Two Years and More Than 5,000 Miles!

It's been 2 Years!

On September 2, 2006 we left Milwaukee, Wisconsin U.S.A. for the adventure of a lifetime!

We've traveled 5,667 miles (4925 N.M.).

Our mooring on Lake Michigan is 2,646 miles (2,299 N.M.) from here as the crow flies.

We have dropped our anchor off of 60 islands including those in the Great Lakes and Intercoastal Waterway.

We've visited 19 countries.

One conversation that often comes up with cruisers is how can we describe this lifestyle to people who aren't familiar with it? We all say the same thing; Everyone at home thinks we're on vacation. Trust me, this is not a vacation. I don't know what kind of vacations you take but when we went on vacation we stayed at nice resorts with all the ammenities, we used all the hot water we wanted, rented a car to get around in and didn't worry too much about how much money we spent. We were on vacation!

Now we live aboard a small sailboat that has the interior space of a large walk-in closet (not that small but close). We capture rainwater when possible and conserve every drop. We travel by dinghy or by walking, sometimes we ride a bus. We watch our energy use very carefully and charge our batteries by solar energy. When we need fuel, water, groceries, boat equipment, garbage disposal or the laundry done it involves a trip ashore in the dinghy. Just going to the grocery store here in Grenada takes us about 3 hours roundtrip. Lloyd on the catamaran "Puddle Jumper' has a T-shirt that says "I used to do 3 things in a day. Now it takes me 3 days to do 1 thing." That about sums up the pace of things. But then, most of the time we don't mind it. After all, we did choose a method of travel that only takes us places at about 5 m.p.h. so we can't be in too great a hurry!

This lifestyle does afford us the opportunity to see a small part of the world up close. We can spend more time, maybe get to know a few of the people who live there. We can explore in depth. We have time for simple things.

Sailing gives you periods of great exhiliration, sometimes anxiety and yes, even boredom. After 2 years I still don't think I can adequately describe it. Perhaps that's because it's a little different for everyone. All I know for sure is we're not ready to quit. So as we begin year 3, here are a few pictures from the first 2 years.

Sailing in the Bahamas.

Sailing to Vieques, Puerto Rico.

There have been too many beautiful anchorages to show them all to you again. Here are just a few.

An anchorage across the Hudson River looking at the Island of Manhatten.

Isle de Muertes, Puerto Rico.

Mayreau, Grenadines

Allan's Cay, Bahamas.

The Intercoastal Waterway, North Carolina.

Deshaies, Gaudaloupe.

Les Pitons, St. Lucia.

The beaches have been incredible. We never tire of their beauty.

Les Saintes.

Saltwhistle Bay, Mayreau.

Key Biscayne, Florida.

Flamenco Beach, Culebra.

Sun Bay, Vieques.

As you know from following our trip, waiting for good weather is always a priority. Here's a few shots of us dealing with the elements.

Cold and rainy on the Erie Canal.

Squall approaching Allan's Cay in the Bahamas.

Water spout south of Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Waiting for the rain in Saltwhistle Bay, Grenadines.

Hiking has been one of our favorite activities on many of the islands we've visited.

Taino Indian cave in the Dominican Republic.

Warderick Wells, Bahamas.

A dirty hash in Grenada!

The rainforest in Dominica.

The crews of Merengue, Sea Lion and Bellagio in Dominica.

Hiking in the rainforest on Saba.

We've been fortunate to have good friends come to visit along the way. Thank you Muff, Reed, Marcia and Mike. It means alot to us!

Jim, Reed and Muff celebrating Jim's birthday with rum punch in the pool.

Marcia and Wendy.

Jim, Wendy, Mike and Marcia at a beach bar in St. Martin.

Boat Maintenance is never ending! We hauled Merengue out of the water for a week in St. Martin to give her new bottom paint as well as tackle other projects.

Along the way we've had the opportunity to see wildlife up close.

The best part of cruising is the people. We've made many great friends. Sorry we don't have pictures of all of you, but you know who you are!

Jim, Wendy and Renee (Jacumba) in the D.R.



Renee and Wendy on board Jacumba.

Frank (Warm Rain) and Jim in Nassau, Bahamas.


Renee & Michael (Jacumba), Joe & Becky (Half Moon), Kristen & Hans (Whisper) with Jim and Wendy.

Manon & Gervais (Le Bete)

With our buddies Carol & Pat (Songbird)

Derek & Kathy (Idyll Island) help Wendy celebrate her birthday in St. Lucia.
Marie France and Gilles (Phoenix III)



Carmelle (Taima), Kristen (Whisper) and Manon (Le Bete).



Jim and Yvon (Taima)

Celebrating with Hans.
Gilles, Randy, Gervais and Pat.



Lynn, Wendy, Marie France and Manon.

Val & Lloyd (Puddle Jumper)

Randy & Lynn (High States), J&W, Kathy & Kerry (Bellagio)

CARNIVAL!!!




We've been to Carnivals in Saint Maarten and Grenada. They were both unique, fun and overflowing with beautiful women. You've seen the photos but we couldn't resist showing you a few again. It never gets boring!









We're always asked how Bailey likes living on a boat. For a cat that spent her first 9 years on land she does really well. She doesn't like the sound of the diesel engine but then neither do we!

I ask you, does she look stressed?

Thanks to our family and friends who supported us in our dream even though it meant we wouldn't get to see each other as often as we'd like. Also thanks to the friends we've made along the way who have always been there for us and who have made the journey so memorable.

Lastly, thanks to the readers of this blog, some of whom we haven't met in person but who have introduced themselves through their comments. We love hearing from all of you.

Trip to Guayave

What have we been up to since our last update? The days go by so quickly and sometimes we can't even remember what we've done. That's what boat life is like. The smallest chores seem to take forever. The quite moments seem to slip by too quickly.

Last Wednesday we decided to go to Clark's Court Bay Marina for Burger Night. Clark's Court Bay is another anchorage just a short distance from here. We thought we'd check it out by land first, maybe meet a few new people and hopefully get a good burger. Our first 2 attempts at finding a good cheeseburger in Grenada left us disappointed so we were on a mission! The result was not bad. We'll go back again.

We had a van full of cruisers, or as we are referred to in these British islands, Yachties. Our taxi driver dropped us back at the De' Big Fish Restaurant dinghy dock where several of us decided it was still early and we needed dessert. Here we are getting ready to dig into apple pie with ice cream and a four layer chocolate mousse cake. Yum!!!

As usual, Jim couldn't wait for the picture to be taken. He wanted to dig right in!

(Sophie & Natalie - he just wanted a little of each)

Friday night was our trip to Gouyave, a small town on the west coast which is known as the fishing capital of Grenada. Every Friday night the town holds a fish fry, a combination street festival and feeding frenzy.

Vendors set up stalls along 2 streets and cook up all kinds of wonderful dishes. You can get yellow-fin tuna kabobs, red snapper steamed with vegetables over a fire, fried fish of all kinds, shrimp kabobs, stir-fried shrimp with chinese noodles and cabbage, and more. We wandered the street sampling the incredible fare. Then suddenly there appeared a wonderful surprise. Clarke's Court Rum was doing a free tasting!!!

Here's Derek (Idyll Island) and Jim getting an introduction to the Clarke's Court family of rums. I think it's funny how they pretend they don't know much about rum so they can taste a little longer. Steel drum music on the street. The party was just getting going when our bus arrived to take us back to Prickly Bay. It ended much too quickly. We will go back again!

How do you relax after a night of rum tasting? You grab a noodle and your fins and float in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Aahhhhhhh....... Yesterday was another hash. This was the worst yet! I've done 3 and only one was good! The common denominator in the 2 bad hashes, MUD! When we left for the hash in the afternoon it was hot and sunny. A few minutes into the hash it was pouring rain. I should have turned around then. When will I learn? The trail was immediately turned to mud. We climbed up into the hills through beautiful countryside with stunning vistas, if you could see them through the downpour. Then the wind started. We were sheltered in the forested area but when you broke out of the trees on the hilltops you were immediately slammed by the wind. It felt like sleet! We later heard that this squall had wind speeds of 45 knots. Jim was out front with the runners and I, as usual was in the back. I clawed my way up and down the muddy, slippery, squishy trail hanging on to any bush or tree that would help me keep from falling. But progress in these conditions was slow and I soon became concerned that we might not make it off the trail before dark. I was walking with Larry & Debbie from the S/V Debonair, fellow mid-westerners from St. Paul, Minnesota. We were feeling our way down the last big hill in the dark. At least at this point we could abandon the trail and head for the main road, a much safer way back toward home. It was exhausting, much too long (about 3 1/2 hrs) and at times a little frightening. No more hashes for me unless it hasn't rained for days! Check out the pictures on Jacumba's blog.

Waterfalls, Hashing and Dominoes - What a life!

Carnival is over but there has still been so much to do. Last week we went with a group of cruisers for a trip to the Seven Sisters Falls. The waterfalls are about a 45 minute drive away, giving us an opportunity to see some more of this beautiful island. The hike to the falls was great.

This Billy-goat was feeding alongside the path. We thought he had a most impressive beard! He said something about the falls being thaaaaaaat a way!

The trail comes out at the last two falls. Jim and I hung out here and swam in the clean, cool pools. Most of the group climbed up to the top where the only way down is by jumping. The 6th falls is a jump of more than 30 feet, not recommended by Jim's back surgeon and a little higher than I like. We were happy to just go swimming!

Here's the group clinging to the edge while they get their instruction on how and where to jump.

Then it was a hike back out to cold drinks and some lunch. Great day!

On Saturday we did another hash. I don't have pictures of this because it was a moonlight hash that took place as the full moon was rising. This one was easier as I'm sure they didn't want anyone falling off a mountain in the dark! It was a beautiful trail through the countryside and across a creek. It began and ended in a small village where the restaurant cooked up chicken and pork, there was plenty of cold beer and even an ice cream shop.

On Saturday we finished a dominoes game that began last year in the Dominican Republic. Renee, Michael, Jim and I started a game in Luperon but quit for the night before we finished. It can take as long as 4 hours to play a game of Mexican Train Dominoes. We agreed we'd finish it another time but shortly after that Mike and Renee left Luperon and we haven't all been back together until this past week. Jim was winning so for all this time we've been listening to him declare himself the champion. We've been listening to his trash talk for almost a year. He wanted to know if we just wanted to concede this victory to him and start a new game? Well, it ain't over till the fat lady sings and I haven't even hummed a note. Set em up! With rum punch in hand, we dueled it out. I was so far behind there was no saving me. Jim and Mike were neck-n-neck until the final round when unfortunately for Jim, he took a doleful drubbing.

Jim and Renee debating strategy.

After his loss, Jim took the rum punch jug and cooler (we couldn't have any) and went to drown his sorrows on Jacumba's trampoline.

Then he started hoarding the snacks. This was not very sportsmanlike behavior!

A couple of rum punches later the match was forgotten as Mike and Jim started pointing out cloud faces to each other. (what was in that punch?)

Jim has demanded a rematch! He claims Mike wasn't really working in Mexico for the past 3 months but was getting Mexican Train Dominoes instruction from a master. Stay tuned