We have been some busy-bodies for the last three weeks. We were feeling a real crunch trying to get everything ready before we cast off across the Indian Ocean this year. Watermaker repairs, new life raft, provisioning, these are just a few of the items we had to get taken care of last minute to be ready.

It all worked out, though! And we are casting off. In the meantime, you might like this alternative format post we are going to try every now and then - interviews! It’s about a 20 minute interview between Andrew and I chatting about our plans this year and where we intend to go. You can listen on your drive to work, or scan the quick synopsis below to see pictures.

See you in Sri Lanka!!!

Q: Andrew, set the scene!

A: This interview is held inside Sonrisa, anchored just off Panwa Beach, Phuket Thailand.

Q: How’d we get here?

A: Most recently sailed three days from Langkawi, Malaysia. Started in 2016 from San Diego, California, sailed across the South Pacific, through Indonesia, and then spent the last year repairing Sonrisa’s keel bolts while we lived for the last year in Langkawi.

Q: Thoughts on Leaving Langkawi.

A: I never expected to “live” anywhere outside the US while on this trip. So, that was an unexpected, but happy surprise. Strange feeling to know Langkawi like a “home,” sad to leave friends, favorite restaurants, bars. It’s exciting to get back what we set off to do, but also sad to leave friends and a nice place.

Q: We just finished a visit home, where did we go from there?

A: Japan! We ended up having an unplanned overnight layover in Japan on the way back. An opportunity of which we took full advantage by stuffing ourselves full with as much Japanese food, tea, and sake as possible in twelve hours. We also didn’t pass up the chance to wear a summer kimono and try out Japan’s world famous toilet technology. The toilet IS all that they are cracked up to be. They sing, they dance, they warm your tush…there isn’t much a Japanese toilet cannot do. Don’t live your whole life without trying one. In comparison, our U.S. toilet technology like a bicycle wheel with wooden tires. It does the job, but it’s just not as pleasant!

Q: Where are we going next?

A: Crossing the Indian Ocean this year. Heading from Phuket to Sri Lanka next.

Q: How do the Oddgodfreys Plan an Ocean Crossing?

A: We are trying to get a whole year snapshot of issues we might encounter over the whole year including, (1) weather using Jimmy Cornell’s World Pilot Charts, typical routes using Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Routes, and World Cruising Destinations, (2) places to go, food to eat, people to meet by perusing the Soggy Paws Compendium for the area and perusing blogs of friends who went before us this year (Kimmi and Trevor on S/V Slow Flight) (3) understanding bureaucracy requirements using Noonsite, pinging “agents” we’ve read mentioned in blogs via FB, or reviewing the tourism/visa websites for individual governments.

Out of this research, we are trying to predict timing and issues, and setting ourselves up to be able to try for this route:

Q: Passage planning with other cruising friends?

A: It’s a different experience, but so, it far seems fun. We look forward to doing this crossing with friends. There is a lot of time spent in remote places, it will be fun to have built in neighbors and friends.

Q: What are we looking forward to most?

A: Andrew is looking forward to getting back to “adventure,” new culture, new food, clear water of remote open ocean. Leslie is excited for getting back to the remote sailing lifestyle: wake up, swim, work, swim, cocktails with friends; scuba diving opportunities to see whale sharks, Sri Lanka’s most beautiful train, hiking in reunion, lemurs, boabab trees, and the ancient and strange sailboats in Madagascar.