June 20, 2024

The Woods

Today we had to do some exercise to work off the bakery treats, so we soaked up the sunshine, while biking into the Hamburg Woods. Tom hooked me up with a bike, complete with a basket and off we peddled. Hamburg has very well designated, wide bike lanes all over. Biking is a major method of transport, all around the city. Today's trek was truly something out of Hansel & Gretel. We rode through this neighborhood filled with A frame cottages and perfect little gardens. I need to go back, just to get pictures. But today we were all about the cycling. It wasn't until we got deep into the Woods, that we dismounted and strolled some. It looks like they kind of groom the forest floor, by gathering up the underbrush and placing it in dug out, random pits placed throughout. Guessing it would help contain any fires?

KOMODO ISLAND, INDONESIA

By Pat Patrick • May 2, 2026
KOMODO ISLAND NATIONAL PARK in Indonesia was an unexpected rare twist on this voyage. We had no idea that we would be able to anchor right in the heart of this National Park for 3 days. The National Park is comprised of 3 major islands & 26 smaller ones and is home to the legendary Komodo Dragons! We were suppose to anchor at the coastal town of Labuan Bajo and shuttle into the Park. But hours before docking, the Port Agents directed us to anchor right in the heart of the Park. Captain Val made it possible for our tour vendors, to pull right up to the Odyssey , so we had super easy access to our tours saving us lots of logistics and time.

DILI, TIMOR LESTE

By Pat Patrick • April 23, 2026
We met up with the Ship in Timor Leste or East Timor, one of the youngest countries in the World . This sovereign state just gained their independence on May 20, 2002 from prior Portuguese rule (1515 until 1975) and Indonesian occupation (1975 until 1999). The Ship was anchored off the coastal town of Dili, the capital city with a population of roughly 1.4 million.

FAREWELL TO YEBEN ISLANDS, RAJA AMPAT, INDONESIA

By Pat Patrick • April 23, 2026
I know people laugh when I say we took a vacation from the Ship , they view this whole amazing voyage as a vacation! But the reality is the Ship is my home now, and almost everybody loves a vacation away from home, to unwind and recharge! So my life on the Odyssey, is not that different. I really appreciated my two weeks away at Eco Cove Resort , on Yeben Island in Raja Ampat, Indonesia !