So Close Now...

It’s 7 days before we depart on the dream we have held for years.  We are just this close now… Besides running around each day attempting to shorten my ever-growing list of “things I gotta do”, this is a time for reflection on our lives thus far.

Friends laugh when I tell them the origin of our boat’s name Salpare.  We found ourselves under duress as our marine insurance policy demanded we name the boat before we could apply. The differences in each of our suggestions seemed farther apart than the continents we dreamed of visiting. Jeff… ADRENALINE…. SHOCKWAVE…. Fran…WINDFLOWER… ISIS (Ok, before there were terrorists, she was the Goddess of wind). We decided to ask “the google” and looked at different languages. When we hit upon Salpare, which means Sail Away in Italian,    we knew it was right. When explaining the name to folks, we usually say “it means sail away which is what we intend to do”.

Fast forward 8 years and a bunch of hurdles to jump and our launch date is right around the corner! Many times over the last 6 months, I’ve said it will take a village to get us out of here. That village is our phenomenal friends and family who have helped and encouraged the entire way! With both of our hearts, we are deeply thankful.

Many of you have asked what our plan/route will be. On September 13th, Jeff will leave his office for the last time and head to the boat. We’ll cast off lines and head to one of our favorite spots in Puget Sound, Kingston. Then to Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Neah Bay. We will turn south and sail to San Francisco. I’ve run, cycled and driven over that beautiful bridge and can’t wait to sail under it!

From SF, we will head down to Ventura and take a private dive class. October will be spent in California ending with a week in Coronado to visit my brother and his wife.

November 1st we head to Mexico and spend that month and some of December in the Sea of Cortez. Then we will start making our way down the mainland coast, and head for Costa Rica. A land tour is on tap for that beautiful country! 

Then on to Panama where we will leave Salpare for a few weeks to fly home and visit friends and family. Upon returning to Panama, we’ll provision and set sail for the GALAPAGOS!!!  A couple weeks in those islands and then the big puddle jump across the Pacific to the Marquesas. We will spend about 6 months in French Polynesia and then “winter” (their summer) in New Zealand for 4 months.  That is all Plan A and subject to our desires and whims!!

If you are reading this, you must be a friend or family. We have a cabin ready for anyone who wants to join us!!

Hugs to all!

Fran and Jeff