The connection between vessel and crew is a tale as old as time, and for those of us who live aboard their vessels the bond goes only deeper. With that in mind, I am sure you can imagine how good it felt to return to Avocet after a six month stint on terra firma – […] More
Photo by Freepik Reviving your home with a makeover is about much more than updating its appearance; it’s about reinvigorating the very essence of your living space. In today’s world, where our homes serve as sanctuaries, offices, and social spaces, creating an environment that is both refreshing and functional is crucial. A home makeover can breathe new life […] More
If you’ve ever embarked on a road trip, you’re probably familiar with the unique blend of excitement and stress that comes with preparing for the journey ahead. Well, amplify that tenfold and add a border crossing to the mix and you might reach the stress level Chris was at in late October of 2023. Over […] More
Peñasco Party – Part One Hauling out was different this time. Our life was even more-so weaved into the boat, and we were in an entirely different country. Haul Time The last time Avocet was on dry land was in 2020, when we hauled out just days before the world shut down leaving just the […] More
Here’s Where Things Get Interesting Although Chris and I are accustomed to being on the go, constantly, our 3 month “break” in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle truly felt like we had started to settle down. We knew all the places to eat, the bartenders knew our names (for better or worse) and we had made […] More
Chris’s legs were dangling above the pit that once held our Perkins engine, debating his next move while painted in oil, diesel, sweat and dirt. His phone was in his right hand on speaker-phone while his left hand collected various dirty towels and tools around him. His brother, Jon, was on the phone weighing in […] More
Here We Go Again For us, it was like being back in the trenches; Chris head down into our bilge, covered in oil and diesel while swearing like a sailor… which I suppose was appropriate. It was our first day back in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle after limping our way from Isla Isabel where our […] More
Since we bought Avocet in 2018, Chris and I have carried on our little tradition of “Decking the Hull,” every December, our salty version of decorating for the holidays. Although we had every intention of continuing the cheerful tradition of digging out our minimal decorations, filming a little skit, and spreading holiday cheer through the […] More
I have never been more excited to see a rock in my entire life. It had been a hellacious night passage and tensions were high as the uncertain state of our engine loomed over us. As we approached the Morro Bay Harbor entrance Chris hesitantly turned the ignition key and let our Perkins purr, anxiously […] More
Planes, Pals and Memories “It was fun while it lasted,” Chris said through a half smile. I was at the helm guiding us through the Berkeley Breakwater while he walked around the boat preparing our dock lines and fenders. After three weeks of anchoring we decided to flex our yacht club reciprocal privileges and visit […] More
The 8-Day Transformation of our Victory 21’ Sailboat My heart pounded as adrenaline rushed through my veins, the wind kissing my cheeks as we thread through the oncoming vessels fighting for our position. It was the 68th annual High Sierra Regatta, marking half a decade of crewing together aboard Chris’s (now our) Victory 21’ sailboat. […] More
Since Chris and I moved aboard Avocet three years ago, we noticed that our fresh produce was going bad more quickly than it should and that the fridge compressor was running nearly 24/7, putting unnecessary strain on our batteries. Having finished a majority of our larger refits, including building our new lithium battery bank, we […] More