Apologies for the blog silencio over the past several weeks. We've been heads down working on our grad school applications, which are now done and submitted.

We've also had time to do some great boat projects that we anticipate will make our passages much more comfortable. Top of the list is the dodger (full on how-to-build-your-own-only-slightly-crazy-dodger post to come soon), followed by the resurrection of our Raytheon autopilot, and finished off by some shade canopies for the cockpit.

In between boat work and applications we have also met some interesting new people, and we highly recommend you check out their blogs (added to our sailing blogs sidebar). One of the great things about cruising is the diversity of the people you meet, and we've had some interesting dinners with people from a wide-range of backgrounds such as: former sociology professor (who also worked at Reed College where we both went to school!), ocean engineer, software developer, carpenter, project manager, baker, and environmental consultants.

Currently we are in Marina Palmira, where we plan to spend about a week doing some further boat projects, and watching the weather. After that we head South!