Hi folks, 

Well, I'm on the big silver budgie to LA tomorrow morning, and then it's 14 hours across the ocean back to Auckland. I'll arrive on Saturday morning. 8,000 miles in about 24 hours is a bit faster than I'm used to travelling. 

I'm in Annapolis now. Anastasia came up to New Jersey with her trailer and collected me and Wanderer last Sunday. Since then I've been sorting out my stuff from all the gear that will remain with the boat. Anastasia has been putting me up at her place and making sure I eat right. Oddly, she doesn't think much of Chef Boyardee Ravioli in a can and she keeps feeding me something she calls 'salad'. 

We've gone out sailing twice since then and had fun trying out a bunch of manoeuvres in the Bay. Still haven't capsized yet and now I may have missed my chance. Oh drat.

I'm looking forward now to being able to stay in one place for a while after being on the move since I left home 10 months ago to cowboy and sail in the US. It's been a terrific vacation though. I couldn't have done it without everyone's help either. Thank you especially to Brian McCleery, Geoff Orr, Phil DeClue, Aaron Clarke and Anastasia Hopkinson. And most of all Frank Dye and Al Schonborn. You all took away my problems and worries, and so I hope I gave you something to chuckle at in return.

I looked at my little boat yesterday, and thought how strange it is to not have a place to store my gear. It's all gathered up ready for the flight home but even so, I feel sort of scattered instead of self contained. As if I would be safer on the boat - hatches battened, etc. When I was all provisioned and fueled up and tucked into my bed or sailing in my wet weather gear, I felt so ready to tackle anything on Wanderer. I'm glad such a good boat is getting such a good new owner.

I've done less than I hoped but more than I expected, and now I just have to write it all down. There'll be a book out later this year called The Biggest Boat I Could Afford by Random House NZ. Initially, it won't be published in the US but if you drop me an email, I'll get you a copy if you want one. It might appear on Amazon though, so that's worth a look, and of course I'll let Uncle Al know, too.

Well, that's it now. Must fly. Got an exotic redhead waiting for me in a foreign port. Nuff said.

Toodle oo

Lee - ex W8448
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