Ready to Jump the Puddle

The sun is setting on our time here in La Paz.  After 15 years for Mike and 13 years for Shelly, we will be checking out of Mexico this coming Tuesday.  It is both happy and sad, but mostly extreme excitement !!!   We will miss all of our friends here for so many years and this beautiful city and the lovely people who live here.  But the call of the sea and adventure is strong, so off we go!  
It was 1988 when I promised myself this trip on my own boat and it is finally coming to fruition!!  A lot of stars have to align for this to happen.  We have a little money left in the bank but the boat is ready to go! Our families are healthy and we are healthy.  So bingo, stars are aligned.
We had to get the new autopilot drive dive installed, so we had to tear apart the whole aft bunk.  Mike had to do that every day for almost a week until the job was completed.  Mike got the dive compressor mounted so it will not move around while underway.  And the new standing rigging will be completed by Craig from Portland on Monday.
Last night we had a huge send off party for us and all our other friends who are sailing to the South Pacific.  Must have been 200 people show up over the course of the evening.  Lots of yummy food was brought to share and the 3 boats going, Talion, Jade & Avatar, bought a keg of Modelo Negro.  I think the last time I had a kegger was in College!!
Once again 22 is still my lucky number as Tuesday is March 22!  So off we go into the wild blue yonder!  Be sure to follow along on our Delorme Tracker to see where we are.  You can also send us messages in the middle of the ocean and we will post messages there you can read as we go along.  Occasionally we will also post to Facebook from the thing, but cannot read the comments until we get back to internet land.  The link is:
https://share.delorme.com/Avatar

Save your money so you can come and visit us!!

Shelly Sophie and Mike

Stacks of food

And more food.  6 months worth!

Pedro and Mike working on Autopilot

New Auto Pilot ram finished and installed.  Works awesome!

Mike mounting dive compressor from Paul and Simon's boat

Not gonna move this time!

Chacho, Cindy, Chocolate, Shelly, Momma Kitty, Mike & Sophie

The extended family!

Lynda, Cesar, Richard, Sophie, Mike & Shelly

Sunrise over La Paz, view from the mooring.  Check out the huge Mexican Flag!

Deb cutting Mike's hair before the party

Talion on the end tie.  Leaving Sunday.

Puddle Jump party

Lots of friends!!

Hang Loose People, it is gonna be a fun evening!!

More friends!

And More friends

People overflow barge  Thanks Mac!

Scott, you ready on Morning Light?!?  See you there bro!

One of my favorite pirates, Pedro of Jade

Night is falling and the beer is still pouring

Party moves aboard Avatar

Mike and Shelly of Avatar, Pedro of Jade and Patsy of Talion

All long time Pacenos (people from La Paz)

Talion Portland crew for the crossing

Sophie says "Are you guys ready yet?!?"

So many unexpected gifts from such sweet friends.

Thanks every one!!