As always, sorry for the long lapse in posts. I always say I'm going to be better and post more often, but life and lack of consistent connectivity always seem to get in the way.
After a wonderful three weeks in Cartagena and sailing to the Rosario Islands with different groups of family and friends, we commenced the most unpleasant part of cruising . . . prepping the boat to be left for a season.
After a wonderful three weeks in Cartagena and sailing to the Rosario Islands with different groups of family and friends, we commenced the most unpleasant part of cruising . . . prepping the boat to be left for a season.
This is what it looks like in the middle of that process
The water in the bay in Cartagena is pretty gross and the bottom of the boat will grow a whole ecosystem very quickly (like a week). Since we did not have enough time to sail back to Santa Marta before our flight out, we decided to pull the boat out of the water again and leave her in a boatyard in Cartagena.
All stripped down - no sails or canvas
We departed Colombia August 10 which coincided with our 179th or 180th day in the country in 2017 depending on how you counted our multiple arrival and departure days. There were a few scary minutes at the airport while immigration counted and recounted our days from our passports. In the end they agreed we had not over-stayed our allowed 180 days in a calendar year. We are not sure what the penalty would have been, but have a feeling it would have been an expensive fine.
Back in the States we have traveled to Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee to visit family and friends. Kaylee and I are now back in Florida trying to maintain as normal a life as possible with homeschool, swimming, running, soccer and lots of playtime with friends. Ken is currently in the Dominican Republic for a few weeks after being asked by a former client to come do a little work on a resort development that has come back to life after years of dormancy due to the economic crash in 2008.
None of us will sit still long though! Ken is leaving for Fiji October 10 to join a fellow sailing buddy (Captain Dan) for the crossing from Fiji to New Zealand - that should take between 10 and 15 days. If you notice our SPOT locator active again in Oct/Nov in the South Pacific, that is why. It will not be aboard AquaVida though, but Vagabond instead. Kaylee and I will then fly to New Zealand in early November to join them. We plan to explore New Zealand aboard Vagabond and on land for most of November and December.
We expect to back aboard AquaVida sometime in January . . . when we are allowed back in Colombia :-)
Back in the States we have traveled to Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee to visit family and friends. Kaylee and I are now back in Florida trying to maintain as normal a life as possible with homeschool, swimming, running, soccer and lots of playtime with friends. Ken is currently in the Dominican Republic for a few weeks after being asked by a former client to come do a little work on a resort development that has come back to life after years of dormancy due to the economic crash in 2008.
None of us will sit still long though! Ken is leaving for Fiji October 10 to join a fellow sailing buddy (Captain Dan) for the crossing from Fiji to New Zealand - that should take between 10 and 15 days. If you notice our SPOT locator active again in Oct/Nov in the South Pacific, that is why. It will not be aboard AquaVida though, but Vagabond instead. Kaylee and I will then fly to New Zealand in early November to join them. We plan to explore New Zealand aboard Vagabond and on land for most of November and December.
We expect to back aboard AquaVida sometime in January . . . when we are allowed back in Colombia :-)
A few pictures since being back in the States. I have not been good about taking many, so not a lot of the family and friends we visited, sorry . . .
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