Before you arrive
Safety and
comfort are the paramount for my Great Loop travel. I (we) will stay in port on stormy days or a
forecast of storms, so be flexible in travel plans. We will normally plan to travel about 50-80
miles on a travel day, we will rarely sail after dark. We’ll do the best we can to
be at your pickup place on schedule
– but please understand that it
may not
happen on the original schedule. Since
I will be stopping to return to Kentucky every 2 to 3 weeks, I should be able
to stay on schedule. But please
don’t make air reservations far in advance that can’t be changed
or cancelled.
I will be
writing a BLOG on days when we have internet service so you’ll be able to keep
up with our progress and view our pictures.
You can keep a check on my blog and the calendar link on the right side
of the page http://cruisingpop.blogspot.com/ to track the progress of the boat. If I cannot meet our original planed port,
you may have to make alternative travel plans to meet the boat (e.g. Rent a car to get to the boat, or I may be
able to find a car and pick you up).
Some marinas will pick up or deliver guests from local airports.
If you have
specific activities you would like to do or expectations while you are with me,
send me that in advance so we can determine if it is realistic.
WHAT TO BRING
Most importantly, pack
light. There
is
not a lot of storage room.
- Passports (and a copy) – if you will be visiting while we are near Canadian waters or the Bahamas
- Casual clothing
- Warm jacket or sweat shirt and windbreaker
- Rain gear if you have it – if not, don’t buy – I have extra on board
- Hat, sun block & sun glasses ( I have some on board, if you forget)
- Swimsuit and Snorkeling gear – if you like to sun, swim, or snorkel
- Clean non-skid, non-marking sole shoes for on the deck (bring at least one pair of shoes that are not flip flops)
- Walking shoes – we will walk to town/villages, restaurants, etc.
- Camera and/or binoculars
- Medicines
- I have sheets, pillows, blankets and towels. If you prefer your own you can bring your own.
WHAT NOT TO BRING:
- Please do not bring luggage larger than airplane carry on size, there is no place to store it. Duffel bags or other soft sided bags that can be folded up work best.
- Hair dryers will only be useful at the dock, we do not have the power on board to run a hair dryer while not attached to shore power (and then we have to turn off the A/C while running the hair dryer)
- Please do not bring nail polish remover or other solvents (if you do use them off the boat).
Life aboard
Life aboard a boat is very close living
quarters and can be trying at times.
There is no space you can call your own.
You will have a stateroom (bedroom) which is only slightly larger than
the bed. You will keep your personal
items in your stateroom (thus the need to pack in duffle bags).
We will always plan to be at our destination
before dark each day so we can check out the area and plan our excursions for
the evening or next day(s). Which brings
up another key point, you will be on vacation and you may be dining and touring
like a vacationer. I am not on vacation
and will not be able to join you on the more expensive activities (unless of
course you are paying). Don’t let that
change your plans, I can normally find plenty of free entertainment.
I normally stay at anchor or a mooring and
use the dinghy to get from the boat to land and back. If you prefer the convenience of a slip, we
can explore the options and the price differential.
As previously mentioned safety and comfort
are the paramount and the boat will stay put on days when NOAA issues a Small
Craft Advisory or thunderstorms are in the immediate forecast for our float
plan. If NOAA issues a lesser advisory
known as “Small Craft Exercise Caution” we will look at the forecast and decide
as a group if we want to proceed to the next port.
There is a small refrigerator and an ice chest on the boat. I try to keep
clean ice and water on board with supplies to make lemonade, tea,
and coffee.
I also keep a limited supply of beer and wine. If
you want anything specific
to drink other than the
above mentioned, please bring it with you or plan get it
when you get to the marina. Many marinas have loaner cars, which can be used to go out to eat or to get provisions. We will be eating on the
boat for probably half of the meals. You
will be expected to help prepare meals and contribute to the cost of food during
your stay.
Many marinas have wireless internet. Feel free to bring your laptop or other electronic
equipment. Just be sure whatever you
bring is easy to stow.
SAFETY:
Remember to keep your personal items
stowed. The boat may be motion even when
tied up at a dock. Be sure to hang on when walking around, especially on the
deck. Don’t be insulted if I yell sit
down or hang on, I am not being rude – I just don’t want you to be injured if I
see an approaching problem.
Fire extinguishers are located on
the deck under the steering wheel
and behind the doors in the guest staterooms. (They
are there because the
engines are under the beds. You probably won’t want to sleep while we are
under way!)
Life jackets are located
in
the locker on the
back deck next to the ice
chest and in the
locker on the outside of the wheel station. Life jackets
must be worn when going through
locks in the US
– at least on
Core of Engineers waterways. Hopefully, your visit will
include going through one or
more locks, as it is
an
interesting experience.
Emergency radio instructions are posted
beside the radio by the nav station. Please read this over
upon boarding so that
you will have some
familiarity in case of
an
emergency.
First Aid kits are located in the pocket beside
the nav station. I have a decent supply of first aid meds, but feel free to bring
what you think you might need.
Head and
Water Usage
DO NOT put anything that doesn’t come out of
your body into the head (toilet bowl). Other materials immediately stop up the do-ma-thingy, which causes the what-ca-ma-gigger to implode, which causes a
big toto mess. Somewhat kidding, but repairs to the head is no fun, can get expensive and above all I don't like working on it (it's a shitty job). Keep the
lid closed to prevent anything falling into the head.
Remember that water will be limited, we only
have what we can carry – so very short showers are necessary (the kind of
shower where you turn the water off while soaping up). Don’t run the water while brushing your teeth,
etc. Most marinas have public showers
and we will utilize them as often as possible.
HOW TO HELP:
You will have some assigned duties while to
boat is in operation. Unless asked, please do not try to help
with duties you are not assigned. Often, fast decisions and quick movement will be required and it will probably be
better if you are not in the way. Remember
that if I speak loudly and
with intensity, I am not being rude or
angry. Shouting means fast
action is required.
Help with the general housekeeping (or
should I say boatkeeping) is always appreciated. Help with food preparation and clean-up is required.
The boat will need to be hosed off several
times per week. General boat cleanup is a daily
task.
An extra person on the boat generally leads
to some additional operational expenses (water, fuel, generator time, laundry, holding
tank pump out, engine operations, macerator pump wear, etc.). While there is no way to directly calculate these
added costs, a contribution to go toward offsetting these additional expenses
will be appreciated.
ENJOY – most of all, enjoy!
I am glad that friends and family
are interested in joining me for parts of the trip. These visits will be wonderful for me. This will be a great trip and I am looking
forward to each and every day and sharing it with friends and family makes it
even better. Please come with a spirit
of adventure; prepared for new activities, new foods, new faces and exciting
new places. And most of all - - relax
and enjoy, you’re on island time.
