20/10/2005
QUESTION:
What did you use for communications, did you have a satellite phone, and we have a laptop, while we are at sea any suggestions for internet access ( I know this can get vastly expensive, where do you draw the line at spending?)
A simple question. In the the Carribean, what is the best way to clean fruit & veg, I am really looking forward to the markets, but am skeptical at the flies that may (or may not) be crawling over them.
Did I read that you keep a bowl of disinfectant water to wash feet in as you come on board? Sounds like a good idea.
I want this trip to be meaningful for our family, and want them to see how the locals live, and would like the girls to maybe experience a taste of what school is like for a day, what are your feelings on this, and how can I make it happen.
I go to your website often and really enjoy it.
Thanks.
ANSWER:
We didn't have internet or email access while at sea. We had a single sideband radio which we used to receive weather fax, weather forecasts from the ham radio net, and I got onto the internet when we made landfall. While in the US cruising, as we are now, I can connect my Verizon cell phone to the computer and access the internet. I understand the Cingular has a plan and access outside the US (though I don't know much about the details). However, cell phones aren't much good offshore.
I couldn't justify an expensive satellite phone, or an Iridium phone. I'd do an internet search to see what you can find about them.
http://winlink.org/ is information about ham radio email contact for offshore.
Here's another link, though it's for fleet operators - http://www.marinenet.net/Commercial%serv.htm
You don't have much time to prepare for communication, but I assume you'll take your time coming down the US coast, since you aren't going to leave for the Caribbean until the end of hurricane season, right?
Vegetables: This is from my Cruising Dictionary, under Preserving Food:
Fresh fruit and vegetables: If washed in a mild chlorine bleach or iodine solution (or use antibacterial tablets, such as Milton's, Steadiflow - which see) and allowed to dry completely before storing, will extend the life of most vegetables as well as kill nasties such as cholera, typhoid bacillus, and the parasite that causes amebic dysentery. To keep large quantities of onions and potatoes from bruising and sprouting, and from spreading mold throughout the batch, store in old white cotton socks. Each sock can hold up to 2 pounds of onions or potatoes. If one is bruised or goes bad, the sock absorbs the weeping so it doesn't spread to others so quickly, and is easily identified.
I also wash onions, but they must be completely dry, so choose a bright sunny dry day to do this.
Many vegetables can be kept well without refrigeration by wrapping them in newsprint. Cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, turnips are good candidates for this. (You can DOWNLOAD a free copy of the Cruiser's Dictionary ebook)
Yes, we did keep a pan of water (plastic dishpan) with a few drops of Lysol or a chlorine tablet (the Steadiflow, Milton's, Boots, whatever - baby bottle disinfecting tablets - not found in US but in Caribbean most places) to step into when we came back from shore. Be careful for your girls, though, if you use Lysol - some people are allergic to it (I am, for example) and it causes a burning rash.
With regard to your girls seeing "how the locals live", I know you aren't patronizing, but be careful that your interest isn't interpreted that way. The locals in many of the Caribbean islands view the northern white tourists with a bit of defensiveness or as "fresh meat" to extract money from. Your best bet might be to befriend some parents and arrange for reciprocal visits between your home and theirs. The Caribbean is not a primitive culture. They're not very different from people in the States.
Enjoy your cruise. Take your time for the first few weeks to get your sea legs and your confidence up. Have a wonderful time.
Fair winds,
Jeanne
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