Ah, Home! Back in Canada and Finding Our “Land” Groove

It was all very surreal. There we were, a mere two weeks ago, driving away from Wild Horses as we started our trek north in our rental car. We had only spent a handful of nights away from our boat, our home, in the last two years. Now we were embarking on a four-month trip back to Canada that would have us living fully on land. No more slight swaying of the hull as it rolls against the waves. No dinghy rides to shore. No more making our own water from the salty seas. Weather watching becomes more about staying dry than about staying safe.

A new, but familiar, adventure awaited us in Canada.
​
The drive north was easy and, before we knew it, we were at the Canadian border at Kingston. It was a fun conversation with the border guard as we explained our South Carolina license plates and our two-year absence. He briefly eyed the very full car trunk, and our little Ocean in the back seat, surrounded by even more gear, and waved us through with a shake of his head. I am sure he was thinking “these two cannot be making this story up!”

Ocean stuffed into the back seat of our rental car with a very full trunk behind her

Waiting in the Red Roof lobby. Its a great hotel that is super pet-friendly!

Arriving at the Canadian border, we had to pause while a family of Canadian geese crossed in front of us. Oh Canada!

Back in Canada!!

​We were dizzy with excitement in reuniting with Mike’s parents that same day, Sunday June 9th, and then with my parents the very next day. All the extra work, costs, sweating (38 degrees Celsius in Florida!!!), worry and travel to get to this point was worth it. We knew immediately it was the right decision for us to point our boat’s hull north for hurricane season and not back south to Grenada. We needed to come home.

It is now two weeks after we crossed back into Canada and we are very much settled into our temporary land life. We are staying at my brother’s beautiful country home just north of Belleville. It is a Smart-enabled home so lights turn on as we walk into a room, and off again when we leave. Same thing for door locks. The temperature is custom-regulated and we make demands to Google for everything that we need.
​
It is a bit of a culture shock for our little crew!

We even have wheels to get around to visit family and friends. My mom offered her car to us for as long as we need it. Amazing! We are visiting my parents quite often and getting to Kingston once a week to visit Mike’s parents. Every moment is a joy and it is just going to increase throughout the summer.

After so much time in third world countries, we had a long list of things to buy, most of which either wasn’t available in the Caribbean or was astronomically priced. Back in Canada, and a purchasing system we are familiar with, we have found great deals on cell phones and a new laptop (which has been limping along since Grenada), boat spares and new clothes. We have also taken care of most of our “necessary” appointments (covid shots, new health cards, dentist cleanings).

Soon, we will be extra flush with time and will start to arrange visits with more family and also with our friends. 

Mike enjoying our first meet up with our parents

Spending time with family means the world to us

Ocean loves her new backyard at my brother's place

Ummm, maybe she loves it too much!

Mike is also a big fan of our summertime home!

My brother's home also comes fully equipped with an African Grey parrot. Rafiki can be both sweet and salty but never dull!

This blog will take a short hiatus while we have our summer in Canada, but when it starts back up in October, we will be taking you along as we go aboard Wild Horses after her first long, hot summer in Florida. Did our mould prevention efforts do the trick? Despite our efforts to seal off the boat’s thruhulls, have any pests made Wild Horses their home? Did any of the heavy rains or lightening strikes cause any damage? And then there is our poor, disabled engine. Our mechanic will be hard at work to get it back into shape and ready for another winter in the Bahamas, an effort he estimates may take up to six weeks.

We are unsure how all of this will unfold, but we will take on that part of our adventure as we have all the others. We are now well-versed in finding workable solutions for puzzling problems, diving into tasks or journeys that seem a bit daunting, and taking real time to share stories and the beauty of life with those around us that really matter. We have learned the art of standing still to appreciate the good moments. Like these days 😊.
​
See you in October!

Our new sunset view. My brother's backyard has a little less water than we are used to but all the same magic

What is a sailor without a parrot? Rafiki is thrilled we will be around all summer. Peanuts anyone?

Want to see where we have been over the last two years? Click on the button below!

Where we are now