David's Diary: Monday, August 19, 2002

Meeting Dany II in Dugi Otok, Croatia

Dany II At Sunset

From Skradin we traveled to the Kornati Archchipelago, a group of Croatian islands gathered around the long and thin island of Kornat. Now that we are further north in Croatia the islands have become barren and dry with only a few scrub bushes to be seen on the slopes of the islands. We next traveled to the nearby island of Dugi Otok (which means Long Island) where we motored up Luka Telascica. This long natural harbour provides excellent protection at its head between two islands.

John Ridsdel With Janis Ridsdel in the Background

After spending a day in Luka Telascica we were joined by the sailboat Dany II. Onboard were John and Laurie Ridsdel and their daughter Janis. John and Laurie are originally from Calgary, Alberta, the province where I grew up in Canada. We have been emailing and talking with John and Laurie since last February, but this is the first time that we have finally got to meet in person. John has spent years in the oil business and has lived in numerous places, including countries such as Algeria and Pakistan. Dany II has crossed the Atlantic in both directions with both their daughters onboard.

Laurie Ridsdel

We have dinner together on Dany II and learn more about their plans for this winter. John and Laurie convinced us to join them in Monastir, Tunisia for the winter. But we now discover that Laurie will not be there. Both John and Laurie have volunteered their professional services with the United Nations. Laurie has been asked to go to East Timor for four months to review all of the legal documents for the new government that is being formed there. Laurie has agreed and she leaves on the first of September. We are just glad that we were able to get together and we spend an enjoyable evening getting to know one another better. We also see John's pictures of Monastir from last winter so that we have a little better idea of the place we'll call home in a few months time. As the children grow tired we reluctantly say goodbye and row the dinghy back to Dragonsinger.