So…what is a day like here? A typical day starts by 7:45 am because that’s when the marine weather forecast is broadcast on VHF. Matt and I are usually up to listen and then enjoy some quiet time. For Ross and Jessie, the day starts anywhere from 9 am to 11 am – Ross being the last and is most often dragged out of bed for breakfast. He’s a grumpy old sod until food is ingested and then he becomes normal.
A morning swim and “Joy Bath” takes place shortly after breakfast, although Jessie and I use proper shampoo. This is an ocean bath and wash up finalized with a cold fresh water shower off the back of the boat.
KP duty is assigned by rotating days with one person responsible for breakfast and lunch dishes and two assigned to dinner (making it and cleaning up). One gets a day off and or offers “floater support”. There is of course the consequence of dishes…language on the boat was getting a bit grim, so a new rule arrived. For each swear word you get a “tick” and after 5 ticks…you’re on dinner dishes. So far double duty for Matt and Ross has done it once. Jessie and I sit at 3 ticks each. This spurns creativity and so things like “Cockfosters!” and “Balderdash” and “Nicompoopity” have become commonplace.
Depending on how far we want to go that day, we haul anchor and get going but usually we take it easy and depart between 11 am and 1 pm. Then sail to the next destination, referring to charts and pilot books constantly. We may go to a quiet anchorage and swim and enjoy nature or head to a town to explore and experience the history and culture (and provision things we need). Our shortest day was to remain in one place because we liked it and we’d made friends with another family who stayed, and our longest day trip has been 48 nautical miles. But the sailing (or motoring) is part of the fun! We often slow the boat down to 2 – 5 kts and toss a long line out the back and jump off the boat to catch the line (kind of like fishing and you’re the bait) then haul yourself in…and we do this MANY times.
Once we find a place we either anchor, grab a mooring ball, or tie up stern to a dock or waterfront seawall. Cocktail hour (with or without cocktails but sadly mostly with) around 5 pm and dinner around 8 pm – most people even eat later than that! Dishes are done, the kids do their journal, then a game of cards and/or some reading out loud, maybe a radio drama listened to. We’re about ¾ the way through the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and we’re all enjoying it immensely! (And learning what it was like to be a part of the German Occupation during the war). School hasn’t officially started yet but both Ross and Jessie have each done an oral and written report which were presented last night – Ross on Tides Around the World and Jessie did Winds of the Mediterranean. Very interesting and useful under the current circumstances.
A morning swim and “Joy Bath” takes place shortly after breakfast, although Jessie and I use proper shampoo. This is an ocean bath and wash up finalized with a cold fresh water shower off the back of the boat.
KP duty is assigned by rotating days with one person responsible for breakfast and lunch dishes and two assigned to dinner (making it and cleaning up). One gets a day off and or offers “floater support”. There is of course the consequence of dishes…language on the boat was getting a bit grim, so a new rule arrived. For each swear word you get a “tick” and after 5 ticks…you’re on dinner dishes. So far double duty for Matt and Ross has done it once. Jessie and I sit at 3 ticks each. This spurns creativity and so things like “Cockfosters!” and “Balderdash” and “Nicompoopity” have become commonplace.
Depending on how far we want to go that day, we haul anchor and get going but usually we take it easy and depart between 11 am and 1 pm. Then sail to the next destination, referring to charts and pilot books constantly. We may go to a quiet anchorage and swim and enjoy nature or head to a town to explore and experience the history and culture (and provision things we need). Our shortest day was to remain in one place because we liked it and we’d made friends with another family who stayed, and our longest day trip has been 48 nautical miles. But the sailing (or motoring) is part of the fun! We often slow the boat down to 2 – 5 kts and toss a long line out the back and jump off the boat to catch the line (kind of like fishing and you’re the bait) then haul yourself in…and we do this MANY times.Once we find a place we either anchor, grab a mooring ball, or tie up stern to a dock or waterfront seawall. Cocktail hour (with or without cocktails but sadly mostly with) around 5 pm and dinner around 8 pm – most people even eat later than that! Dishes are done, the kids do their journal, then a game of cards and/or some reading out loud, maybe a radio drama listened to. We’re about ¾ the way through the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and we’re all enjoying it immensely! (And learning what it was like to be a part of the German Occupation during the war). School hasn’t officially started yet but both Ross and Jessie have each done an oral and written report which were presented last night – Ross on Tides Around the World and Jessie did Winds of the Mediterranean. Very interesting and useful under the current circumstances.
And off to bed around 11 pm.
And that’s a day in the life…
And that’s a day in the life…
Hello it's me Adam again. I just got back from whistler with Emis, a friend since pre-school. It was a six day vacation and tons of fun, the only hitch was Emis busted his knee with two much soccer, so we couldn't do any mountain biking. The solution; lots of swimming.
ReplyDeleteAlso I have an idea that might work for you, on my brothers ipod we've taken to listening to podcasts which, according to Jacob can be downloaded for free from Itunes, our personal favourite is Comedy Factory.