Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays - Season's Greetings "in spite of"!

 

Our thoughts are with family and friends this totally turned upside down holiday season - and most of 2020.  All at a distance and all of you coping with the challenges of staying safe and sane and yet finding some joy and peace in creating new traditions.

For the first time in several years, INTREPID II remains on her own in dry storage; as far as we know, the wind and rains of this past hurricane and tropical storm season did not cause any damage.  We are having a West Coast Christmas far from the sunny south.  Right on queue the Winter Solstice delivered fat flakes of moisture laden snow, which took some time, but settled over the ground and trees. This morning (22nd) the sun appeared and sparkled over the icy scene - lovely. However, when it came time to rescue our car to run a few errands, it took both of us with snow scrapers to loosen the icy covering, even with the defrosters running.  Reminders of many Alberta winters came to mind.

Winter wonderland West Coast style

It has been a treat to find all our stored decorations and tree and enjoy putting them in place.  With our much needed woodstove burning brightly, tree lights glowing and Christmas cards on the mantle, we have a cozy spot to enjoy our 'just us' social isolation.  Tomorrow is provisioning day - we have our menu and will see what is available for both Christmas Eve and Day - and leftovers of course.  We have no shortage of books, music and videos to entertain us - and expect Santa may bring a few additions.  

Our wishes for all are to continue staying healthy and safe, secure and sane. May 2021 be so much better and deliver those much needed vaccines to ensure we are not going through these same challenges next December!

The INTREPID II Crew is Home - April 14th

Hellebores (Lenten roses) still in bloom to welcome us home

Thank you to all our family and friends who kept us in their thoughts and emails and lent their virtual support as we prepped INTREPID II for dry storage in San Carlos, then headed homeward in this 'new reality'.  

We arrived safely home on Tuesday afternoon, April 14th and all is well. The stress and angst and concern about crossing borders, staying safe while in hotel rooms and en route across Sonora and through Arizona, Nevada, northern California, Oregon, Washington and into B.C. is over!  A good trip mostly, as far as the road and weather conditions and rest areas were concerned.

Faun Lilies are a delight - glad we were home in time

We are now in day 4 of our self-isolation requirement and hoping to find our physical distancing, hand washing and sanitizing regime has been successful.  We are keeping well occupied - no shortage of bins and bags and totes to unload, unpack and sort from 5 months away.  The house and yard were well taken care of by our friend and house-sitter, as always, for which we are so grateful.  It is a beautiful Spring time of year to return home from the Sonoran desert (and exchange desert allergies for west coast ones!).




Hoping to upload photos and describe out departure and trip home in more detail once we are settled and organized.  Wishing our cruising friends still in Mexico and elsewhere safe sojourns and journeys - it is a confusing and disjointed time to be staying on top of what anchorages are still open and what the directives mean for keeping isolated.  You are in our thoughts.

San Carlos & Tetakawis - awaiting our return