Last summer was incredibly exciting for me. Cruising from Lake Huron, through the great lakes, down the St. Lawrence River and through Atlantic Canada was an amazing trip. I was really looking forward to the next leg of my journey this summer–to cruise in the Maritimes for a couple of months and then head down the US coastline to ultimately end up in Chesapeake Bay in late September, early October.

When I originally took the assignment to Kuwait I had planned to spend 3 months there, come home in May, spend a month with my family and then begin my cruise again. However, when I got to Kuwait I quickly found myself with a renewed excitement about my work. I am on a great team of professionals, on a really interesting project, in a fascinating country and part of the world, and working with a great client who sincerely appreciates our efforts to serve them as best as we can. These factors all combined to motivate me to put my cruising plans aside for a season and return to Kuwait for one or two more 90-day work terms. I have to admit that I even surprized myself when I made this decision. I am also very fortunate that my wife Catherine has been totally supportive of me through all of this.

It will be hard to imagine Ananda sitting idle for an entire season but she is in a safe place and will be just fine. I have also arranged for the boatyard to do some extra work on her to preserve the engine and other systems and to make some additional improvements for me. After all, if I am going to be away for a season I might as well spend some of the cruising savings on upgrades, eh!