The “light at the end of the tunnel” is blinding me!
As you guys know in 2007, on the island of Tahiti, I made a decision to trade “Namaste” for a larger boat that I could grow old and retire on.
My plan was to buy a fixer-upper, and take 2-3 years off of sailing to restore a larger yacht. Well my plan took 2-3 years longer 
than expected, about 6, but worth every minute, drop of sweat, heartache, and blood.
I’ve been holding off on restoring the cockpit as it has basically been my workshop. Every surface has been covered with epoxy, paint droppings, knicks, cuts, and worn heavily over the years.
What a transformation a week makes!
Every surface of the cockpit has been stripped, sanded, faired, primed, sanded, and painted. The helm has also been restored and I built a new dash that still needs to be wired.
Although I’ve been working uber-hard on Splendid I’m finding the energy to make this last push, and it helps to have the best girlfriend (almost wife) in the world. 
I’ve felt really disconnected from Project BlueSphere in the past weeks as I just haven’t had the time to be creative, think, and write. But I’m so excited to be getting Splendid to a place where I can get back to the business of being a full-time seaman.
My heart aches for the sea and watching the stars twinkle above my sails, and new horizons reveal themselves with the light of a new day.
Carla and I are really starting to talk about where to sail next. The Pacific or Europe? I know the Pacific and Carla and I are both getting done with the Caribbean & Latin America.
We want to wear jeans, sweaters, and be a little farther from the equator.
As I’ve written before Carla has 2 passports, Argentina and Croatia. Croatia joined the EU 
in June and I/we have the opportunity to work and live in the EU for a while after our wedding.
I’m thinking it might be a good idea for me to get my Captains license (European) as we might want to charter in Croatia, Greece, the Pacific islands, and wherever else we like.
But as you all know my travel plans change with the wind and are not 
even close to being set in stone.
All I know at this point is I’m getting married in November, and where we travel after that will be a new adventure.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Buenos Aires and bombing around Patagonia for a while at the end of the year.
Splendid will soon be ready for real chartering with her new face-lift, galley, water-maker, and new refrigeration system. 
I scored a new (demo unit) Glacier Bay micro HPS 12v holding plate system on EBay, and its coming with Carla’s brother in a few weeks.
He is also bringing my new 5/16 bbb Gypsy so I can finally install my Lofrans Falkon windlass.
I’m so excited about my life I can barely sleep at night. I am the luckiest man I know, thanks for watching over me mom!
I’ve also really enjoyed having a dog for a spell, Lucky is the best behaved dog around.
Once Splendid is done I’m contemplating getting one for the boat. I like the idea of the added security, not to mention the fact I just love dogs.
Well that’s it for today guys. I’m off to fix the water-pump at the house and return to Splendid to do some more rolling & tipping (painting), in the cockpit.
Peace, Love, more Love, and Coconuts.
-alex
Hi,
If you come to visit Europe and think about visit Portugal i will be glad to help you out in anything i can.
p.s Your life story after all this years made me think about mine to, tks for sharing.
Rui an Lena
Rui,
It’s my pleasure. Europe is a real possibility. If not we are also talking about going to Hawaii, Alaska, and spending some time in Canada. I’m too hot down here and want to wear jeans and a sweater for a while :)
peace