10th year reunion of the 2002 Pacific Puddle Jump Mar 1-3, 2012

With Sarah, Jesse and Rae, we attended the 10^th year reunion of the 2002 Pacific Puddle Jump. There were 25 cruiser attending, representing 13 of the over 38 boats that left Puerto Vallarta in 2002.

Thursday we celebrated with drinks and a pig roast at the Vallarta Yacht Club at Paradise Village. Paradise Village was where most of us were moored and attended the seminars in 2002 to help us prepare for our grand adventure across the South Pacific. They were just beginning to dig the foundation of the yacht club when we left.

Friday we met with the Pacific Puddle Jumpers of 2012 and answered some of their questions and provided some of our ‘sage advice’. They had a lot of the same questions, same anxieties and the same excitement that we did 10 years ago. Jesse and Sarah got up and recounted their experience being alone on Windarra in Niue when the boat slipped the mooring and started to drift away and they were down below doing homework while Rich and I were on shore, checking in. Jesse also suggested that boats with kids get their kids involved in boat handling and sailing. We were proud of their suggestions. That evening we went to Philo’s in La Cruz for dinner and dancing. Sarah laughed at Rich and me shuffling to the music.

Saturday, Rich, Jesse, Rae and I went to Los Arroyos Verdes just outside of Bucerias. It is a sustainable resort, built and operated by Lupe of SV Moon and the Stars. Lupe has been involved in the cruising community at least since we met her 10 years ago. Her resort is a beautiful oasis with a restaurant, a pool, several types of lodging and gardens. We joined the rest of the cruisers for lunch and a tour. Jesse and Rae took dips in the pool while a 3 piece ensemble played classical guitar. It is a special place and if anyone wanted to get away from it all and go to a place to relax and rejuvenate, I would recommend it.

We had a great time at the reunion, catching up and reacquainting. We share a common experience. A few of us are still sailing but almost all of us are still travelling, if not by our own boat but by some other means. It did not take us long to resume our friendships, and it seemed like our adventures together were just a few days ago instead of several years. The cruising community bonds in a different way than most friendships. I wish I had better words to describe it. We are used to spending a few days together and then we would sail away in sometime different directions but when we meet ago, it is just like we saw each other the day before, not skipping a beat. We are glad we had the experience as a family 10 years ago and that we are still able to share it as a family 10 years later.