Boy has life taken a turn… not for the worse but definitely for the busier!   It's amazing when we think back, just to the beginning of this year; we were cruisers, living on our boat in Panama!  We always thought, and 9 out of 10 fellow cruisers agree, that we would come home and immediately start longing for the simple lifestyle we'd left behind.  That we'd spend all our time gazing off into the distance and planning our next "escape"!

Absolutely NOT!  We don't have time!  With our house to work on, looking for jobs, our kids close by, two new grandchildren to become acquainted with…brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and good friends keeping us busy, we barely have time to miss cruising.

The Spanish Stroll recently took us on one final journey up the coast of California to her new home in San Francisco Bay.  We waited until the Pacific High was settled in, making the weather calm and winds light.  Very little sailing, more of a motor boat ride, but the alternative was to wait for wind and then fight that, along with waves, for the 400 mile trip up the coast.  The dreaded Point Conception was, typically, more imagination than anything.  It got a little sloppy as we rounded the point but the Spanish Stroll plowed through it effortlessly.  It was awesome to sail into the bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge.  Here are a few pictures of that trip.

She is now with her new owners, Glenn and Tammy Jennings.  They are great people and she seems to have bonded with them quite easily.  They plan to leave sometime next year to begin their cruise south.  It sure was hard to say goodbye, but we're happy that she'll be out there cruising again soon.  It's where she belongs.  We couldn't see her just sitting in Redondo with all her equipment and sturdy features going to waste. Not to mention the huge slip fees!

The last few months that we were cruising, and continuing to this day, we are working on a book.  Isn't everyone who's out there cruising working on a book?  During our five year circumnavigation we visited so many interesting places, met such great people and had so many great adventures we'd like to share them.  One day our grandchildren, Casey and Stephen, will learn to read!  If for no other reason, it's a pleasure for us to relive one of the most wonderful times of our lives.

If circumstances work out, we hope to be back out there again one day.  But for now, with spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, we are happy to be here in beautiful, sunny, southern California!  In the land where everything works!

Take care of yourselves and we'll be in touch soon.

Jim and Barb

formerly of the S/V SpanishStroll