The dog days of summer have finally happened in Anacortes - where we are spending most of our time this summer. Dale and I are now thinking clearer and feeling good …. Oh we are having a summer! Another wonderful life changing event for our family, Emily and Kyle were married July 16 - a beautiful day that gives me goose bumps just thinking about it - with the majority of our family and friends around us, we felt the love!!
Emily and Kyle Hermansen
Hotel Bellwether - Bellingham, WA
Sailing off into the "sunset" - picture perfect ..... thanks to "Captain Mike" - Uncle Extraordinaire!!
Backing up, just a bit - when we arrived “home” to Chicago and then the Northwest it was a fun and frantic 7 weeks of finalizing the wedding plans but - mostly it was a time for us to regroup and "debrief." Our thoughts and actions had totally been consumed by Companion for most of the last 6 months and we had to re-adjust. Re-adjust to all sorts of daily living habits - but especially re-adjusting to being around “noise” - which surprised us - the chatter in the airport in Curacao kind of blew us away - not that our nerves were already on edge with the lack of haul-out but I honestly know that we got use to the silence and stillness of the sea. It is funny - a person does get use to the environment that surrounds you - and that is a good thing!!
Dale and I got quickly into the “swing of things” - especially after he had the news that the boat was safely hauled-out and secure ( a four week wait for that to happen) we both could breath better and move forward with a lighter heart and not worry about “our investment.” - the “swing of things” - included the wedding plans, the wedding weekend, making our checklist for the next leg of the journey, symposium for me in San Francisco, Dale helping Father with the Portland house, enjoying my parents as they are spending more of their time in Anacortes, a quick trip to visit Danylle and Andy in South Pasadena, plus a time with Lois and Jerry in San Diego. It has been great spending time with family and friends … the days are slipping by quickly and we are enjoying all the time that we have with them …. Thanking God especially for Glori and Mike who are sharing their wonderful quiet “cottage” that we are calling home right now … and Laura and Brian who have the “open door” policy for us - I really sleep well in “my bed” on Bainbridge Island. I want to say that “we” are so grateful for the “rest” and “regroup” that we are having this summer … the planning for the next phase has taken on another twist …
As of this week, we have made and finalized some of our journey plans - it keeps changing ... but I am pretty sure we have a good one now!!
Dale and I are heading to the Chicago area for 5 weeks starting in mid-September - he will fly to Curacao on October 18 to ready the boat - we have a crew of 4 from the Bellingham area joining Dale on the first big leg of the journey. Dale’s big brother, Ed and I will meet up with them somewhere - and we won’t know till about a week before we need to get to wherever - and then “sail around” the San Blas Islands for 10 days or so before getting “in line” for the Panama Canal … This should happen at the end of November - we loose some of the crew on the Pacific side of the canal - so they can get home for the holidays - slowly we will make our way to Costa Rica … we will sail the Pacific Panama Islands and the coastline north to Costa Rica for the next 5 months - (hoping to have company meet us - we can be anywhere on the Costa Rica coast - whenever you want to show up!)
This brings us to May 2012 - we have contracted with Yacht Path Crossings to “barge” Companion up to Victoria, BC from Costa Rica - I am relieved - less wear and tear on Companion, "her" captain and this first mate… we will get “her” where we really want “her” and that is in the Pacific Northwest where we can share "her", sail "her" to the many San Juan Islands, evening sunset cruises with the kids or just have "her" tied to our dock at 134 Lummi - this was the "dream and vision" before we even started - so there you have it - this is how we are spending our waking hours and my sleepless nights .... thinking about the next journey of Companion … where we have been and where we are going!!
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