Logbook and Photos

We want to start this update with a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all from Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. We miss you all and think of you often, each in your own special way. This Christmas will be a very different one for our family, as Gerrit says 'Where's the snowsuits?' We are very excited about it, and we will spend the holidays this year with dear friends from Calgary, along with all the wonderful cruising families and friends we have met. We are experiencing huge comradery in this way of life, I guess we all start out with a very common goal!

Our family is adjusting well to this new lifestyle we have chosen. Sailing and managing a boat and family is very hard work yet so far, the highs make it all worthwhile. Yes, Joel and Gerrit miss their many dear friends, and they absolutely adore their new surroundings. They are growing in leaps and bounds with Joel turning 9 in February and Gerrit turning 7 in April. They love the freedom of life on Tioga, as well as the numerous activities involved with it, fishing and swimming being high on the list. Gerrit's insulin pump is wonderful. We are totally convinced we could not have made this trip without it. There is too much fluctuation in daily living to have the structure we once had. Though Gerrit does not swim with his pump on, he has proven it's waterproof, as he has inadvertently fallen in twice!! Home schooling is going well though we need to find a more regular schedule for it again. We have traveled quite a distance since leaving San Diego on December 1st, so it has been difficult some days to get a lot done. Now that we have arrived to the Mexican mainland, starting in Nuevo Vallarta, we will now be spending 3-4 months in the area so routine will establish itself once again. Our entire family is enjoying learning Spanish. It is amazing how fast you learn when you are immersed in a language. Since our route plans have now changed to spend a fair amount of time in Spanish speaking countries, speaking the language rates high on the list of things to learn. Yes, it was easy to sit at our comfy dining room table and plan we'd be here, here and here by this time or that. Reality is, moving so fast is not possible nor desirable for our family. We have decided to remain in Mexico for the entire first year, thus enabling us to scoot back up into the Sea of Cortez come spring. There is so much to see and do here so we will not continue south until December of 2003, when we hope to tackle the rest of central America, the Panama Canal in early 2004 and a crossing to Europe later in July. A trip home for summer 2003 is currently being talked about, but no definite plans yet.

Tioga has definitely become our 'home' so to speak. It is an amazing concept to move your home with you wherever you go. After a day out exploring local areas and mingling in local villages, you go back to all the comforts of your boat. Since leaving the United States, we make our own water with the watermaker on board, we generate our own power via 4 solar panels and we are now reaping the many food benefits of the sea. Quite a pioneering spirit! The wonder and beauty of night passages never ceases to amaze us with brilliant stars and moon, illuminating the darkness around you. The boat seems so much more powerful in the dark as you slice through the silence.

Since our last update, we have moved from San Francisco, California to Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. We have seen and done too much to relay it all but, the quaintness of Monterey, the sheer beauty of Santa Barbara, the excursions and beaches of Newport Beach and the final preparations in San Diego before Mexico, made these places our major stops. A four-day visit to Disneyland was a huge milestone for us. Since Joel and Gerrit were babes, they had been told we would visit Mickey Mouse when we got to California so it was a big deal. We made it a nice break and left Tioga for a beautiful hotel for 4 days. Running water and toilets that flush with the push of a finger...what a concept! SeaWorld was fascinating and would get a high recommendation from our family with its hands on sea life approach and incredible shows. Our most recent exposure to Mexico has been a real eye-opener for us all. How much we take for granted these days was very apparent when we arrived at Islas San Benitos, a small Mexican fishing village on a remote island about a 4-day sail from San Diego. The small plywood shack houses and dust streets did not bother these friendly people. In Bahia Tortugas (Turtle Bay) we were welcomed with open arms. Highlights were watching the boys play soccer on the beach with the local kids, and inviting 2 Mexican boys out to our boat. The cold cervasa on the beach combined with the great company of the local people and our 'buddy boat' family from the sailing vessel Atalanta, (great family with 2 kids on board that we spent Thanksgiving with in the US and traveled all the way from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas with, before sadly parting ways) were very hard to beat! We truly believe cruising with kids on board opens doors for us that other cruisers don't see. Our recent arrival in Nuevo Vallarta will be the beginning of update # 3! We look forward to exploring this part of the coast.

This time of year makes us realize all the more that we have a lot to be thankful for. It also makes us want to say a special thank you to a few people who's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Chris' mom and dad in Victoria, B.C. are our ground support with respect to finances, boat problems and any other emergency you can think of. Without them, we truly would be lost. Chris' brother Mark, and his wife Sheila in Calgary, deal with all our issues relating to keeping our Alberta residency while Sheila's brother Wayne and his wife Kathy in Drayton Valley have taken on the huge burden of allowing us to store the possessions we kept, in their house. Karl S. from Calgary helps keep our communications going and Wayne B. also from Calgary was worth his weight in gold in our passage south from Canada to San Francisco back in August. Our good friends, Rick and Mariann P. who recently moved to Calgary from Saskatchewan, single handedly took on preparations for our bon voyage party in May, and the Glenmore Sailing Club crew did cleanup. A heartfelt thanks to you all!

We truly hope this message finds all our friends and family in good health and ready for a special Christmas of your own. Until the next update, this is sailing vessel Tioga saying Hasta Luego!

Chris, Sheila, Joel & Gerrit

Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico