Our escape plan came together quickly, or did it?
It’s hard to believe but in exactly one week’s time, Rebecca and I will be on our way to the airport to begin our journey to California, the starting point for our next adventure. Bucking all odds, in the past few days things have just fallen into place. Given how long we’ve been sitting here – only one week short of 6 months – it seems funny to suggest that our escape plan has come together quickly, but it does kind of seem that way.
The law does NOT move quickly!
Even though our lawsuit is far from resolved, we have concluded that our remaining here will do nothing to speed up the process. What it would do though is continue to make us more and more frustrated, and angry. We have people to see, and things to do, and it’s time to get on with our lives. It does seem strange though that we’ll be leaving behind the cruising world, something that has been our lives for the past 7 years.
What of the boat?
While we work on our cycling adventure, our “vacation” from boating, Frost will remain here in Martinique. As mentioned yesterday, we have already removed the canvas, and by the time we leave the country, we’ll have done everything possible to ensure that she remains safe while we are gone. We even purchased brand new, extra-thick mooring lines yesterday, and rigged them with chafe gear! In addition to that, we also hired a gentleman who does gardiennage, and he’ll be visiting the boat twice per week to check up on her, and send us reports.
Frost is looking a bit naked!
Are we excited?
Nervous?
Anxious?
I’d say all of the above!
“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.” —Unknown
Darla and I are excited for you! We started our journey with you both, I’m glad we will be here to see you off on your next journey. It’s kind of like the students sending the teachers out into the world.
🙂
You know, we had only two good friends on site to send us off on our first journey. Looks like it’ll be that way again. We’re happy that you’re here!
Safe travels towards your next adventure. I am living in Santa Cruz CA and would be happy to to put you up if you come that way.
Cheers!
Thanks, Jay! I had to look up where that is on a map. We do have to head up to Oakland at some point to pick up our bikes.
Where will you be on Aug. 21st? There’s a total eclipse of the sun crossing the USA. We are planning to be in Central Oregon with friends to see it!
Here’s a cool interactive map:
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2017_GoogleMapFull.html
Dude, I just made plans for next week. You want to know where we’re going to be late August? haha
sounds like a great plan to move on to your new adventure – getting more and more frustrated waiting for everything to settle with Frost is definitely not good – I’m sure it must feel a little apprehensive leaving Martinque without everything being 100% finalized, but am sure once you are starting your new adventure you will be definitely be happy with your decision – best wishes always!
Thanks, guys. We’re just “making lemonade,” doing the best with the cards we’ve been dealt. 🙂
Wishing you both all the best in this upcoming adventure, see you next time, when our paths meet again.
Ken+Vicky
Thanks, guys! I hope we cross paths again sooner rather than later.
Is shrink wrapping available outside the US? In the winter in Colorado we would shrink wrap our little San Juan 21. It worked great there, but not sure how that would work in heat. I guess it would probably cause moisture and not work that well. I think I just answered my own question, maybe.
We have seen boats shrink wrapped but it’s definitely less common down here than up north.
I think it’s a great move, as I hinted at in a previous comment. No sense in staying around in a prison of your own making. Hey, that sounds like me! Seriously I am happy for you. Remember ….. everyting irie.
Irie, Mon!
Git it!
On On
I am glad that you are not allowing the legal process to get in the way of family time and moving on with your plans. I am really glad we got a chance to spend some time with you, and hope to do so again in the future, somewhere, sometime. I wish you the best and I look forward to following your next adventures. Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down!
Great advice!
We had fun hanging out with you guys too. Thanks for reaching out to us. Enjoy da islandz!
Glad to hear the new adventure is about to begin. Do you know when your trip through Alaska begins yet? If you’re not going to make it to Anchorage, maybe we can meet up when you roll through Tok?
Hi Javan. I don’t have any of that info yet, but I’ll post on the blog when I do. If we can meet up that would be cool!
So many things that you’ve done and said has touched so many people in this cruising adventure. We will be following you as you hit the road. Do not underestimate your effect on people’s lives. Thank you for the time and effort you’ve put into sharing your ups and downs with us all.
Thanks, G.W. Sometimes I think that if all people did was pay attention to our mistakes, and then avoided doing them themselves, that would be valuable. And on that note, I still have plenty of other mistakes to share too. 🙂
it was wonderful getting to meet you and yr wife @Carriacou regatta…..hope to see yall again…..!!
ill be in Grenada moored down at hog island on my cat..in 2025…..lol…my anticipated retirement year.!!…..
see u then!!…..SAFE TRAVELSSSSSS!!
We’ll come visit you at Hog Island then. In the meantime, keep making me smile on FB.
Mike & Rebecca,
We’re glad we got to meet you before your moved on from sailing. We’re in Martinique again and looked for you in the anchorage but figured you had moved to a mooring. So glad you got a ball. We’ll reach out on VHF cause we’d like to send you off, even if we’re probably moving on to Grenada before you actually head out from here…
Darryl on Maple
Hi Darryl
I faintly heard Janet on the radio today, calling someone else, so I knew you must have returned. I hope you had a good trip up island. As you guessed, we’re on a mooring ball, almost across from the fuel dock. If you venture into Le Marin this week, please stop by.
From the Shawshank Redemption:
RED: I find I’m so excited that I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel. A free man at a start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.
I’ve only had this feeling a few times. It is irreplaceable.
What a perfectly-appropriate quote. I ned to watch that movie again.
Excited for the two of you! I two have followed you almost from the start! I look forward to your new adventure and your great pics! Take care!!
Thanks, Suzanne. I’d like to invest in a new mirrorless camera for the trip since we sold our older, heavy DSLR.
Best of luck to both of you. I trust you will enjoy your adventure. Thanks for all the FB posts you guys have made. Just a we bit of hope that one day soon you get the legal crap sorted and then you can sail the Pacific the visit NZ and Australia
Or we could always fly there. 🙂
Happy days on your new adventure. We will keep looking for your posts. Lots of places for new sunset and sunrise pics.
Thanks very much. We could definitely use some new sunset venues.
Many thanks for your always upbeat blogs these past seven years. You’ve encouraged my wife and me. We have a 36′ cat and are leaving next summer for the islands. Good luck on your adventures on land.
thanks again,
richard jorgensen
I don’t know if I would categorize all of my posts as upbeat. I’m pretty sure there have been some rants, and maybe even other post that bordered on whining. I appreciate the support though. A lot! Best of luck on your cruising adventures, and please keep in touch.
Congratulations on moving forward! I know ya’ll are anxious for the next chapter. It’s gonna be another epic one!
Thanks, Cheryl!
Not to start a bidding war. but we have an extra bed in Castro Valley, 15 miles south of Oakland. The house is 1 mile from the Bart line (commuter train) that runs up to Oakland in into SF…
That’s great, Steve. I don’t have any idea what our plans are going to be when we get there, but your offer is much appreciated. Thank you very much!