesn't have to be stressful."
• Sailing past the wreck of the Concordia and passing other sailboats...  at 17 knots!
• Having Ron visit in the Ionian Greek Islands - perfect weather each and every day during his visit
• learning how to use the code zero (which the Outremer rep said - "i know it is hard to use at first - but trust me, it will make you fast and you will learn to like it")
• Having Miles visit in Malta - and trying not to laugh when the gangplank fell as he was boarding the boat-with his luggage (splash)
• having crew members join us (Ross and now Antonio) to share in the work.  And learning to let them share in the work
• Having my "sister" Sue and her partner join us for a week in Spain.  Even though she did hit me in the head with the flashlight in the middle of the night when i was once again in the engine room!
• "Pterodactyl" Island
• French food
• Spanish Tapas
• Meeting great people - Lorrie (who was only with us for an hour, but her kindness and spirit will be with us for a lifetime)
• Meeting other cruisers
• Not getting arrested!
• Surfing at 21 knots on the way to Menorca, Spain
• Fried Cheese (Saganaki? - spelling)
• First (and every additional) swim in the Med
• renting a car and driving around Volcano
• Watching the Americans come back and win the America's Cup Challenge (in multiple pubs/marinas while petting random Greek Cats)
• Jazz festival in Nora
• Paxos - Anchoring in crystal clear water

Sailing across the Atlantic will be a wonderful adventure and we are very much looking forward to both the adventure it will bring -and to the peace we will have when this leg is finished as we relax in the Windward and Leeward islands of the Caribbean.  It amazes me that we have had so many volunteers to help sail 3000 miles.  It will be wonderful to have the help and the personalities that will make Amaris home for the 3 weeks that we take to complete the journey.  I am looking forward to the many group dinners and games that we will play on a daily basis (it must be how people lived before TV).  I also am happy to have sailed well over 5000 miles in the last 4 months so that we have total confidence in the boat - and those people that she is taking care of.  And of similar importance - we are looking forward to opening 2-3 envelopes daily at noon during our crossing of the Atlantic - with well wishes and notes that people gave us during our bon voyage party so very long ago.

So - our fare thee well to the Med, and a welcome to the Caribbean.  May we have good winds and a following sea the entire way!