McCall, ID
We departed from down under in mid October, and after seven flights, time spent in Colorado and New Jersey, many time zone changes, and one encounter with a movie star … we are back in Idaho! We left New Zealand during their spring, had glorious warm fall weather in Colorado and back in New Jersey, and finally returned to Idaho, where it is firmly winter. Our circadian rhythms are pretty jumbled, to say the least.
Upon our arrival in New Zealand we began a hectic two and a half weeks of flurried activity cleaning and detailing Kailani after our last ten months of sailing adventures. It is hard to believe that one year ago Kailani set sail from Maryland, and since then over 11,000 nm have passed below her keel. It is glorious to be back in the South Pacific, and Kailani is now back to where she was originally built back in 1990. Our goal is to sell her in prep for our next phase of life: Sophia entering college next fall. What an adventure we have had raising Sophia on Kailani and launching her into the “real” world (Sophia, not Kailani …).
Our first US stop was to visit Harley’s dad in Colorado, who is recovering from a total hip replacement at the age of 96 and going strong. We then flew over to New Jersey for Sophia’s fall family weekend. We got to meet some of her teachers, see her friends and advisors, and attend a few of her classes which were interesting. But nothing was more impressive than the fall musical, Into the Woods, put on by the Periwig Club. Sophia played a major role in the tech crew for this production, and has found her passion amongst this theatre group. We left town as she was moving on to her next big productions: college application submittals and drivers ed.
Sixteen hours after leaving our hotel in NJ, we arrived back to our home here in Idaho. Since arriving it has snowed every day and it is fair to say winter has arrived. Our ranch winterization activities were interrupted a few days ago when Harley received an alarming call from an official in one of the country’s in our wake, asking if we owned a yacht named Kailani. “Yes” he responded, with all the hesitancy a response to an inquiry from a government official garners… “Well, I’m sorry to inform you that your yacht has washed up in abc bay here” … Not a call one wants to receive, but thankfully it was not OUR Kailani, as this was in the Caribbean. Phew, dodged another bullet!
As we settle in for our winter here, Harley is already back on the hockey rink, and I have transitioned from ocean swimming to lap swimming in our fabulous rec-center pool. In addition to prepping Anchor Ranch for the oncoming winter we are already getting ready to leave! Our annual three week road trip to visit family, friends and clients starts Thanksgiving day: Colorado, San Diego, Bay Area, then Oregon. We will return just in time for Sophia to arrive for her three week Christmas break, and then before we know it, 2025 will be upon us.
So what will we be up to next year? As usual we have only a few stakes in the sand above the high tide line: Sophia’s high school graduation in May, summer here in McCall, and then Sophia’s start at college in September. In between, should Kailani not sell (not a totally terrible outcome…) there are bound to be a few bounce trips down under to enjoy those fabulous cruising grounds and catch up with our many friends there. However it shapes up, we are excited to continue on adventuring.
44 54N 116 6W, elev 5013
Anchor Ranch, McCall
Idaho, USA
Glad you’re home safe
What an eventful return . So lovely to see the photos of Sophia looking like a young Jen. You guys certainly pack it in . Will send a photo update from my end via what’s app next week. In the meantime enjoy the ice hockey, pool swimming and no doubt snow shovelling . Big warm hugs from the UK. Maggie x
So who was the movie star?
Can’t say you folks don’t get around. All in all, a wonderful life.
Sorry for the delay, but I too have been digging in for winter…but with no snow! Another great summer has come to an end, but 2025 also looks great. Hectic of late with many evolving developments, but all welcome.
Hope you will again have an opportunity to visit the Northeast. Finally discovered a foolproof way to control the squirrels and have lots of other developments.
Congratulation to Sophia on the musical, and I have no doubt that she will get into any college of her choice.