The climb involved scaling narrow rock cracks and trusting frayed ropes that looked like they’d been installed sometime during the Steinbeck expedition itself. We got stuck, got scratched, but made it to the top. And, more importantly, back down alive.

Would we run out of money? Would we die at sea? Would we feel lonely? Would the boat constantly break? Would we regret the decision altogether? Now, after years of sailing full-time, here’s the reality behind those fears.

Fuel concerns returned. With only one jerry can left, the next refuel points were La Paz or Puerto Escondido. La Paz was logical, but we preferred to avoid it.

I’d be lying if I said our sailboat adventures were only about the destinations. A huge part of cruising life is the time spent underway. Those hours and days when we’re keeping the boat moving toward the next port. But what exactly do we do while we’re out there? Especially on longer passages that stretch beyond a few hours and turn into days at sea? Great question. Let me take you along.

The original plan was simple: stop for the 2024 total solar eclipse in Mazatlán, then head deeper into the Sea of Cortez for the summer. But as cruising often goes, plans change. What was meant to be a quick pause turned into three weeks of exploring the city, soaking up the local culture, and even becoming official temporary residents of Mexico.

When we decided, without much research, to sail into El Salvador and spend the summer, we didn’t know much about the place. This tiny country wedged into Central America is generally overlooked because of its violent past. Undaunted, we crossed the notorious bar entrance into a country that was entirely new to us.

Our plan: drop the stern, motor forward, drop the bow, and snug everything tight. Reality: wrap the stern line on the prop, drift awkwardly across the anchorage, and scramble to recover.

Then, the tubas on the beach started playing. Then another sailboat hovered around, shouting, “Are you anchored yet?…”

We also had to navigate through what some Facebook armchair sailors called a mythical "triangle of death" outside Los Frailes.

And then it happened—the rattle exploded into action on the stern. We caught a fish! Mark eagerly pulled in the line

As August transitioned into November, the warm days spent in t-shirts and shorts began to give way to the evening’s creeping chill.

We sailed from Bahia Tortugas to Bahia Asunción to avoid some predicted strong northerly winds.

The marina staff reassured us it would be fine if we "didn't get into trouble."

We’re officially off work and cruising full time. We hit our first weather snag and then spend a long visit on a magical island.