No More Counting the Days
17 October 2009 | Ridgefield, Washington
Pat Stenbak
Ok, so I've been counting the days for so long, but no more. Today's the day. No more meltdowns and no more tears. Just excitement at finally getting to do what I have always dreamed of doing.
Today I'll be heading to the airport -- thanks Paul for the ride! We will eventually end up in Aukland, New Zealand 2 days after we leave Portland. Partially because it's a helluva long way to New Zealand from here and partly because we'll be crossing the international date line and losing a day. Don't worry though, I'll get it back when I return to Portland in November.
I've struggled with the packing but have finally settled on the things that will keep me warm, dry and safe plus some stuff that's just for fun -- like my snorkeling gear. It's quite a bunch of stuff, but I like Patty's suggestion about using a rolling duffle. It's heavy but thanks to the wheels it's manageable. When I get to Wayward Wind, I'll just stick it on the end of my bunk -- I'm quite short in case you didn't notice -- and the rest of the bunk will be for the rest of me!
Patty convinced me to purchase a VIP pass for our layover in Fiji. So, now for 3 solid hours, we'll be FIJI VIPS! We can clear customs in the lounge, get a massage, take a shower or just rest up in air conditioned comfort before our final flight to Aukland, NZ.
We're spending 2 nights and 2 days in Aukland before catching our next flight to Tonga to meet up with Aaron and Lauren -- the skipper and his first mate.