The Big Trip



Haydee and friends, November 201

It's nearly here. The one we've all been waiting for! The six month holiday is nearly upon us, and we in the Nicoll family are very excited! I'm very excited about all the wildlife that nature will show us. I want to see whales, turtles, seals, dugongs and many more dolphins. But I will miss my teacher, Ms Watson, and all my friends, Phoebe, Andrea, Annie, Brittany, Sophie, Shanae, Teghan, Yasmin (Yaz), my Girl Guide friends, Christiana, Bethany, Grace, Sarah and more that I can't remember (SORRY!!!!!) and my leaders, Kiata, Kulan and Midgee.

Not long!

Cameron and Nick, off Tangalooma, April 2011

It's not long till we all go on the big trip on the Beneteau. We're going to the Cape which is at the North of Queensland. I'm looking forward to being taken out of school & being home-schooled (boat schooled). The main thing I'm going to miss are my friends, Nick, Jean-Luc, Jacob, Edward, Danny, Isaac, Isaiah, Adison, Travis, Daniel, Michael, Cameron, Rikki, Aden, Lachlan, Fletcher and Nicky.

5 weeks to go

In Wide bay, about to cross the bar. Easter 2011.

It's five weeks before we head off and, while there is still a lot to do, we're starting to get a little excited. Since we bought Seasprint late last year, we've sailed 600-ish nm. We've taken her as far north as the Great Sandy Strait and as far south as the Gold Coast so far. We're getting to know how she sails and what she does and doesn't like. We have nearly finished the work we need to do on the boat to get it ready to live on for 6 months and are now finalising arrangements for the kids' schooling, storage for all our bits and pieces, and how we'll keep in touch with people while we're away.