We motored back out of Borneo and sailed west along the coast in the very shallow waters.
The passage would take about three days, so as night fell on day one we decided to just drop the anchor and get a good night of sleep. The water was still only 30 feet deep even though we were about five miles offshore. It was dead calm out as we went to bed. Two hours later we woke to black skies, lightning, and winds screaming at just under 50 knots. One look at the charts and we could see that the boat was dragging, rather comfortably, at two knots. We turned on the radar and could see that the storm would likely blow past in a bit, so we just sat tight and waited rather than try raising the anchor in those conditions. After a wild hour of sideways rain and eye burning lightning, the storm blew past. I was up and wet already so we just brought the anchor up and got underway again. In the morning both kids expressed surprise. Neither of them had any idea there had been a storm in the night, or that we had been motoring all night long.
Belitung Island, another little gem in Indonesia. For the next few days we’d be spending pretty much every waking minute with our friends from Harmattana and Mandolyn. This is where our paths would diverge.
Obviously I was still in bed as Ali took this picture.
The Schulte boys getting absolutely owned in some beach soccer with the local kids.
In a place full of wild monkeys it’s hard to see or to understand the purpose of keeping these little guys in cages.
It was “clear out” day for all of us here in Indonesia. While one group of us went off to visit customs, immigration, and the port authority, the rest of the gang went off to explore the big city. They stumbled their way into a handful of odd places.
Practicing patience.
We thought we were making pretty good time right up until we hit this painfully boring office. Hours would pass, and hangriness would build, but eventually we’d emerge with papers and stamps and permission to leave the country.
Meanwhile, the celebrities were enjoying the cafes around town.
With all our paperwork in order, we split off again, with one group heading to the wet market for last minute supplies. That market was the stuff horror movies are made of. Not a lot was purchased on that stop. Meanwhile, the rest of us hit up the Pizza Hut for piles and piles of pizza (there is no better leftovers food for a passage).
It had been a very long day, but we still got together for one last night of pizza, games, and boat banter. And it turned out that Harmattana and Mandolyn had been plotting a surprise for us for a couple of weeks. Musical instruments came from every direction, phones were queued up with lyrics, and an original song was born.
American Guys (sung to American Pie)
Not that long ago,
We can still remember how the Schultes used to make us smile.
And we knew if we had our chance
We’d clear through customs, with our ants
And maybe not be done-done for a while
But February will make us shiver
The Canadian winter will deliver
Bad news on the foredeck
They wouldn’t sail one more step
We can’t remember if we cried
When our plans diverged, well we tried
But something touched us deep inside
The day, the convoy died
So bye bye our American Guys
We drank kava, saw some lava and we searched for supplies
Them good old boats will let the genoas fly
While singing this’ll be the day that I cry
This’ll be the day that I cry
Did you hear the book review
As we broke the record with captain Hugh
You tried to speak but he said no
Now do you believe in Monohulls
The lack of rocking in your soul
Can you teach us how to catamaran real slow
Well we know that you’re in love with life
The way you shake off any strife
Y’all kick off your shoes
To swim in the holes of blue
We were lonely teen boats in a lull
With weird dinghies and single hulls
But we knew that you were friends not dull
And then, the convoy died
I started singing bye bye our American Guys
We drank kava, saw some lava and we searched for supplies
Them good old boats will let the genoas fly
While singing this’ll be the day that I cry
This’ll be the day that I cry
Now in ten days we’ll be on our own
With no more photos from your drone
But we’ll remember how it used to be
When the dragon chased us in Komodo park
And we ate nutella with whale sharks
And we sampled every single bakery
While the adults plan their twenty mile stint
The kids are absorbed in Valorant
The meeting was adjourned
No plan was returned
So come on, Pat be nimble, Pat be quick
Grab that code zero before it rips
Wind is the sailors only friend
The crew we adore the most
Pat and Ali, Ouest and Lowe
They caught the last breeze for the coast
The day the convoy died
And we were singing bye bye our American Guys
We drank kava, saw some lava and we searched for supplies
Them good old boats will let the genoas fly
While singing this’ll be the day that I cry
In all of our years cruising we’ve never made the kinds of friendships that we did with these two boats. The universe seemed to conspire to bring us all together when it did. We were in Fiji, just about to set off for Vanuatu when we spotted a kid and adult walking around, looking suspiciously like a cruising family of the same age. I kept a close eye on them and saw them climb a ladder into their boat, which was on the hard.
In general I’m a pretty antisocial guy. I’m not at all the type to go wandering up to boats just to randomly strike up a conversation. But Ouest and Lowe had been talking about how there were no kids around, and I was determined that we weren’t going to let a legit kid boat sighting slip past without taking action. I grabbed Lowe and marched over to Harmattana, made some idle chitchat, and told them we were going up to the restaurant for pizza later that night.
Happily, they showed up, the kids made friends with Etienne easily, and we really enjoyed the company of this Australian/Canadian combo. Before we knew it we were hanging out at anchor together in Musket Cove discussing our plans from there. Little did we know at the time that they had been fixing to put their boat up for sale there in Fiji. Our kids coming together when they did, changed both their plans, and ours.
We sailed off for Vanuatu at the same time, and were told there was a chance another boat with twins the same age would be meeting us there. Turns out Harm’s land life neighbors were also cruisers. While Harm had gone off to Fiji, Mandolyn had gone to New Zealand. Now, a new plan was formed for us all to meet up in Vanuatu.
The five kids (Lowe the youngest at 12, and Ouest the oldest at 14) hit it off immediately and were inseparable forever after, as were us six adults. Over the next few months we’d walk into at least 100 restaurants together and ask for two big tables, one for the kids, and one for us. A lot of good food, good drink, and tall sailor stories were shared during those meals.
Rewinding a bit. Back in Fiji it wasn’t just Harmattana that was nearing the end of their sailing. We had had many discussions onboard Bumfuzzle and had decided to stop in Australia to take a year off. The kids would go to school, Ali and I would work on a project or two, we’d get back to the States to try and help my mom get through her health struggles, and after a year we could decide if we had a few more miles in us, or if we were ready for a change. In Vanuatu we jumped through all the hoops necessary to secure long-term visas for Australia, we secured a marina berth in Mooloolaba, and we contacted a dozen insurance agencies (because you won’t get near a marina in Australia without full coverage and $10 Million in liability insurance—this is not the Australia of 20 years ago). Plans were afoot.
But cruising plans, as they say, are written in sand at low tide. Within a couple of weeks Harm would abandon their plans to return to Fiji to sell their boat, and Bumfuzzle’s Australia plan would go out the window, with the new plan to sail the coast of Australia and on to Indonesia together. This was all decided over the course of many, many, 20-mile meetings. We may not be good at planning far into the future, but we could all put our heads together for a 20-mile plan.
The next few months passed in a blur. Beach BBQs, Ultimate frisbee, snorkeling, volleyball, gaming sessions, sweaty hikes, surfing, volcanos, dragons, sharks, whales, orangutans, countless meals… the list goes on and on. We shared so many bucket list checkmarks in such a short time. Close friendships forged by sharing both amazing experiences and empathy for each other’s struggles.
Here in Belitung our paths would be forced to diverge, though not without some gentle, and not so gentle prodding from all of us to persuade the others to change their plans. Harm and Mando would veer off in an entirely new direction, eastward bound for the Philippines, Japan, Alaska, and ultimately back to their island homes in British Columbia. Bumfuzzle would continue west, bound for Langkawi, Malaysia, where we plan to sell Bumfuzzle.
Being half a world away from our family was a lot easier when we were in our thirties. We’ve got a lot of different things pulling us back towards North America right now. Things we can’t put off any longer. So, another chapter in Bumfuzzle’s long book will come to a close soon, while another chapter begins.
Thank you to our good friends on Harmattana and Mandolyn for helping us wrap up this song on such a high, off-key, note.
And we were singing bye bye our Canadian guys
We drank bintang, ate rendang and we aimed for the sky
Your monohulls, man you sure make them fly
While singing this’ll be the day that I cry
This’ll be the day that I cry
22 Comments on “Bye Bye Our Canadian Guys”
A golden time none of you will forget.
That was awesome. Super sad on many levels, but also super inspiring and totally understandable.
Great that the kids found such great friends and that all y’all made such great memories.
Wow! Surprising new plans, but perhaps not so much so. You’ve seen and done so much…but family has always been important. Not so surprised to hear that the Bumfuzzle Adventures will take on a different flavor for a bit. I wish you the best and will look forward to new posts, new life experiences. All my best to you.
Wishing you all the best! I’ve followed along with your blogs since your kids were babies and thank you for sharing your many adventures and life. You are wonderful photographers and storytellers and I’ve always been impressed with how you always put your family first and make your dreams come true. As always, safe travels and may fair winds follow you on your journey home.
What a marvellous story, Thank you. Sad to hear your voyage is coming to an end.
Good luck on your future adventures. I’ve been following you guys since your VW van days. I always enjoy your posts. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
Oh my ! What a change of plans ..I hope some posts maybe continue about life in the states .. it’s all an adventure …
Seems like you all made some good friends cruising …and I enjoy following and seeing where y’all are and how you are doing … Enjoy sailing west to Langkawi..😀
End of an Era. Core memories and lifelong friendships made. Godspeed to all of you.
Somehow, I can’t picture y’all living in a suburban development, so I look forward to the next installment of Bumfuzzle.
Fantastic experience with the other cruising families. My most memorable travel experiences are the long term friends I met and like you compromised and worked to travel together. So great for the kids.
WOW, Pat. Thanks for baring your soul. Yes, indeed, time and circumstances bring strange and (perhaps) unexpected twist and turns in life. Your family has (at least from my perspective) handles them all with grace and aplomb. I certainly hope you will not quit posting as matters continue to develop. It would be difficult for me to lose my long-distance ‘friends’ after having followed you for decades. In any event, I wish you all God’s speed.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LIFE!!🎉😃🎉😃
(This made me cry. I can feel the joy.)
Wishing you all the best as you change course. Your adventures may change; but they will still be what you make of it. You are no strangers to change. Enjoy your final weeks on the boat!
Best wishes as the course changes – thanks for always taking us along for the ride!
As with the end of each of your adventures, this makes me sad, but mostly for fear that you’ll quit blogging. After following you for so long I feel a vested interested in seeing Ouest and Lowe to adulthood and in the health and welfare of your entire family. I take from this post that your nomadic days may take an extended hiatus, but I wish the best for you always.
What an awesome ending to THIS adventure, as life goes on and another adventure begins. Currently living in Mexico, considering moving back to Oregon.
Ever onward. It’s been interesting following your travels. Fair skies and following seas.
What a wonderful time, a beautiful way to end a great cruising experience. Absolutely understand the pull back to the States to help family, have the kids try land-bound school, and reset a bit. I’ve loved following your adventures. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve been following your story since day one, the first trip around the world. You and Ali have unique skill sets and I’m guessing there will be many more adventures ahead.
It has been amazing to see incredible photos and read about places in the world that I would never even know existed without your stories.
Not surprising that you’re taking a break to attend to family matters – it’s obvious to your readers that all four of you have the kindest hearts.
Hard to find words to describe how much I have enjoyed your writing.
Best wishes from one of your Minnesota readers.
What a great entry! So cool that you all met up at the right time and in the right place. Looking forward to your next chapter, whatever it is. BTW, in the photo of the 4 kids with the dog, Ouest looks SO much like Ali!
Please don’t stop updating us on what you are up to. We’ve watched your babies grow and want to see what they do in their lives. Personally, you have been a highlight in my life to read about your adventures. I don’t want your updates to stop. You have shown us a wonderful, alternative way to live. Peace and all the best.
What a post!
Awesome things happen in Fiji. Two of my best friends are in Mooloolaba right now. With her teenage boys. I’m so happy it worked out the way it did for you, but I wish you could be there. They have a house which they rent out most of the year. They are from Colorado and would have been pumped, totally pumped to have you guys anywhere nearby. Like I said there’s some of my best friends, and so therefore they know all about you guys. Mandy, the wife, grew up in Brisbane and actually reminds me quite a bit of Ali both in looks and disposition.
I of course want what’s best for you guys, but my initial reaction is no, don’t do it. I’ve had this fantasy of your kids growing up a board and going to high school on the high seas. Besides, you’re not back in PV yet. You’ve got to close the circle! There are so many endless adventures to be had between there and PV! Asia and Africa in Europe are coming up. I’m sure you want the kids to experience all of that, and of course I know they will regardless.
Okay, I’ll stop now. But I don’t know that I’ve heard another buddy boating story that went along so successfully for so long. Congratulations to all of you on that. I was going to suggest that you get an engraved copy of American Guys and posted prominently in the Bum salon.
I know better, like way better than to try to interfere with you guys plans. God knows I’ve tried in the past. And sometimes very successfully, I might add. But my vote would be to continue on and let those kids experience high School on the road. I’m sure with running the business and working on their studies, they’ll be well qualified for anywhere you decide to send them in the future.
Believe me, I understand the vagaries of dealing with family back on the mainland. I’ve lived it. It’s genuinely as possible to do both. Just saying.
Love you guys and of course want whatever best for you, but in my mind, that is not selling the Bum.
Malama pono and aloha, your favorite stowaway for all these many years