Are we crazy? Undoubtedly. To sail off across an ocean on a boat barely bigger than the size of our campervan... What are we thinking? Well, for one thing... There are thousands of others who have done this before us - with less boat, less experience, less sanity. But surely not with less desire. It’s our need to see the world that drives us onward. To test our mettle. To take the road less traveled. To contentedly go to the nursing home at age 90, knowing that we lived life on our terms.

We only came to find true love in each other at middle age. Two souls that resonate with the same set of chords. We could most certainly live within the circle of each other for an eternity. But first, the world awaits. And the land of our hearts becons, so we must respond. On our frequent trips to Australia, people have asked if we sail to those distant shores. Our canned response: "What... are you nuts? Do you have any idea how long that would take? Why would we sail there, when we can hop on a 747 and be there in 24 hours?" But the more we pondered the idea, the better it sounded. Never drink red wine when considering a life-changing decision.... somehow, all those decisions seem brilliantly conceived.

So, we take stock of all the things we need to make the trip across the world’s largest ocean. It will be a journey from Virginia, down the the east coast of the US, to the Panama Canal, Galapagos, the South Sea islands, New Zealand, and finally, Australia.. A journey almost exactly half way around the globe from our starting point. Too bad we can’t just sail the rhumb line through the center of the earth (another red-wine-inspired fantasy?).

So we work the entire summer of 2008 preparing for this voyage. Our lovely boat, Painted Skies, spends the better part of three months out of the water - having every part of her dignity stripped and replaced or reworked. Katherine returns to work at The Ship’s Tailor in Deltaville sewing canvas while laboring on her days off to perfect the ship’s brightwork, and to complete new upholstery and canvas. After this past year of cruising the east coast of the US and the Bahamas, the areas of the boat that need upgrading have made themselves known. In the end, we just open up the checkbook so that Painted Skies will be the safest and most reliable boat she is capable of being.

Sit back. Grab a glass of wine. And join us in our adventure!

Oceans of love, Katherine and Lael