After sailing from Newport, RI to New Zealand via the Panama Canal, here's Zen, in front of our Portsmouth home, in the tiny state of Rhode Island. As planned, we sold our townhouse and purchased a single family home for the kids' high school and university years. When friends come by, and thankfully, many do, they ask three questions:

"What was your favorite place?"
A. The Cook Islands

"Is there any place you would relocate to?"
A. Only locale that rivals Rhode Island - NEW ZEALAND

"Kids, would you do it again if you could?"
A. YES! In a heartbeat!
A. YES! Absolutely!

That about sums it up. We have officially altered our children's lives forever. Cruising may fade into the background for a little while, as they blend into their world of teenagers. But, we believe, it will resurface to help them navigate through their own journeys. Our global sailing cruise may be over for now, but we'll continue to enjoy the bliss of coastal cruising for a few years, before we take off again when the kids reach university.

As we reflect and recount our trip for family, friends and strangers, we simply say, "It was GREAT! Literally, all of it. Every single bit of it." The four of us are most grateful to the innumerable locals who welcomed us, the cruising friends who are now family, the cultures that awed us and our land friends who never, ever lost touch and celebrated our adventure.

TRIP STATISTICS:
Approximate Nautical Miles Sailed: 20,000
Number of Countries Visited: 20
Number of Months: 20
Fastest Boat Speed: 28 knots (Panama)
Longest Passage: 17 days (Galapagos to Marquesas)
Fastest 24-hour Run: 240 miles