A World of Knowledge

Sandy's grandson, Justin, in Sutherlin, Oregon.

So, I find myself in Portland, Oregon again after 12 months of sailing and boat chores. What a ride! Overall the time has blown by in whirl of activity. From the time we left Portland and made our way down the coast so much has happened… so much has changed. From the cold off shore experience to the very much warmer experience going south of Cabo San Lucas and then north into the Sea of Cortez lessons abound about what cruising can be about. We, Sandy and I, have shifted and learned some of what our relationship is about while we have divided tasks aboard Faith. Our floating home is now put away for the summer but our adventure continues.

As has been mentioned our friends on Carinthia (a Lagoon 440 catamaran) have invited us to join them in Tahiti and sail westward as far, possibly, as Fiji or Tonga. That would add another 2500 to 3000 miles to the water under our keel on top of nearly 4000 miles since last August. In addition we will visit the places we have wanted to see for a lot of years… without having to have first taken the leap off the Mexican coast to get to the Marquesas! If it meets expectations then perhaps it is something we could undertake some day when Faith is properly outfitted for such a journey. In the meantime we get to experience for ourselves the Coconut Path.

There are things that have to be done for the next season aboard Faith but that will have to wait until we return in October or November. We have a list about as long as my arm that includes such essentials as a new windlass, wheels for the dinghy (to improve our surf landings), more shade and sundry other items to improve life aboard. There are repairs that will happen while we are away, like the fix that the mains’l needs (new batten system) and collecting tools that are in Portland. There is a wish list too that, if pursued, will make life more comfortable. Right now we have the use of Sandy’s parents little used motorhome to have a place to stay during the time leading up to flying south. Since leaving my son Sterling’s place in Las Vegas we have encountered lots of rain and cloudy conditions. It feels like our sun tans are fading quickly… likely we will have to work on our base again, risking sunburn, when we get to Papeete. In the plan for the moment is a coastal land-based cruise to see the sights and get together with family and, if all goes well in the timing department, we will also get up into the Olympic peninsula to sight see some. This will complete the world of contrasts that has symbolized the trip north from San Carlos, Mexico thus far. It was near (+/-2˚) 100˚F when we left Mexico and has been reduced to about 70˚F during the days here in Portland. If this were a dive opportunity I would be concerned about the decompression schedule!!