Continuing Adventures!

How is it that months pass like weeks? Oh yeah, I’m teaching again! As our adventures continue, I left you with Tim in San Diego where he can see Mexico and I am in Sequim where I can see Canada. Tim’s purpose for returning to San Diego was to complete a Captain’s License Intensive that was two weeks long. He had a couple weeks to get ready and then it was full-on, full time plus weekends learning and then...THE EXAMS! Yep! True to form, Tim devoured the information and learned a ton! He passed all his exams with nearly perfect scores! Tim is now a 100 Ton Inland Captain, and 100 Ton Near Coastal Mate, both include Sailing Endorsements. He wrapped up his coursework and had two weeks of socializing in the marine environment with an British friend, then family, and included our buddy boaters Steve and Janny. He had a wonderful time of decompression.

Next up? The sale of New Adventures to a new owner so we can upsize! Tim had a huge list of clean-ups, touch-ups and to-dos and then a very large amount of packing out to do since I had given up on a teaching job and had planned to join Tim in San Diego once our house had sold, there was a lot of stuff to do life with on the boat. It had been nearly two months since we had seen each other and we were not liking the solo lives we were dealing with, so Tim decided to ship some stuff, get a huge suitcase and fly home, to his new home Sequim, WA. His Captain’s License was waiting for him in the mailbox the day he arrived. It was so good to have him home.

Leaving the boat in the marina in San Diego meant that when my Christmas Break from school came we would be on the road and down there to pack out the boat and get it detailed like selling the house. The trip is 1,325 miles one way and we spent 7 days on the road driving over my 17 day break. When we arrived at the boat, there were no surprises. That was a huge relief! We needed to get so much done. We also made time for our friends Steve and Janny, as Steve had surgery while we were there and we wanted to help them out as needed. We also spent one whole day sailing with our daughter. The dolphins came to play! Danielle loves dolphins and they played off the bow while we were under full sail. They were so close and it was just a special moment, almost as if they know you love them and want to make your day special by showing up. We took no pictures or video, we just entered the moment. A moment to treasure.

Frustrations were afoot in a major way for me as I tried to figure out how to pack out all our belongings so we could present a spacious and clean boat. Somehow I thought I could pack out in one carload what a truck and three carloads brought aboard! I packed and compacted, resorted and shifted, stuffing small items into tiny nooks and crannies as our Toyota Camry sunk lower and lower to the ground. It was really looking good after six days, I was so excited! I did my best to estimate what we had left with our personal bags, toiletries, foodstuffs, pillows and computer bags. As the final load out began, decision time was upon me! It is not all going to fit, what will we leave behind? First out was the bin of galley items, that wasn’t enough. Next, our ditch bag with the medical kit, now we are getting closer, but still not enough room. Okay then? Alright, the spin-lock life vests and Yes! The rest fit in leaving space for Tim to see out the rear view mirror. There was now no bounce left in the shocks and half of a trunk load was left on the boat. Oh wait! I forgot to mention that we shipped five moving boxes of clothing and outerwear to Sequim! They were waiting for us when we returned.

I did not sleep much during this time as I was obsessing about how to make it all fit. Relief came as we left the marina and drove to Redding where all our house items are in storage. You see, unloading the boat was only half my battle, next was what to leave in storage and how in the world was I going to get what I needed back to Sequim? I needed my massage table and linens and a few supplies to come back with me. I unloaded the car, gave foodstuffs to our friends, and spent four hours unpacking and reloading the car in a completely different way from the trip up while parked at the storage units. I managed to repack the car in such a way that while it was still squatting at the bottom of the shocks, Tim said it drove better. I was able to get our most important items back to Sequim, like our nice set of kitchen knives (the furnished knives bend and are unsharpenable and dangerous) and my massage table and supplies. I also needed to retrieve some winter clothing and shoes. While I fought with packing, Tim did some client work while we were in town. We each had our battle to win that day. All in all, we left the boat looking fantastic, brought home the essentials, and enjoyed some wonderful family and friendship time.

New Adventures is on the market and ready for sale. Just as soon as we put it up for sale, the interest began. New Years Eve we received a call, then New Years day, many more calls. We arranged to have our boat shown by Steve & Janny on the 7th to three parties. We received an offer the 8th and Tim had to rent a car and head back down, 1300+ miles to get the remaining items and final touch-ups. Tim took the new owners out for a sea trial and training on all the systems. They loved the boat! He said, "Compared to my Catalina 36, this is a Mercedes." He kept saying, You have a beautiful boat!" She had much more experience sailing and extended cruising for years. She had even refurbished a larger Cheoy Lee and loves them. There is a saying in boating, "The two happiest days of a boat owners life are the day they buy it, and the day they sell it." We don't agree fully, this is a sad day, Tim was in tears a few times as he was turning it over. Another chapter is closing and we could not be more excited to see this close and turn the page. Happy New Year!