We are back on the water, so I am once again inspired to blog. Not that being “on the hard” was so bad. It definitely had its perks. For example, we enjoyed some delicious Chinese food that Dallas and Wes’ thoughtful brother, Tim, had delivered to us (thanks, Tim!). We took advantage of the boatyard facilities that were actually plumbed with city water, unlike the showers at “Fort Prison” that, with their rotton-egg-smelling water and lack of shower curtains or tiled floors created conditions in which even Tiffany and I took short showers. We also met some interesting people, including three Germans with whom we had some (mis)adventure when the captain fell down the companionway stairs on their Morgan monohull. (We helped them to navigate the American medical system (i.e., ambulance, E.R.) which, incidentally, they found to be “immer langsam” (always slow) and incredibly expensive. On the other hand, they weren’t too thrilled about paying half of their income to the German government to cover the cost of nationalized healthcare.) Finally, we were able to complete repairs such as the fiberglass patch on the keel using the trusty folding bikes to obtain necessary supplies.
Wes Repairing the Keel
There is nothing like the “salt life”, though. Despite that we are still in the U.S. (just barely–we are closer to Cuba than to the nearest Walmart!), life on the water is novel enough to feed our desire for adventure for the moment. For those of you who have not experienced it, allow me to share with you some of the adaptations that this requires.
In a previous blog, I mentioned taking showers with a bug-sprayer. This might give the impression that we have a primitive plumbing system of our own on board, but not so. We have showers in the heads (bathrooms) plumbed with fresh water, but the on-demand propane water heater that we purchased seems to have two settings: off and scalding. Also, our heads are so small that it is difficult to move around comfortably. Thus, it is much more fun to find a time when there are no other boats around, take one’s clothes off in the cockpit, and have one’s spouse spray pressurized water from the bug-sprayer that has been heated with the warmth of the sun. Surely even the most modest can imagine the freedom of bathing in the sun surrounded by nothing but the ocean and the breeze. To truly capture the experience I must also state that by the time one gets around to taking such a shower, one tends to be pretty sticky and salty, so becoming clean is especially delightful.
The Marine Head
Less delightful is adapting to the heads–in this case I am referring to the toilets specifically. Marine heads are unique in that they are easily clogged, so in general, sailors make it a policy not to place any toilet paper in them. On Pura Vida, we have two heads (we decided that this was essential for two couples), a manual and an electric. The latter works much like a typical toilet in that there is a button that is depressed to flush it. The difference is that the waste is then pumped to a holding tank, which, in our case, has resulted in the head becoming somewhat “odiferous” (per Dallas). The manual head is less problematic in that it discharges into the ocean. However, according to Coast Guard regulations, this can only be used when one is at least three miles offshore, so in the meantime, we need to address the source of the unpleasantry on the electric side. This is Dallas’ unfortunate project of the day.
For Tiffany and I, cooking three meals a day without a microwave began as a bit of a project, but we are getting used to it. She and I make a good team. Since our boat design is “galley-down” (i.e., the kitchen is down in the hull rather than up in the salon area, as in many catamarans), it helps tremendously to have two of us working on dinner so as not to have one person feeling like a galley slave while others are upstairs socializing.
The Galley
One of the advantages of “galley down” is that the galley is larger and nearer to the pantry. In terms of what we have to work with, we have a nice, propane stove with two burners and an oven that generally works, although it is not uncommon for one or both heating elements to turn off without provocation. I have found that we can prepare just about anything that one might eat at home (except for some mac n’ cheese that I bought that I later discovered was for microwave prep only) as long as one has the necessary ingredients. As far as that goes, I have noted before that we have an abundance of canned food on board, thanks to Dallas and Wes’ mother, so it is only produce and cheese that we are likely to crave. (We made sure to get plenty of multi-vitamins to compensate for nutritional requirements.) Also, when we are under sail, it can be pretty tricky to create anything beyond basic pasta dishes without becoming sea-sick (at least until the sea-legs have fully formed), so we will save the gourmet meals for times like this when we are at anchor.
I think I will close by mentioning one of my favorite aspects of being on the water: the opportunity for water sports such as diving and snorkeling. Although we have yet to break out the scuba gear, we are going to do some snorkeling today in the green water and take some pictures using our underwater digital camera.
Monday we head back to the marina for a quick alignment of the port engine, and then it’s back offshore! Since we are so far behind schedule, we are considering making a run directly to Panama with the option of stopping in Mexico if necessary to rest or resupply. Once offshore, I am sure that I will be reminded of some of the primary benefits of the cruising life, including freedom of mobility, the tranquility of isolation, and the pleasure of self-sufficiency. While not for everyone, it certainly has its merits.
Relaxation in the Trampoline
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