Mile High Dream is tugging at her mooring lines. She is ready to start heading north. The big question is am I? After arriving in Mid November and spending countless hours cleaning the boat, fixing engines (both inboard and outboards),replacing worn lines with new lines, and completing the never ending chore list she is finally ready. At least I hope so. A very close friend come down over Thanksgiving to help with my boat prep and get me organized. Getting me organized is the hardest part but she is very talented with that task.

I then left for two and a half weeks to do volunteer work in a Mayan village in Guatemala. That was an experience of a lifetime which I will treasure forever and may even go back and do it again. Not speaking their language and having no one there who spoke English for 10 days was very enlightening to say the least.

This was the first year I spent Christmas on the boat without any of my family. I invited another family of a longtime friend to join me. My self and her family of five with her husband, and three children ages 17-23 spent a marvelous Christmas together. it was her first time not being with her family also so things were different for all of us. Six is the largest number I have ever had on the boat at one time and we did great together. Sailing north to Tobago Cays to snorkel, hike, enjoy lobster beach barbecue, and explore new islands and local towns is a treat for all of us. Music filled the boat with the gift of their voices and many evenings were spent playing games if we were not to tired from the days adventures.

Now it is again time to leave this paradise of Grenada. It would be very comfortable to stay here like many sailors do. There are many friends that I have come to know over my years of sailing. It is amazing to me that this is the fifth year that I am enjoying the cruiser's lifestyle. The shopping is good and I am getting be very familiar with the island. To give all this up for the unknown is always hard. I did buy a sailing vessel to take me to different place and not a home on the hill. I guess that says it all.

Tonight another friend will join me for our sail up to St. Lucia. Once we arrive, she will fly back to Grenada so she can go back to work at the University here.

The new year of adventures has started. What will it bring this year?