The Objectives "revisited"

1. Learn how to sail 2. Cross the Atlantic 3. Get my butt to Peru 4. Make a serious difference at the Bruce Peru Project through impact and imagination 5. Hold a 20 min discussion in Spanish 6. Surf Chicama from peak to shore 7. Complete the Inca trail, Angel falls, Andes in Chile and Patagonia - would love some company if anyones keen 8. 02/06/2007 - Pass CFA level 3 9. Jump in and out of the Amazon 10. Visit Easter Island and the Galapagos islands

Nambia, Walvis bay, this trip is crazy..

So turns out we not only left out spinker on the first departure but about another 250 kg of various goodies for the yacht. Crazy stuff Ines, but in good humour. So our trip finds us now in Walvis Bay (renouned for flamingoes). The Courtneys and Wilbur smith eat your heart out.

As you can tell we have already had many encounters with our friends of the sea, the dolphins. Our skipper hates them after spending time on a fishing boat at 15, he reckons they should all be eaten. I can see him and me are going to have our differences regarding Green Peace, but all in good humour.

The trip has been filled with numerous night watches. These are 3 hour shifts where there's nothing but you, the ocean, the stars, occasionally a dolphin and a good book. 3 books down and loving it. I now can take my hat off to Nelson, Oliver Tambo & Walter Sisulu, what men. They had me with goose bumps for the whole 1000 pages.

This is our rig, don't ask me what they all are, I'm still learning and fast.

While sailing, I've decided to master a couple of other skills. "Asta Luego"= see you later, in Spanish. Soy solitair = I'm single.

Slight hiccup, but lifes funny like that..

On Friday the 12th of January, 2007, the 43 foot Leopard named T71 (the owner has named it yet) set sail for Tahiti via Panama. Crew Ines De Beer skipper, Jon - First mate and Tom - crew member. We, as the crew were excited and nervous as apparently its unlucky to leave on a Friday. With all the nervousness we managed to leave the spiniker on the docks, but we also discovered the sat nav and auto pilot weren't operating correctly. This worked out for the best, as I managed to make one of the weddings (Peachie and Linds). So glad I did as there were some big names coming out of the wood works. Mr and Mrs Hughes, Mr and Mrs Surrige, Mr and Mrs Warner, Mr and Mrs Seales, Mr and Mrs Stuart and Dan the Man.

The service was held at Saints in J'burg which all went perfectly, bar big and little cocks' hyme singing, next time boys mime the words.

The reception was huge, much rocking and rolling was done and generally a fab time had by all. Mr Picken appeared to enjoy it so much he refused to get out of his party clothes until forced to do so.

So with a seriously sore head and a large coke it was back to Cape Town, to wait for the winds to change. It seems strange - a 3mill rand yacht with all the gadgets and excatly like Tom Hanks and his floating steel door, we must wait for the mother nature to bless us with fair winds before departing. This means I get to enjoy Cape Town in all its splendour for a couple of days.

Happy as its been hectic up until now and haven't really chilled yet. So while waiting I have taken on my new hobby of photography and get to spoil you guys with some of my work. This was from a walk from the docks, up platekloof gorge, over table mountain, down skeleton gorge all the way to forries to meet Peela for a Amstel Draft. aah times are hard.

Also managed to see some special people (good to see the Cape Town family) I hadn't caught up with yet and Harris.

To my travel agent/taxi driver/host Mr Fleming thanks a whole heap big fella.

Next Stop... Trinidad

We are set to arrive in 4 to 5 weeks ... will bring photos and stories

The Weddings - eeek!

Apologies to Dolf & Stockie and Peachie & Lindsey. Due to unforseen circumstances and matters of the heart, our friend headed south to the tip, earlier than expected. This however meant that he has missed the first wedding, which I have no doubt was a celebration for the history books. Dolfie and Stocksie, I am so sorry to have missed your special day. May the best of your past be the worst of your future and I wish you nothing but happiness for the future. So, Peaks found himself in the mother city on the 4th Jan and decided not to waste anytime. He popped down to the docks to get the ball rolling on the first part of his adventure, "the yacht trip". After some serious research and "persistence over resistance" (a trait learnt from Trevor Hunt), our wondering adventurer has secured himself a spot on a yacht headed for Tahiti. Our friend was very happy to discover this is in fact in the south Pacific in the French Polynesian Islands and not Hawaii. The trip will take approximately 90 days depending on the trade winds. Some of the sites along the way will include Brazil, Trinidad, Panama, Galapagos Islands... and this list continues. The man is exceptionally happy. There are three of us on board. Ines Debeer (skipper) Jon Haversmith (first mate), Tommy P (deck hand). The spot came about in a rather ironic and wonderful way. The chap who had my spot, told his girl friend about the trip over the phone (school boy error). He then went about preping the boat for departure, before heading home at the end of the day. On arriving home he discovered that his girl friend, in a rash act of love, had cut up his passport. I have bought her a bottle of champayne in thanks. So its with a little bit of excited nervousness, Peaks has purchased himself a rather expensive camera (under the mentorship of Nic Bar) a lap top, many old books, a second hand surf board and a couple of blank canvasses. Let the adventure begin. However this means Peaks will miss the second wedding of Peaches and Lindsey. There is nothing I can say but sorry guys, I was so looking forward to sharing your very special day with you, but I feel this is an opportunity I can't pass up. I hope you understand. I sure you guys will be unbelieveably happy in the future as you have been in the past. Nothing but love to you both. Conclusion Peacock heads to Southern Africa to attend two very good buddies weddings, but ends up missing both. However I feel this is the start of an awesome adventure.

The African Queen - what a ship!

Photos to come, but the story goes... Arrived in Zim on the 28th Dec. I knew I was home when I was stopped at a police road block and asked to provide a taxi service to Inspector and Sergant Inkuru. Chuckled hard;) The boat trip was an epic one where little fish were caught, wide ranging tans obtained (rosie pink pom) and large amounts of Zambezes where had while bantering continuously. Proud to say the entire Safa contingent managed to take a cheeky dip in the green ocean without any flat dog incidents. Unfortunately Tiger Balmes reputation proceeded him and all the tiger fish were running scared. Woogie and Miss Kitchen were lucky enough to catch the end of the kindergarten run, but none for the rest of us. Many games of Maffa where had. Hilarious game and I'm happy to admit I super kack at this game. The news eve bash saw 6 boats converge on Palme bay along with the mother of all monsoons. It was carnage. Old friendly faces everywhere bought tears to my eyes. All in all a good time had by all.