For a summary of where we have been, check out the Past summary page.

For details on all our past trips aboard Whisper (and some land travel too!), you will find all the detail logs here.

Here is our plan for the next few months...

It's a wrap!

Recently, we've made a couple of big decisions. Here goes. We are wrapping up this chapter in our cruising lives, selling Whisper, and returning to our careers. We were too young and not ready to "retire" when we left California in 2002. "Practicing retirement" was our philosophy — in conjunction with the desire to experience an ocean sailiing adventure while we were still young-ish. Well, now that we have the hang of it, it's time to wrap-up cruising life and reboot our careers. Believe it or not, we plan to return to a "normal" lifestyle for the next several years! So it's off to work again in 2009!

September 2008

We arrived in Port Moselle Marina in Noumea, New Caledonia in mid-September 2008. Whisper is listed for sale with an Australian broker and her affiliate agent in New Caledonia. Taking full advantage of being at a dock for the first time in five months, we will do a few maintenance and cleaning chores. Exploring what New Caledonia has to offer is the other priority during our short stay here.

October 2008

In early October, we will begin looking for a weather window for the passage to Australia. The passage will be about a six day, five night passage and will be our last big ocean passage aboard Whisper. We signed up for the Port to Port Rally to Bundaberg and will arrive in Bundaberg, Australia by late October 2008.

November & December 2008

We will stay in Bundaberg until early November, then sail south toward Brisbane. Whisper will end up in Scarborough Marina on Moreton Bay near Brisbane, Australia where she will be cleaned-up, waxed, polished, varnished and organized for showing and eventual delivery to new owners. Figuring out what to do with all of our personal belongings will be another big focus.

January 2009

We will return to work early in 2009. Our most likely options are return to work in New Zealand, pursue working in Australia, or return to the San Francisco Bay Area in California.

Although we enjoyed the work-life-balance in New Zealand — we really missed the energy of the Silicon Valley. While in Australia, Robin may pursue an opportunity that could take us to Sydney for a few years. Duncan will scout employment in Sydney. However, the most likely scenario is to return to work in northern California. There are several companies of interest and we have already started discussions with a few.

We will assess the world economic and political climate, the employment opportunities available and the lifestyle we hope to achieve — then decide where to live and work.

February 2009 and beyond

As you may have guessed by now, we like to plan and to work toward a goal(s). Our next big adventure will likely be formulated over the next 8-12 years. Interesting work — combined with periodic travel — will always be a part of our lives. We also think a "home base" somewhere would be nice. Half the fun of the next 10 years may be looking for that "somewhere".

For now, we plan to focus on careers, periodic vacations, staying active, and saving for the future. As always, we'll embrace the people, arts, outdoors, culture, coffee, and cuisine of wherever we live. No matter what we do or where we are, we will continue to have fun!