My two good mates have departed Darwin today bound for Bali. They should arrive in Benoa harbour before the end of the month. It is about 900 miles and they will have favourable winds that should allow them to comfortably make 140 miles each day.

They are two of the nicest people we have met. Melody loves them also and we hope to see them when we fly from Osaka to Okinawa. Their home town is the halfway point in the trip and we will be able to interrupt our flight to say 'gidday'.

They still have a lot of cruising to do before they return to Japan. They will probably arrive home in mid 2008. So there is still the possibility that I may sail into them somewhere along the way early next year.

It is a little sad that they have gone, but I am excited for them. Yesterday, I had lunch on their boat. Yaki soba with an abundance of fresh prawns and bacon and HEAPS of fresh chilli was just wonderful....along with a cold beer and as much iced mugicha as one can drink.

And....we also had what Melody tells me is called 'fox'. It is a fried tofu 'pillowcase' stuffed with sushi rice, shiitake, carrot....and it is OISHII!!