The Insanity Is Over

Back in the day when we used to travel together

Yesterday, Vlad pulled into the marina in Puerto Vallarta at 3:00 p.m., and I stumbled in a couple hours later off the bus from Barra de Navidad. Somehow, against all odds, we are actually going to make it to our wedding in Sayulita in a week.

I can honestly say that I have never been so happy to reach a location. We've both had some decent times on our respective journeys - Vlad single handing up the Mexican coast and me cold chilling on the bus - but we both agree that in general the whole separate traveling thing just plain sucks. It takes away from the whole point of us traveling together. You know, the together part.

For instance, who do I make quips to when I see a sign out the bus window advertising conejo for 75 pesos a kilo? (That's the going rate for rabbit outside of Acapulco.) Or who helps Vlad feed the random birds that land on Bettie during passages? We're pretty much alone on all the myriad of little things that make traveling fun.

Granted, it was much tougher for Vlad because he was completely by himself for two to three days at a time, getting very little sleep and living on cheese sandwiches. He can handle this type of arrangement for a surprisingly long time, but after nearly 1,300 miles of solo sailing, including the 450 miles of our failed Acapulco attempt where I did nada, he was ready to be done. That's close to half the distance across the Pacific and a way harder passage to boot.

Comparatively, I was living in luxury - tacos any time, walks on the beach, fresh squeezed orange juice for breakfast and the occasional hot shower. I shouldn't be able to complain, but I will anyway. Mainly, I felt pretty guilty and kept trying to weasel my way back on to the boat. But Vlad was pretty insistent that that was a bad idea even though I had stopped throwing up. He said it was too much for him to sail the boat and take care of me if I got sick again and that it was just plain selfish. We only have one chance to incubate this baby properly, and it would be a shame to not give it the best we can.

But we're finally done!!