Woke up:                  Timbabichi, Bahia San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Went to sleep:          Isla San Francisco, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Choosing to Stop Cruising – For Now

Peter and I have loved our cruising experience.

The Day We Picked Up Penelope

We’ve relished getting to know the Baja Peninsula and the west coast of mainland Mexico over the past two years. Sailing within these areas, moving at 2 knots, gives one an intimacy flying into a tourist resort cannot. We’ve had a profoundly positive experience of Mexico, her people, and their culture.

The Guards at La Cruz

The Arreguin Family

Our lives have been spent “living on the hook”,

Living on the Hook

trusting the anchor to hold well, waking up to beautiful sunrises each day,

Tenacatita Bay

depending on the dinghy as our only form of transportation,

having to make brutal beach landings and even more hair raising departures if we want to go to shore, walking wherever we go, hauling provisions home in turbulent seas, meeting new people, bumping into boats and people we already know, sailing like a snail when there’s not enough wind,

Peter has to row

being pummeled when there’s too much wind, sailing through the night under a full moon on Christmas Eve,

racing with the dolphins, missing family and friends, bathing in the cock pit, motoring home after dinner under a star filled sky and searching for Penelope among all the other vessels in the darkness, making water, conserving power, being rocked to sleep in my 38-foot cradle with the sound of the surf crashing on the beach in the background.

Cabo San Lucas

Shopping at the Mercado

Living on the Hook

We cherish the exquisite sun sets behind majestic mountains with gentle breezes creating sparkles on the water that look like stars. We love and respect Penelope who has sheltered us and carried us every step of the way. Our feelings of accomplishment, gratitude and awe will inspire our lives for the rest of our lives.

Beautiful Sunset

Two years ago, if you had asked me what I would sacrifice to have all of my days free to do as I please, I would have said, “Everything.” After 40-years of full time employment, loafing for a living felt like a dream come true.

I’ve had many idle hours, though, to consider what truly makes me happy. Certainly, sailing through the ocean, climbing steep slopes and exploring new places

Tabor Canyon aka Steinbeck Canyon

are high on the list. While feelings of uselessness crept into my days, I came to realize, it takes more than beauty and adventure to complete me.

I need to be doing. I need to be doing something purposeful. I need to build community and create lasting connection with others. I need opportunities to learn and grow spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Besides all this, I will never again take cable TV, high speed internet, having coffee with a friend, going to a movie, having unlimited choices at the grocery store, a place to ride my bike, being close to family for granted.

Peter and I are as thrilled to be taking a year off from cruising as we were to embark on this epic adventure. We’ll make our home at the Chula Vista Marina in Chula Vista, CA.

Sunset off the back of Penelope in Chula Vista Marina

I hope to augment my role as Yoga Program Director/Teacher

Yoga Teacher

for the marina with more yoga teacher training. I also want to teach in the elementary public schools and see if I can be a positive role model.

The Children

I’ll continue to study Spanish so future time spent in Mexico will bring a more personal engagement.

Peter has a lengthy list of things he wants to do to Penelope. We already have the most beautiful, well equipped and seaworthy vessel in the fleet. I trust he’ll make her even better and more comfortable.

So much to look forward to.

He plays until dark