Ruins and Slower Pace

 

Black Point Harbor

   Away from the mega-yacht infused marinas, over-priced stores and restaurants, and tourists in "desperate" need to post, tweet, and chat . . . away from the over-crowded hub of Nassau . . . is the Bahamian version of Mayberry. Here, things run at a slower, calmer pace.

A VERY relaxed cat on island time

   There's basically one main road that leads around the island. The local phone rep comes from the "mainland" (Georgetown) once a week to take care of the residents' minutes and bills.  Goats are the going model of lawn mower. The local children leave their small classrooms and walk home for lunch, returning to fit in a quick game of basketball before the bell rings.  The constable even doubles as the justice of the peace.    

   Yep, we've made it back to Black Point Settlement.  For those of you that have been keeping up with us for a while, you'll remember this as the place where I volunteered at the school for three weeks.  This is also where we made our first real attempt at fixing our engine fiasco and where we rode out Tropical Storm Anna.  (If you want to check out our first time in this wonderful spot, click on the links for May and June of 2015.)

This rock conveniently had a hole
in it for our dinghy line (painter)

   After spending a few nights in Palm Key Marina to wait out a front, we sailed south.  We made a few stops here and there, quick jaunts from island to island.  One of these spots was a place called Pipe Cay.  A former British Naval Navigation Center, this spot provides an interesting walk around the ruins (what's left of the center) along with a few pretty places to anchor your dinghy.

A BIG Bollard for a BIG boat

Some one went to a lot of trouble to make this a
sun downers spot

Inside the living quarters

I saved this little guy's life . . . I found him washed up on the
beach, so I put him back and he snuggled back into the sand

 
   We dropped anchor in Black Point yesterday afternoon.  Once we were settled in, we walked up to Lorraine's Cafe to catch up on our internet needs and have dinner. We plan on being here for about a week. This will allow us to catch a weather window to Georgetown.   I'll keep updating when I can as we keep moving further south.

   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Bimini or Bust

The mooring field was reassuringly calm.  An almost full moon shone orange in an inky black sky scattered with stars. At 3 a.m., we turned on the engine, slipped the lines from the mooring ball, and turned into the channel.

   I was extremely apprehensive about the propeller shaft. Bill had fixed it only the day before (a more complicated fix than we originally thought); it had been tested but, not to the extent that we were about to push it. As we made our way further out into the channel, the calm weather abated my fears but, only slightly.

  It was an hour-long ride out to the open ocean.  During that time, I checked the shaft and the engine frequently.  Each check showed smooth running parts and no leaks . . . the knot in my stomach was beginning to unwind.

  Once out into the Gulf Stream, the weather proved to be a bit too calm; great for crossing but, enough wind to sail.  We had to motor sail.  That knot was starting to grow again.  I was expecting to be able to let out the sails and give the engine some rest.  Now the engine would have to stay on with the sails assisting.

Furry Sailors

   As the glow of the moon was slowly replaced by a beautiful pastel-colored sunrise, that knot in my stomach was again starting to subside.  The morning proved to be the tonic that my nerves were so desperately needing.  Easing-going rollers, plenty of sun, and enough wind (paired with the engine) to reach an average of 6 knots . . . we were going to make it.  No unusual noises from the engine, a smooth turning propeller shaft, no leaks. . . we were going to make it . . .

 

Quarantine Flag

   About 10 hours from pushing the ignition switch, Bill and I turned in the the channel toward Bimini; half an hour later we were tied up in the marina preparing our paperwork  for customs and immigration. Bill soon left with paperwork in tow (only the captain is allowed to leave a vessel until everyone, including the boat, is legal).  I tidied up the cockpit and the salon, arranging and cleaning things as I went, all the while thanking God for a safe crossing . . . and the release of my stomach muscles . . .

This one's for you CJ, Courtesy flag #1

 


   When Bill returned with the documentation, we pulled down the 'Q" flag (to be flown upon entering a country) and replaced it with a Bahamian Courtesy Flag (showing that we are cleared into the country).  This is the first of many flags we hope to fly.





   Understandably, we went to bed right after supper; 3 a.m. is not my preferred time to start the day . .  .  The next day (today) we slept in, ate a good breakfast, and then set out to explore the island. Most of this time was on the beach. of course, enjoying the pristine blue waters of the Bahamas again.  We treated ourselves to lunch at one of the other marinas and even ran into some West Marine customers that remembered us and our story.   Enjoyable conversation flowed long after the food was gone.  I sat down to write the piece that you are reading now as soon as we returned.

 

   What's next? . . . We are waiting for the wind to change.  So, we will be here through tomorrow morning.  After that, we will make our way across the banks to the Berrys or make a short jump down to Cat Cay (whichever the wind change allows for). We are safe, we are here, and we are finally back on our journey.  I'll keep you posted.



   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

We're Back . . . And Almost Gone

   After a several month, unofficial hiatus, yes, we're back on the blog.  "Where'd we go?", you might ask . . . "What happened?", you might wonder . . . Allow me, if you will, to sum up our absence.

"Where have you  been?" . . . 

   In short, life got in the way; a large wave of whiplash-inducing, "Now what?"-producing, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" sort of life. . . We've all been there at some point so I won't use up your time or mine hashing it all out.  The good news is that we're back and are literally about a week from leaving the States. Yep, you read that correctly . . . We're back on track!

   Now, even though we were sidelined for a while, we didn't spend our time lying around feeling sorry for ourselves; we continued to try to move forward.  Taking jobs, buying a car, and paying monthly slip fees are just a few of the things we never expected to be doing when we were towed into the area about a year and a half ago. However, we were able to do a good bit of work on the boat, allowing her to be all the more blue-water ready. I've probably forgotten quite a bit but, these are the major improvements that I can remember:




Fixed the engine!!!

One of the new panels on the bimini

Replaced :

• House and starting batteries, switch, and charger
• Solar panels
• Sump pump and bilge pump
• Old glass in hatches with new lexan and reseated one of the hatches
• Forward lazarette
• Old rigging with sta-set x (and did the splicing and whipping ourselves)
• Lifelines
• A lot of the lighting (inside and out)
• Speakers in the aft cabin and the salon
• Electronics for navigation
• Latches for v-birth storage
• Aft cabin head and faucet (soon to do the same for forward cabin)
• Life sling
• EPIRB

• 

  new electronics at the helm

  Lazy jack system

Installed:

• Controller for air conditioner
• SSB radio and antenna tuner
• Regulator for refrigerator
• Solar panel controller

This actually shows the port side with a new speaker,
lee cloth, cushions, and shelf covers

Made:

• Salon cushions
• Lee cloths
• Aft cabin cushion
• Shelf covers
• Stack pack
• Dodger
• Anchor bridal

Bought a generator

Patched a few tears in the Genoa

new stack pack for main sail

Removed old wind generator

   This doesn't include all of the countless little purchases and upgrades that we've done as we were able but, . . . I'm sure you get the idea. . .

   After spending our entire time here in the Miami area in a marina, we finally untied the lines again.  So, for the last few weeks, we've been on the hook in a lake right behind the West Marine where Bill and I were working. Our last official day was this past Saturday.

new dodger

We've had LOTS of well wishes from customers, coworkers, and friends.  Offers of help haven't been rare either.  Questions about and general enthusiasm for our lifestyle and journey have definitely become a big topic around here.  We appreciate all of it.  So, to everyone who's offered a phone number/email, asked to check out this blog, given a helping hand, or just lets us know that what we're doing is pretty awesome, thank you!

On the way to the lake

In the lake

Final checkup at the vet . . .
Silas actually doesn't mind giving the vet a helping hand 

There you are . . . 

   I will be updating the other pages on the blog soon and will continue to post as I did when we were out and about (about once a week).  Please keep checking in on us; we're happy to have you along for the ride.

   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Shouldering the Storm

   Remember when I wrote a while back about having some extra time on my hands? . . . Well, that was a momentary lapse in judgement.  I think the ethos took that comment as an invitation to "bring it on". . . I'm sure you all thought we just disappeared  . . . Or "fell into the ocean", as Bill's mom says . . . but, we're still here. We've just had A LOT going on lately. We're still working, still improving the boat, and still trying to get out of here as soon as possible.
 
   It began with a planned procedure for Bill. . . He's been having issues with his right shoulder for quite a while. Bone spurs, a bone growth under the joint, and some bone fragments behind the shoulder were causing him a lot of pain; several doctors over the last couple of years have recommended surgery. Bill was trying to put it off even longer but, we think his most recent return to work was the last straw.  The pain elevated to an unbearable level and he finally consented to an operation . . .

Bill snapped this pic from his hospital bed . . .

 


   Well, the simple operation didn't go as planned (the damage was worse than the surgeon thought), and 1 out-patient procedure turned into recovery at home, a partial shoulder replacement, a few nights in the hospital, more home recovery, and physical therapy. Whew!

Bill had no sooner settled in from the hospital, when the cats
started welcoming him home

   It wasn't long after we got Bill settled in on the boat (maybe a couple of days), when our aft head decided that it just wasn't going to work anymore. . . After a failed attempt at rebuilding the head (too many years of previous owners not taking care of it), we replaced the toilet and the hoses . . . Yeah, fun . . . we finally had a brand new working head. This would have been a huge pain under normal circumstances but, with Bill's shoulder out of commission, let's just say it was NOT a pleasant experience.

   This is just a small bit of what we've been dealing with . . . If I ever write that I have too much time on my hands again, call me out on it  . . . It just might save me from being struck by lightning or something . . .

This is Oliver clearly NOT being productive 

    Ok, so, we have been able to be somewhat productive during all of this. Bill's time off gave him a lot of time to work out plans for building dinghy davits and a new salon table.  We've, along with the whole head replacement, replaced our aft cabin fan, fixed our air conditioner (that also went out after Bill's surgery), and finished the bottom salon cushions . . . just the back cushions left. I'm so happy with my progress that I've already started pricing out materials for a few more projects ( Next, a new dodger!).

The bottom cushions fit nicely

My fist zipper plaque!

 

The pillows give a better idea of the color scheme I'm going for

   Bill also bought me an Ultrafeed sewing machine for my birthday last month! Not only will this allow me to work on our own projects but, once we get out sailing again, it will allow me to take on projects as we go.  Earning a little extra money as we go will certainly help to keep the cruising kitty topped off.

My new "toy" with the back cushions (sans the covers)
in the background

   We were also able to move the boat back to the City of Hollywood Marina (where we were first towed in after the engine fiasco).  This is a much better place for us to be; the staff is friendlier, the marina is cleaner, we have friends here also living on their boats, and the rent is significantly cheaper.

Simeon likes to "help" me sew . . . (notice the measuring tape
around his waist)

 
 


   I have added another recipe to the galley page as promised. I really enjoy putting this casserole together. It's pretty versatile and could be changed to suit a variety of tastes.
 
   Bill's therapy will last another 6 weeks and then he should be good as new. His full range of motion and load bearing ability should return . . . Something he hasn't had in a while. This will, according to the doctor, give Bill another 10 years of sailing before anything else has to be done to his shoulder.

   Hopefully our problem trend will start to subside . . . And there'll be a calm after the storm.

 

   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

A Soggy Situation

The Port Hole, Frame Removed For Reseating

The Frame

   In case you haven't been checking on the weather in this part of the world lately, it's rainy.  Really rainy, as in multiple thunderstorms every day.  All this water (ironic since not too long ago we were in a state of severe drought) is producing some not so pleasant side effects.  Flooded streets make walking and commuting more difficult.  There are a few leaks (We're working on fixing them) that have made themselves known to us by way of a soaked pillow, a damp settee cushion, a drippy port hole, and some drenched clothing  . . . The standing water is a mosquito's dream. . . If I had my way, mosquitoes would be wiped off the planet.  I HATE MOSQUITOES. . . .  but, I digress . . . anyway, you'd think that our torrential downpours wouldn't necessarily have an up side for a boater but, that's where you'd be wrong.

The Soaked Wood Removed, Port Hole Covered For Rain 

   Now, I know that the rain is great for all things green but, for someone who lives on a boat (and, therefore, doesn't own a lawn), this is not an enormous concern.  In fact, I sort of dread heavy rain because it means pulling out the extra towels and strategically placing them under the drippy spots, hoping that it doesn't rain long enough to soak the towels through.  So, what is the silver lining to this soggy problem?  A cleaner boat.

   I am certainly not the only boater to make use of our H2O surplus.  At work, I have seen quite a few people buying sponges, brushes, soap, and rags all with the intent of using the rain to assist them in their cleaning efforts.

These Guys Also Like The Rain

   Our boat has needed a good scrub down for a while, too long really.  Before all this rain started, it was just WAY too hot to get out there and spend several hours scrubbing down the boat.  However, today (since I had the day off) I decided that today was the day to swab the deck.   When I first started scrubbing, I had our water hose at the ready to rinse down one section of the boat at a time.  It wasn't raining, just overcast.  It didn't take long, however, for the thunder and storm clouds to roll in.  Soon, I found that the light rain was helping me to rinse as I went but, . . . you can have too much "help".  There were several times when I had to stop to take shelter under our bimini because the rain was coming down so hard that standing out in the open would have been a little ridiculous.  At one point I crouched under the dodger because the bimini offered no cover from the rain coming down sideways . . . Yes, I'm sure I looked rather silly sitting out there but, the heavy rain didn't last too long . . .

The Cats Like Checking Out The Deck

  
   Now, you might be wondering why I felt like I "had" to get this done today.  After all, I could have waited for another day that wasn't rainy and simply used the hose for the whole thing.  I could have but, honestly, the fact that the boat's exterior (the cockpit in particular) desperately needed a bath has been bugging me for weeks.  I hadn't done it before because it was raining, too hot, or I flat out didn't feel like it.  I was not going to put this off any longer. . . boy am I glad I didn't.  I don't have before and after pictures for you and that is because some areas, frankly, were embarrassing. . . most of the problem areas were under our cockpit cushions.  I like our cushions but, the fact that they are good at hiding dirt is not necessarily a good thing.  Looks can be deceiving; I didn't realize how badly the boat needed my attention until I moved the cushions to clean underneath. . . . Let's just say the boat is now CLEAN! Ahhhh . . .

Can I Go Outside Now?

 

Kookie Approves

   I realize that my methods were not the most conventional  but, since when am I concerned about that?  I mean if I wanted conventional, I wouldn't be living and traveling on out sailboat full-time with my husband and four cats  . . . I found a way to be happy with the rain and use it to our benefit; exactly inline with our attempt at back-to-basics living . . . Now, . . . if I could just find a silver lining to the the mosquito problem . . . hmmm . . . maybe not . . .      

 

Beautiful Sunset Over Our Marina

 
     Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Invaders!

   It is fairly common knowledge that unwanted critters of many kinds can be a nuisance to cruisers.  When a boat is out at sea, the chance of taking on little stowaways is greatly lessened.  However, when a boat is tied up to land, all bets are off.  Just like those who live in houses, we are vulnerable to things that crawl be it ants, roaches, rats, whatever.  While, thank God, we have not had the experience of dealing with rodents (I'm sure the cats are a good reason for that), we have had experience "hosting" a few other little unwanted creepy crawlies.  None of these "visits" have been bad enough to leave us feeling like we were under siege (though one came close) but, they have provided me with some interesting stories.

   Our first encounter of the buggy kind started when were about three-quarters of the way through our excursion in the Bahamas.  We are not exactly sure when or how these little nuisances got on board but, we are pretty sure that we picked them up during one of the very few times we stayed at a marina there.  The first sign our "guests" had arrived came one morning when I saw what, at fist glance, looked like rodent droppings.  I cleaned them up, sanitized the area, and spent the whole day worrying that we had a rat aboard.

   A few days later, I picked up the cats' litter mats to clean them out and found more of these "droppings" under one of the mats.  This time, when I went to wipe them up, one of them squished like a bug. . . It hit me . . . these were NOT droppings, they were eggs, cockroach eggs. . . ugh. . . . I couldn't believe it; we had been very cautious.  Cardboard never made it on to the boat (roaches like to lay eggs in cardboard) and we didn't leave food out.  Somehow they still made it aboard.

   So, I made sure to kill and dispose of the eggs, sanitizing and checking every area I could think of that a bug would want to hide in.  I thought it worked. WRONG.  It only delayed them.  Over the next few weeks we started to see a roach or two at night. I tried sprays and baits; I think the roaches laughed at my efforts.  Even so, the problem didn't get worse until we landed in Florida (apparently they are a common problem here).

   I started researching solutions one day and found a product made by Dupont, Advion Cockroach Gel Bait, that had about a million five star reviews and had been used by other boaters.  By the time I had made the decision to order the stuff, it was late.  So, I left the information on my tablet, intending to place the order the next day.  Ironically, that night, I was awakened by something crawling down my back.  I nearly leap out of bed and turned the light on at the same time. "Aha!  Get it!  Get it!  Get it!", I yelled while simultaneously trying to smack the bug with a book.  Bill, still half asleep and bewildered as to what it was that he was supposed to get, was frantically asking "What? What is it?".  We finally got the little monster and I order the bait the next day.

  I couldn't wait to get this product out of the package.  Once I had set the bait, all we had to do was wait.  In a mater of three days, we had disposed of the last dead bug.  It was that good.  We have been completely roach-free ever since.  Whew!  Glad that didn't get any worse!  

   Don't worry, the other two stowaways are much less of a problem and not cringe-inducing. . .

The Coil That The Bugs Were Hiding In Is On The Right;
The End Of The Snubber Is Near The Bottom Left.

  Since we've been tied up here in Hollywood, Bill and I have noticed that, every now and then, we'd get a bunch of little ant-like bugs up on deck.  They never seem to hang around for long, they seem to crop up whenever we get a heavy rain, and many of the other boats here were noticing them, too.  Until this morning, we assumed they were being blown in when the rain and storms came though. Again, WRONG.  Bill checked some of our lines this morning, the snubber (this attaches to the anchor, acting as an extra bit of security when the anchor is down) included.  While checking the snubber, he found a nest of these little buggies (wee beasties as my Scottish-born great aunt would say) hanging out in its coils.  He did his best to smash and wash them all away with the hose . . . I'm assuming that the other affected boats also have nests like these and just don't know it yet . . . Hopefully ours won't be back.

The Crabs Seem To Like Our Blue Line Better For Crawling
On Board (I'd Have Posted  A Pic Of One Of These Guys
But, I couldn't Get One To Hold Still).

   Our last critter is the more humorous of the bunch: the crab.  I don't know exactly what sort of crabs they are.  I have heard a few people refer to them as sand crabs but, I'm not sure.  They are very dark in color, are shaped kind of like a Blue Crab, and are only about the size of a half dollar.  Because of their diminutive size, they find it easy to crawl onto our (and many other's) lines from the pier and explore the deck.  I have seen these sidewinders on quite a few boats.  They don't seem to bother anybody (other than they way they invite themselves aboard) and, if left alone, they seem to crawl right back to where they came from.  However, no one really wants a crab on their boat (unless it's on the menu).


  Now you might be wondering about our built-in feline defense system.  They love it when a crab comes to see us.  The crab, unfortunately, usually regrets the visit.  I have seen Oliver get into a staring contest with a crab.  With the crab still on the pier and Oliver still on the boat, the crab spent several minutes trying to figure out how to flee the scene without being eaten.  Little did he know that the cats aren't allowed to leave the boat.  Most of the time we see the crabs coming and can knock them off of the lines and into the water before they ever get to the boat.  However, They aren't so easy to spot at night and we have often seen one of our cats chasing a new "toy" around the deck.

   One morning, a few weeks ago, I slid out of bed and walked into the salon/galley where Bill was making breakfast.  Without  my glasses on or contacts in, I am  very near sighted.  I noticed a fuzzy-looking grey spot on the rug.  To my unaided eyes, it looked like a tuft of cat fur.  As a went to pick it up, the feel was all wrong.  My eyes began to focus.  It was a crab; a dead crab.  "Oh, it's a crab! It's a crab!", I lamented to Bill as I tried to dispose of it as quickly as possible (Why must I always be the discoverer of such things?).  Apparently, one of the cats had brought us a "present" that morning and left it under the table for us to find and enjoy; how nice. . . loyal mousers are wonderful . . . most of the time.

   Well, I hope you have found my little compilation of stories amusing.  Check out the cockroach bait link if you have a need for it; it really does work.  If any of you have any interesting invader stories of your own, feel free to post them in the comments section so we can all enjoy them.

   By the way, I just added a great burger recipe to the galley page.  So, check it out!      


   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Cats on Board

Did You Want Something? - Kookie

 



   Living on a sailboat is pretty "out of the box" for may land-lubbers.  Add in, not one cat but, four . . . four!? . . . Well, let's just say that along with all the animal lovers that hear our story and cheer us on, there are plenty of others that have some "interesting" reactions.  We've heard everything from,"What do you do  with all that fur?" to, "That's too many cats.", to "Are they (the cats) ok with that?".  No matter what the reaction, most people are amazed, when they see for themselves, that we make our furry family work.  It really does work.  So, for those of you that are entertaining the idea of bringing an animal aboard or are just curious about how it works, I though I'd go over some points/tips that make living with four cats  on a boat a little more "purrrfect" . . . Sorry, I couldn't help myself . . .

 


   It's Their Space, Too:  It may not sound like rocket science but, before introducing our furry friends to our new space, we needed to keep in mind that they wold be living in the boat, too.  I know animals are adaptable and being flexible is usually not too difficult for them but, they needed that extra bit of consideration since we were about to rearrange their little world; A new environment can be scary.  Just as you would "baby-proof'" your home for a new child or make accommodations for a person with special needs, we accommodated the cats.  Will they be able to maneuver around the boat easily?  Where are the best places to put a litter box or food bowls?  Do they have safe places to go in rough weather? We kept these and a million other questions in mind as we began the moving process.

 

Our "Scratching Mast"

   What's Old Is New Again: We brought what we could from our current home.  Toys, blankets, litter boxes . . . we wanted them to have familiar things (with familiar smells) in the boat.  For an animal, if the place smells familiar, it will start to feel like home more quickly.  Their food and litter were important in this process, too.  A familiar feeding routine, the same brand of food, and even the same brand of litter (because they all smell differently) helped our kitties adapt more easily.  The biggest thing that we couldn't bring with us was a scratching post.  We actually had two scratching towers in our RV (our previous home) that would never have fit on the boat.  What to do?  I had a light bulb idea while working around our mast one day.  The mast was the perfect base for a scratching post and it wasn't very aesthetically pleasing (our mast runs all the way through the boat).  So, we wrapped the mast from the ceiling to the floor in sisal rope and voila!  A great scratching post that was nice to look at; a win/win.

Close Up

 



   Doctor, Doctor, . . .:  Of course, no matter where we are, we try to keep the cats up to date on all of their shots.  However this proves to be difficult at times because a new place means a new vet and, if you're out of the country, this is even more problematic.  So, we did our homework.  Since we knew that the first foreign place we'd be visiting was the Bahamas, we researched the fees and procedures on the Bahamian government's website as well as pet travel sites that told us about finding a vet there.  This allowed us to prepare ahead of time.  We were able to check the cats into the country without a problem and keep track of vet clinics, should we need one (thankfully, we didn't).  We also keep books on the boat that specifically deal with pet care on a boat.  Even the best plans can't ensure that there's a vet available every time you need one.  These books, allow us to have information at hand concerning administering medication, diagnosing common ailments, pet safety, and more; Should we need to treat the cats in a remote location on our own, these will be a big help (I have read them cover to cover).

Oliver Sporting His Harness

   A Safe Place:  This was a BIG worry for me before we moved aboard.  What if they fall overboard?  What if the seas get rough? I worried about this A LOT.  My fears only dissipated when we were actually able to implement a plan.  First, we made sure that we had solid rules.  For us this meant that the cats could only go as far as the cockpit while we were underway; they could walk around the deck only while we were at anchor or in port; they were, under no circumstances, allowed to roam free in a marina; and, lastly, we must supervise them while they are outside.  We follow these rules religiously and, thank God, they are all safe, sound, and no one has gone overboard.


   The cats also wear harnesses at all times. We initially looked at pet life vests (yes, they make them small enough for cats).  However, after doing some research, we found that this could actually be a hindrance to cat safety.  Unlike dogs, cats rely on their agility and ease of motion to stabilize themselves.  These life vests (and we looked at a lot) would have all restricted their natural movements.  So, instead of investing in something that would have been a possible hazard, we purchased harnesses.  These don't float but, it gives us a way to grab on to them for easy retrieval.  Our thought was that with our rules and vigilance in place, the cats weren't likely to go overboard but, just in case, we needed a way to pull them out as quickly as possible.  At first, the cats resisted the harnesses.  They even tried to walk backwards in an attempt to get out of them but, after a while they were fine.  Now, they are like a second skin (or fur) for them.  They don't even seem to notice them.

   The Day to Day:  This requires a good bit of extra work but, it is certainly worth it.  I clean their litter boxes once every day (we have two).  We make sure that they have fresh food and water, giving them two meals a day and topping off the water bowl as needed.  I also wash their bowls and mats regularly to keep away any bugs or germs that might want to hang around.  I have to corral their toys in a central location because they tend to get left all over the boat and I give out treats every now and then, just because.  I also do A LOT of combing.  In short, these guys are well cared for.

Simeon, Lounging As Usual

   So, that's my quick glace at bringing our kitties on board.  I'm sure there are things I forgot to cover but, these are the major considerations.  If you have any questions, please let me know. Hopefully this gives those of you would-be cruisers some food for thought.  For those of you that were simply curious, well, I hope you now see that we aren't quite as crazy as we seem for bringing these guys aboard and that it really can work. As for the question of why there are four cats . . . Well, that's another story . . .

Silas: In A Word, Silly

   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Not Quite Chill'n in Key West

Projects!

   Appliances.  We all seem to  have a love-hate relationship with them. We love them when they work. They chill our food, wash our clothes, and make our coffee everyday. Usually, they are so effective at carrying out their allotted tasks, we don't really think about them. . . Usually. . . Then there are the occasions when these workhorses break down and drive even the most adept repairmen to frustration.

Laundry - Cruiser Style

   I give you our refrigerator; ever-present and never causing trouble.  The keys changed that.  The warmer water and much warmer temperatures are giving our aging refrigerator a run for its money. Literally.  It doesn't. Stop. Running. It won't even cool consistently. This is completely taxing the batteries, so much so that we are having to run the engine for 3 hours each day just to keep the charge where it needs to be. Not to mention that, we're constantly worrying about the temperature of the food.  Thankfully nothing has gone bad yet.

Our Wind Generator Is Now
Back In Business

   Now, before you suggest freon (a recharge kit), we tried that. It helped but, didn't fix the problem. We also defrosted the fridge. Again, not a fix. So, after trial and error and consulting various sources, we have come to a conclusion. There just simply isn't enough insulation in the fridge. We have found a few ideas on how to bulk up the insulation and plan on trying those as soon as possible.

   In our efforts to find parts for the fridge and other projects (Believe me, a project list never ends on a boat), we have found ourselves roaming around town a lot.  This has allowed us to walk the tourist scene as well as the less traveled areas. We've met some interesting folks, checked out a few shops, and sampled a bit of the local cuisine.  The locals are friendly and easy-going but, (as this is prime spring break time) the waterways can be a bit treacherous.  There is a combination of speed boat owners who don't care about the wakes they cause and tourists on various rented watercraft who, I think, just don't understand that driving by someone at close range on a boat is not the same as in a car.

  



One Of Many Banties In The Area

   We have also discovered the famed, or infamous, animal of Key West, the rooster.  These guys are everywhere; backyards, businesses, perched on signs, and, yes, crossing roads.  We even had one standing beside us as the cross walk waiting for the light. No joke. Smart rooster. I guess it gives new meaning to the term "bird-brained".

  


  

Walking Around Town

Picturesque View On The Walk To The Commissary

These Little Jellies Are All Around The Dinghy Dock 

  

Silas Has A New Favorite Perch

 
  We finally got the cats checked out and their papers are nearly in order.  We found a local vet that also sails to the Bahamas on a regular basis.  He helped to get the cats vaccines updated and (in accordance with the paperwork) is going to make a boat visit to see the cats here in their home environment.  We also have a very similar boat to his. So, I think he wants to see the boat, too.



Oliver Enjoys The Deck

  

Kookie Checks Out The Dodger

Simeon Thinks We Can Chart Our Course Later



Nap Time

   Our projects here have taken up quite a bit of our time. So, provisioning is the biggest thing looming on our check list (other than getting the fridge to cooperate).  I have the list made up and double checked. We just need to actually buy it all and get it stored on board. A task that is simple in theory but, not so easy in the physical execution. This is going to mean multiple dinghy rides, multiple walks to the store and back or rides in a taxi, and multiple loads of stuff to stow away.

Sunset In The Bay

  Rain Dog arrived on Thursday.  We are heading out to dinner tonight with them to discuss travel plans and have a fun evening out. As of now, if the weather cooperates, we'll head out mid week for Bimini by way of Marathon and Key Largo. Hopefully landing in the Bahamas by the weekend.  For now, we'll continue to work our way towards getting the boat Bahamas-ready and try not to get too frustrated with the fridge. . . Simeon certainly won't.







   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)