gone fishin'

as mentioned in a previous post, life over the road has it’s headaches. most of those are spurred by the “paper pushers” back at our home terminal but, the pros of this job far overshadow the annoyances of “working for the man”.

usually the word “layover”, to many a traveler, conjures the image of sleeping in the corner of an airport terminal hugging your valuables and awakening with a panicked jolt every time an announcement is made over the intercom. imagining that surely you have just missed your ticket to that much anticipated free cocktail and transport to your next shower and a proper sleep. currently for us, “layover” equals to a hiccup in routing that pays a meager, but appreciated, $75 for every 24 hour period we don’t have the wheels turning. 

 

we quickly realized how far we could stretch that $75 to explore whatever surroundings we found ourselves in.

quite often, due to the amalgamation of Marc and my cast of family and friends that stretches from coast to coast, when on layover we have someone to visit. from a mash-up dinner with a high school friend of Marc’s and an old buddy of my dad’s in Denver, to a weekend on the beach in Miami with Marc’s cousin Chris. then up to Connecticut for a week with my brother and his family, making it just in time to catch my niece and nephew’s t-ball picture day. 

 

now back south down I-81 for a late night drop-in to my mom’s cabin in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. next we may head southwest to Oklahoma City for a home cooked bleu burger and to hear tales of the life of a u.s. marshall, with our favorite “okies”, the Tibbits.

now across to the west coast for a week of sailing and catching up with loved ones. 

squeezing in a quick stop in between to have green chile pizza in Albuquerque with cousin Aaron, who just moved there to start a new job. The list grows daily…

On a recent “layover” in dallas we decided to hop in our pick-up, which is stored at our companies terminal in south dallas, and head towards the gulf coast. we met up with the Ware clan in Houston and all piled in and headed to the beach. one of my oldest friends’ Caroline and her husband Randy also joined.

between relaxing on the sand enjoying great conversation over a few cold ones and frolicking in the surf with people who make me smile, i was reminded of the early stoke that surfing brought to my life. that afternoon, after standing up on a surfboard for her first time ever in the washing machine surf that is Texas waves,  Caroline exclaimed, “I wish that wave had lasted forever!” It dawned on me that wave riding was my first passion. Everything about it had seduced my senses and coaxed my inner adventurer out. 

Surfing had ignited the spark that would take me to so many wonderful places and bring me in contact with an abundance of amazing people. I realize every “wave” in life can’t be as life altering as the very first, but as long as your line-up is full of good company, the lulls can be just as amusing. as our blog title translates to in English, (ola de amor= wave of love), we are working hard at making this life one continuous beautiful ride spent with the ones we love doing the things we love.

rovers: "Ceal" and Kevin

meet Kevin and Cecilia “Ceal” (pronounced like “seal”). this is an inspiring couple of go-getters if there ever was. we had the pleasure of meeting these two anchored out at Punta Mita, which is the northern most point of Banderas Bay in Mexico. they were aboard their islander 36, s/v Sunrise. initial contact was filled with the excitement of meeting another younger couple that was cruising and surfing. for those that are unfamiliar with the cruising community, it is made up mostly of people who have chosen to cut the lines post retirement. i’m not knocking this by any means, as we have learned loads through these seasoned sailors. from logistical aspects (i.e. navigation, alternative power sources) to how to continue to enjoy life with the one you love in such close quarters.

our new found surf stoked amigos graciously invited us over to their four person friendly accommodations, for dinner and drinks. ( Mer-Sea was a bit of a squeeze for even the two of us at 27’) we spent hours of excited conversation that night, trying to fit in each of our life’s stories over gin and tonics. our paths diverged later that week as they had to return to Hawaii for business and Marc and i set sail for southern latitudes. we have managed to stay in touch since, thanks to the world wide web. i just love meeting people with whom you “click” with so quickly. i imagine it is as sure sign you are on the right path in life.

we have since enjoyed their company again in Puerto Vallarta, as they were returning to Sunrise and we had just helped some friends move their Irwin 37’, s/v Lady Ann from Huatulco. (see back post under the title “Lady Ann” for more on this adventure) it was a brief visit, over tacos and cervezas, and conversation was stimulating as ever. i’ll stop here and leave the rest of their story up to you to enjoy in Ceal’s own words, at their blog : www.alwaysgoblog.com

the journey IS the destination!

as many of you already know, marc and i have made a recent career “180”, we are now officially truckers. yep that’s right, we are licensed to grind gears while hauling 40 tons of  freight across all of north america. i think we both are secretly even starting to enjoy the smell of diesel in the morning. (jump back a few posts to see a more detailed description of how it all went down) now, the rest of this post may ring of some redundancies in regards to marc’s last post here on our blog but, i’m feeling inspired by some recent conversations with fellow lifer vagabonds.

this change in lifestyle has spurred many, friends and strangers alike, to inquire “why?”.  it is true, we don’t fit the stereotypical trucker mold, but honestly who wants to fit into a mold anyhow. fitting into a mold always gave me a vision of green jello in the shape of a bundt cake, in which was suspended withered canned fruit. just never seemed appealing. what is appealing about our new endeavor is plentiful, at least in our opinion. it is looking as though it could be that golden ticket to our dream life.

on returning from tripping around mexico and central america last year, we discussed a few priorities to our reentry to “the real world”.  at the top of that list was to have the ability to continue to travel regularly and reconnect and spend time with the people we love. trucking fit the bill quite well.  this i had seen through my father, who, after he retired had spent his last years behind the wheel of his big rig reconnecting with family and friends. some of whom he had served with in vietnam, so many years ago. it brought so much joy to him to get to rehash his youth and rekindle these friendships with men who he shared such deep connections with.

so,  i ask YOU, “why?” why do you live your life the way you do? have you ever really thought about it? keep reading, i am not about to get on a soapbox and tell you why you should follow our path. as one of my dearest friends Audrey says, “everyone’s “awesome” is different.” simple but true. what we often find when people ask us about our life, is we are gushing about every facet, even the seemingly inconvenient and irregular aspects of it. (i.e living in a rolling shoebox, erratic hours, lack of access to proper cooking apparatuses…) these have all become challenges that make life, frankly, more vivid. waking up every morning in a different landscape, with the equivalency of a quarter flips odds of what kind of attire the next day will require, all while attempting to create the next meal with only the help of a 120v dc outlet.

so take a minute from the complacency of modern life and really sit for a minute alone, with some quiet, and reflect on what is your “awesome”. the next step takes a bit more effort and can be uncomfortable at times, but this is best described as growing pains. we have met so many people along the way the last few years who have taken leaps into the unknown and never looked back. whether shedding their creature comforts for more mobility, leaving a burdensome relationship, learning a new skill, or changing their zip code, it seems to become an ever evolving process that only gets easier and leads to a “new and improved” feeling. so, take a few minutes every so often to get reacquainted with yourself. as humans, we are inherently a complex and dynamic creature, and i truly believe that,

“only the dull and uninteresting know where they are going in life and rarely is it worth the trip.” -tom robbins

Go for it!

George Lee Mallory, may or may not have been the first person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1924, more than 30 years before Sir Edmund Percival Hillary was officially credited with this astounding achievement. Mallory and his hiking partner Andrew "Sandy" Irvine were last seen disappearing into the clouds somewhere high on the North-East ridge of Mt. Everest.

Mallory is most famously credited with coining the phrase "Because it's there", which was a retort to the question, "Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?"

Besides this catchy one liner, which in all honesty was probably paraphrased by some 1920's New York Times reporter, Mallory was transcribed to say something of even greater significance, he said, "If you cannot understand that there is something in man that responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life, upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just shear joy, and joy after all is the end of life. We don't live to eat and make money, we eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and that is what life is for."

Ultimately, his ambition and willingness to sacrifice all, in order to attempt the unthinkable by most, speaks deeply to a certain part of me. Mallory was not a man who spent most of his time thinking, or talking about his ideas. He spent his time doing. Doing the things he loved. Living the way he wanted. Encouraging all of us to carefully consider the tiny amount of time we each have on this planet.

This simple truth inspires me, as I hope it does you, to challenge yourself, to take those leaps of faith necessary to shake life up and make it interesting. To step away from what's comfortable and familiar, and step out into the unknown. Take those risks and make those moves that may be unconventional today, but by tomorrow will seem like part of the routine. Growth only comes from adversity and from challenge, and it is here that the bonds of life are forged. 

I encourage everyone to strive for something more with the time they have, even if a personal goal is undefined, or crude, go for it. Know that you will not be alone on your quest. You will meet so many great people along the way that just seem to "show up" at the right time; either to help, teach, or just have fun with, because once you set sail from your safe and familiar harbor, and head out on the open ocean of endless possibilities, you will blissfully find yourself amongst family. A family that is strengthened by all its members, and whose lineage is timeless.


“To experience, to engage, to endeavor, rather than to watch and to wonder — that's where the real meat of life is to be found.” -Ben Saunders: Artic explorer

Dag'gum Truckers!

While lounging at the beach, on a couple hammocks, in El Salvador last summer an idea was born. "Let's be truck drivers!" This idea was sparked when we realized that we would eventually need to get to work soon, as our accounts, after more than a year of traveling, were now starting to get low. We knew that after going feral for so long, i.e. spending more time without shoes on than with, we would not be able to settle back into a typical job stateside. Although, the thought of A/C at that time was quite enticing.

What appealed to us most about becoming truck drivers was that we would be able to work together, which we really enjoy doing, we would not have to be inside an office, and ultimately, we could make good money while having the freedom to take off and travel when we want.

We could also confidently answer the most trying question all team truckers have to face, which is, can you handle living together in such a small space. We always get a kick out of this one, mainly because we've spent close to 100% of the last year either living in our 27' Catalina sailboat or our 1986 Ford F350 pickup, both of which have substantially less living space than a semi-truck. Basically, the semi-truck is like a two story condo for us.

Fast forward a few months, and after a bit of research we decided to start with a company called FFE, based out of Dallas, Texas. They offered us free CDL (commercial driver license) Training, and the shortest OTR (over the road) training period we found in the industry. All they ask in return is that you drive for them for one year, which sounded like a pretty good deal to us!

After excelling through the two-weeks at their Driver Training Academy, and passing our DOT CDL Class A driver exam, we both parted ways for the first time in over a year for our 6 weeks of paid OTR training. Once done with the OTR training, and successfully passing our upgrade exams, FFE assigned us a 2012 International Prostar. We have been rolling all over the country since and are enjoying the heck out of it!!!

Recommended Reading: The Alamo & The Conquest of New Spain

A few for the history lovers…

The Alamo by Lon Tinkle

Considered the truest and most conclusive account of this famous battle.  Not a first hand account but the information is gathered from credible sources.  It’s not just a story of a battle but of the characters involved and Lon does a great job of giving personality to some of the legends (Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, etc…) who were a part of this pivotal battle in Texas history.

The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz

This is a first hand account from a soldier who fought with Cortez during his Conquest of Montezuma and the Mexicans. He was not a scholar but felt the urge to document the events of this world changing campaign. He wrote this late in life, fifty years after it all occurred. Due to this, there are a few inaccuracies that the translator has corrected. This one has been a real treat as we are traveling through many of the areas mentioned!

 

Thanks Tomas y Val for sharing your amazing library with us!!

From the Galley: Bonito!

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While under way along the Pacific coast of Mexico we have found a fish called Bonito is hard not to catch. This is a welcome “problem” seeing as it is a member of the tuna family, which equals… sushi!! Which Torch has now acquired a taste for as well!

We have created and learned a few other ways to prepare this little guy than just slathered with wasabi…

Joel’s Bonito Ceviche

Bonito filets               Lime Juice

Salt                              Red onion

Cilantro                      Serrano or Habanero

Cube Bonito and soak with lime juice. Chop all other ingredients and toss with fish.

Pan Seared Bonito w/ Tropical Fruit Salsa

Salsa

Pineapple or Mango             Red onion

Cilantro                                  Serrano or Habanero

Lime Juice                              Garlic Salt

optional-Orange Juice          

Chop all ingredients. Best if using all fresh produce and juices. Salt to taste. Use within hour for best flavor and texture.

Fish

Bonito Filets              Oil

Salt and Pepper        Garlic

Sautee garlic in oil. Salt and pepper fish strips to taste. Sear to desired wellness.

Serve over rice and top with salsa.

Mexican Viagra

Whole Bonito             Lime Juice

Salt                              Cerveza

Butterfly and clean intestines and organs out of fish. Then make horizontal slits in the meat, keeping the fish intact. Squeeze lime and sprinkle salt over meat filling the slits with juice. Eat meat and pour liquid that gathers into your beer and drink. Arriba!!

Mezcal, Mole, y Los Muertos

  While waiting on favorable weather to make the move to Puerto Vallarta with Joel and the good ship Lady Ann, the opportunity arose to head up to the city of Oaxaca, with a few other travelers we met, for the Dia de los Muertos festivities.

If you are not familiar with what Dia de los Muertos is, I’ll give a brief explanation of what it is all about. Here in Mexico, to honor and remember loved ones that have passed on they have reserved the first and second of November to celebrate (not mourn!) their lives. Traditionally families build altars at home or at the gravesites of the deceased. These altars are adorned with marigolds, candles, pictures, and some of the favorite things of the deceased (including but not limited to candy, cigarettes, foods, and beverages, possibly beer and tequila!) The first night of festivities is focused on children and the second is “all saints”. On each night, families go to the graves of their loved ones and “wait” for them to arrive. They stay all night and pray, eat, and drink “with” them. In town is a whole other story… there are parades, vendors, and bands all full of the trademark energy of any Mexican fiesta.

First step. Get tickets on the “vomit van” from Huatulco to Oaxaca. (So named due to the sickness some may experience due to the 6 hour winding road over the Sierra Madres) Our travel crew consisted of a couple from Las Vegas, Karolina and Spencer, who have been traveling through Central America for the last few months, Jorge from PV, a  Mexican who spends his free time touring around his Country, and obviously, ourselves, and Torch. Torch earned a badge on this one, as he had to ride in his crate strapped to the top of the van and managed not to get sick. He did have the best view.

On arrival head to the Mercado for a Oaxacan style hot chocolate y pan de muerto!

Perhaps indulge in a bit of mezcal before heading out for the night…

 

 

to mingle with the “locals”…

 

The second day we were there our friend Mili, who had arrived from Puerto Escondido, met up with us. She had found the bus that would take us to the nearby archaeological site of Monte Alban. Monte Alban is home to some of the ruins of the Zapotec Indians. It was both Marc and I’s first time visiting ruins and they were quite impressive. They are built on top of the mountain with a 360 degree view of the surrounding valleys. Interesting to wrap your mind around the daily comings and goings of a culture so old and distant from our own.

 

With our crew we continued to tour around the city. We visited the cathederal, which no city in Mexico is without, and this one is especially noteworthy due to the amount of gold adorning its interior.

 

 Got some inspiration for next years Halloween costumes while wandering the zocalo.

More friends from Puerto, Eli and Kiki joined up that night and we took a walk to one of the local cemetaries. The cemetery grounds were packed with locals and visitors alike. It was beautifully lit with hundreds of votives along two walls and music drifting through. 

One grave we happened upon had a mariachi band in full swing and cocktails being poured for family, friends, and strangers alike. Seeing as we fell into one of the eligible categories for refreshments we struck up conversation with some of the people milling about. It seems Alejandro had passed 17 years before and every year they throw a hoo-ha “with” him. As he loved music and people, it is the way he would have wanted it they claimed. Begs the question “how will you be remembered?” I realized with the company I keep I better start stockpiling booze now!

 All in all it was a three day whirlwind of sights, sounds, smells, and a heap of great memories. Not having spent much time in a city in the past year, it really took it out of us. Damn, I sound old.

Rovers: Michael, Claire, and Pina s/v Splendid Isolation

Now this is a crew of vagabonds that we hold dear to our hearts. Michael and I met a few years back working together at The Ramos House Café. Claire and Pina are his two top ladies. (Claire is a human and Pina a feline)

 

Michael bought Splendid Isolation, a 1968 Cal 27’, in the winter of 2011 and parked her in Dana Point Harbor. I was quickly convinced it was a lifestyle that suited me as well and I purchased Vitamin Sea, a Newport 27’, by that fall. Michael and Claire began to plant seeds of cutting the lines and living off the grid. So began the cruising dreams…

This is about when Marc and I met as we ended up living on the same dock and became fast friends due to our multitude of common interests. If you don’t already know what happened next, and would like to, start at the beginning of this blog.

Fast forward and Splendid is now officially underway. They just started down the Baja with plans of reaching the Carribean! But as every cruiser knows, plans, much like worries, some how seem to drift away on the open sea! So who knows where they’ll end up, but if you happen to be cruising the Pacific waters this season keep an eye out for a couple in their twenties making moves in a blue hull with a yellow topside. Have’em over for a drink and maybe you’ll get lucky enough to sample some of their top shelf cooking!

stay tuned at: http://www.sailsplendidisolation.blogspot.com/

The Voyage of the Lucky Lady Ann

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Lady Ann- Irwin 37’

Captain: Joel Hoyt

Marina Chahue to Puerto Vallarta

While in Chiapas putting the finishing touches on the sale of Mer-Sea, we received an email from our friends Joel and Vivien Hoyt inquiring if we would be interested in crewing on their boat Lady Ann from Huatulco up to Puerto Vallarta. Since arriving last April in Huatulco and spending the hurricane season there, they have become quite fond of the land life on this quaint picturesque stretch of Mexico’s coast.

Lady Ann is not a day cruiser. With her previous owners she circumnavigated with a family of four. The Hoyt’s called her home for the better part of ten years and cruised her south from northern California down the Mexican coast including a stint around the Sea of Cortez. It just wouldn’t be right for her to sit tied to a dock. They decided to put her up for sale in PV as it hosts a large cruising community.

Excited for the opportunity to get experience on a different vessel under our belts, and just to get back in that salty air, we boogied up to Vivien and Joel’s place in La Crucecita. They opened their home to us and our mornings were spent checking weather for a good window. This would be an “uphill” run (against wind and prevailing current) and our hope was to make it as smooth as possible. Being an El Nino year, we watched and waited as a late season hurricane ran up the Baja and a few more systems spun off the coast threatening to develop into something more.

 

Finally the Pacific settled and within 24 hours we were loaded with provisions and cutting the lines. Just out of the marina Joel opted to anchor in Bahia Risquilillo, one of Huatulcos many scenic bays, to give the bottom a quick scrub. Oh yeah, Torch was approved to join as well! We all took a quick swim, then anchor up and we were off!

Marc had drawn up a delivery plan that had our assumed stops and estimated travel times (based on how many knots we would average). We were scheduled to stop in Acapulco, Ixtapa, and Barra de Navidad before reaching Puerto Vallarta. As we approached Acapulco, Joel assessed our fuel situation and found we had enough diesel to make it to Ixtapa. A unanimous decision was made to carry on to Ixtapa, direct from Huatulco!

We arrived early the second morning to Marina Ixtapa. Joel got us a slip for the night so we could grab a couple provisions and enjoy a good nights sleep. Marc grilled up some fat burgers for dinner, while we all enjoyed a few icy gin and tonics before turning in for the night.

On the next leg we were regularly escorted by dolphins. Torch would usually spot them right off and get very excited. We would tether him to the jackline and he would run up and down the deck barking at them. Not really sure if felt he needed to protect us or he just wanted to play, I prefer to believe the latter. In any case at one of the dolphin shows, Torch decided to try to join the action, by leaping off the bow. Luckily he was tethered to the jackline and never hit the water, but things could have gotten interesting quick! I was crying I was laughing so hard at the look of shock and confusion on his face as Marc pulled him back on board. We’re starting to believe this little guy is becoming a bit of an adrenaline junkie…

At this point we began nearing our waypoint to turn in for the approach to Barra de Navidad, but again Captain Joel found our fuel level was enough to get us to PV. We were well in the groove and welcomed the opportunity to skip another port. Now we were going for a record!

What we had estimated to take ten or so days, possibly averaging as low as 3 knots (due to head winds or current) ended up being a six day cruise. The majority of the seven hundred or so miles was spent motor sailing but we did get a few “leans on” under sail, once up to 7 knots, which is relatively un heard of for a northbound trip!

Fish were bountiful and the weather was fine. Our only rough patch, which had us pitching and rolling pretty well was around Cabo Corrientes (Cape of Currents). It is the Southern Cape of Bahia Banderas and quite infamous for strong southerly flowing wind and water currents, (hence its name) the mix of which amount to short period choppy seas from every direction due to refraction. It slowed us down quite a bit but overall we averaged a good four knots!

Once the lines were tied and Lady Ann was cozied up in her new slip, Joel treated us to a delicious dinner and a few icy margaritas! It was such a great experience to get under our belts and glad we could help out friends as well. Not to mention our first crewing gig to put on the resume!

                 

Cheers Joel and Vivien!