May to October 2014

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The Cruise of the Confidence Blog is back up - alive and well in Barra de Navidad, Jalesco, Mexico!

And what better way to begin again? - a short snapshot of our summer vacation! Now I know most of you are thinking that our entire life is one big vacation adventure and you are correct in thinking that. So let's edit that statement to say - a short snapshot of our vacation away from our life on the boat.

It was wonderful to land in Victoria at the end of April and have my sister, Susan, waiting for us. Hugs and kisses and tears were exchanged and then a quick return to reality. We drove up to Lake Cowichan for dinner at David's sisters' and then down to Mill Bay to retrieve our truck and get our insurance renewed. The truck required a boost and eventually a new battery. I guess it didn't like sitting around for 8 months. The truck did run well for the rest our our stay and we were happy to have held onto it.

I went to Roz's retirement party on the Tuesday and I have to admit that I felt a bit out of sorts. There were many new faces in the department and apparently more to come, along with many other changes. It did help to confirm my decision to retire when I did.

The rest of the week was spent reconnecting with David's family,

 especially Carolyn (daughter) & Paxton & Sadie (granddaughter). She is a total delight and we were quite pleased that she had remembered us! We got caught up on the mail and then sat down to deal with the tax man - no good news there!

We made it to Vancouver to touch base with Al and Sandy (from Marova). Susan joined us and we shared stories and pictures.

We went up to Kye Bay Resort at Comox for a week. 

My girlfriend, Roz, owns this resort and she was getting it ready for the coming season. The lodge next door is back to being part of the resort and renovations were under way. David and I were only too happy to help out where needed. So Roz kept us busy painting and varnishing and planting and doing lawn work. But it was not all work as we did take time out to eat, drink and just have fun.

Then back to Victoria where we began to earn our keep at Lillian's house. That was home base for the majority of our time in Canada. Lil is getting the house ready to eventually sell so we were only too happy to help out wherever we could. We will never be able to thank her enough for allowing us to stay with her. She made us feel at home - never once making us feel that we had over stayed our welcome. There were many wonderful moments - sharing stories, the wedding of her son, 

climbing the mountain,

 eating and drinking and just having fun.

There were many lunches and dinners shared with friends and family. One of the best was a return visit to Kye Bay with David and my sister. We were only too happy to help out with more of the preparations for the season. Susan built and ran a B&B in Belize and it brought back memories of those last few days of angst before the first guests arrive. Would the place ever be ready? Painting the adarondike chairs was actually fun and rewarding as you can see from the results.

 More painting inside and varnishing of doors and refinishing of floors - progress was being made. And just in time for the rest of the gang to show up to help celebrate the reunion, birthdays and all of the special occasions that we missed while away. It used to be a girl's weekend but because we had so much to celebrate we decided to invite the boys too. So we had three days of eating, drinking and just having fun and no work!

Two puppies found new homes! 

Fresh oysters picked off the reef and barbeques.

So here is my plug for Kye Bay. If you want to get away and experience a bit of paradise book now. Go to the website to learn more. But book early as the place fills up very quickly. Some people have been returning to Kye Bay for years - came as kids, came with their kids and are now retuning with their grandkids! You will love it.

I ended up staying for another week as it still seemed like there was a lot to do. Roz and Dave ( her Dave not to be confused with my David) and I put on some finishing touches, hung a few pictures, cleaned up the junk pile from the front of the lodge and it was ready. 

I then flew to the Sault with Susan to spend a couple of weeks with my family.

We celebrated Mom's 89th birthday and my 59th. We had a wonderful prime rib dinner at Debbie and Stuart complete with 2 birthday cakes. You can see that a lot of time was spent decorating the cakes. 

And of course bachi in the back yard with cousin Terry coming out on top! Are we surprised? 

The big party is next year and with any such luck I will be able to make it back. But considering we may be out in the Pacific Ocean somewhere it may not be possible. So I may have to settle for Bora Bora or some such place. Life is full of compromises! 

I managed to get some swims in Lake Huron at cousin Mike and Tarjia's and Lake Superior. Susan and I helped our brother Paul inventory some used boat parts. Had a wonderful dinner at Mike and Deb's (mike's wife and not to be confused with my sister Deb). Why does everyone have to have the same name? Too many Mike's and Dave's and Deb's. So two full weeks of spending time with family and friends and you got it - eating drinking and just having fun! I need to get back to my Mexican diet!

And David spent a month in Melbourne at his daughter Michele and Paul (not to be confused with my brother Paul!). He had a wonderful time connecting with his grandchildren - Amelia and Ethan - and just being "Grandad"! But he knew it was time to leave when he would catch himself humming Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!

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I had a couple of weeks before his return. It worked out that Lil had one of those weeks off so we shared the drive and the company to Castelgar and Balfour. Lil visited with her family and I visited with Janice and Gord. This was a fun time and special as this was one couple who I did not get to see before we left last year. The house is still a work in progress but my cabin was ready for me! Janice and Gord are as much fun as ever and I believe a good time was had by all.

When David got back we had to get busy as our time was running out. We obtained our new 10 year passports. We finally completed our wills - one of those things that we all think about doing but like to put off! We ordered in some boat parts and had them shipped to our Bellingham address - water pump, head (toilet for you land lovers), replacement parts, cruising books and just stuff. We tried to spend as much time as possible with Sadie, going to the beach, 

going to the park,

 going to the fair.

 It was wonderful to share her enthusiasm with everything!

Susan and I spent a few days in Washington State, visiting the factory outlet, the Casino and celebrating her birthday - though a bit early. I lucked out at the factory outlet and came home with tops and flip flops and nothing cost more than $20! Picked up the boat part order. Everything arrived in tact. It was just fun to spend the time with Susan as we have no idea when we will get to do that again. Susan came back to Victoria with me and we rounded out the week with Dave and Lil - eating, drinking and just having fun. Do you get the general theme of this 5 month visit yet?

And finally a surprise visit from Mike and Deb from the Sault. Plans were altered so that they could be in Victoria before we left. I have known Mike most of my life and have always considered him to be one of my dearest friends. And after spending the four days with them in Victoria I felt a new connection with Deb - as a friend and not just as Mike's wife. It was truly a special visit!

All in all - we had a wonderful unexpected 5 months in Canada. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. We only hope that some of them can come and join us somewhere during the rest of our adventure.