{"id":2960,"date":"2017-06-11T21:48:22","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T02:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sailingmilou.com\/?p=2960"},"modified":"2017-06-13T17:22:06","modified_gmt":"2017-06-13T22:22:06","slug":"one-year-cruisaversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sailingmilou.com\/?p=2960","title":{"rendered":"One year cruisaversary!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been a whole year!! We moved on to our boat June 11, 2016; and here we are, one year later, hanging out in Panama. Our boat feels like home. We\u2019ve lost our feeling of being imposters to the cruising life.<\/p>\n

\"First<\/a>
First dock!! That boat is not ready to go anywhere. I don’t even see the sails!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"First<\/a>
First day swimming off the boat–Father’s Day, Pentwater, MI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When experienced cruisers ask us if this life was what we thought it would be, I think they expect us to start in on tales of woe about clogged heads and engine trouble, dragged anchors and unexpected storms. We have some tales to tell, but really, this trip has been pretty much what we expected. The low moments are excruciating; but the highlights are astonishing. Throughout the year, as a family, we grow more competent, confident and flexible. It\u2019s an accomplishment in itself to spend every day of your life learning new things; we can feel the neurons firing up and making new connections, even for objectives as mundane as finding a quart of milk in a new town. Whenever our kids head out to find a bathroom by using their Spanish, it feels like a victory.<\/p>\n

\"Bon<\/a>
Bon Voyage party, Milwaukee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In an attempt to organize a bunch of info, we\u2019re reduced to a list:<\/p>\n

\"Also<\/a>
Also in Titusville: the raft-up on Wildcat, waiting for the rocket launch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best free book score<\/span>: American Gods<\/i>, in Titusville<\/p>\n

Best low-tech gear<\/span>: TIE between the solar oven and the Windscoop, both of which really came into their own in Guna Yala. Honorable mention: deck of cards.<\/p>\n

\"Just<\/a>
Just sailing on past the Statue of Liberty….<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Smelliest part of boat life<\/span>: you\u2019d think it\u2019d be the scrappy, infrequent showers, right? You would be so, so wrong. It\u2019s a terrible toss-up between the odor of the holding tank vent being clogged\u2014which shoots air from the holding tank in to the saloon\u2014and the smell from the salt-water spigot in the galley when something has crawled up the hose and died. So gross.<\/p>\n

\"Also<\/a>
Also smelly: horse poop on the barrier islands outside of Beaufort, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Goofball.\"<\/a>
Goofball.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best boat upgrade<\/span>: I was going to say the anchoring system, which has kept us safe and secure night after night; but then I remembered that stretch of time when the foot switches didn\u2019t work, and how they\u2019re corroding in general, and how we still haven\u2019t installed the control switch at the helm. The anchoring system is still awesome and dear to my heart, but\u2014hello, lithium batteries\/solar combo, with backup super-alternator. We have never uttered the phrase, \u201cPlease charge that later; we are low on power.\u201d We are charged to 100% capacity almost every single day. This is unheard of for most boats. Corollary: the refrigeration upgrade, which saves us boatloads of power in itself (even if things do occasionally end up frozen).<\/p>\n

\"Turnbull<\/a>
Turnbull anchorage, Lake Huron<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Favorite anchorage<\/span>: Warderick Wells? Turnbull Island? Coco Bandero? Bahia Sangua de Tanamo? Impossible question. Stop it.<\/p>\n

\"Warderick<\/a>
Warderick Wells<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Biggest waste of money<\/span>: wifi booster antenna.<\/p>\n

\"Better<\/a>
Better choices with Sapphire: Panama Canal transit on their boat. Americans, coming through!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Poorest tactical choice<\/span>: the dinghy ride from our boat to Sapphire\u2019s family rental near Georgetown. Why didn\u2019t we take the shorter dinghy ride and take a cab? It was way too rough out there! Not to mention the terrible surf landing, iPad destruction, and minor concussion on my part. Lesson learned. Our passage from Club Island to Tobermory was no great shakes, either.<\/p>\n

\"First<\/a>
First real fish; a highlight of our first overnight ocean passage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most terrible week<\/span>: look, there were a lot of intense weeks with extreme highs and lows (that first one comes to mind), but I think the worst was when we were pinned down on Long Island, Bahamas, waiting to head south. Really challenging shore access, no good way to get to our friends\u2014just a few miles away!\u2014crazy rolliness, very little sleep.<\/p>\n

\"Better<\/a>
Better times in the Bahamas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Seasickness<\/a>
Seasickness victim. Also fashion victim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Worst seasickness victim<\/span>: I know you\u2019re expecting T, but actually Michu takes this prize. Passage from Fort Pierce, FL, to West End, Bahamas; changing an impeller upside-down in the engine room in rough seas. Possible negative influence from the Bonine, which he hasn\u2019t tried since. It was ugly.<\/p>\n

\"Wearing<\/a>
Wearing lots of clothing of all kinds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best piece of clothing award<\/span>: Swear to god, I don\u2019t worry too much about what I look like out here, but you might want to hear this. I have a pair of Patagonia board shorts that I bought maybe 16 years ago that never fit. I didn\u2019t get rid of them, because they are super-nice Patagonia board shorts, and maybe someday the stars would align and they would magically look good on me\u2026and then I thought, they\u2019ll fit F by the time we\u2019re done with this trip, might as well bring them. Well. They fit. They are bomb-proof, quick-dry, and awesome-looking, and make me feel like I am 20 years old. In a very different category, I\u2019m quite fond of my foul-weather bibs that let me drop the seat without getting totally undressed.<\/p>\n

\"North<\/a>
North Channel of Lake Huron<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best thing we brought that we were told we wouldn\u2019t need<\/span>: 300 feet of high-test chain. When we need it, we need it.<\/p>\n

\"No<\/a>
No need to anchor in the Erie Canal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"DSCF0900\"<\/a>Things we brought that we have since realized were slightly idiotic<\/span>: nice shoes (since sent home with my brother); PAWS Easter-egg dying kit (all the eggs in Panama are brown!); Bowditch\u2019s Navigation Guide, coming soon to a free book shelf near you; the three-tiered copper hanging basket that would wing all over the place when we were underway<\/p>\n

Best homeschooling success<\/span>: math.We love the books the kids are using, and we\u2019ve managed to be very consistent in studying.<\/p>\n

\"Hands-on<\/a>
Hands-on homeschooling; old Spanish fort in Portobelo, Panama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"More<\/a>
More school! Heading for the Met in NYC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Worst homeschooling failure<\/span>: music. It was a big financial investment to bring instruments along with us, and man, does the cello take up space; but the kids aren\u2019t playing enough to make it work, and Michu and I are terrible music teachers. Although F was rockin’ it last night with the open mic guys…<\/p>\n

\"Here<\/a>
Here we learn that the Washington Monument is very large.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ugliest boat-administered haircut<\/span>: It\u2019s fine, you guys. I like the asymmetrical look. I know it was windy when you were cutting it. Thanks for trying, honey.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The first of many.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best home-cooked meal<\/span>: those first lobsters in the Berry Islands of the Bahamas. Talk about knowing you\u2019ve arrived\u2026<\/p>\n

Best restaurant meal<\/span>: the all-you-can-eat sushi in Great Bridge, at the entrance to the ICW. Sounds like it would be terrible, but every thing was made to order and amazing.<\/p>\n

\"Fine<\/a>
Fine boat cuisine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Worst meal<\/span>: I think the reheated, formerly frozen sesame noodles on the fourth day of our passage from Jamaica to Panama. No one even pretended to eat them. Food for the fishes.<\/p>\n

Best Ice Cream<\/span>: Peace Pies in Charleston. It was one of those things where there were lots of other options, and they were kind of expensive, and we almost went somewhere else\u2026but it was AMAZING<\/p>\n

\"So<\/a>
So good!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Worst boat injury (since cruising)<\/span>: T\u2019s foot, on the very first night on the boat. It was a brutal cut, and took forever to heal.<\/p>\n

\"Leaving<\/a>
Leaving Lake Michigan, under the Mackinac Bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Guna<\/a>
Guna Yala<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best fantasy inventions to improve cruising life<\/span>: bug zapper that kills all biting insects in a 20-mile radius. Cabinet that constantly delivers fresh, hot pizza whenever you open it, or ice cream, or chai tea. Toilet seat that doesn\u2019t twist at the hinges and break when being jolted around (Brynn, we expect to see some progress on this one).<\/p>\n

Best Public Library<\/span>: Cleveland. Shakespeare First Folio–and amazing graphic novel section!<\/p>\n

\"Library<\/a>
Library of Congress. Also good.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"DSCF0938\"<\/a>Best snorkeling<\/span>: we all have different answers for this one. The Aquarium off Bell Island in the Bahamas may have had the most dense fish population; Thunderball Grotto was amazing to swim into; the best corals were off Sirichidup. Impossible question. Next.<\/p>\n

\"Cruising<\/a>
Cruising kids at Black Point<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Favorite marina<\/span>: you\u2019d think it\u2019d be some place with amazing pools and pristine showers and a great restaurant. Our favorite marina had none of those things: the guys at Homer Smith in Beaufort, NC, were fantastic.<\/p>\n

\"Homer<\/a>
Homer Smith in the morning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"South<\/a>
South Manitou Island, MI. No marinas in sight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Worst Marina of All Time<\/span>: Southwind Marine, in Milwaukee, where we started. Remember how they wrecked our brand-new bow roller? And how our neighbor witnessed the whole thing? They never compensated us. Jerks.<\/p>\n

\"Beauty<\/a>
Beauty in Jamaica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best place we went that we were told we couldn\u2019t go<\/span>: You guys, we\u2019ve been told we couldn\u2019t go to so many places with this boat. The Bahamas, with our draft; Guna Yala with no watermaker; the Rio Chagres, again with the draft. They were all amazing. Do your own research, and don\u2019t listen to the naysayers.\"DSC_2067\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been a whole year!! We moved on to our boat June 11, 2016; and here we are, one year later, hanging out in Panama. Our boat feels like home. We\u2019ve lost our feeling of being imposters to … <\/p>\n

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