We arrived in Mackay on August 23^rd and then returned to the USA for a reunion with both daughters in California as well as many family and friends in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California and Florida.  It was a great trip but we were REALLY happy to be back aboard Peregrina on Oct. 28^th and ready to continue our adventure.  In the end, we were a bit overwhelmed by modern society and were pleased to launch again into our simpler, vagabond sailing life…

We returned to Mackay Marina where we had said goodbye to the Blue Water Rally seven weeks earlier.  It had always been our plan to leave the Rally in Australia however, it was sad to see them sail away towards Darwin and on to Indonesia.  We had grown so attached to our BWR “band of brothers” after traveling through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific.  Severing ties was bittersweet…

We loved the camaraderie of the Rally but now's the time to go it on our own!  We are thrilled to have the opportunity to explore Australia and New Zealand at a more leisurely pace over the next 7-8 months while continuing on with our circumnavigation.  We’ll catch up with many of our Rally friends when we reach the Med and/or return to North America and will cherish memories of our time together for years to come…

And, of course, Camomile, Simanderal, Aqualuna, Norsa and Raylah are still in the area and we expect our paths will cross with all of them over the next few months. 

The fun never stops and it’s on to new adventures…Wahoo!!!