Our blog update is a bit overdue we know but we were waiting
to share some BIG news (at least it is to us!!). Shortly after arriving back in Blaine after
our cross-country road trip, we received an offer from a person who wanted to
purchase Serena Ray. She was not publicly
listed for sale….it was just one of those word-of-mouth surprises. After much soul searching, we finally determined
this could actually be an opportunity….. that we should probably take advantage
of. Too often, when you do want to sell
something, you can’t find a buyer…..so when opportunity knocked, we answered
the door!
Rosie and I have been on or around the water for some 30+
years and full-time cruisers since 2007.
Our indoctrination to real cruising began with our sailboat Eager
Dreamer, followed by our move to the “Dark Side” and Serena Ray. Between these two vessels we logged over
15,000 miles, from Seattle to Alaska to then to Panama, and more recently the southern portion of the East Coast's Intra
Coastal Waterway. We were extremely fortunate to
have visited so many beautiful places the last several years, we enjoyed many sunsets and sunrises from the
decks of our "Magic Carpet"..... and most importantly having the opportunity to make so many friends along the way. The cruising life provided us a fun and exciting
lifestyle for the last 5 years…..You know,following summer around the world is actually really
kewl! There is a cost to this lifestyle, however, …..there were just not that
many opportunities to spend time with our 3, rapidly growing, grand children or
to enjoy our many "landlubber "friends. The offer on Serena Ray allowed (actually forced) us to
rethink our priorities…and this time family won! As you all know, all good things must come to an
end……but the good news is that the end of one great adventure is really just the
beginning of a new one!
So, we will now reside in Blaine, WA (at least for a while) and focus on enjoying family and friends, and try to adjust to a new lifestyle (traffic!!, TV, etc..). We have decided that we will still keep updating
the blog with our travels…..(bare-boat charters are definitely on the list!!)……so keep checking :)
Well, that's about all we need to say for now. We were going through the many many photos we have saved and below are just a few shots
of the great memories we have, to hold us over until the next chapter is underway…………..
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| Departing Blaine, WA for San Francisco |
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| Greeting San Francisco |
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| Baja HaHa 2008 Party...San Diego |
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| Turning 60 in Cabo!! |
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| Evening Offshore...Mexico |
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| Seattle, Elliott Bay |
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| Enroute to Alaska |
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| Sea of Cortez |
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| Barra de Navidad |
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| At anchor...Lands End, Cabo San Lucas |
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| Sunset in Barra |
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| Monte Albon, Mexico |
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| Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
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| Monterey, CA |
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| Panama Canal Transit - April 2011 |
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| Crossing the bar - Bahia del Sol, El Salvador |
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| San Blas Islands, Panama |
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| St. Augustine, FL |
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| Cumberland Island, GA (ICW) |
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| Mazatlan, MX - El Cid Entrance |
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| Las Hadas, MX |
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| Touring Honduras and Guatemala |
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| La Paz, MX |
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| Antigua, Guatemala |
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| Zihuatanejo, MX |
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| Catalina Island, CA |
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| La Cruz Marina, MX |
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| Ketchikan, Alaska |
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| Our backyard in Blaine, WA - home for now..... |
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4 comments:
Completely gobsmacked and saddened by this news... yet we also totally understand. Cruising is a trade off in every way and you are making the right choice now. That said, your days aboard are not over, as your stateroom will await aboard our new boat in some fun and exotic locales!
It's so true--grandchildren grow up much quicker than our kids did (something about time passing more swiftly!), and you won't be sorry to spend these next days with them. You have so many wonderful memories that the Serena Ray and Eager Dreamer will always be a part of your lives. Here's to new days and lots of wonderful new memories filled with those you love!
Welcome to the boatless community. You can always come here to Blackhawk Lake, McCall and get on our Kayaks to feel the water under you again! T'nT
A lifetime of memories. I am fortunate and grateful to have shared some of your cruising adventures.
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