May 2017

Finally we're ready to say goodbye to Peapod and our barefoot lifestyle.

On May 1^st, off she goes to the storage yard to be tied down until we go back for our next Peapod adventure.

Based on our experiences of recent years, it seems clear that climate change is affecting the weather in the Bahamas. In the old days (early 2000’s) it was easier to find weather “windows”. These are 3-day stretches of good weather for challenging crossings or travelling on the “outside” of the Exumas. Now they are few and far between, with more unpredicted changes in the marine forecasts. We need to be more skeptical of those that predict only one good day.

Next year, all being well, we plan a few more enhancements to make us more independent of marinas that chew up our woodwork. We would also like to travel a little further and perhaps have a bit more stability in rough waters. Our wish list for 2018....

First, we will invest in wind power. Our solar panels can only take us so far and if there is one thing we have learned, it will almost always be windy. 

Then we will install a reverse osmosis (RO) water maker. This will give us more freedom and less stress when it comes to availability of fresh water, which is rare and expensive in the Exumas and the more remote islands. 

Finally, we will install a new “bladder” for extra fuel, adding to the weight of the hull for stability and extending our cruising range. New destinations may include Eleuthera, Long Island, Turks and Caicos and maybe even Cuba!

In the meantime, it’s great to be home. We're looking forward to a fun summer with friends and family, especially the grandbabies. We are so fortunate to have Face Time with them all winter but nothing beats the in-person hugs.

The captain is happy to be home in the hot tub and Lucy is glad to be back with her pack (although she like squirrels better).