Back home on the Wet Coast!

Rhodos still in bloom

It is wonderful to be in our land-based home once again and reunited with two very patient and forgiving kitties, Rosie and Sebastian.  These non-sailing felines have been house-sharing with our attentive house-sitters, Lois and Rod.  We arrived home mid-afternoon Sunday, after a somewhat rolly crossing on the Coho Ferry from Port Angeles.  Those conditions were just the thing to remind us of those swells and short, steep wind waves of the Sea of Cortez!

Our transition continues as we catch up with 5 months of mail and events around the neighbourhood and community.  We are taking a break to allow the Captain to enjoy his birthday this evening.  Then we will reflect on the 5 months of cruising we mostly loved, as well as those few times we had to pause and consider.  We will post catch-up posts for each of the anchorages we discovered or re-visited this season and share our highlights with you.  It will be a treat to spend time reading our friends' blogs without worrying the wifi connections will go down.

Victoria is grey, overcast, a bit of sun here and there and of course very cool to our Baja-tempered bodies.  The fleecies and socks are on as we renew our relationship with the lush greenery that greets us through our windows; such a change from the arid and rocky environment of the past 5 months. That's what exploration is all about; learning to appreciate what you have at home and what the world has to offer!

Home in time to enjoy our giant irises

Thanks for keeping us company on this year's travels and stay tuned as we 'catch up'.

We are homeward bound!

Heading home after five months in the Sea of Cortez

All the fun and games of our 3rd cruising season haul out will have to be posted once we get back home.

INTREPID II was ready for our Thursday, May 10th haul out on time.  We finished up in the San Carlos works yard by Saturday morning, then had her moved to the dry storage yard (marina seca) for the hot, dusty Sonoran summer and fall.  The rest of Saturday was spent getting our store room sorted out; then stuffing and organizing all the things that needed to come back in the car with us.  We took time to have a bbq potluck with 5 other cruisers who were staying at the Adlai Departementos with us.  Our bbq consisted of whatever we couldn't take back with us!  A fun time.

Intrepid being loaded onto low bed truck at marina

Ready to head down the road to marina seca

In the works yard...Kelly found a ladder

Remarkably, we left San Carlos at 07:30 am, heading northward on Highway 15 through Hermosilla, to Santa Ana, then northwest through Caborca to Sonoyta/Lukeville, where we crossed into the U.S. after 5 months.  The surroundings are desert and the air hot and dry.  We over-nighted in the town of Goodyear, west of Phoenix.  This morning provided an 'interesting' drive into the red rock country of Sedona.  It's worth seeing, we spent time in the area and enjoyed a satisfying lunch.  Finding reasonable priced accommodations is a challenge; not much of our cruising budget remains.  Onward we traveled through red rocks and green pines of the Oak Creek valley towards Flagstaff.  The air was fresher, clearer and cooler as we reached 6,000 feet; such a change after being at sea level.

We turned west on I-40 towards Williams, which is 60 miles south of the Grand Canyon and whose main street is part the historic "Route 66".  Much more funky and fun than Sedona.  We found a comfortable motel, strolled down the streets, posed under the Route 66 signs and had an excellent dinner.  Now we are planning for the next few days:  the Grand Canyon tomorrow (a first time visit for Carol) and onward to south-west Utah; hopefully to explore Zion National Park.  Once there we we will plan the next travel legs.

Hope all is well with everyone.  We look forward to catching up with you on our return.