THE JOURNEY BEGINS!!

After nine months of planning, thousands of dollars spent on gear, letters to sponsors, goodbyes to friends and family, we have finally slipped off the first of many beaches on our way to Bali.

Feeling somewhat like a fresh-faced tourist with a brand new Lonely Planet guide to a foreign country with a name we can barely pronounce, we have made camp tonight among the friendly pandanus trees in a secluded cove of Double Island. Having paddled our overweight boats only a few kilometres from Trinity Beach, today's goal was simply to start, and start we have done.

Already our gear feels as sweaty as we do in the humidity. Leaking water in this hatch, not enough weight in the stern, where's the cutlery, too much stuff and not quite enough room. We'll sort this stuff out. A couple of weeks and that Lonely Planet will be thumbed and earmarked with the grime of many kilometres of travel.

Juz.

Dictation from the neighbouring hammock:

We're away!

It is with the help, support and love of all the people who have helped us along the way that we are able to spend even the first night out on this journey.

Thanks for all your support and we'll keep you informed of our progress as often as we can.