Day 231 The final day

Opua, New Zealand
We are here, over 7 months and 8000 nautical miles from when we started - a third of the way around the world. I started the blog to let my family and friends know where I was and to provide a chronicle of the journey. Now that journey is concluded and so will my daily entries into the blog.
I plan to stay in NZ for a few months to walk some of the world famous treks and I may still post entries to the blog but they will not be daily because I will not have my computer with me all the time.

Looking back -
During this trip, we had many adventures and did many routine chores. We sailed, motored, snorkeled, surfed, fished, swam, hiked, dove and took a helicopter ride. We also cleaned the boat, cleaned the boat, cleaned the boat and did numerous repair and maintenance projects. We contracted staph infections and I broke a toe. We visited 8 island groups in 6 counties and met many fascinating people including the yachties from a dozen countries. I took almost 4000 photographs and posted 246 blog pages. We added some bottles and cans to the sea bottom (permitted by International law) and there are several dozen fish out there who now own fishing lures that used to belong to us. I also learned a lot and that is one of the main reasons I came on the trip.
Would I recommend the trip to others? In a heartbeat – so long as they are not overcome by seasickness. Would I go the rest of the way around? Under the right circumstances – yes. Would I own my own boat? I have asked myself that many times and the jury is still out. It is exciting but also a source of continuous work. The first part I like.
Just for fun, I have tried to make a list of the statistics as follows:
Item Number
Total distance traveled, approx. >7000 nautical miles
One-third of the way around the world
Total days traveled 231
Pictures taken, approx. >3000
Countries visited 6
French Polynesia, Cook Is., AM Samoa, W. Samoa, Tonga, Fiji
Island groups visited 8
Marquises, Tuomotus, Societies, Am. Samoa, W. Samoa, Tonga, Fiji
Islands visited 32
Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Manihi, Rangiroa, Tahiti, Mo’orea, Huahini, Ra’iatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora, Rarotonga, Suwarrow, Tutuila, Upolu, Niuatoputapu, Vanua Levu, Namenalala, Makogai, Ovalau, Viti Levu, Yanuka, Mbengga, Likuri, Malololailai, Beachcomber, Namotu, Navadra, Naviti, Waya
Surf spots 13
(It is against the surfing code to divulge the exact locations)
Fish caught 20
Yellow-fin tuna, Dorado, Wahoo, Grouper, Sp. Mackerel, Bonito
Lures lost 15
Waterfall hikes 5
Fatu Hiva, Tahiti, Ra’iatea, Upolu, Labasa
Boat cleanings >40
Boat repairs & maintenance, # parts >30
Spinnaker, cars, scuppers, jib pole, furling line, exhaust flap, anchor, rudder post, main halyard, cooling line, prop shaft, hatches, zinc, dinghy, outboard, windlass, alternator, prop nut, traveler, baggie wrinkles, boom bolt, lights, gas solenoid, reefing, engine maintenance, water maker maintenance. Not fixed – generator.