Some of you may have been wondering what on earth happened to us? Here is an overdue update: When we bought Melody, the plan was to take off a year from 'normal' life and follow this crazy dream. Two years later, we finally crossed the, slightly perturbed, Atlantic. Successfully reaching Brazil, we made our way up the coast to the Caribbean. Wilhelm and I spent a year travelling around the islands, having the time of our lives and learning far more about engines then we might have hoped. The time we had on Melody is difficult to describe. It was the freedom we had always wanted. The opportunity to see a part of the world that people only ever dream of visiting. To meet people from every possible place. To experience nature in an extraordinary way. Where it engulfs you in pieces of splendour. It whispers to your soul and brings rays of happiness to your heart. It was a unique way to experience the world.
Melody was a huge part of our lives for three years. She helped us pursue a dream. To take a step off the ordinary path of life. She taught us about commitment. About teamwork. She made Wilhelm and I stronger. Individually and together. Melody brought us an abundance of joy and handfuls of sadness. She kept us on our toes and she kept us safe. After three memorable years, we finally said goodbye to her in the early hours of the morning, in Trinidad. We made the decision to come back home and make that line a wave. We left knowing that Melodious would be in safe hands. The lovely Klein family took her on a little adventure up to St Lucia, see their travels at sevenklein , where they met Kate and Rufus, Melody's 'new' owners. After a year in Zambia they decided to come back and continue the journey. Follow their story aboard Melody at abrandnewlife as they make some more modifications to the old lady and hope to take her into the Pacific. It's going to be an exciting adventure to follow!
Wilhelm and I managed to get back to South Africa just in time for Christmas with our families. After having travelled for three days; from Trinidad to Panama, to Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai, to Cape Town! It was wonderful to be back home! Plenty of things have happened in the last six months. Wilhelm found a great job at Southern Spars as a Process Engineer. He can now use all those great skills he had put into practise on old Melodious! I enrolled into a postgraduate course in Renewable and Sustainable energy at Stellenbosch University. After having survived with only one solar panel and a wind generator for a year, I wanted to learn more about harnessing energy from nature.
We got married! On a beach, along the South Africa West Coast, in a little place called Gonnemanskraal. It was beautiful and intimate. With only our immediate family as guests. We spent the weekend there together laughing, catching up and eating and drinking incredible food and wines, which we had missed in the Caribbean! We moved into a lovely little apartment in Sea Point, on the slopes of Table Mountain and the edge of the Atlantic. It is wonderful being home and we have realised that life on land isn't so bad. For now anyway.
I would like to thank everyone who helped us along this journey. Our friends and family. We would have never been able to do this without your constant love and support. The special people we met along the way. Cruisers, who are always willing to help. All our wonderful Off The Line followers. Kate and Rufus for everything - have an incredible adventure, take in every moment, laugh, even when it's hard, love each other always and we wish for only fair winds in your sails. Melody thank you for being our home, for keeping us safe and for this journey. Wilhelm, my love and best friend, thank you always.
Below are some pictures from our last few weeks on Melody and a couple from South Africa.
Thank you all again!
Viv
Saline Island, Carriacou
Union Island, St Vincent
Sundowner time :)
Plane spotting, Union Island
Tobago Keys, St Vincent
We only had two nights in Tobago keys.....and it rained
Our last sail on Melody
And Will caught a Marlin! (A white one we were told?) Our biggest fish on our last sail!
Melody waiting to go on the hard
And out she goes...
Packing up
Chilling out in Power Boats' yard
Saying goodbye to our Melody at 3 in the morning...
Overlay in Sao Paulo, Brazil
We had enough time in Sao Paulo to spend the day with my cousin Ian, and his family, Poliana and Theo, who spoilt us rotten to a fantastic lunch and plenty of laughs!
Pit stop in Dubai
Home sweet home :)
Ah, Cape Town :)
We got married!
False Bay, where our journey started
On a University field trip
Back in Cape Town :)
Above the clouds on Lions Head
Wilhelm has found a new hobby :)
Sea Point, our new neighbourhood
