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02-04-2008, 09:27
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Currently live in Abita Springs, Louisiana; boat lives in Bonfouca Marina in Slidell, LA
Boat: Formosa Ketch, 51'; Dream Chaser
Posts: 7
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Wanna-be Cruisers
We are Jen and John, and we are preparing to leave Louisiana in 21 months and embark on our new lives as Cruisers. We have been working on our boat "Dream Chaser" for about a year now getting her sea worthy and we are very excited and anxious to get going...we are both finding it very hard to continue to go to work and deal with everyday stuff...our minds are on the boat, out to sea...I am new to sailing but John is a capt and has much experience sailing. I guess I am looking for advice from others who have been smitten with the cruising bug...kindred spirits if you will... 
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02-04-2008, 09:37
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Bern, NC
Boat: Prout Manta 38' Catamaran - Sunspot Baby
Posts: 1,521
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You are absolutely crazy and among others similarly afflicted on this forum
Welcome aboard. :-)
George
__________________
She took my address and my name
Put my credit to shame
Sunspot Baby, sure had a real good time
Bob Seger
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02-04-2008, 10:02
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Currently live in Abita Springs, Louisiana; boat lives in Bonfouca Marina in Slidell, LA
Boat: Formosa Ketch, 51'; Dream Chaser
Posts: 7
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Birds of a feather and all...
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02-04-2008, 10:04
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#4
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Las Brisas Panama AGAIN!
Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE
Posts: 4,507
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GOOD FOR YOU! I am hoping you take well to this addiction. Once it is in your blood THAT'S IT FOR LIFE!
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02-04-2008, 10:13
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pacific NorthWest
Boat: Sold - Landlocked
Posts: 604
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Quote:
Originally Posted by imagine2frolic
Once it is in your blood THAT'S IT FOR LIFE!
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Welcome aboard! Imagine2Frolic said it all.
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02-04-2008, 10:27
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ireland
Boat: Van de Stadt 34'
Posts: 288
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Welcome Jen and John! That's a fine big boat you have! Looking forward to hearing the "getting her ready" updates as the clock ticks down to freedom. . . make sure you keep enough freedom vouchers in reserve for the big trip and best of luck!!
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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02-04-2008, 11:09
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Currently live in Abita Springs, Louisiana; boat lives in Bonfouca Marina in Slidell, LA
Boat: Formosa Ketch, 51'; Dream Chaser
Posts: 7
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Setting off...
We are thinking of selling everything and setting sail...can anyone that has done this offer some words of advice...also wondering about transportation once we cpme to port in different locations...how do ya'll go about getting groceries and stuff when you get to a new location?? Thinking about an electric scooter or something??
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02-04-2008, 11:19
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Currently live in Abita Springs, Louisiana; boat lives in Bonfouca Marina in Slidell, LA
Boat: Formosa Ketch, 51'; Dream Chaser
Posts: 7
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I've heard that the folding bikes leave alot to be desired...
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02-04-2008, 11:59
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#9
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CF Adviser
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Virginia
Boat: Island Packet 380, now sold
Posts: 8,943
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Transportation while cruising
Transportation is generally not a problem, at least in the eastern Caribbean where we've cruised.
The cruising guides have information about where the various stores are for provisioning in the places you'll be visiting, and locals will be happy to help guide you. Depending on the island, you can walk to some, catch the "Dollar Bus" (the 15 passenger mini-vans that roar around many islands), or if worst comes to worst, a taxi.
In my opinion, a scooter or bicycles would be more of a pain to deal with (storage and maintenance in a salty environment) than they would be worth.
Soft-sided insulated coolers with shoulder straps are handy for getting the frozen food back to the boat before it melts. Use canvas boat bags for the rest.
__________________
Hud
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02-04-2008, 14:11
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#10
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Las Brisas Panama AGAIN!
Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE
Posts: 4,507
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Forget the bikes, and scooter. Been there, and done that...what a pain. I would give a thought to the little motorized skateboards though. I have found from St. Maarten to north Florida that getting groceries is usually a simple walk. Get a cart with wheels that folds. Handy for laundry day too.
Never miss out on the local transportation. It can be a real HOOT to ride with the locals. In Mexico it was probably some of the most fun I had in 5 months while sailing there.
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02-04-2008, 16:10
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
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Get a good luggage cart. Not one of those flimsy ones that fall apart but a good sturdy one with fair sized wheels. We used to carry folding bikes but they take a lot of space and we were using them less and less.
__________________
Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
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02-04-2008, 16:16
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: W Florida
Boat: Still have the 33yo Jon boat. But now a CATAMARAN. Nice little 18' Bay Cat.
Posts: 7,083
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My thinking is that grocery shopping would be the biggest PIA next to laundry.
I don't know though since I live in a suburb and am "armchairing" till I either go or die.
Boat projects have got to be better than lawn care!
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03-04-2008, 06:38
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Boat: Monk 36 Trawler
Posts: 679
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I live in Thibodaux, Louisiana and am planning to make a trip to the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the VI's. about 18 from now. I'll be doing it in a trawler 36-40'. I have a lot to do between now and then sell my Camano 31 trawler, buy a larger one etc, etc. I get over to to the Norh Shore a couple of times per year, check your Pvt. messages I'll send you my contact information maybe we can exchange ideas and other information.
Steve Willett
Camano 31
Thibodaux, Louisiana
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03-04-2008, 13:19
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
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Aloha,
Welcome aboard! I'd get a couple used folding bikes to take along and if you end up not using them it won't be such a big loss to pass them on to locals. They might be a pain but you have lots of room in that big ole ketch to store things even if they have to go in bags on deck. Bikes are good exercise and you can cover a lot of ground if you find yourself a bit of a distance from shopping or laundromat.
Kind Regards,
JohnL
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