As I sit here in an Arizona RV Park, sipping coffee and browsing the world news... my mind wanders back to life a mere 13 days ago. How far it seems we've come. Not two weeks ago we were totally involved with the "putting to bed" of the good ship SSpirit. Turns out Shannon's Spirit was a great name to call our new ride. It pays good homage to our wonderful little ship Shannon, the Mexicans and cruisers alike remember us (we were "the girls from Shannon"), it shortens up nicely to SSpirit for abbreviated radio talk... and the name SSpirit itself is pretty cool for a boat.
Now, where was I? Oh yes, about this life we're currently living. As a result of deciding this would not be a sailing season (you already know why) we decided to change directions and make good use of the last two months and wander our way through Arizona and California. We have friends in both States who have from time to time suggested we drop by. Well, there we were (here we are) with time on our hands and a little trailer to travel in. So, as I think back over these past two weeks... it is like a transition... from water cruising (worrying about weather, our intended course and where we will anchor... and what will be our back up anchorage plan... and what we will eat and where we will find that food); to land cruising with almost identical concerns. The main difference may be the safety factor. On land, if the weather and road conditions become too dangerous, we can pull over. At sea we just have to keep going. For that little extra watery thrill... we get to see far away places with a rugged beauty that would make your breath catch in your throat. Not a bad trade off.
So, here we are transitioning from ocean cruisers to land cruisers, at least for these couple of months. It's a great chance to visit friends and family and it's also giving us some insight into what winter life might look like after we bring SSpirit home in a few years.
The photos above represent some of the stages we are undergoing. The first is, of course, dear SSpirit on her way from the marina to the work yard and dry storage. Please note the results of our labour... all wrapped up to protect her from Mother Nature. The second photo speaks for itself... three gals having a farewell lunch at their favorite beach palapa. Then we leap ahead to an Arizonian desert scene, resplendent in it's own kind of beauty. The trailer in the next photo is not Lucy, she's much bigger :-) but it is a good shot of a Gilbert Ray County Park camp site and the location we chose to begin our transition.
Kathy's photo shows she and Sophie engaged in the desert activity of hiking/walking/hopping and wildlife watching, and then there's the heart shaped cactus (wish we'd found that before Valentine's day :-), and finally, one last desert scene to firm up our resolution to become RVers for the rest of this season.
While it is true that we dearly miss the sparkling blue waters of the Sea of Cortez, they were not ours to enjoy this year... instead, we shall become experienced desert dwellers of one sort or another and will arrive home, as planned, in late April. Our goal? To stay below the frost line of course!
Best of the day to all of you from all of us. TTFN (ta ta for now). Carolyn
