In the Beginning...

For many years I have dreamt of retiring to a Yacht.

And, I do enjoy travel.  Whether it is the time spent on the front of a motorbike touring in and around Europe or travelling to America, India and Europe with my job.  Back in 1990 or so I did my longest jaunt overseas: to California doing all of the usual touristy thingies (Las Vegas, Sequoia, Yosemity, San Francisco...), then on to Hawaii (Diamond Head anyone?) and to Australia (Sydney with drunk, blood spattered guest in the hotel reception asking for his room key).  Finally the long cramped long boring long tiring long haul back home again...

For the last 11 years I have been a keen motorcyclist with tons of European and UK miles under my belt (http://youtu.be/oelQL-MJ45E).  And finally, last year, I started to learn how to sail on a 42 ft Bavaria (Vision 40) on the river Humber (now, that was the best drinking holiday I have ever been on - thanks Nigel!  http://www.yorviksailing.com and http://youtu.be/r2vTFgEHuXI).

So here I am,  approaching my Fiftieth birthday having for some time worked to bring all of this together into my dream holiday.

And it is getting close.  Sadly I can afford to be selfish because however hard (or not) I have tried to not stay single then this has happened.  Always figured that there is a need for balance in a relationship , 80-90% good, maybe 10-20% bad with opportunity to make up and grow together.  But was always the other way for me, 80-90% bad, you get my drift.  But hey, no need to cry over that as for sure staying at home with work and chores and more work and more chores will not result in new opportunities being presented and a fulfilled life.

So here is the plan.  Fly, Sail, Ride and Ride again in 2 places I always promised myself to go back to.

1. Leave on the 21st October into San Francisco for 5 days sailing in the Bay [ocscsailing.com/]
2. Do the California Harley thing to do the daily commute from the digs [https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/40302] to OCSC Sailing then a weekend cruising on the California coast
3. Then out again to Auckland to tour North Island on a bike (Yamaha Tenere 1200) [www.aucklandmotorbikehire.com]. 
4. And back home, work for a further 4 years and 345 days to my early retirement (God willing)

And that includes business class travel which, for a Yorkshire man, was akin to having my right arm cut off with a rusty hacksaw blade.  Ow!

Whaddyathink?  Life could be so much better in many ways but this is my life and for sure I can today, right now, be selfish over what to do.  I do not have a crystal ball so lets see what is around the next corner and hopefully by the end of August the final bits of the trip will be done and dusted so time then to put my feet up until the day...

And I will continue to dream of retiring to a Yacht [http://youtu.be/Mtn3g7AuH80] with, I hope, a motorcycle on the back!  As yer man says on the link above... Frikadelloes Baby!

Speak soon...