We all make choices in life that are right for us, ours was to move on a 40 ft sailboat with our 5 year old grand daughter. We gave up a dirt dwelling home that was stability for our family, knowing our dream was to wake up to gorgeous sunrises and end our day with water filled sunsets.

We had a 5 yr plan, sell our home and move to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and pursue our search for a boat. We sold our home in one day, found a rental and started our search, three years later we found our dream boat. We had done our homework and knew a Gozzard built boat was the one for us, we found a Bay field 40 cutter/ketch that suited all of our live aboard needs. Side by side quarter berths and a full head with a huge 2 seated shower. So , again we got rid of everything we owned and moved on the boat names Adventuress.

Did we think of living aboard during the Winter, of course not. . .did we stop to think about the water being turned off on the docks. . .of course not. We were the only liveaboards during the Winter at this marina, we were on our own with a 5 yr old!

We moved on our floating dream home in mid October, the rains came as well as 40 mph winds. . . we learned to quickly how to pull the boat over and quickly jump aboard before the winds took her to the other side of the dock. The next step was to tie bungee lines to the pilling across from us so that if our grand daughter slid across the finger pier she would shoot back on our boat, ( never happened but we were prepared).

Our grand daughter was attending a private school 50 miles one way from the boat at that time and my husband was working in Washing , DC. He left the boat at 4:30 am and we needed to be exiting the boat by 6:45 am. Never once did we consider low tides or high tides, and they came.. . .Ava ended up missing 32 days of school that year, thank goodness it was kindergarten. Along with high winds came two snowfalls of over 1 ft. each time. For heat we used an electric ceramic heater, warming blankets for our berths and two little electric boat heaters one at the bow and one aft. The boat stayed a balmy 58 degrees, which is quite warm in such a small space.

I can honestly say the only hardship we encountered during that Winter in Maryland was cooking. The snow acted as an insulator so we were snug and warm, but when you are used to cooking on a gas grill you need to have an alternate plan. Neither of us had used a 2 burned propane stove, we learned quickly . . .however I went right out and bought a griddle and a crock pot. . .we were back in business.

We knew the only way to learn the In's and Out's of  our sailboat was to move on her full time, Ava saw this as an adventure and was completely happy. Our meals were simple, we had warm clothing hanging everywhere, not to mention our two cats that lived aboard also. We shoveled docks instead of sidewalks, we walked to the bath house to take showers in 32  degrees and below at night, we were in bed at 7:30 in the evening. We carried  4, 25 gallon jugs of water to fill our tanks once a week,(100 gallon tank) and never ran out of water.

We learned to live in small surroundings with a TV that got very few channels, we read and put together many puzzles and laughed a lot.There is not one inch of our boat or one sound that we can not tell you what it is.

We have now owned the boat for 3 years and love every experience, our plans are to head south next Winter. . .but we still have a few Maryland Winters to conquer.

. . . and so the work begins. To recap our life on a sailboat. . .no matter where or what we call home, it is an Adventure. When we found Adventuress, we knew she was meant for us, but did not know if she was ready for us! My advice to anyone buying a boat, plan to stay on board before you take off, get to know the in's and out's, there are noises that you think only Jaques Cousteu could explain, they become second nature.

Picking up your feet as you walk down the dock,(not strutting like you own the Titanic) there are boards that need to be fixed that you aren't necessarily looking for. Tides become your main focus, on a day to day basis, they are not your friend, unless you are secured to a floating dock. Weather, (that is a topic alone) condensation is something you would not even consider, however if you have ever owned a Jeep you know what I am talking about.

Privacy. . .there is none so get used to it. It is so important for you to like the humans you share your living space with. Storage, boats have plenty you just have to learn organization skills. I can tell you, those who live and travel to warm climates have it easy. Clothes can be rolled and stored in multiple places, we live in Maryland so layers and huge coats are not easy to roll and store. We had two huge snow storms, over a ft of snow each time. There were four wind storms with gales over 65 mph. , we hardly left our berths. You still have to eat , learning to prepare food during these conditions is an art.

Pre pairing the boat for a Winter on the hard is a sad time but every so often it needs to happen. Since the boat fared well on the Sassafras River there is  minor cleaning to be done. I popped barnacles off the instant the boat was pulled. Painting and waxing will be done rather quickly, the teak we stripped during the Fall is waiting to be finished, the new scroll work for the bow is being made, and a full Clorox cleaning below is on the list. By May she will be ready to be moved to her new/old home with us back aboard.

I can honestly say, I would not change one thing about our experience. The name of the boat was going to be, Running with Scissors, appropriately so. This is how we handle everything, take off running and learn as we go. Adventuress was and is her name, life is an Adventure and we welcome every obstacle, ( wish we didn't have as many) and share the outcome no mater how big or small.

Now that Spring is in our back yard the work will begin, we know for sure there are new friends awaiting us at every anchorage and we value the friends we have already made living this phenomenal  lifestyle. . . .

Fair Winds To All. .. .

    

As another sailing season comes to an end, and this usually coincides with the Annapolis Sailboat Show,( unless you are venturing south for the Winter by boat) it finds me sad. . . .almost to the throws of depression. The boat show is always a successful venture for us, Ava gets a new piece of jewelry, I usually get some kind of outwear, today being no exception. . . plus a hat with Adventuress monogrammed on it. Papa leaves with some tool to make Winterizing the boat easier and many business cards that will never leave the expo bags we are given at the gate.

Many are surprised at my Love for a sailboat, when did this happen and where did it come from. . .not sure exactly. . .my days of being held prisoner in Catholic school comes to mind or the fact that my grand mother said I was going to be an Adventurer. What matters is, I am surprised myself as to how my entire mind set changes when I am around the water and a sailboat, a slow mode of transportation. . . amazing.

What I never thought about was how difficult it would be to change from land living to water living. High tides,Low tides, small spaces(which don't really bother me), low lighting, Boat Cooking! How many of you see a sailboat on the water and think of the living space below, I can honestly say I never did. I thought of the feeling you must get sliding through the water. Having a sailboat as your home is quite an adjustment.

The boat is our Home, although we live in a very nice apartment(condo) so that Ava is able to attend school and play sports, Adventuress is our Home. The Winter will bring a slower pace life for us, even though we did not get to spend as much time on the boat this Summer as we would have liked due to the battery issue. Come Spring we will have the chore of stripping the paint and repainting the bottom of the boat, staining and varnishing the wood trim and updating various extras.

Come April we will be moving to the quaint little town of Rock Hall, 5 1/2 hrs closer to Annapolis than we are here on the Sassafras River. Adventuress resided in Rock Hall at the same marina we are going to for 18 yrs. , we will be in her same slip and the strange coincidence  is the previous and only owner of our boat has her new boat 10 slips down named Adventuress also. We are taking Adventuress home!

I will update this blog with progress on the various changes we do on the  boat and of our trip to the Chesapeake Bay.  I am sure it is going to be filled with my usual antics. . . .Until then. . .I pray for Snow this Winter!

Work is taking longer than we expected on Adventuress, the 1 yr mark is coming close before Papa retires and our adventures on Adventuress begin. We knew when we bought the boat it had years on her and updating was going to be an every day thing, we did not expect all 3 batteries and starter to go at one time(in Oct. 1 yr after purchasing her). I learned that buying batteries for a boat were not the same as batteries for a car or flash light, these need to run for days with out a generator to charge and not corrode. The search for the right batteries started in Jan. 2012 as I started my search for curtains and updating the main cabin,quarter berths and head. The galley is the galley and there is not much you can do there. While Papa was searching battery options he looked at 2 other Bayfields being updated in the Annapolis area and got an idea of what needed to be done to Adventuress. He had already fixed the water tank problem we had the entire yr. we lived on board so we thought we were ahead already. The work began to build a battery box and make an opening in Ava's cabin to easily access the cockpit locker when we discovered a battery box had been built, but was covered due to the previous owner buying to large of batteries to fit. Me, not knowing anything about the workings of a boat,could not understand what was taking so long. We knew the cost was going to be around $2,000.00 or more for the batteries we needed for our planned lifestyle, Papa being the sole supporter in this venture searched every nook and cranny for a better deal. The deal was 2 miles from where we are now residing. The work began on installing the batteries, with a side job of de nesting while putting up the Main sail. I can say, 1 month and 2 nights mixed with a lot of aggravation on my part, we should hear Adventuress purring by Friday night. In the meantime, we had a wicked storm 2 weeks ago that has done minor damage to the wood and fiberglass on the exterior of the boat. When the storm came up it sucked the water out of the river ad had the boats laying on there Starboard sides, as the water returned many of the boats hit the dock being right sided ours being one of them. I plan on stripping all the wood on her withing the next month so this has given me a head start. As for the fiberglass and chipped paint she will be pulled at the end of the summer for cleaning and new paint. Our plans for travels on Adventuress were cut short this Season with maybe a couple day sails planned but our outlook for the future has not. In closing, I can't blame storms or previous work for our delay. . . .the blame falls on us not realizing the upkeep on a boat is an every day project. . .we got to comfortable living on land again. Thank You Captain Kevin for your Diligence, your Patience and Your Love. . .We May Not Have it All Together, But.. Together We Have it All!

Almost there

It is hard to believe it is mid-April already, next weekend Papa becomes a Captain after many hours of hard work. I never really knew what it took to become a 100 ton captain but it is evident it is something I will never achieve. Some ask, Do you really want to? YES . However, I am lacking the attention span to accomplish this, so I am content now to be Second Mate to Ava's First. Ava is actually a better sailor than I am, kids have no fear. I am assigned to the Galley when we take off, I wear my sailing gloves per chance I am needed on deck( hasn't happened but I am ready). Once the batteries arrive(4 in all, weighing over 650 lbs) we can move the berth cushions and new bedding on, sails are cleaned , mended and ready to pick up. We will more than likely commission Adventuress in early June after the holiday weekend. Clothes and Shoes are also a big part of the move in process, then food, funny how that pecking order works. Our chores will then be to strip,sand and repair the teak around the boat. We will also be pulling her out of the water for 2 weeks to clean and paint the Hull , which is long overdue. This Summer will bring new adventures as well as 2 weddings and our daughter coming home for a brief visit from LA.(not a fan of the boat). We are also moving into a new condo mid May. The boat will be home June through Oct, freeing the Condo for family visits. For many who have followed my Blog know our Winter in the current apt. was a disaster. In all fairness this bldg. is 42 yrs old with NO updates. When it was cold we had no heat and had to use the equally dis funtioning oven , but never at night or when we were away. From Jan. on we have had Internet for 3 hrs a day, even though we pay for it 24/7. Hot water was and still is hit or miss, having to cancel many Dr's appointments due to unsanitary conditions. Mold worms live in our bathroom walls and make an appearance daily, a broken washing machine on our floor was a missing convenience. I can honestly say, Living on Adventuress during the Winter months were a pleasure compared to this. Ava will attend a private school come August which is between the boat and here so overnight stays on the boat are a happening thing during beautiful fall nights. Public school did not work out, Bullying was the main issue and I am shocked at how rampant it is in the schools starting at young ages. This new school will prepare Ava for Boat Schooling come Jan. 2014 when we plan on making our first voyage south. It is definitely an exciting time!

"We all carry bags. At times your bags will be lighter than mine. Or mine will be lighter than yours. What's in your bag may be similar to what's in my bag or very different, however, all our bags are uniquely ours. While some may argue that your bags are lighter than theirs, they have no idea how heavy your bags are for it is not their bags. What's important is how we carry our bags. Whether we drag them with us in despair and frustration or we lift them as we climb, happy to be on the trip, is key to how we travel through our journey. No matter how many bags you or I carry, in this world, no one is bagless." ~ Chizoma Cluff

As the Sun sets each day it brings us closer to the goal we had set 38 yrs ago. Papa will be commissioning the boat in the next couple of weeks to begin a new sailing season, to only be slowed down a bit when we haul the boat out of the water to clean and paint the bottom. We are planning this to be a 2 week process at the most. We decided to do this during early Summer when most boats are in the water, to give us more room to work. Ava will be going back to private school next August, this will complete her formal school years for a while. She will be entering 2nd grade at Red Lion Christian Academy in Delaware, 3rd grade we will start the process of Boat schooling. Her grades are out standing however she requires a disiplined setting in the classroom, boat schooling is quite different. Her subjects are set according to the course of our travels and less disipline required. Papa will be semi-retired as of next August, staying with the company he is with now on a schedule that suits our sailing schedule and the economy. I will be going back to work in the Fall(yes after a 7 yr. hiatus)to acquire people skills. . .not sure what I will be doing but it will only be temporary. After 9 days of no hot water in this Winter apt. we will be moving to a new Condo in May. We found out it was a nicer living on the boat in the winter, we were never with out heat or hot water. Many exciting things happening this Spring and Summer starting with papa's graduation from Captains school in May, 2 weddings this Summer, many sailing trips and a visit from Sheana(our daughter who lives in LA)in August. Daily trips to the boat are on my agenda now getting her prepared for our return. .. . Happy Spring!

Ava's new job a Photo Journalist for American Doll Rooms

Ava will begin a photo journal today for the American Doll Co, she entered a contest on her own and won. Her first photo shoot will begin after school with a doll and the room on the deck of Adventuress. She picked the outfit for her doll Samantha, which was done as she was dressing for school also. I have explained to her the importance of this responsibility and where it could take her, she is overly excited and should be. Her girlfriend at the Marina next to us is also into American Dolls, between the two of them we should get some great water photos. I am plugging away at the Boating Safety course that is mandatory now in Maryland and Va. I have successfully finished and passed 4 units out of 7. . 2 1/2 hrs for each unit with a test at the end of each unit. . . The exam is at the end of course, I will set aside my day on Friday to take this with a bottle of wine waiting when I pass. Not only should I have this(Papa is taking this through his Captains course. . his big exam is April 28th) should something happen and I am responsible to get the boat back in safely but you get a discount on boat ins. I thought it was going to be easy but I am finding out that is not so. We will be moving back onto the boat in just a few weeks and everything is shaping up nicely, can't wait. . .Spring is 12 days away, Thank You Mother Nature for this beautiful Day

simpleliving-3: Ready for a New Sailing Season

simpleliving-3: Ready for a New Sailing Season: After spending 3 weeks scrubbing mildew,polishing teak and redecorating the entire main cabin of our sailboat I am finished. When we bought ...

Ready for a New Sailing Season

After spending 3 weeks scrubbing mildew,polishing teak and redecorating the entire main cabin of our sailboat I am finished. When we bought Adventuress I thought she was the most beautiful boat I had ever seen, the decorating was fantastic,(so I thought)the color choices we just what I would have picked. After living on her for 10 months I found out I could not live with many of the choices the previous owner had chosen. The decor was 28 yrs old and needed a new face. . .I checked many home & boat decorating sights but ran into many problems, home sights are geared for just that a home with different dimensions, most boating sights are for Yachts and Power boats. I did not want to change the image of a sailboat even though it is our home bottom line is it's a boat! I added grain sack curtains in a light and dark sand tone, throw rugs are brown with shells and a light sand/ brown mixture. The side by side quarter cabins are also neutral and will be kept that way to look more spacious. Thanks to the Boat Galley I was able to update the galley area which should make cooking and clean up an easier chore. Our children gave us a fantastic boat grill for Christmas which we are excited to try out this Summer. I still find it hard to believe we moved on to a sailboat with a child with what little knowledge we had for such a life.The positive side to all of this is we got to know our boat/home by trial and error and would do the same thing all over again.It's not for everyone and I find this out each time someone new comes aboard and says," I could never live on here, it's beautiful but I could not do it". My reply is: "When it's not your Dream you can't picture this life" I named this Blog Simpleliving-3 mainly because it is just that. . .3 people learning together the simple life of boat living. 3 new batteries will be installed next week along with other things that I won't even pretend I know, but are needed to enjoy a season of sailing. The next process will be pulling the boat this Sumer for 2 weeks to clean and paint the bottom, then strip the teak around the deck and make her look just as beautiful out side. Next year will be new ports, hatches and flooring in the main cabin. . much like a home there is always something new to upgrade. Adventuress will be our home for many years to come with many changes along the way. . .One thing I do know for sure is we are Living our Dream not just Dreaming it, no matter where we sail or don't. . .we own a sailboat after 36 years of ups and downs. . . My next learning step is posting pictures . . .

Winter Work

The Winter has come and leaving quicker than we expected, with so much work to still be done on Adventuress Spring will be here before we know it. I am tending to the main cabin while Papa works on moving the batteries and other men things. My job was to strip the boat, and that meant everything off and stored in this storage unit we call an apt. I have scoured every inch of the boat and thrown so much away due to mildew. I did not realise there was so much work tending to a sailboat. .I thought I had said Goodbye to deep cleaning. Adventuress is a Live Aboard boat, there are so many hidden cubbies that I did not know about until cushions were removed, these will be good for long cruises where provisions need to be stored. There is not only a full pantry and linen closet on board but 2 spice cabinets along with a full bar(very important). Under the kids berth there is fantastic storage for toys, as I have learned a necessity when traveling with kids. Living on Adventuress was one way for us to learn what made her tick, the various noises and problems that were facing us. . .and we did. We moved on cold turkey and survived . . .as I have said, "When it is your dream you don't mind discomfort". The dilemma I am facing now is cleaning cushions, new curtains on the ports, runners or short rugs, bedding. . .etc. . .. The first year I used what the previous and one time owner had left, now it's time for me to make it ours and show our personality. Keeping in mind when Papa retires next year we will start taking off to sunnier places always making Maryland/Delaware our summer home. Ava will be Boat Schooled, (Papa is a part time teacher) along with anyone of our other grand children that come along. Thanks to so many boating sites, The Boat Galley, Living Like a Pirate. . .etc. I have gained much needed knowledge on boat life. Papa is taking the course to get his Captains License now, life will change for us once he graduates on May 5th. We look forward to moving back on Adventuress in May, along with moving to a new Winter apt. at the same time. My message here is. . .material things that used to be so important to me have taken a side seat( not back because I still like clothes and shoes) to what God has given us in Nature . . . Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal. . .Live it Now!

Time to work on the boat and my body

Moving on to a 30 yr old sailboat was easy. . .updating a 30 yr old sailboat is about as easy as transforming your land body into a boat body.There is only so much you can do with what you are given to work with. My job on the boat is the interior, it needs to be a cozy home and functional, my body needs to functional also. . . I am tired of a different body muscle hurting each week. You don't realise the smaller spaces and small stairways take a toll on your muscles. I am going to be starting with a bare boat as far as cushions, everything except boating needs are off the boat and in this little apt. for the Winter. I will be searching every site I can for decorating tips and merchandise. My goal by June is to have a new interior on the boat as well as a body free of aches and pains. . .

What I miss most

We have been in the apartment now for 7 weeks part time getting ready to make it full time until April. . .what I miss most about living aboard is the night music. . . the water lapping against the hull and the gentle rocking, the gorgeous stars on a clear night and the approaching electric storm while relaxing in the cockpit. The Simple Life is an understatement. . .Life is actually suspended. . . it became an every night ritual to walk down the dock lit only by the moon light and our Chilean minor head lights and a stray Swan or Goose walking along with you. Cooking bacon as a Seagull watched closely through your port window. The Simple meals which I did not appreciate until Winter left us and the grills came to life. We honestly feel as if we have let Adventuress down and abandoned her, what she does not realise is the Face Lift we are going to give her over the Winter months. Since Feb. we have had very little pressure, even after buying 2 of the best pumps you can get, gel coat wearing thin on the deck, Teak needing to be sanded and recoated, Sails needing cleaned, lines needing to be replaced. . .and on and on. . . . No different than a house.

What I missed about Land Living was a hot bath. . of all the things there were to miss that was #1, #2 was exercise. . .when we first moved on the boat I tripped as I was walking down the dock, cracked 2 ribs and sprained my wrist ( made the daily action of boarding the boat and exiting a little difficult). I started feeling aches and pains in muscles that I had not used in quite a while, walking up many stairs became painful, I became breathless after walking 800 ft to the shower house. Now I am sore from muscles that thought I had forgotten about them, , ,now I am walking at the least 7 miles a day to get in shape for the next sailing season.

As hard as I try I can not get the Simple Living Life back while living on land, so I will enjoy my bubble baths and long walks and pray for a Snowy Winter. . .

To all who have followed my Blog and did not make it to the boat this past season let's hope the next 6 months go by fast. . . Happy Holidays to All!

Looking Back

The time has now arrived to end the play time on Adventuress and start taking care of her, for this past yr. I have said she was a 40 ft. sailboat, come to find out she is 45 ft. To some that does not make a difference but now that we have hauling her out of the water, cleaning ,stripping and painting her facing us those 5 ft. make all the difference in cost and work.

Last year when we bought her she looked Beautiful. . .after a Winter of 3 snow2 storms, 4 60 mph wind storms and 2 storms of 40 mph she has taken a beating. The teak needs to be stripped and re done every couple months, we have not done that either. . .the sails need to be cleaned. . we have not done that. . . the teak floors in the main cabin need to be replaced, the berth mattresses need to be cleaned and aired. . . on and on and on. . .Which explains another reason for the apt. Our weekends come Winter will be spent working inside, Spring outside.

The 3 of us consider Adventuress our home and she will be again come Spring. Looking back I remember the gorgeous Sunrises, drinking morning coffee on the bow and thinking Life does not get any better than this, watching a Sunset knowing what I woulod wake up to the next morning.

Many people have asked how we adjusted to such small living quarters, Kevin answered that saying"When it has been your Dream for 36 yrs. you don't think about that you just do it" and we did. Even now as we are in the apartment  Ava asks"When are we going home"?

There were down times also but as soon as you came top side they were forgotten. You also have to like your partner, arguments don't go away in small quarters, there is no private space and all work is shared. Big adjustments for us however we survived.

In Oct. 2013 we will set sail for somewhere South, these next 2 yrs will be spent redoing the boat for such a voyage. We won't be out to set any records just sail and enjoy the Beauty god has given us. So until Spring I will end this Blog. . .

Peace & Love to All

coming to an end

  I am writing this blog from the apartment we rented in Newark, De. we have been working very hard to make this place Home. The one thing the 3 of us realise is as hard as we try Adventuress is our Home and we will miss her. We have only 6 more weeks of boat living before we become weekenders like the rest of the boat owners at the marina we call home. We will move into the apartment on August 28th with Ava starting her new school on the 29th. We will then go to the boat the moment Ava is out of school on Friday's and stay until Sunday early evening.

The experience has been one that has us looking forward to working on the boat through the Winter fixing things that have needed it long before we bought her and things to improve her. I look back now on the days the boat was under the dock as well as the days the dock was under water both of which we could not depart the boat. The days of high winds where we stayed in our berths, the ft. of snow and more, ice,sleet etc. Walking down the dock to the warm bath house to take showers, filling the water tank in freezing cold weather, putting our freezer goods on the cabin top since our freezer compartment holds a 7 lb bag of ice and nothing more. We survived !

We will begin our sailing season this coming Sat. when family come to visit, because of so many unexpected repairs we are getting a late start. We will take the boat out from now on until we pull the boat in mid Oct. for cleaning and painting.  As we left the boat tonight with our laundry and over night bags we waved Good Night to Adventuress and our 2 cats until we return Tuesday to finish the first year of our adventure.

9 months and learning new things

We have lived on a sailboat for 9 months now, every day that goes by I realise I did not know as much about sailboats as I thought I did. We have made it through a beautiful Fall and a very unusual Winter with  rain,sleet, highwinds and many snow falls. As an adult we are used to these conditions. . . however with a 5 yr old they get to be cumbersome. We named Ava, Pippi after Pippi Longstocking. She is a clone to her, very agile when it comes to manuevering around the boat, things that terrified me she handled with ease.

Survival, was on top of our list, then came the every day challenge of getting Ava 50 miles to school  when conditions were no where alike  between the 2 places. We don't share the same radio stations here on the Sassafras River as in Denton, in fact  our stations are for Baltimore and Philly. I am thankful all of that is behind us now.

Heat was an issue at first, we used an onboard heating system that was water heated and cooled, when the water temp got below 45 degrees we had to find another safe method of keeping warm. We bought a big ceramic heater and used warming blankets on the bunks, it was so cozy it caused another problem . . we did not want to leave our cabins!

Christmas came, it was a fun time on the boat and at the marina, we were the only ones living here so it was much like our own private island. Once we went below on the boat we had not a clue as to what was going on topside, except when the high winds came and they did. One memorable day was when they hit close to 60 miles an hour, we could not leave our bunks and prayed, a tornado was passing through. Christmas brought our daughter home from sunny LA., she endured 10 days in a 450 sq. ft  space and did very well. We also got rooms for family at the Hampton Inn so there was swimming and comfort for visiting grand children.

With the rest of the Winter yet to come we had over a ft. of snow while Papa was in Texas saying his last good byes to his dad who had also been a sailor as well as many other trades.Ava and I managed to keep the snow off the biminy and hatches, we left it on the cabin top for insulation in the main cabin. As we kept our meals simple life was simple as long as we did not have to walk 800 ft to the bath house or parking lot. Ava and I did not leave the boat for 3 full days and ate what we had stored and used very little water since we only have a 100 gallon water tank. We played many old pirate games and watched what we could get on the TV.

TV, another issue. . we only have an antennea (sp) so programs were at the mercy of the gods. We have a battery operated HD flat screen TV, we got this so that we would still have tv when we are out cruising. You have to stand in one spot to see the screen clearly, so it's been used mainly for sound. Ava did without Disney & Nick under protest. My soaps came in clear every day. . thank goodness.

What we weren't prepared for was the tides and how much they ruled our lives, there were days when we could not get off the boat because the water was over the dodk, in fact there was no dock and just as many days we were under the dock, these were the most difficult times rushing Ava to school when we could safely exit the boat, her school was not as cooperative and did not excuse these tardies or absences. I had seriously thought of home schooling her but decided against it for social reasons.

Spring arrived and our spirits lightened, we started to take layers off and saw the extra inches 2 of us had added ( I will not mention names as to not incriminate the parties involved). This made for less space in the main cabin, we clearly did ot live on nuts and berries!

Up to date. . . School has ended, the boat is turned around, sails on, water hoses splitting, water pressure pump breaking, humans at the marina, etc. . . we have found out there is nothing the 3 of us can't handle. We have a sign on the boat Papa had made. . . WE MAY NOT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER. . . . BUT TOGETHER WE HAVE IT ALL!

We are looking forward to a great sailing season with many friends and family aboard. We rented an apt. in Newark ,DE that we are starting to put together for vistors to stay since the boat does not accomadate over night guests comfortably. It is 20 min. from the boat. Come August we will stay there during the week while Ava attends school(which is .05 miles from the apt.) then come to the boat on weekends until Oct. when the boat will be pulled for cleaning,painting and repairs getting ready for our adventure in the Fall of 2013. Bahamas will be our first destination, Ava will be home schooled, I will be thin,tan and. . .oops drifted off there. . . As life will have it we never know what is around the corner for us so we have learned to take it as it comes.

I am Thankful to everyone Family and Friends who have followed our Adventure so far.

Fair Winds!

Preparing Food

This honestly is not a cook book but a menu for survival on a sail boat. Knowing how to cook is not the issue . . SPACE. . is. Don't make it any harder than you have to and remember there is only room for one in the galley. I racked my brain for 8 months trying to find boat recipes thinking they held all the answers. . .they don't. These menues work in or out of the slip.

Breakfasts:      Fresh Fruit ( what is in season is always best)
                         Yogurt ( Greek is the best for you and more filling)
                          Eggs ( for cruising hard boiled but scrambled work also )
                         Bagels( I personally like the flats)
                         Cereal is always a good choice as are pancakes


Lunch:             Grilled hot dogs
                          Sandwhiches of any kind
                          Wraps (are always good anytime)
                           Quesadillas ( one pan wonder and good to use left over lunch meat and cheese)

Dinner:            Salads, made with sauteed zuchinni with Adobo powder, Fetta cheese, thin steak or thin sliced Chicken
                          breasts
                          Pan fried Pork Chops
                          Rice,Coos Coos
                          Mixed vegies( cauliflower,brocolli, carrots etc.)

There are so many other foods  but this I have found is a good base , I also ate like this for 1 week and lost weight. You use one skillet and very few prep bowls or ustensils which is great. I also found these items are easy to store on top of the icebox since the ice box is also your prep area on most boats.

Captains Hour : Hummus and Flat Bread  or  Pita bread cut in triangles,P-Nuts, Pistachios, Brie, triscuits ( hold up better to moisture) World Table (Exotic Potato Chip Blend w/ Sea Salt) found in WalMarts, many varieties to use for lunch also.

This is a very basic menu but I am relating this to a very small space, on Adventuress I loose my prep counter when I use the stove as most sail boats you do. There is not a lot of room for skillets, toasters etc. A Wok is a handy pan to use for everything.

We were used to grilling out 4 nights a week on land, on a sail boat you can only grill on the back of your boat if you are out of your slip. There are grills at most marinas but by the time you haul your stuff down and carry the cooked food back you either have extra guests or it's cold. 

I would have loved to have seen this before I moved on the boat but I am Thankful for it now!

Bahama Bash Spring 2011

What can I say about the most exciting experience in my life so far, except that it was equally as thrilling as it was scary at times. My comfort level on Adventuress is being tied down to a slip unlike Quetzel who rides the ocean as it was meant to.

My fear began at a little after 12 noon on the 16th of April as we set out on our adventure to the Bahamas, the Atlantic Ocean is rougher than the Bay and it made it's presence known right away. We covered the route we were planning on taking knowing it could change due to winds and current, then on to MOB (man over board) info. . .I made up my mind right then no spontaneous swimming for me!  With that said we were off like Christopher Columbus looking for the Bahamas.

Lunch,  Captain's hr. and dinner as we continued our first day of sailing, I was going to go below and watch Captain John prepare meals but knowing I get sea sick when I leave the cock pit in rough water I planted the biggest part of me right in the seat and stayed put until night watches were beginning. Papa and I had first watch 8pm -10pm, 2 hr watches between 3 couples and the Captain. The time came when I had no choice but  to go below to prep for a night of sailing, bad move on my part. . I grabbed what I could harness, jacket, tether and boat shoes as quickly as possible to no avail. the meals of the day were trelling me they did not want to go on this passage with me but would wait to exit once watch was over and they did. First watch was uneventful, nothing on the water as far as boats went so I played with my tether to see how far  I could go and where in the cock pit, that ttok us to the end of our first watch. I did learn to plot a course which is important to know incase your GPS goes out. A little sleep then before our next watch from 4am -6am, that watch had a little company on the water along with the moon and gorgeous stars. Our destination was a marina in Lucaya, when we started our 2nd watch we could see Freeport on the left or as sailors refer to it as Port side.

Our visit to Lucaya included  a non head visit, a little shopping, lunch at a rest. with Captain John, Deb,George , Papa and myself. Next plan of attack was the beach, a little sunbathing then back to the boat for Captain's hr., which I might add has never been missed on Quetzel no matter where she travels and we did not break the tradition either. Dinner again cooked by the captain was delicious, a little wine then off to bed for an early departure in the am. I slept in the Starboard cabin just as I do on Adventuress so I felt quite at home.

Day 3 took us around the northern Bahama's, Hoffman Cay. Perfect winds for sailing day 2 & 3, we anchored then went for a swim off the back of the boat. Since we were on the hook we dingied in to the beach, swam had Captain's hr and went back to the boat for dinner. Hoffman Cay has a Spring with a cliff for jumping into what they call the Blue Hole, Captain John, Rick and Papa jumped, George did a back flip from a lower ledge. . .very impressive. Deb and I went to the lowest ledge and swam for a bit then it was time to return to the boat for another incredible dinner.

Day 4 found us departing early again to make it to the Berry Islands in a leisurly fashion but catching wind also. We passed Big and Little Stirrup then came to Frazier,Hog and Chub Cay. . .The Berry Islands. . .combined population of 60 people. This stop we Moored which was another good lesson, Captain John and Rick dingied in to the Berry Island Club which consisted of a shower house and a quaint building which was a bar and rest. A minor mishap with the out board motor in the dingy due to bad gas purchased in Lucaya, details will be held forever in our memories as not to incriminate involved parties. We made our plans for dinner in the rest. to find out the 4 employees that work there were going to a seminar in the morning and were closing early so no dinner there. Captain John did find a driver who was willing to take us to Chub Cay by personal vehicle for dinner. After a quick beer at the bar , a non head stop and quick rinse off it was time to dingy back to the boat for Captain's hr and prep for dinner out on the island. With 7 people it took 2 dingy trips, going in was a little rough but not bad. We loaded into the driver's Excursion, 5 inside 2 in the bed for a 6 mile drive that took 45 min. due to the road and the wrong tires for the roads. Back up was called, his brother who came in a white ford pick up with Texas tags. Our driver graduated from Oklahoma University with a basketball scholarship then back to the Berry's to live where his father was the Controller of the Island. Dinner was a treat for all from Janie and Rick. . Thank You Rick and Janie. I sat quietly through dinner knowing the ride back to the boat in a dingy was not going to easy with the winds and the current and my apprehension did not let me down. I was in the first load, the motor kept cutting out as we were being tossed like a Martini, finally the motor kicked in after many feeble attempts, we literally zoomed back making a crash  docking on the side of the boat. I can tell you I have never boarded a boat as fast as I did and thanked God and King Triton( as they do at award shows) for my safe return. A good wife would have stayed topside to make sure her husband also made it back safely in the 2nd group. . . Nope. .  .All men for themself ! A shot of whiskey and bed.

Our final day of sailing came and went without any mishaps and right on course, another night sail was facing us so I slept off and on during the day sail. Dinner and an early bed time since we had second watch. The first night watches ran 2 hrs per couple this watch was 3 hr. stints. The Gulf was throwing us quite a bit so sleeping was hard to come by as we were tossed by the water and wind continuing on at 7 knotts. For this watch I needed light foul weather gear as well as harness and tethers. We faithfully did our chart plots and watched for ships, I watched the huge waves that were carrying us through the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean, just waiting for one to come crashing over the side. Again our watch was uneventful and beautiful, we saw every constellation and watched the moon come up a little past midnight. Believe this or not but I found out I have no sense of direction( I knew this but usually do not share this info).

We pulled into Ft. Lauderdale by 9am, proceeded to secure the boat, take showers , clean the boat for Captain John as a surprise then off to explore Ft. Lauderdale. Getting your land leggs back is a tricky thing and does not happen quickly. Early night for an early departure in the am.

What I got out of this amazing adventure is priceless, the feeling of the wind in the sheets( not the wind in the sheets land lubbers refer to) is breathtaking, the speed and beauty will last with me until we start these quests our selves. I am so proud of Papa and all of his sailing abilities. I got behind the helm a couple of times but had a hard time fighting the current. When we take Adventuress out I will be behind the helm when the Auto Pilot is on.

Thank You Captain John for sharing your experience, knowledge and for your extream patience. To Rick, Janie, Deb and George for friendships and memories that will bring smiles to all of our faces in tough times. . .

Fair Winds to All

First Sailing Lesson of the Season

As we head south to Ft. Lauterdale, Fla. I am riddeld with emotions. . most containing the letters   S..C..A..R..E..D....I will actually be leaving the safety of a slip. As I read many books(which they say is our worst enemy) I understand I am no better than if I was standing on my old deck and looking through binoculars pretending I was on a boat. I am sure to seasoned sailors this has been the easy part. . .in reality it is not as easy as it sounds. It's beautiful in good weather and miserabe in foul weather, it's the foul weather that you will remember. As you lay on a bunk and think yesterday this was warm why do I feel as if I am laying on a block of ice?????? Water on the floor??????? Water in my bathroom cabinet????? water dripping on my head?????? All questions that require quick responses.

I have over come many obstacles in the past 7 1/2 months, laundry still being the biggest and cooking. . but. . . this trip has me shaking in my Flip Flops. Papa and I will be part of a hands on sailing trip to the Bahamas via Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Grand Bahamas, Lucaya, Berry Islands and back. We have sailed the Chesapeak Bay but Ocean Sailing is new to me, I have never even been on a Cruise ship to compare this to(which I am sure there is no comparison)

I enjoyed buying all of the new clothes for the 3 of us even though only 2 of us are going, Ava had to get new things also. We decided to drive to Fla. instead of fly to make the trip  more of our own. I have my sailing gloves,harness and tether, new boat shoes,water shoes, bathing suit, new PJ's that match. . . I forgot the Depends which I am sure to need.

I will take pictures and post as many as the Gulf will allow me to send, I don't even know if we get cell service.  I can quarantee an intersting blog full of mishaps. I am doing this so that I can become a knowledgeable First Mate( ok. . so I call myself that when I am scared).

I am going to wish us. .  . Fair Winds and always at our Backs

March Winds

I have never thought any thing of March winds before now, it seems every month has new meaning when living on a boat. As I was laying in my berth last night I could tell a front is coming in, the current under the boat was rough I could hear it on the hull and feel it as it rocked me to sleep. My senses are sharper as far as hearing the wind approach,  panic sets in and the first thing I can think of saying is "CRAP". During sailing season these winds are greatly appreciated, however when you are just getting your sea legs and body adjusted it's not welcome.

I now dislike the fact it is harder to pull the boat over to the finger dock not that it has not been hard all along but  March winds are getting the best of me.Today I will have Papa adjust the lines so that they are tighter port side, to many times I have been stranded either on the boat when I need to be off or vice versa.

Rain is just a nuisance, it leaves just as much debris as it washes away. The water on the dock is not on as of yet and the boat needs a good washdown, I honestly thought about vacuuming the deck yesterday but there were to many people around that I am sure would label me crazy and  a bit cumpulsive.

For the second time since moving on the boat 6 months ago we ran out of water, this time it was 2 days before Papa got a chance to fill the 6 gallon jugs from the faucet behind the shower house and lug them down to the boat to refill the tank. There really is not much you need running water for except some cooking and washing dishes, I bought bottled water and did not do dishes. When he finally filled the tank last night we quickly went out to dinner! We do things back wards.

I am hoping after a challenging Winter, Spring will be good to us. As Ava and I walked down the dock the other morning we discussed the advantages to living on the boat so far : waking up to beautiful scenery every morning, watching Snow Birds play on bo,th the land and water, a boat covered with snow, our own little world in a small space,Gorgeous Sunsets, the smell of the water in the morning, the sound of the wind from inside the boat and how we have adjusted to it's force. We have also learned the most important lesson of togetherness, I am going to miss living on Adventuress when we move to the apartment but we all realise Maryland is no place for us to live on a boat during the Winter full time. It is a simple life but not a simple way of living.