Final Preparations pre TransAtlantic

Spring in Brooklyn. Haven't seen those pale greens and pinks for three years and didn't realize until I saw them how truly lovely they are.  Even though it was cold! for our tropical blood, I was happy to arrive in spring.

Our host, Emily, in front of another Milly.  Not as sophisticated as my darling daughter but still....

We ate our way around Brookly and NYC.  This is schlag (SP?), a huge bowl of whipped cream to put in our post lunch coffee at Peter Luger's famous steakhouse.  This was after an enormous steak and burgers around the table.  

Dear friends, Anne and Rob, came to spend the weekend after missing us in Mexico/Florida.  Em and Gid hosted and showed us the best of Brooklyn.  Had a great time!

And then to Toronto, where we spent time with family hosted generously by Lisa and David, as always.  So lovely to see everyone.  And thanks Em and Gid for giving your wayward parents a comfy bed.

After returning from a fun filled ten days in Brooklyn and Toronto visiting friends and family,

Got to be a good omen when we return to Milly and an end to end rainbow so big that I couldn't get it in the picture frame.

Peter has been working nonstop on the boat. Final list items and then some that always turn up at the last moment.  We found a strange new leak and our second head, important for our crew, gave up flushing.  We ordered parts and paid the bigger bucks for quick transit.  Peter fixed both items and continued with the list - which never seems to end.

Installed 12V water maker.  This will mean we can make water from solar...and quietly we hope.  

A last minute breakdown - the head flusher switch.  There will be four of us on the first leg to Bermuda.  We weren't leaving until both heads were flushing.  Luckily, Two Fish had a spare AND our order came through.  We now have two spares for future use.

And I have begun to provision in earnest.  Provisioning for the TransAtlantic, although not quite as complicated as crossing the Pacific, is still a cause for lists, lists and more lists.  Our freezer which, so far, miraculously recovered on it’s own, was empty.  Our stocks of canned goods was seriously depleted.  And then there are nonfood but equally important items: toilet paper - you really don't want to run out of that half way across the Atlantic, paper towel, boat cleansers, personal cleansers etc. etc. all which are reportedly cheaper in the US.  Bermuda is especially expensive so I am trying to ensure that we will only restock with fresh food there.

During the first few days of passage and on rough days when being in the galley for any length of time is uncomfortable at best, I do not want to cook.  I precook and freeze numerous meals in double portion size for lunch and dinner.  Our crew, Randy and Michele, have pitched in in a big way - Michele has vacuum packed and frozen numerous packs of meat, and taken me on excursions to big box stores for grocery carts full of stuff.

I've stocked up on lots of canned goods - beans, meat and fish - as well as grains that can be made into stews, pasta, spreads, dips.  I prefer frozen fruit and veg although they take up  precious freezer space.  We want to keep room for any fish caught.

Snacks are super important on passage.  M&Ms don’t melt.  Cookies are a favourite as are nuts.  Chips work but take a lot of room.  Crackers replace bread, for me at least.  We are well stocked for four.

Sweet dishes of sprouts from the market lady - red cabbage, broccoli, and mustard.  Should keep us in greens.

Fresh stuff is difficult.  Greens don’t keep well.  I've purchased some sprouted greens at the Stuart market and some seeds to sprout on the way.  We have hammocks to hang our fruit and root veggies in.  And will put our potatoes and onions in different cupboards.  I’m hoping to find some eggs that haven’t been refrigerated so I can keep them in a cupboard but I wonder if that is possible in Florida.  

As you can see, provisioning is no easy task.  When faced with the plethora of goods in the grocery store, I am tempted to get 12 of each.  Storing it is the next logistical nightmare.

Under the settee we have an enormous storage area with 7 bins for cans etc, piles of cookies and crackers beside, bottles and a sack of tea and coffee.

A bin of cans, labelled for easy identification when the boat is rocking. Each bin is then labelled with inventory - what goes in and out.

All cardboard is removed and many items are repackaged in ziplock with directions written on how to cook if required.  Each can is washed and labelled on the top so it's easily read inside a bin.  Boxed wine is deboxed and put inside a cooler.  Beer and canned drinks are put under the mattress of our third bed.   UHT milk and juice along with lots of miscellaneous stuff gets a solid bottomed bin to avoid mess in case of leakage.  I have inventoried all items and labelled each bin with contents.

Tomorrow is our last day here.  Peter's list is full.  Michele and I are going to get the fresh produce.

Our water line will definitely be lower by the end of the day.....we should be ready to leave within 36 hours or so if the weather window holds.  It should take us 4-5 days.  Bermuda here we come!!  So happy to be on our way.  We feel rusty after 2 months in Stuart and anxious to get going - back to hiking, swimming, exploring.  People ask if I am nervous to cross the Atlantic.  Yes, a little.  I think it would be a bit naive not to be.  But I have great faith in the boat and in Peter so I'm more excited than anxious to get to Bermuda and the Azores.  Can't wait!