One thing that holds true for many of our readers is that you don't like to stay put! Read through the exciting travel stories written by Downhome's readers and perhaps you'll be inspired to take a trip of your own!
Sailing Around Central America! (2730 views) I was born in Newfoundland and raised in Labrador. When I left home 42 years ago to live in the USA, I never dreamed I'd go on a sailing vacation.
My husband, Dave, and I left in Sept. 2007. He sailed down ... click to read moreI was born in Newfoundland and raised in Labrador. When I left home 42 years ago to live in the USA, I never dreamed I'd go on a sailing vacation.
My husband, Dave, and I left in Sept. 2007. He sailed down the west coast of the USA. My daughter, Tessa, and I went east to NS for a week before taking a road trip to catch up with him.
We drove down the west coast taking in the beautiful sites and as many pubs and wineries as we could. We caught up with Dave in Santa Barbara, Ca.
We sailed down the coast and out to Catalina Island where we lost Tessa to the love of her life, Paul.
Dave and I continued down the Baja spending our Christmas in Bahia de Magalena along with nine other sailboaters. I was out of my element and wasn't too sure about this sailing on the high seas. You'd think coming from an island I'd know how to swim. Nope!
We sailed down to Cabo for New Years and on to Las Paz for six months to sit out the hurricane season. This is where we learned a new passtime - "Happy Hour." Every night a different boat would host the "Happy Hour." We sure miss them and our friends, as well.
We sailed down the coast passing up Guatemala and anchored in Barillas, El Salvador.
On to Puesto de Sol, Nicaragua where we took a trip inland to El Salvador. Fabulous!
We crossed the Papagallo into Costa Rica. The worst weather we've been in, yet. In Cost Rica we anchored at Ballena Bay, Playa del Coco, Drake Bay, Golfito and many islands. It was amazing!!
Next, even worse weather as we rounded Punta Mala, which means bad point - It was!
Finally we anchored at Toboga Island, Panama where we spent the night surfing eight ft. waves. Dave wanted to sail out where it was safe and I wanted the boat to surf onto the beach. This story is in my book.
We crossed the shipping lanes to Playita waiting to go through the canal.
The crossing took two days and there it was, the Caribbean!
We sailed and anchored at as many of the San Blas Islands as we could. We enjoyed many "Happy Hours" with others sailors there. This was the frosting on the cake. Amazing people, water, islands and warm all the time. We never wanted to leave.
We sailed up the east coast to San Andres, Colombia with our friends Barrie and Sandra on SV Passat II who sailed down from Victoria, B.C.
Next, the Island of Roatan, Honduras, Isla Mujuras, Mexico. More favourite places where we spent weeks and enjoyed every second.
Our last sail was to Fort Meyers, Florida in May 2009. It was a long and very pleasant end. I caught my last fish of the journey - a beautiful Spanish mackerel. I was a good fisherwoman. I'd catch a fish everytime I threw in the line.
We put Starshine in dry dock, loaded up a u-haul truck and with a heavy heart we drove across the country to the Pacific Northwest where we live in Winthrop, Washington. It was a wonderful journey!
Linda Rumbolt-Solie
This picture was taken from our boat while anchored in the San Blas Islands, Panama..
- Linda Rumbolt-Solie
What an amazing trip you had!! I just loved your write up, felt like I was there travelling with you,Your photograph is spectaular, Love the different shades of blue from the sky down to the waters, This would make a nice wall hanging,
Norma
At the Mayan Ruins in Tulum, Mexico on the Downhome Cruise
We just returned from the Downhome Caribbean Cruise and we are delighted to say that we had a wonderful, fun time. One of our excursions took us to the Mayan Ruins in Tulum, Mexico. My husband, John, proudly brought along our copy of Downhome magazine for this photo.
Wreckhouse
Known as the windiest place in Newfoundland, the Wreckhouse area on the island’s southwest corner produces gale-force winds so intense, they have blown trains off their tracks. The Wreckhouse inspires awe with both its beauty and its punch. Wreckhouse wine, made from hand-picked, locally grown partridgeberries, offers the tantalizing taste of apple with the special “zip” of the wild partridgeberry. It’s a combination that’ll blow you away.
Here I am with my Downhome magazine at Uhuru Peak on top of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres) on Jan. 21/12. Note that the old rickety wooden sign (see Bev Lane's photo from Oct. 2011) has finally been replaced.
My husband, Charles Smith and I have been subscribers to The Downhome magazine for quite a number of years, from receiving it in Virginia, USA, to moving to St. John’s in 2009, and now out in our new home out on the ... click to read moreMy husband, Charles Smith and I have been subscribers to The Downhome magazine for quite a number of years, from receiving it in Virginia, USA, to moving to St. John’s in 2009, and now out in our new home out on the Point, in beautiful Coley’s Point, Bay Roberts. The articles and submissions continue to intrigue and humour us and we await anxiously its arrival every month. In fact we have taken Downhome with us to the most western point in continental Europe, Cabo da Roca in Portugal, a picture of which you so kindly published in 2008.
In October 2011, Charlie made a business trip to Denmark. As per usual, the Downhome magazine has to accompany him wherever his travels take him, so this trip was no exception. He was determined the latest copy of Downhome was going to come face to face with one of the most iconic symbols in Europe, The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark! As you will see by the attached photo, he accomplished his task. He made the trip on a crystal clear Danish morning to where she lay perched on her rock, overlooking the bustling Copenhagen harbour. As is always the case with my husband, he can always find a link to Newfoundland from whatever country he is visiting. So you may ask, what could possibly be a link from The Little Mermaid in Denmark to the far-away island of Newfoundland?
Well, being the voracious reader that my husband is of all things Newfoundland (he’s an American), he had just finished reading the book by James E. Candow entitled “The Lookout - A History of Signal Hill” and was intrigued by what he had read on page 7 of the book.
“…Sir Richard Whitbourne, who in 1620 wrote wistfully of meeting a mermaid in St. John’s harbour.”
Could this well-documented mermaid of Sir Richard Whitbourne be related in some past life to the endearing one gracing the harbour of Copenhagen? While the answer to that question may never be known, at least my husband was able to connect the far reaches of Europe to the ocean waters of Newfoundland by the existence of two fair aquatic creatures!
We hope you enjoy our little anecdote. Keep up the good work!
My husband, Charles Smith and I have been subscribers to the Downhome magazine for quite a number of years, from receiving it in Virginia, USA, to moving to St. John’s in 2009, and now out in our new home out on the ... click to read moreMy husband, Charles Smith and I have been subscribers to the Downhome magazine for quite a number of years, from receiving it in Virginia, USA, to moving to St. John’s in 2009, and now out in our new home out on the Point, in beautiful Coley’s Point, Bay Roberts. The articles and submissions continue to intrigue and humour us and we await anxiously its arrival every month. In fact we have taken Downhome with us to the most western point in continental Europe, Cabo da Roca in Portugal, a picture of which you so kindly published in 2008.
In October 2011, Charlie made a business trip to Denmark. As per usual, the Downhome magazine has to accompany him wherever his travels take him, so this trip was no exception. He was determined the latest copy of Downhome was going to come face to face with one of the most iconic symbols in Europe, The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark! As you will see by the attached photo, he accomplished his task. He made the trip on a crystal clear Danish morning to where she lay perched on her rock, overlooking the bustling Copenhagen harbour. As is always the case with my husband, he can always find a link to Newfoundland from whatever country he is visiting. So you may ask, what could possibly be a link from The Little Mermaid in Denmark to the far-away island of Newfoundland?
Well, being the voracious reader that my husband is of all things Newfoundland (he’s an American), he had just finished reading the book by James E. Candow entitled “The Lookout - A History of Signal Hill” and was intrigued by what he had read on page 7 of the book.
“…Sir Richard Whitbourne, who in 1620 wrote wistfully of meeting a mermaid in St. John’s harbour.”
Could this well-documented mermaid of Sir Richard Whitbourne be related in some past life to the endearing one gracing the harbour of Copenhagen? While the answer to that question may never be known, at least my husband was able to connect the far reaches of Europe to the ocean waters of Newfoundland by the existence of two fair aquatic creatures!
We hope you enjoy our little anecdote. Keep up the good work!
With my new bride Roseann in Santorini for part of our honeymoon. Santorini was actually a volcano that erupted violently around 10,000 years ago leaving a caldera filled with the mediterranean sea. Our hotel was actually inside the volcano...167 steps down to be exact. My family comes from North Harbour, St. Mary's Bay. Photo by Rod King.
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