A year ago Steve and I were preparing to move on to our boat. Panic! Everything had to go? What was I going to do with my collections of Department 56, Lighthouses, Hard Rock Glasses and most of all my precious wine cork collection? I had to drink an awful lot of wine to accumulate all those wine corks! Now imaging taking all of your clothes and whittling it down to a pile of about 2 cubic feet. Kitchen items now need to fit into a miniature 3 x 5 ( I measured) galley with room for only the essentials. All those cute serving items you pulled out when you had company had to be eliminated. So much had to go. Ads were placed in Craig's List for the Bicycles, Motorcycle and Cars (the Condo eventually sold several months later). I think it is much easier for men to down size, even though he did have to part with his beloved golf clubs. Well....We made it by the date we had selected and we started our Great Adventure.

If you haven't read the entry 'OMG It's almost time', go back and read it. It attempts to share my excitement of the impending journey.

Books on cruising and weather were poured over and pages marked. We spent hours on the Cruisers Forum. I read that a good many cruisers give it up by the time they hit Georgetown, in the Bahamas, having learned that cruising is not always sunshine and sandy beaches. The Gentleman's Guide to Passages South stated that if we did not follow his method exactly when transitioning the Dominican Republic and the Mona Passage that our trip would be hell, so we thought the hardest part of the trip would be crossing from the Caicos to Boqueron. For that stretch we had mostly calm seas and easy going except for the engine problems in the Mona due to contaminated fuel. Benia, a dear friend and wise woman said, the hardest part is moving on and leaving friends we have made, not knowing if we would ever see them again. So very true, I miss you Benni.

Both Steve and I talk regularly about how lucky we are to be cruising. This has really been a fantastic experience. Sailacious is our home now, we are comfortable and never feel crowded. We have everything we need (and it is never more than two steps away). We find that everything we have heard about a Tayana is true, she is a boat the takes good care of us and handles the seas well. Our dingy WeGo is our family car and it just seems natural to climb in to go to the store or for visiting neighbors.

The azure waters of the Caribbean are a fine comparison for the color of gemstones. The color changes based on depth and the sea bottom. Shallow water with sandy shorelines sparkle like diamonds. Sapphire and Turquoise waters near shore with Emerald waters where it is deeper. On a stormy passage the water can look like black Onyx and menacing, turning to bright gemstones again as the sun finds it's way out from behind the clouds.

We have met a wonderfully diverse group of fellow cruisers from around the world. It is interesting to hear their story and find out the meaning behind boat names. We love climbing to the top of old forts and walking through towns that are hundreds of years old. Public transportation is plentiful allowing us to experiencing the cultures on different islands. Transversing the entire island seldom costs over $4.00 US. At markets we try fruits and vegetables that we have never heard of before, although not always buying them again.

Steve and I have often been asked what was the hardest lesson we learned, what was our scariest experience, and what was the most surprising, etc. First and foremost, we believe the most important aspect of cruising is to be totally compatible with your mate and to really love spending 24 / 7 / 365 together. We have often discussed our most significant memories and have listed a few for you to enjoy.

Our favorite secluded anchorage and favorite snorkeling spot is Whale Cay in the Bahamas. We spent 3 days and only saw one other boat going by. The water was so clear at 12 feet that from the deck we could see starfish on the sandy bottom. Check out this wreck we found for snorkeling.



Most Exiting event was playing with the stingrays at Honeymoon Harbor in Bimini. These guys followed us around like puppy dogs. They are used to being fed so they get very close and turn up to show where their mouth is expecting a treat.



The most beautiful view was Warderick Wells . This National Marine Park has mooring balls situated in a narrow deep strip of water with very shallow water on both side. The resulting contrast in water colors is breathtaking.



Swimming Pigs were by far the most unexpected sight at Staniel Cay in the Exumas, Bahamas. We were approaching the beach in WeGo and they swam out to meet us. We went back and got some bread to feed them and video taped them for the non believers.



Sensory overload was experienced in Puerto Plata, D.R.. After enjoying weeks of quiet and seclusion, we were accosted by noise and traffic. Motor scooters weaved in and out of heavy traffic at alarming rates. Horn blew constantly. After just 2 hours I wanted to go back to Salacious and dig out the ear plugs. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful island once you get out of the busy towns.



Heaven on Earth was experienced in Iles des Saintes. A dingy pulled up to Sailacious each morning with Croissants and Baguettes still warm from the oven. Ah, the French know how to start the day! This picture perfect stop will be on our list every time we head north or south along the Caribbean archipelago.



Trafalgar Falls in Dominica was the most majestic sight we have seen so far. Two cascading waterfalls set in a pristine tropical rain forest. It was raining the day we were there bringing the rain forest phenomenon to life.



　

We really only had one scary experience and that was the fuel problems in the Mono Passage. It wasn't scary because of the weather and seas, it was flat and calm, although we were drifting north and without wind were at the mercy of the currents. The scary part was the thought of needing a new transmission. Boats have been known to be held up for months waiting for repairs and parts can be costly. Our problem turned out to be sludge in the bottom of the fuel tank and we now know what is involved to clean a tank. So, I guess our hardest lesson learned would be to polish the tank and fuel right off if you purchase an older boat.

The most surprising thing to us is the lack of goods on some islands along with the high costs of the items you do find. The Bahamas and the Virgin Islands are terribly expensive so provision ahead of time. When you get to Puerto Rico stock up! Finding items that you need or want is difficult on all but the larger islands and everyone that travels back to the US returns with maximum baggage full of 'stuff' from Walmart.

Getting mail or packages is definitely the most challenging experience. Next time you complain about the cost of postage stamps just think about what life is like without the US Postal Service. We did have a shipment sent via Tropical Freighter but the process is neither fast nor inexpensive.

Lastly, the most satisfying aspect was spending one year experiencing all of the above and looking forward to the coming year.

We are truly blessed!