On the morning of Jan 13, 2024 we left Catalina Island and headed west toward Hawaii. We would be at sea for five days and travel approximately 2,500 nautical miles (2,877 land miles) before reaching our first destination in Hilo, Hawaii.

Our sea days were relaxing, or busy, depending on what we chose to do. Nancy spent most days involved in watercolor and beading art classes, and participating in a large Trivia contest involving over 100 passengers. Chuck skipped the art classes, but did agree to join in the Trivia, and spent time in the Fitness Center each afternoon. The highlight of many days were presentations by many very talented and recognized conversationalists, including the following.

• Riaan Mansar – a renowned explorer with numerous world records, including bicycling 38,000 kms. in a circumnavigation of the entire continent of Africa. The adventure took two years, two months, and fifteen days, during which he was captured by rebel soldiers in Liberia and held captive by Al Queda in Algeria. He subsequently circled Madagascar and Iceland in kayaks, achieving two more world firsts. He then rowed from Africa to North America with his girlfriend, a historic continent-to-continent ocean row that ended in New York harbor.
• Sir Jim Mclay – New Zealand’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who led New Zealand’s representation on the UN Security Council from Jan-May, 2015. From 1975 to 1987 he was a New Zealand MP serving in various government positions. He lectured on “The Indo Pacific”, highlighting the geography, history, early exploration and navigation of Polynesia.
• Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper – a retired U.S. Navy Captain who spent 30 years in the Navy and was selected as an astronaut by NASA where she experienced two space flights: STS-115 in Sep 2006 and STS-126 in Nov 2008, amassing nearly 28 days in space, which included five spacewalks totaling over 33 hours.
• Craig Whelden – a retired 30-year member of the U.S. Army, where he attained the rank of Major General, and then subsequently worked for nine years in the Senior Executive Service of the U.S. Marine Corps. He gave some great presentations on his experience at the Pentagon on Sep 11, 2001, and his background on China, Russia and Ukraine. With more than a dozen years in the Pacific as a senior military leader, Craig had a front-row seat to China’s behavior and his presentations explored what is happening geopolitically, militarily, and economically as Chica expands its sphere of influence.
• David Gardner – a photographer with the U.K. Royal Air Force, David developed a passion for history, and later studied and received a BA and an MA in History and American Studies from York University and spent twenty years in college level teaching, before becoming a chief examiner in modern European and world history for the University of London. His presentations focused on history and the lessons it can teach us.
• Peter Hillary – the son of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to ascend to the top of Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain, Peter has also become an accomplished mountaineer. He also has ascended Mt. Everest, as well as completed expeditions to the Seven Summits – the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. He leads expeditions to destinations in the Himalayas and Antarctica.

Also along the way we experienced calm seas and beautiful sunsets each night, and on the evening of Jan 16 we had a special dinner at The Thomas Keller Grill during which the crew surprised us with another celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary.