An Ocean Turn-Around and Return to Canada
On March 18th, with a ship's hold filled with food, Matt and I handed in our visas and checked out of Mexico, prepared to follow our dream to cross the Pacific Ocean. Covid-19 was only just starting to be on the radar in Mexico, and our destination of French Polynesia had no cases. Ships were still welcome, and the ocean crossing would be considered our quarantine. All seemed well (spoiler: it wasn't). As we prepared to set sail, news came over the radio that French Polynesia had its first confirmed case. French Poly closed it's borders immediately, and mandated that all arriving ships would have to depart after restocking. Otherwise, crews would be deported and flown home to their countries. The entire South Pacific closed its doors, including New Zealand and Australia. With most of the borders in Central and South America closed as well, we hurriedly checked back into Mexico, just in time. Our new plan: spend the summer in the beautiful Sea of Cortez, eating through o...