kids tumble around Terra Australis, as if no gap interrupted their last time together splashing around the Yasawa Islands, Fiji. What could be more normal than playing, learning, and the occasional spat between four children? Most cruising kids we’ve met play really well together, regardless of age and gender differences. They don’t have as many options, so they work things out. They’ve also had amazing opportunities to study history, geography, and biology. It’s easy to bring the unique qualities of wherever we are into school lessons. In locations across the South Pacific, a fellow cruiser who is a marine biologist led classes on everything from coral reef biology to nocturnal fish camouflage strategies. In Mexico, an abandoned building was the classroom for the kids to study bats. Sounds creepy but they learned enough interesting facts about the mammals that the creep factor gave way to curiosity. Making judgments without
firsthand knowledge is a requirement when cruising. When so much is unknown and new, it’s easy to tune into worst case stories that float about. Sitting around the campfire, we joked with Oso Blanco about some of the things we’ve heard along the way. Corrupt and evil customs officials: they probably exist, but the real challenge was finding the customs offices, not working with officialdom. There was a doozy of a story in Ensenada, Mexico, about how fisherman string nets in order to snag unsuspecting boaters and demand big payments for damages done. Probable fairy tale or innocent mishap demonized? Traveling in paradise is at times awkward and uncomfortable, but blood sucking bats, or fisherman, are stories best told around a campfire. Overwhelmingly, the real experiences we have don’t translate into gripping tales, but great memories. “Remember when” led more than
a few campsite conversations. What about the time in Nuka Hiva, Behan and Anne spent a day to make the round-trip hike over a ridge to the next bay west in order to attempt restaurant reservations? Arriving hot and muddy at the thatched dwelling, they realized there was not enough common English, French or Marquasan between them to
communicate. It was up to pantomime in order to convey: we’d like a pig roasted in an underground oven, with all the local side dishes, for 25 people, tomorrow at sunset- s’il vous plait! Reliving the memories always
turned to talk of the people we were with. “Did you hear what happened to Delos in the Solomons? Can you believe Bubbles made it to Africa? Silver Lining spent two seasons in French Polynesia- lucky people! Whatever happened Stray Kitty and Inn For A Penny? Friends on Ceilydh, WhatchaGonnaDo, and Jarana are all coming into Brisbane soon.”
Bonds built between cruising boats can happen quickly, but endure. We buddy boated on and off with
Oso Blanco between 2008 and 2010, our paths converging, splitting, and coming together again with the rhythm of weather and whim. Meeting them early in our cruising life, they’ve been with us as we evolved with this lifestyle we love. Memories fed our stories around the campfire this week, and brought into focus the joys of cruising. Follow the Gifford’s adventures on
their blog; click on Cruising Blogs at
www.48north.com
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FAST SAILS THAT LAST 48° NORTH, JANUARY 2012 PAGE 41
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