Who would have thought in 2009 the Baja Ha Ha would have introduced me to cruising aboard a sailboat. That is exactly what good friend and mentor, Steve Baker and his wife Charlotte gifted to me...what an amazing journey that was...I had never sailed at night before (nor in 10' seas and gale-force winds...but that's a sea-story for another posting). Their friendship is the greatest gift of all!
Well, this ever-growing and evolving experiment continues to be the "adventure of a lifetime"!!!
14 months ago this life-long dream was not even appearing over the horizon (which we all know is approximately 10 miles away)...
...and now we are preparing for a warm-up cruise in Belize for two weeks in December with more friends including the daughter of my Alaska fishing buddy.
In a few weeks, my lifelong pal and fellow mischief-maker Rick Covington's pride and joy, the very successful business-woman and mother, Allison, is going scuba and skin-diving as well as catamaran sailing in paradise with me, Jason, and church-buddy and long-time sailor/racer Mike Cowdrey.
Randy Peterson and his son are also joining us mid-month for diving and sailing practice in preparation for the 'big voyage' February 15 heading for San Diego via the Panama Canal.
Whooeee!!! What a ride!!!
We wouldn't be this close to such an adventure if it hadn't been for Paul & Pablo (Gimby & Slowik) getting Luna Sea ready, running 'sea trials' and diving in 'shark-infested waters'...
Also, I can't thank Jon Farnsworth enough for his expertise and experience ... we didn't get enough time together, but he's off on another adventure of his own...sure hope to meet up again. Maybe he'll need an old guy on his delivery crew some day :-)
Creating a new beginning necessitates closing a chapter and making changes...something we humans often find very difficult.
The world of cruisers is comprised of this...making good friends, traveling life together for a time then setting out on separate courses.
I hate to leave my 'slip-mates' Termite and Mark (I think maybe Mark will be making the same voyage before too long...if he can take time away from Reno, France and Thailand). Wouldn't that be cool to have a boat buddy in Ensenada for a while???
Since venturing into southern Belize I've spent lots of quality time with a very spiritual man of vast experience...Termite will occupy a huge part of my heart for the rest of our lives (and even longer according to our beliefs). Termite has helped me grow my Faith - he is an inspiration...what a wonderful life philosophy of "pass on the Love"!! God bless you brother!!!
Life is good!!!
To be continued...........