Preparing ... Preparing

As you have read from Hugh's recent post he has been busily getting us ready for our upcoming (and coming quickly) voyage. His job has been the "technical" side of things ... thankfully, as I really have little or no knowledge of  "all that works with motors".

So my job is home comforts and  provisioning.  But right now I feel  my main job is being Hugh's "sounding board".

Every night he comes home with a new idea, new research or new item he has found or ordered "for the boat". We eat, drink, sleep, walk and talk sailing all the time right now! Its a little overwhelming ... but I think it is helping us get mentally prepared for this journey.

I now know more about engines, alternators, holding and water tanks, solar panels and batteries than I  care to admit. We know that when sailors get together the women usually talk about food and and the men almost always talk batteries ... Hugh jokes that I will be able to hold my own among the men's conversation!!!

We are following a few blogs of friends from our sailing club, or boats we have found on line, that are doing the exact same thing right now that we hope to do later this year and next. I have also discovered a FaceBook page called "Women Who Sail" (WWS) , which is a group of amazing women from all over the world who post questions and answers. Some are pretty hard core ... but they all give me inspiration that I too can do this amazing adventure, and that I am not alone with my fears and questions.




















On the home comfort front I have been collecting items for the boat to make it feel like our "home away from home". With my basic sewing skills I have sewn two comforters, one for our bunk and also for the aft cabin. We also have started collecting pillow cases from different travels to make the cockpit and settee down below more cosy.

On our recent trip to Mexico we bought a blanket that  I hope will be multi-purpose ... warmth, beach blanket, cover for leather settees, extra blankets for guest ... etc ... etc.  Every time I see something that would be good "for the boat" I buy it and put it in our boat cupboard in the basement. I'm sure there will be a few forgotten surprises when we start going through it in the spring!!

My biggest job is provisioning. I have been reading, reading and reading all sorts of websites, blogs and magazines about how to cook on board.  I know, I know, everyone eats everywhere. I've been told that many times. And I also know that we have never starved while cruising Georgian Bay. So I will stock up the boat before launch to resemble my home kitchen and then I'm sure I will find a store or two along the way to get supplies  ;)

And I have started practicing some recipes at home for boat cooking, including with a pressure cooker that I received for Christmas, and my first attempt at using it was quite a success! Today I am baking bread ...

It's all very exciting and overwhelming at the same time ... but in truth I can't wait to get going!!