In the early 70?s Susan and I purchased our first of four boats, a 24ft Clipper quarter ton sloop having never been on any form of boat in our lives. [...] In fact she from Missouri and I from New Mexico had never seen the ocean until that fateful summer afternoon in Newport Beach California, 33 some odd years ago. As we sat on that park bench enjoying the beautiful sunset watching numerous sailboats come and go, one of us commented ?wow that looks like fun,? and as they say in the movies, ?the rest is history.? Somewhere in the late 70?s the ideal of cruising the world popped up. Kids, jobs, money (or lack of) of course got in the way. Fast forward to 2003?the dream never faded and in July we purchased Valparaiso a 1984 Irwin 52. She had been sailed hard and put away wet if you know what I mean. Four years of retrofitting, polishing, sanding and varnishing still hasn?t made her Bristol but it?s getting close. In January 06 at a fairly young age (50-something) we were able to semi-retire. In my book semi-retirement is defined as retirement with job offers to good to pass-up. So in the spring of 06, one of those jobs offers lead us to OKC as-in Oklahoma?I know I can?t believe it either. The good news, that ends in April and ?let the adventure begin.? Please join Susan, JW (our 16 Year old son) and RC (the Rat Killer) our Jack Russell Wonderdog, through this blog as we sail Canadian and Alaskan waters for next two summers before turning south in 2010.

"Valparaiso" (Veil of Paradise) Chase the dog star Over the sea Home where my true love is waiting for me Rope the south wind Canvas the stars Harness the moonlight So she can safely go Round the Cape Horn to Valparaiso Red the port light Starboard the green How will she know of the [...]

devils I've seen Cross in the sky, star of the sea Under the moonlight, there she can safely go Round the Cape Horn to Valparaiso And every road I walked would take me down to the sea With every broken promise in my sack And every love would always send the ship of my heart Over the rolling sea If I should die And water's my grave She'll never know if I'm damned or I'm saved See the ghost fly over the sea Under the moonlight, there she can safely go Round the Cape Horn to Valparaiso (words to the theme song by Sting from the movie White Squall)