The Adventure Continues…

OK you might ask, why is there another picture from Shawn’s balcony when this is about a sailing trip crossing the Pacific? Well truth be told, we did not have the luck of the Irish and Friday March 17th came and went in Puerta Vallarta with no generator. We did know if there even was a generator in stock or what caused the delay. Saturday we finally heard it had not shipped as expected and was still in the plant in the US and we would not likely know until Tuesday at the earliest what was happening (National holiday in Mexico on Monday).

I decided to jump on a plane Monday and come home to visit more with my wife, daughter and son-in-law! Devan and Nick bought a new home in Nova Scotia and I would not be back before they moved. Being a little twisted (other adjectives apply) I somehow failed to mention it to them that I had purchased the ticket, and said we were waiting until Tuesday for a status update and to decide on next steps. Monday morning I walked the beach in Puerta Vallarta and Facetimed with Nancy as is my pattern. I said I would talk to her again about 7:30pm Mexico time or 9:30pm her time, after Happy Hour. I would call if we heard anything else. I went back to the boat, a quick goodbye to Bill and Sharon and off to the airport. When I got off the plane in Toronto (about 7:30pm) and onto the UP Express, I found a number of frustrated texts from Nancy asking where I was and what had happened if anything regarding the generator. I texted back and said I was on the beech, reading a book (Another Now by Yanis Varoufakis my daughter Kira got me for my birthday), and enjoying Happy Hour. I got back a terse “Well that tells me everything I want to know” from Nancy. As we were getting close to Union Station I texted “Do a call in 5 or 10?”. Radio silence.

Having worked so hard on the surprise, as I was going up the elevator I texted again “Can chat?” – no answer. As I strode down the hall another “?”. Finally a reply “Only if you are not too busy…”. I rang the doorbell.

Nancy answered and I was not sure if I would get a swat or a hug. Luckily it was a hug and kiss but she looked frustrated – she had wanted to fight but as she described it latter – “it was like when you deflate a ballon!” Barking dogs, hugs all around and I was home.

So by now you are saying, “Happy you are not bruised but you would have deserved it BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GENERATOR!”

So the good news is Sharon finally received a tracking code on Thursday – there is a generator and it is moving from Florida. According to the GPS tracking it is in Texas just across the border and it should be in the hands of our Mexican distributor by Tuesday. There are still unknowns and risks with the border crossing but we hope to have it in and installed by the end of this week coming. I suggested April Fool’s Day for departure, but we can only leave on a weekday with 2 days notice, so best guess right now is Monday April 3rd.

So a couple other passing notes before I sign off.

On Wednesday night I found out Sharon had come home to Toronto as well. That night, about 10:30pm we were just wrapping up a movie with the family and I look out the window and see a sailboat with light winds, full sail and no navigation lights. I thought the sailing gods were playing tricks on me, but there was photo evidence.

We took advantage of the time here and some additional Windex’s and navigation lights for us arrived. We are still working to resolve issues with the communications.

And finally, why I still call this an adventure and not a logistics nightmare. On Tuesday the day after I arrived back in Toronto, Brian sent an email to Bill and I, (he did not know I was home yet), entitled “Sailing crew rescued after giant whale sank 44ft boat in Pacific Ocean“. They were on a 3 week passage from the Galapagos to the Marquesas. Brian suggested it might not be safe to share this with Nancy but I decided I had already used up my goodwill on keeping secrets.

So it is definitely an adventure, and although we will be a month delayed from the original expected March 1st departure, it feels like “Take 2” is appropriate and we will soon be underway! I hope to return to Mexico Wednesday, back up the mast to install some Windex’s and watch the generator go in. Fingers crossed!