As the world turns aboard

Wow, I have neglected the blog this month.  I'm so sorry but it isn't on purpose. I've been pretty busy with my new business, The Tropical Ledger. So let's see what have you missed?

Schooner got me a little sewing machine for Mother's day

Well we have had a few sailboat races finish here from Florida.  Lots of boats have come and gone and we have met several of the participants.  Aboard one boat anchored near us was a crew of boys from a nonprofit organization, Sail Future, benefiting at risk boys.  Loved that idea.

Then I participated in cheering on the crews of SV Uma and SV Atticus

Schooner and I should be in one of their videos.. hahah.

While I have been busy with my work, Steve has been busy with Saga Sea.  He has installed his new autopilot device that uses the trim tab of our windvane.  He has also been varnishing the cockpit when we are not being driven indoors from storms.  Oh and he mounted a hookah diving system. AirLine's 12V160-3 Hookah Dive System. He will use it to clean the bottom of the boat and do any underwater repairs.

We still await Schooner's Titer paperwork to return.  We expect it back this week. Then we can sail to the Honduras Bay Islands. We can't wait to see old friends there.. just another one of our homes..

Well that is all for now my friends.  Please be good to yourself and Others..  this world is so unbelievable difficult as it is, so lets try to make it a happier place.

Life Sux

It has been a week since our daughter left. We are getting back into our routine, boat jobs, daily living chores, and work.  

Steve fixed a few nicks in our Portland Pudgy dinghy, Putz Sea. Don't get the wrong idea, the PP is very difficult to damage, but it does live a rugged life with us. From time to time it gets dinged up.  

Repairs are manageable, he simply bought a few plastic hangers, heated one with a heat gun, heated the damaged surface and melted the two together.  He then heats a flat tool to smooth the surface. It is as easy as that!

Steve has also been varnishing the cockpit.  After varnishing the caprails he has caught the varnish bug and is slowly tackling the other wood surfaces.  I have to say I prefer it varnish, but it is a lot of work to maintain and I'm certainly not volunteering to assist.  Hahah

I have been spending time at local establishments during the day working online.  I enjoy my alone time off the boat and allowing Steve to do the things he enjoys.. like boat work..

Every morning Steve makes coffee and we sit around reading the daily events on our devices. We have a little breakfast and listen to the morning net on the VHF.  Then he turns the Honda 2000 generator on, that he runs for an hour each day, and watermaker, which he runs for seven hours a day since it makes a little over a gallon an hour. I wipe down seat cushions and surfaces. Then sweep the cabin and bathroom. I then spray the cushions with lysol.. I'm afraid I have become a lysol addict.Then he takes me ashore so I can work and he returns to the boat to do his work.  Doesn't that sound like we are living an exciting life. Hahah

Well I did skip how I wash a load of clothes in two buckets in the kitchen sink twice a week.  And of course there is shopping for groceries. We do that a few times a week.

 Had to sneak in some pics of my lil GMan

We also visit the veterinary.  We have him processing Schooner's Rabies Titer test to complete the paperwork needed for her to receive her EU Passport.  Once it is completed we will head to the Honduran Bay Islands. We expect this to happen around the first of June.

That is all for now folks.. until next time be good to yourself and Others..

Slow trip back to Mexico

Not even sure where I should begin for this post. I suppose I should tell you where we are, Isla Mujeres Mexico. We arrived Tuesday, April 3rd.  

Our trip here started off a bit rough, which made me ill. I have a tendency of getting sick on passages, especially if they are rough ones. I have tried all kinds of remedies. Some work better than others but there are times nothing works. I bare it because I love to travel and this is the transportation we have since Steve is the sailor.

I do love living aboard our home at anchor.  We only move her a few times a year so to me it is worth taking the risk I will be sick.  But this last trip got to Steve. He does not like seeing me so ill and he doesn't enjoy solo handling the boat at night. So from now on we will extend the passages and stop for nights if possible.  

We love Mexico, especially Isla Mujeres.  Steve has come to the point where he just wants to stay here full time. Not sure that will happen right now but it may in the future. For this year we will stick to the plan of returning to Guatemala for Hurricane season. We have summer travel plans to Europe. After that who knows what we will do. Life requires flexibility.

We love that we have so many friends that travel as we do. Once again we met up with old friends here in Isla. One of the couples are who Steve delivered the catamaran with a few years ago now. We have plans of visiting them in Ireland this summer.

Things are getting busier for me with my freelance work. I truly enjoy helping others and traveling while doing it has been the huge cherry on top.  Sitting in coffee shops has always delighted me and now I have an excuse to go more often.

My daughter, Samantha, is visiting us soon for 10 days. So this should be fun. She will get to meet our cruising friends and see how we really live now.  She has stayed with us on the boat in the states at a marina but this is not the same. She may never come again, haha.

So our plans are to stay here until end of May then sail up to the Honduras Bay Islands for a month or so and return to the Rio in July.  If anyone would like to join is know you're always welcomed. We enjoy sharing this experience with others. Even if you have never sailed but would like to try it; we don't mind teaching. You will just need a flexible schedule.Weather rules ou travel plans.  

Well that is all for now, be good to one another..