Living The Dream

Most of them dream... We LIVE IT.

Vessel Name: Santorini
Vessel Make/Model: Mariner/Mayflower 48'
Hailing Port: Punta Gorda, Florida
Crew: Tom, Dawn, Chico & Kamala
Social:
13 August 2016 | Isla Mujeres, Mexico
28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL
28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL
22 April 2011 | St. Andrews Bay, Panama City, FL
21 March 2011 | Panama City, Florida
16 March 2011 | Port St. Joe, Florida
14 March 2011 | Tampa Bay, FL
12 March 2011 | Ft. Myers, Florida
11 March 2011 | Ft. Myers Beach, FL
03 March 2011 | Isla Mujeres, MX
25 February 2011 | Isla Mujeres, MX
17 February 2011 | Colon, Panama
14 February 2011 | Panama City, Panama
07 February 2011 | Panama City, Panama
05 February 2011 | Isla Toboga
02 February 2011 | Golfo de Panama
01 February 2011 | Panama
31 January 2011 | Bahia Honda to Ensenada Benao
30 January 2011 | Bahia Honda, Panama
Recent Blog Posts
13 August 2016 | Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Back in Isla Mujeres!

It's been a fast 3 years since moving to Punta Gorda, FL. Although we haven't done much sailing, we have made some very nice improvements and upgrades to Santorini. We had her hauled out for bottom paint - this time applying Petit Trinidad 75. It had been 5 years since her last paint job with Trinidad [...]

28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL

Home At Last

We moved into our new house end of May 2013. Tom towed the SeaRay down and put it in storage. We made several trips down to move, but sadly left Santorini behind in Panama City, Fl until we could prepare her slip in Punta Gorda.

28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL

Getting Our Freedom Back

After swallowing the anchor in Panama City, FL for 2 years we are looking forward to getting back into cruising mode. We were certainly grateful for Tom landing a job when he did - it saved us when our businesses went bust. It was tough working 8-5 M-F with 1 week of vacation after having been self-employed [...]

22 April 2011 | St. Andrews Bay, Panama City, FL

Settling In on the Gulf Coast

We had a great trip back to OC. It was wonderful to see everyone and a relief to finally move the rest of our stuff. We stopped and stayed with family and friends along the way during our trip home. We missed the kitties, and they missed us even more. Our neighbors, Don & Kelly live on a houseboat [...]

21 March 2011 | Panama City, Florida

Back to the OC

Well it's only been 4 days since we sailed into port here in Panama City, FL but we're already heading back to Orange County, CA. My friend Beth is engaged to a great guy named Alan. He happens to own a private jet. They flew in this afternoon from Key West for a short overnight visit and are returning [...]

18 March 2011 | Panama City, Florida

Mission Accomplished: Over 5000 miles in less than 5 months!

We finally made it! We sailed into St. Andrews Bay at 2 pm on St. Patrick's Day, it was a very moving experience! There's nothing like achieving a many years long goal. The people here are wonderful - everyone is SO NICE! Southern hospitality is alive and well.

We Love It Here, but must move on.

03 March 2011 | Isla Mujeres, MX
It's been a great stay here at Marina Paraiso. Although we've stayed on this wonderful island many times on vacation, it's very different as sailors. My dear friend Laurie arrived from Wisconsin on Sunday, it was about a 90 degree temp swing from when she left. It was 10 below zero.

North Beach probably gets my vote as the best in the world - at least of the many places I've traveled. It's truly magnificent! In fact, while swimming there I asked Laurie "So, how do you like my 'pool'?" She laughed and said she liked it very much! We went to the usual places, and a new one called the Soggy Peso - just a couple of doors down from the marina. We finally figured out that it's an early drinking establishment - it closes at 8 pm!

I paid a visit to the Turtle Farm (preserve) and was pleased to see a large number of these amazing creatures. When I visited in June with my mom we saw the protected nests of eggs waiting to hatch. It was good to see so many of them (see photo gallery).

As much as we love the place, we had to move on. We'd planned to be in Panama City, FL by Jan/Feb - it's now March. We did make it to Panama City by then - it just wasn't the RIGHT Panama City! (Panama)

We'd planned to leave today to head to the FL Keys, but the weather wasn't good so we're leaving on Saturday. Laurie is sailing with us to Ft. Myers, FL. Unfortunately Canaan is leaving for Portland, OR today for a good job opportunity. We've decided to go to the Dry Tortugas to stop and rest, then continue to Ft. Myers.

It's 70 mile to the Keys from the Dry Tortugas, and 120 miles to Ft. Myers - but it's still 120 miles from Key West to Ft. Myers so we'll skip the 70 miles to the Keys and go straight to Ft. Myers. We also discovered that Laurie would have a 4 hour bus ride to the Miami Airport so she'll leave from Ft. Myers instead.
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