The Worst Drive EVER

We said good-bye to our friends Shabumi and proceeded to white knuckle our way out of Yosemite.  It was the worst drive ever for Hubs.  Twisting, turning, up and down to get out of the Sierra Nevadas. The scenery was incredable, not that we could appreciate it because it was also so treacherous.  RV remember.  
After smoking breaks and one lane bridges we found a sweet spot outside of Sonora on lake to stop for the night~ Tuttletown Recreation Area.  Still dry camping.  But found the sun again after being in the mountains. And there was not a single person around. It was a nice treat after so many people in Yosemite. 
Coco and Hubs scavenged for rocks (we have so many rocks from so many places) and found sticker burrs like tacks.  We are still picking them out of our shoes weeks later. 

New Mexico

I had written an entire post about our stay in New Mexico. Unfortunately, it got lost in cyberspace when I went to publish it. 

Following is an abbreviated version:

Rock Hound State Park was our home for 2 solid weeks. That's the longest we have stayed put on this adventure. The reason for it was really simple... It was snowing everywhere else. 

The town of Demming, NM is situated in the corner southwestern pocket of the state and was the warmest place we could find at the time. 

So, we hiked and biked.  We played games and did a bit of extra school. We collected our own rock samples (one of the only parks in the country that encourages taking a keepsake). We also went a little stir crazy. But, we made the most of it. 

And oh my goodness, the sunsets!  Not only are they magnificent, they are also never ending. You have to commit to watching them to fruition. 

I've seen my fare share of spectacular sunsets, most while living aboard S/V Airabess.  I have to say though that the ones over the mountains and desert are my favorite. 

A Little Get Away

Even though we know we are waiting out hurricane season here in the Keys, we still want a little adventure. So, we left Boot Key Harbor and went on a little backcountry (Gulf side) trip. 

It was so nice to get away. I know, I know~ we are away. But I mean away FROM EVERYTHING; the heat (there was actually a breeze), other boats (we were totally solo), technology (turned off the phone, no Internet), etc... 

We were graced with glorious sunsets and the most perfect full moon. We fished and snorkeled, SUP'd and swam.  Books were read. Cards were played and excellent food was eaten. We took our time and sailed back in.

The only downer of the whole trip was a case of sun posoining. It was in fact highly unpleasant. Thankfully it was me, not the kiddo. Hubs was able to keep her in the water, exactly where she wants to be. Our second day in I opted for shade and a nap followed by some quality reading time. Just now recovering from it, though heat exhaustion is still on the radar. I did mention its been a tad warm here, right? 

Focus

This lifestyle is an adjustment.  I've said it before, but it's not all sunsets and rum.  It is hard work and planning~ both to get here and to sustain it.  Living on  a boat has many challenges.  Living on an old boat has more.  But we have done it.  This very first adventure has taught us so much about what we are capable of and what we really aren't.

We know now what type of cruising family we are.  A lot of the illusions have been shattered.  Some of them have been tempered, and a select few have been illuminated.  I personally, am grateful for all the ways in which this life has presented itself (some more so in retrospect). 

Now that we have finally, four months later, worked out the kinks... it's time to head back to our home port and take the next steps.

We have decided to haul out Airabess here in the Keys.  For a few reasons.  She needs it.  It has been almost 3 years and she needs a new bottom job.  We could take her back up north... but that just does not appeal to anyone in the crew.  The ICW, while a good way to get our feet wet, is  not the way we want to travel.  It's at times very narrow and the opportunity for actual sailing is very small.  Plus, the bridges.  I NEVER want to do that again.  EVER.  We all agree on that point as well.

Another reason to go on the hard here is that Airabess won't be a distraction to our planning.  We have tons to do when we get home.  And we have done the 'work on the boat on the weekend' thing for too many years.  We need to focus on getting our family and financial repsonsiblities in order there~ so we can get back here.  We already have a list of projects and purchases that we need to get through.  But this time, Airabess will get our undivided attention... it's just going to be a few months from now. 

We will be in work mode for awhile.  And that feels good too, because we have a clear objective and timeline. 

That is what is going to get us back down here more quickly I think.  We don't want to leave her on the hard for longer than necessary.  And that is just long enough to take care of things back home.  If we took her home... we might not be as focused or in as much of a hurry to get anywhere.  Plus we would have to do the ICW AGAIN.  I did say that wasn't going to happen.  Bonus, we will be super close for the hop to the Bahamas when we are ready to go. 

So, this crew is in transition mode again.  I feel like it will be a very different this time around.  We know what to expect.  We know what we need.  We know what we want out of this thing.  So, we are headed back to make it happen.  A few months of landlubbing for an indefinite adventure... I'll take it! 

I sure am going to miss the sunsets though.  

Better

We are finally letting go... I think. 

It has definitely been an adjustment period. We basically went from no time together as a family amongst all of the distractions of daily life to in each other's faces 24/7. 

Adjustment period. 

It hasn't been easy. And, we have even considered just heading home and calling the whole thing off. But, then we weighed the pros and cons and realized we hadn't even really given it a whole, honest shot. 

So, we started communicating, the way we always have. And that's when it clicked. Because that's how this crew works. 

And in letting go we get  this... 

Another beautiful sunset. Another moment to be grateful for.