Going, Going, Sold!

Somewhere east of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Predictably, as soon as we are almost ready to leave, we got an offer on the house. For the last week we have been scrambling to get every last thing out of the house and pack what we will need to take with us to Mexico and farther south.

As of today, the deal should be done, although we have not received final confirmation as yet, and it is still possible the whole thing could fall through. Regardless, we are off to Puerto Vallarta in the morning (via Vancouver for some reason).

Last night and tonight we are spending at the home of our travelling companions. Thier place is much closer to the airport and we don't really have anywhere else to bed down anyway.

As I am writing this, we are experiencing some wonderful warm weather outside, sunny and 18 degrees. We are finally getting the lovely fall weather that we should have had a month ago. Kind of makes it sad to be leaving just now.

{GMST}53|27.7632|N|113|12.7812|W|Somewhere, Alberta, Canada|Somewhere, Alberta, Canada{GEND}

Homeless again

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Since last spring, we have spent our time preparing Susanne's mother's home for sale, while simultaneously attempting to divest ourselves of another lifetime's worth of personal possessions.

As of the end of July, the house is virtually empty and has finally been listed, unfortunately just in time for a very soft real estate market. As of now, nearing the end of October, there has been no significant interest in the property. With winter fast approaching, have we maybe missed our window of opportunity?

 

Once we had the bulk of the work done on the house, we were able to take a couple of short trips to break up the rest of the summer. At the beginning of August, we spent a little over a week at our good friends' cabin on Kootenay Lake in BC.

We had the opportunity there to refresh our sailing skills on the lake.

Thanks to Bruce and Gayle for all their hospitality.

Captain Bruce at the helm

One of my favorite signs

In mid-September, we took advantage of some about-to-expire air miles to take a lovely week-long vacation in San Diego, one of our favourite cities, visiting some of our favourite spots along with a few places that were new to us. In addition, we were able to shop for a couple of minor items for the boat at the great marine chandlers in the area.

The view from our room on Shelter Island

 

La Jolla

At the zoo

Birch Aquarium

Regardless of whether the house sells in the near future or not, we are no longer going to live here. As of November 4th, we will start making our way back towards the boat. Initially, we will be spending a couple of weeks in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, courtesy of our good friends Russ and Val, taking advantage of some expiring timeshare points. From there we hope to find some way to continue south to El Salvador, where Sine Timore is patiently waiting.

{GMST}53|35.3868|N|113|32.3568|W|Edmonton, Alberta, Canada|Edmonton, Alberta, Canada{GEND}

El Salvador social scene

Paradise Fishing Lodge, El Salvador

 

Yesterday was the weekly gathering at Casa L&L. I got to meet the few fellow cruisers in the area, while feasting on BBQ chicken and enjoying an afternoon soaking in the pool. It's times like these that make you wonder why everyone isn't down here doing the same.

 

Of course, today it is back to the heat and humidity on the un-airconditioned boat. For some reason it seems particularly bad today. It does not help that I am virtually alone at the marina - no one to talk, or complain to. Where is everybody?

 

As for the boat, leaving it sitting alone for the past year has not done it any good. The list of things that need attention is just too long to comprehend. It hardly seems practical to try and fix anything right now, knowing that it will be sitting here for at least another 6 months before we possibly try to resume our journey. So for now, I have just done some small, routine maintenance items, run the engine a couple of times. equalized the batteries and such.

 

I head back to Canada in two days.

 

{GMST}13|19.422|N|88|56.675|W|Paradise Fishing Lodge, El Salvador|Paradise Fishing Lodge, El Salvador{GEND}

El Salvador Revisited

Bahia del Sol, El Salvador

 

I have arrived in El Salvador, via Minneapolis and Atlanta. Everything went smoothly and I spent my first night on the boat, cooking slowly in the heat and humidity. 

At this time, I have no internet on the the boat (at Paradise Fishing Lodge) and it is not worth getting a phone for only a week. So today, I drove to the 4 miles to Bahia del Sol resort, where I can get a connection.

 

Things are really dead here. Hardly any cruisers around, and no one else either. It promises to be a long week at this rate.

{GMST}13|18.072|N|88|53.526|W|Bahia del Sol, El Salvador|Bahia del Sol, El Salvador{GEND}

Posted with Blogsy

A change of scenery

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The high point of our last couple of weeks; A road trip to our friend's cabin at nearby Seba Beach, where we spent the night and put the finishing touches on a fence-builiding project that was started last summer.

 

Tomorrow, I am making a quick trip to El Salvador to reacquaint myself with the boat. A week in the heat and humidity at the Paradise Fishing Lodge and Marina should make me really appreciate Edmonton's summer again. Susanne will hold down the fort here in my absence.

{GMST}53|35.3868|N|113|32.3568|W|Edmonton, Alberta, Canada|Edmonton, Alberta, Canada{GEND}