Every single passage allows us to learn something – from how Pesto performs under the different weather conditions to how each one of us reacts to the different challenges faced. From weather patterns, landscape variations to animals observed.
Every passage and harbor offers us different experiences, above or below our expectations. And some of them offer us unexpected gifts.
This week, we had two of these already. When we were on our way to visit the Redwood Park, we made a quick stop to observe a beautiful beach site.
Or as we were visiting the impressive Oregon Caves Monument yesterday and were delighted at the end to see deer from so close.
But in Coos Bay last week, we earned a gift that was particularly precious.
Expectations for our stop at there were low. No wonder…in previous places other cruisers discouraged us to stop there. “Coos Bay is a plain commercial marina”. “The marina is very far from town”. “Not really much to see and do there”.
But still Coos Bay was a strategic stop for us to avoid a very long passage to Crescent City in California. We will need to face a 30 hours long passage to get to San Francisco soon. But we did not yet feel ready for a passage longer than 16 hours. So we went to Coos Bay.
The passage to Coos Bay was rough. Those that made me wonder for a second, “Is this really my dream?”
We did not get a great location at the marina either. Our spot was just at the entrance, so Pesto rocked to the wakes of every vessel that entered or left the marina for the time we were there.
Moreover, there was not much privacy – several people fishing and barbecuing just in front of Pesto. Fun to observe at a first glance.. but overall difficult to enjoy quiet time.
Still Coos Bay will not be remembered for any of these. Instead, it holds a special place in our memories for being the place where we first heard Paulo and Raquel´s loud laughter while playing with friends. And what a relief and joy it is to hear this so early on our journey.
In Coos Bay we had the chance to connect with the lovely family of Adagio. Steve and Kathy have two kids (a boy and a girl) at very close age to Paulo and Raquel. We had briefly met them in Newport, but it was Coos Bay that offered us the opportunity to bring our kids together.
It first felt like a blind date. Us parents trying to create opportunities to engage the kids. Paulo and Raquel were eager to meet them but were very shy at the same time. It took a while to break the ice…but as soon as they had the opportunity to interact, the precious laughter came.
Meeting with the Adagios in some of the passages and stops now is more than an opportunity for Paulo and Raquel to engage with friends. It is exchanging with another family the passion, challenges and discoveries of this journey.
Connecting with new friends as we travel is such a gift! As it is as well to receive the support, excitement, and encouragement from our family and friends throughout this journey. Every single comment, reply or question to our posts brings warmth to our hearts, encourage us and make us feel connected despite being a “small triangle” in the ocean, as depicted on the chartplotter. We are so grateful for them!
Wishing you all precious gifts in your week!
Gostamos de ler os seus comentários. Ajuda a matar a saudade e sentirmos-nos participantes dessa aventura. Sentimo-nos felizes em perceber que as crianças estão se acostumando a um novo estilo de vida e de amigos o que, certamente, será muito importante no desenvolvimento das suas personalidades.
Mandamos um abraço virtual bem apertado a todos vocês.
Ontem, depois de saber da Andreia, sobre seu blog, fiquei curiosa de saber sobre essa aventura que voces abracaram. Eu, de certa forma me identifiquei, porque me considero uma aventureira convicta, embora minhas aventuras se limitem a terra firme,rsrsrs. Adoro recomecos, novos lugares, novas pessoas, novas experiencias… e isso ja me fez mudar de cidades, estados e ate pais! Fiquei ate as 2 da manha lendo cada um dos posts e agora torcendo por voces, para a realizacao deste sonho em toda sua plenitude! Estarei lembrando de voces nas minhas oracoes, para que Deus os guarde e proteja a cada dia e a cada nova passagem (viu como aprendi um pouco dos termos de navegacao,rsrsrs?!!!). Um abraco, a toda familia.
Ola Alexandre e Adriana,
Leio os seus posts quase que diariamente, e admiro muitíssimo como coces estão administrando a jornada, os desafios do mar, a educação das crianças, mas principalmente como estão vivendo no presente e aprendendo com os momentos preciosos que estão vivendo.
Seria muito legal se em algum momento pudéssemos nos encontrar em algum ponto de sua jornada.
bjs e abs
Joao
Oi Stella, que mensagem bonita, obrigado 🙂
Realmente o que não tem faltado para nos são recomeços, novos lugares, novas pessoas e novas experiências … as vezes ate mais do que podemos processar.
Nao sabemos se as crianças irão lembrar detalhes da viagem no futuro ou não. Mas estamos convictos que a oportunidade de estarmos juntos 24/7 tera um impacto positivo neles. No mesmo sentido, a experiência do homeschooling tem sido muito rica. Difícil as vezes, não nego, mas de grande aprendizado para ambas partes.
A partir da próxima passagem, estaremos entrando em alugas gradualmente mais quentes, e estamos ansiosos com as novidades que isso trará no ambiente ao nosso redor.
Um abraco a voce e todos os Morelli !
Fala Joao – obrigado pelas palavras. Estaremos entre SF e SD ao longo do mês de Outubro, e talvez o comezinho de Novembro. Vamos ficar em contato. um abracao
What better gift than the kids’ laughter? Parece que muitas das intenções que a Dri listou num post anterior (carta aos filhos) já se realizaram! Parabens!