Log 39  Final Thoughts

It didn't seem right to finish out our Baja travel log with our story of the Bash. We thought we should end on something a little more, well... positive. The Bash was tough, but there is so much about our cruising adventure that was wonderful, and we want to recap those rewards her.  So, we felt it fitting to high some of the rewards and lessons we picked up from various latitudes along the way.

1)    Lesson:  Appreciate the freedom and independence as long as it lasts.  No alarm clock (except the watch alarm!), no schedule except the one you set for yourselves, and the chance to go where you want, when you want.

2)    Lesson: Always carry spare parts!  If you have  the spare, the part won't break.  If you don't have the spare, well... we'll keep our fingers crossed for you!

3)    Lesson:  It's best to over provision on food and drinks, and carry more cash than you think you will need. You just can't predict what may happen and where you may be marooned...Los Frailles, Mag Bay, Turtle Bay.  You get the idea.

4)    Lesson:  Unless you have a money tree onboard, stay out of marinas as much as possible.  They'll make you poor!

5)    Lesson:  Remember KISS-  Keep It Simple, Stupid!  The simpler the system, the easy it will be to fix when it breaks.

6)    Lesson:  Have a good sense of humor.  It will come in handy when something does break, or when the weather sucks, or when something unforeseen messes up your plans (which will happen at least a few times!)

7)    Lesson:  Enjoy yourself, but don't become a "drunken sailor."  Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of cruisers, and it is really sad to see.

8)    Reward:  Savor the remote, beautiful anchorages and the tranquility they offer.  Commit them to memory.  When you're back home and back at work, memories of the time you spent in these places can help get you through the toughest of days.

9)  Reward:  Appreciate the characters you meet and the wonderful friends you make... You will soon find yourself reflecting on all the great times you had with these people, the lessons you learned from them, and how blessed you feel to have connected with them during such a pivotal time in your life.

10)  Reward:  The sense of pride you will feel for having the courage to do it... the courage to cut the docklines and live out your dream.