Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye

May 20, 2008

"Dad, this is the best and worst part about cruising. Just when we really get to know someone new, which is the best part, it seems like we have to say goodbye, which is the worst part." Amy hit the nail on the head as she correctly identified one of the inevitabilities of the cruising lifestyle. Almost by definition the very nature of what we are doing, cruising in a sailboat, requires that we continue to follow the wind as it moves from place to place. As we leap frog from destination to destination it is possible we will see friends again but there is certainly no guarantee. The result is frequent hellos and goodbyes.

So it is once again that we prepare to not only say goodbye to some new lifelong friends but also a country and its' people. After 4 ½ months in Panama we are just days away from heading out to sea, but this time landfall will be 175 miles offshore on the Columbian island on San Andres. Panama has been a wonderful country to visit and a great place to get our start cruising. The natural beauty and diversity of the geography is breathtaking and the people are kind, engaging, and beautiful both inside and out. We feel blessed to have spent so much time in this wonderful country.

Amy's prior comment points to one of the biggest lessons I think we are all learning aboard Mima. Life is about relationships! This past week has been a particularly frustrating one for us as we try to wrap up a few boat issues before heading out. I am eager to get under way and with the current good weather window I would like to be sailing not stuck at a marina fixing things. One of the struggles we faced this week was making sure we took care of the relationships on board Mima. We have been so busy taking care of mechanical problems and things that have to be done in everyday life that we did not nurture our relationships within our family very well.

Then, once again, relationship happened last night as we had the joy of welcoming new friends on board Mima to share a meal and to more importantly share relationship. Bruno and Sophie, along with their daughter's Estelle and Marjorie, have been cruising as a family for the last 2 years aboard s/v Sashay. The kids met at the marina and quickly became friends. Estelle and Marjorie have been enrolled in school here in Bocas Del Toro for the last 6 months. Amy joined Estelle one day last week for school and enjoyed observing the differences between school in Idaho and school in Panama. It was a great day for Amy as she misses the social life of school.

Bruno is a chef and also makes gourmet items for the local upscale grocery store and a few of the nicer restaurants. Those of you who know Susan will appreciate the fact that they were both soon swapping culinary secrets while Sophie and I discussed the finer points of diesel mechanics and needlepoint. Bruno brought homemade bread and smoked pork pate as an appetizer and the evening was quickly off to a good start. Susan finished the meal off with pasta topped with a tomato, kalamata olive and fresh basil brochetta, but I digress.

Two hours later as we helped them back into their dingy I was struck once again by my profound need for and the privilege that it is to have relationships. Seemingly contrary perhaps to the previous paragraph, the majority of the evening was spent talking about our lives and learning about each other. We shared sailing stories, motorcycle stories, parenting challenges as well as hopes and dreams, triumphs and failures. The end result was that by the evening's close new friends had become lifelong friends.

It is 6:00 a.m. and I just got off the phone with my best friend Kelly back in Idaho. The timing of his call could not have been any better. He was calling to check on my progress with boat challenges and to encourage me. His call and the priceless value of his friendship puts a timely finish to this article. Another good friend in Idaho Ray, always reminds me that relationship is about being not doing. I hope that each of us has the opportunity within the next week to build upon an old relationship and invest in making a new relationship. I am treasuring the new relationships we are making at sea and realize more each day that I do not possess the ability to express the value of the relationships we currently hold. Our prayer for all of us this week is that we will live well and love well by investing in relationships. Thanks for following along with us in our journey.

Farewell from Panama and Blessings, The 4Wheelers

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Mima Meets the United States Finest and a Fellow Idahoan

"Mima Meets the United States' Finest and a Fellow Idahoan"

"United States Coast Guard cutter Thetis, United States Coast Guard cutter Thetis, this is the sailing vessel Mima, over". "Sailing vessel Mima, United States Coast Guard cutter Thetis, over". "Coast Guard cutter Thetis, this is Mark Wheeler aboard Mima, we are anchored across the bay at your seven o'clock, over". "Sailing vessel Mima, this is Coast Guard cutter Thetis, looks like you have a nice spot over there captain how may we help you,over?" Thus began a very memorable day aboard for the 4Wheelers.

The April 6^th addition of Parade magazine,recently brought to us by Grandma and Grandpa Rainguet, Susan's parents, tells the story of Randy Pausch and his inspiring last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University. Randy is dying of pancreatic cancer and one of the lessons he hopes his children will remember when he passes away is to ask for what you want. With this as inspiration I mustered up the courage to radio the Coast Guard cutter that two days prior had dramatically steamed into the bay and anchored near us in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Marshall had an upcoming birthday and we thought a visit aboard would be a great early surprise birthday present. We also figured it was a good homeschooling field trip, and we simply wanted to see the cutter. After confirming schedules we were graciously invited aboard. All4Wheelers and Grandma and Grandpa loaded into the dingy and headed to Thetis. Welcomed by Ensign Tina Hendersin the next hour aboard was a fascinating glimpse into life aboard a Coast Guard vessel.

Commissioned in 1988, the medium endurance cutter Thetis combines the graceful lines of a lady with a "built for purpose" attitude that demands attention and respect. When this 270 foot long lady steams into harbor everyone takes note, especially Marshall wondering about the cannon on her foredeck. Stationed out of Key West, Thetis serves a dual mission, protect U.S. coastal waters and her interests and provide aid to vessels in distress.

We were also welcomed by Commander Tom Crabbs who spoke with us at length and was a delight to meet. When Commander Crabbs learned we were living aboard our sailboat,homeschooling, and from Idaho, he quickly summoned two men to the flight deck for us to meet. One an officer who had lived aboard a sailboat as a kid and was home schooled, the other was Kuna,Idaho native Seaman Morgan Custer.

Standing on the flight deck with the beautiful coast guard helicopter as a backdrop it was wonderful for the kids and us to talk about our shared experiences and to meet fellow Idahoan, Morgan Custer. Morgan would make any parent or Idahoan proud. He was polite, articulate and possessed a wholesome characteristic valued so highly by those of us fortunate to live in Idaho. Morgan represents Idaho well and we are sure his family and friends are very proud of him.

Our visit aboard was culminated by Commander Crabbs presenting to Marshall and Amy the ships coin. The coins are being framed along with a picture from our time aboard Thetis and will have a permanent place aboard Mima. Marshall writes, "Thanks for letting our family aboard and for the coin.I really like the helicopter and the cannon. This was a great birthday present and thanks for the protection". Amy wrote in her thank you letter, "Thank you for the tour of your vessel and the coin. It was fun to see what the bedrooms were like and I am glad that you have good food on board. My dad wanted one of your electronic devices for our boat and it is really cool that you have someone on board from Idaho (our home state)."

Three days after Thetis left we listened to our SSB radio as a different Coast Guard cutter responded to a fellow cruiser with a medical emergency aboard. Our recent experience aboard Thetis gave us a renewed and more accurate perception of the fine individuals who serve each of us in the United States Coast Guard. Thanks Commander Crabbs, Ensign Hendersin, Seaman Custer and crew of Thetis for a memorable experience and the fine example you set as truly being America's finest. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Thetis.

The 4Wheelers

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Breakfast With The Martins and Other "Wild" On Board Entertaining

Breakfast with the Martins and Other "Wild" On Board Entertaining.

As a family one of the things we always enjoyed doing a great deal in Idaho was cooking together and entertaining in our home. That almost always involved sharing a meal together. Cooking and meal planning on board has been a real transition, especially for Susan. Our galley, although quite large for a boat, still feels cramped. With limited food preparation space and the very limited availability of food products that means a much less diverse menu than we are accustomed too. None-the-less we have still found many opportunities to entertain and share life with others, again, very often over appetizers or a meal. A few of our guests on board over the last three and a half months however, have been a little more on the wild side.

One example was the Martins who just sort of showed up one morning. We are still not really sure where they are from or what their intentions were. They were, however, a delightful couple with both a tremendous amount of energy and cute as can be. They had a wonderful zest for life and seemed to be less concerned about so many of the little details of life. They chose to live and experience life at its pace as it was presented to them.

The night before had been restless for us. We had anchored in the only safe place on that section of coast but one that left us fully exposed to the ocean swells. As we rocked and rolled all night sleep came slowly and offered little rest. Yet as the Martins passed by the following morning it seemed only right to say hello and we soon welcomed them on board. Breakfast was simple, pancakes I think, but their constant chatter and energy was a real boost to our morning. Our weary night would have spread over into the following morning had the Martins not come by for breakfast. We took a few photos and said goodbye as we pulled anchor and moved on. Where they are now or what they are doing we do not know but we wish them well.

I am sure we have all heard of the term "gym rat". There seem to be similar individuals around yachts as well. There are folks who just hang out around yachts and can't seem to find or want to do anything not relating to yachts. As a society we do not generally like rats, even though in early maritime days they were considered a good omen on board. We have what we call boat geckos. It really is a pretty good name. You know geckos, they seem to have a certain whimsical characteristic and those sticky little toes and their tenacity seem to fit the observed behavior of the afore mentioned individuals. We have had two such "geckos" frequent Mima. Names have been left out to protect the innocent.

The "geckos" seem to show up most often around sunset during our traditional "sundowner" or during dinner. Go figure. I guess a free meal is always welcome. They have been much less talkative than most of our guests and just hang out with little to offer other than their presence. It has been a new and enjoyable experience for us to enjoy a guest most by their presence and less by their contribution to the conversation. There is something wonderful to be said for a presence that uplifts and encourages those around you simply by being together.

In my haste to tell you about our friends I neglected to point out that the Martins are actually a pair of Purple Martins and the"geckos" are in fact our two boat geckos. Yes we have wild life on board. They have been a wonderful part of the journey so far. I will save the 5foot boa constrictor that took up residency in the anchor locker story for later.

Take care and until next time fair winds, following seas, and live wild. The 4 Wheelers

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100 Days Afloat

100 Days Afloat

By the time this article is printed we will be approaching our 100^th day afloat. Cultures around the world celebrate centennials so I guess we will throw a little party on board at day 100 and in keeping with late night television we thought we would give you our "Top 10 Reasons to go Sailing" so far.

First, a positional update, we left the San Blas Islands a little over two weeks ago and after a provisioning stop in Colon and a short cultural trip to Panama City we are on our way to Bocas Del Toro, Panama. Located on the Panama-Costa Rican border 150 miles from Colon, Bocas Del Toro will be our home for the next month or so before heading off the mainland of Central America.

It seems that one of the most difficult things to explain to people about our desire to go cruising is that it is a lifestyle choice, NOT a vacation. We often run into folks who when we tell them we are sailing for a few years they seem to think we are sitting on deck all day with a book and little umbrella drinks. We do get to sit on deck and enjoy the sun and surroundings sometimes, but most days are busy and full of activity and responsibility. Cruising is not a vacation but a lifestyle and frankly one that we are learning requires a lot of work.

Having said all that- cruising is a wonderful lifestyle. Some of our cruising friends Roy and Michelle aboard s/v Dream Odyssey put it this way, "The rewards are worth it if you don't weaken". Like anything in life, if it was easy the rewards would not be nearly so great.

Like most things we do in life- motivations are uniquely personal and different, but in closing here is our 100 days afloat "Top 10 Reasons to go Sailing".

10. It is harder for the law to find you out here.

9. No need for alarm clocks.

8. The profound sense of satisfaction experienced in overcoming the obstacles of life aboard. Out here there is no handyman service to call. If it is going to be it is up to me.

7. Diverse cultural exposure-you can read about different cultures but living, eating and interacting among them provides a depth of experience not possible from a book.

6. No tan lines.

5. You can sleep for 10 hours a night or take a nap everyday and not feel guilty about it.

4. Getting to watch your 9 year old son pilot a 50 foot yacht out of a crowded marina slip with confidence and proficiency.

3. Howler Monkeys, Flying Gurnards, Keel-billed Toucans and Bandito the Sloth.

2. No ties, No shoes, No Shirt, No makeup--- No Worries.

1. Getting to spend 24 hours a day with your family watching them grow and growing together (this one has occasionally appeared on our top 10 reasons not to go sailing list as well).

Until next time, live your dream and fair winds. The 4Wheelers.

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