We are back (on the boat) in sunny Tunisia, after a 7-week whirlwind visit to the U.S. Our friends and family opened their homes to us, so not only did we get free places to sleep, but even better, we had quality time with epic humans. Turns out quality time with epic humans is really all we need in life! Besides catching up with friends and family, Peter did a ton of work on our rental properties ensuring they are set for at least another year(ish) until we return for more maintenance. Our time in the U.S. never feels like enough but we cherished every moment with as many people as possible!
We ended 2023 exploring the eastern coast of Sardinia. Being in Italy during the off-season meant rock climbing in solitude and lots of play on beautiful deserted beaches. But it's the off-season for a reason; we met a few large storm systems, and thanks to Sardinia, I can say I have sailed in 60 mph gusts 🙈. To see what that looks like, click here. It was such a relief to end the season (and year) in sunny Tunisia, where we reunited with our boat buddies Tiki Tour, met more live aboard families and made lots of new friends.
From August to the end of November, we sailed over 3,000 nautical miles. Initially, we planned to head from Tunisia to Turkey, then turn around, sail west, and cross the Atlantic Ocean, ending 2024 in the Caribbean.
I am not typically an anxious person, but being new to sailing, prone to seasickness, and scared of almost everything on the water, I started to have A LOT of anxiety about our upcoming year. Getting from Turkey to the Caribbean in 6 months is a massive trek, even for people who love to sail! Peter was up for it. He has the fortitude for "packing it in." I also love big adventures, but a break from the boat and reflecting with friends helped me realize I had signed up for more than I could manage.
Peter and I spent days discussing different ideas for getting the boat to the Caribbean without me, but we couldn't agree.We realized we needed to spend less time thinking about "the how" and more time reflecting on "the why."
Why did we decide to travel full-time in the first place? We decided to travel full-time to strengthen our marriage and connect with our children. We want to see the world and slow down. The more we spoke, the more we realized our push to get to the Caribbean by the end of the year didn't align with our goals.
So we have made a new decision. In the next nine months, the farthest we will go is from Tunisia, to Turkey! There is so much to see in the eastern Mediterranean not to mention LOADS of fantastic sights to support our growing interest in ancient cultures. So even though I am trepidatious about life on the water, I am excited about all there is to explore. My hope is that I get better at sailing, less seasick, and more comfortable on the water so we can do the Atlantic crossing in 2025. However, there is always the chance the boat and I will “consciously uncouple” 😜 so stay tuned so see how the year unfolds.
Travel
Where we've been
Below is the map of our progress so far. Since my last newsletter we have sailed from Mallorca (where the star is), down the east coast of Sardinia, ending for the winter in Tunisia.
After suddenly losing her husband and picking up the pieces of a tragically altered life, Tiffany made the bold and courageous choice to take a year off, and solo parent her two kids as they travel the world. She's a digital creator and a powerhouse! I am honored I was able to spend time learning from her. If you haven't seen our chat click here. I also recommend checking out her instagram profile. She's a force and I know you will admire her as much as I do.
I also had the pleasure of speaking with Janelle from raisinglittlerippers.com. Janelle is a ski instructor and mother of 3 who gave me amazing advice for how to give our children safe and happy days on the slopes. If you are heading to the mountains with your children or you know someone who is, please check out and/or share this interview.
In case you missed it …
On the blog
Where we're headed.
Our next stop is Malta. From Malta we will head north to Sicily and from there we hope to explore the bottom of Italy's boot!
If you have any favorite spots in Sicily or southern Italy I would love to know! Respond to this email and tell us where we should go.
Between you and me
I had no idea how much time it would take to adjust to boat life and simultaneously homeschool the kids. The responsibility of boat care, weather planning, and chart plotting (mainly) falls on Peter, so my plans for alone time to document our adventure on Youtube and the blog were widely overestimated. Keeping us safe and ensuring the boat is maintained, is a full-time job. So until the time management puzzle is sorted, Instagram and Facebook are the best places to see what we're doing.
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