Boats, Planes and …RVs?

The Vawters are heading back to the water at long last.  I know some of you thought (and maybe some even prayed) that we were going to become land lubbers again, but it’s back to the boat life for us!

I dropped off writing posts near the end of June last year.  We weren’t adventuring on the water anymore and frankly, all my creative blog writing energy was totally sapped while we worked.  It just dried up.  So, I apologize if you have missed the updates.  I’ll do the fast and furious recap and then explain our plans.

Cameron surveying the construction of our 6,000 square foot winery. This is what you build (in 3 months) when there is no place to custom crush your fruit.
Cameron surveying the construction of our 6,000 square foot winery. This is what you build (in 3 months) when there is no place to custom crush your fruit.
Panorama of the inside of the almost completed "barn" winery which we will occupy for the next two vintages until the main winery is completed.
Panorama of the inside of the almost completed “barn” winery which we will occupy for the next two vintages until the main winery is completed.
Mid harvest in our Barn Winery this year.
Mid harvest in our Barn Winery this year.

Fast and Furious Recap

Cameron and I were extremely blessed to be a part of the founding of Phantom Creek Estates in the Southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.  This is a wine region that is worth checking out if you’re not familiar with it.  It’s like a cross between the Napa Valley and Yosemite! Canada was very good to us and we hope that Canada feels we were good to her.  We basically worked our tails off with a small but talented team for 10 months and built a company.  We wrote the standard operating procedures, researched and created the vineyard replant plans, assisted in the creation of full financials, hired all the employees (except for vineyard staff which were already there thank the Lord) and generally dealt with all the bits and pieces that come of being the first “on the ground” people while starting a brand new business.

Our wonderful team up north taking a break for some home made soup - Thanks to Cameron
Our wonderful team up north taking a break for some home made soup – Thanks to Cameron
Adelaide on the sorting table after school.
Adelaide on the sorting table after school.
Filling the press with grapes skins post fermentation. Dance Dance Dance!
Filling the press with grapes skins post fermentation. Dance Dance Dance!

We sold our excess fruit, we assisted with the branding, marketing and sales plans, we assisted in property acquisitions, we built a 6,000 square foot “barn” winery, equipped that winery with the best equipment available while also working on plans for 2 additional facilities.  One of those is a 60,000 square foot winery, hospitality facility and restaurant in the Okanagan which is currently at 75% construction drawing phase and going through the building permit process and the other is a smaller sparkling facility near Vancouver.  Also, we made about 7,000 cases of wine in the process!  We even made Icewine… brrr.

Minus 12C, picking Cabernet Franc Icewine - Grapes so frozen that only super sweet (40 Brix) juice comes out.
Minus 12C, picking Cabernet Franc Icewine – Grapes so frozen that only super sweet (40 Brix) juice comes out.

The wine has been very well received thus far and we are so proud of our babies in the barrel.

So, that is what we have been up to and you can see why I wasn’t sitting around dreaming up blog post ideas.

Meanwhile, the girls jumped into the public school system in Canada.  They loved their time there and we loved their teachers and the staff at the school. If you are thinking of heading to Canada because of certain political developments in the US, I highly recommend the Canadian school system for lots of reasons.

We also managed to have some fun.  I’ll let the pics speak for themselves.

IMG_0915
Isa before her riding lesson. Photo Credit, Barbara Vawter
our backyard was this awesome pool so the girls basically lived there in summer.
Our backyard essentially WAS this awesome pool so the girls basically lived there in summer.
We escaped in the summer for a quick family trip to "The Flying U Ranch" best guest ranch ever... no guides!
We escaped in the summer for a quick family trip to “The Flying U Ranch” best guest ranch ever… no guides!
surveying the necessary equipment for a family of 4 to ski a local mountain
surveying the necessary equipment for a family of 4 to ski a local mountain
First Communion! The girls had a great catechism teacher.
First Communion! The girls had a great catechism teacher.
We did LOTS of skiing this winter, more than Cameron and I have done since we got married. Girls LOVED it.
We did LOTS of skiing this winter, more than Cameron and I have done since we got married. Girls LOVED it.
It was kinda cold sometimes.
It was kinda cold sometimes.

The Plans

Our 10 month contract is up and we are very excited to move on to the next step. February has been full with a few weeks spent with family in Hawaii, then a week of work in France looking at equipment.  I went off on a complete wild hare adventure to Ireland with a friend of mine for a week to fox hunt – a lifelong dream.  Check out our Instagram if you want to see a few of those shots.

Cameron was in Indiana with the girls during that time and purchased our next boat…a land yacht – aka an RV!  I know…what?  I’ll explain in a sec.

After Ireland, I popped up to Canada for a week of work and then a few days in Napa (We are still consulting for Phantom Creek Estates this year and I still have a few clients in Napa).  Then, I flew down to Cameron in Phoenix.  He and his Dad (bless his heart) drove the RV from Indy together with the girls.  From there, we swung up to the Grand Canyon for a few days (while we waited for the permanent license plates to arrive) and then drove on down to Mexico where Banyan, our beloved boat, is hanging out in dry dock in Guaymas, Mexico.

Now, we are doing the work of putting her back together, we will splash her into the northern Sea of Cortez in a few days and then cruise around until it gets so hot we can’t stand it.  At that point, we will pop her back up on the hard, jump in the RV and land cruise the Western United States and Canada.  After harvest and then Thanksgiving and maybe even Christmas with family, we will sell the RV and jump back aboard for the next leg of our journey.

Yup…that is the plan.  But we all know what happens to plans:)

The amazing Grand Canyon. We spent three days there and can't wait to go back for more hiking.
The amazing Grand Canyon. We spent three days there and can’t wait to go back for more hiking.

 

Upon arrival to the marina where Banyan sits up on dry dock. You can see the masts behind "Katie Walker" our RV... which is so huge I couldn't get the rear end in without falling in the water...
Taken upon arrival to the marina where Banyan sits up on dry dock. You can see the masts behind “Katie Walker”, our RV… which is so huge I couldn’t get the rear end in the photo without falling in the water…
Panorama of the inside of Banyan. We stuffed her with anything that would have created windage during the summer hurricane season so we are just digging her out and putting her back together now! Work is Fun is Work is Fun.
Panorama of the inside of Banyan. We stuffed her with anything that would have created windage during the summer hurricane season and we took most things out of cabinets that might not be 100% waterproof …  so we are just digging her out and putting her back together now! Work is Fun is Work is Fun is Work is Fun!

31 comments

  1. Debbie Darrin says:

    All I can say is what an incredible, adventurous life you are living! Wow and awesome! Thank you for sharing your journey!

  5. Doug Vawter says:

    Welcome HOME!! Everyone has been missing the blog and it should be fun to watch Banyon be “relanched” and see how long it takes to get back your sea legs!!! Love the pictures and the story!

  9. Kathy McLoughlin says:

    Dear Cameron & Annie,
    So funny you posted today as Bill and I spoke of you this AM. congratulations on all you accomplished. So fantastic you continue build such amazing resumes AND to have such rich experiences! We love seeing all the pics of your lovely family. Cameron–gotta say, the haircut looks good 🙂
    Keep the posts coming–and smooth sailin! Please give your parents our best, Cameron . Fondly, Kathy & Bill

  10. Joanie Schumann says:

    So glad to hear from you and your
    Amazing winter. We are having a big family reunion this June
    Erin and AJ will be here with the girls. Can’t wait
    Joanie (Erin’s aunt)

  11. Barbara Vawter says:

    Loving your blog Anne, so interesting, colorful and informative! Cameron and you have been amazing, so flexible, adventurous and adaptive! We were thrilled to see You and Cameron & enjoy special time with the girls! We wish you All an awesome adventure. God Be With You

  12. MICHELE HERALD says:

    Hi Anne & Cameron,
    Wonderful to hear about your adventures again…. I was just thinking about you, and wondering where you all are because I am headed Oregon tomorrow to visit old friends (flying into Redmond/Bend), and will be visiting SF & Napa in the week before Easter – shame that you will not be around!! I am having a few months off & have just been on a 2 week “Food Adventure” tour in Vietnam … not sure whats next for me either!!

    Safe Travels!!!
    Michele

  14. Taylor Miller says:

    Great to catch up with your many interesting activities. You all live life to the fullest. Most impressive. Great to have met you on the Ha Ha. Keep it up!

  15. Debi says:

    I sure missed your blogs! Welcome back!!! Your lives are so amazing. May God be with you and guide you as you continue on this next leg of your adventure.
    Love you all,
    Aunt Debi

  16. Gary Souza says:

    Awesome, Annie!! So glad to see the Vawter adventures continue! It has been too long. I was back home in Hawaii for most of Feb. THAT would have been incredible to run into you! Be safe, be healthy. Hugs to the whole family. Aloha, Gary

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