Reading List

So what books would you bring if you were going away for a year?  It’s a classic “stranded on a deserted island” question.  I am a hopeless bibliophile and stood in agony before my floor-to-ceiling book collection while packing to go away for a year.  Here’s what we I just couldn’t live without, in absolutely no order whatsoever, when faced with major space and weight issues.  This does not include the kids’ reading and homeschooling books or our books on Kindle/iBooks!IMG_6798

Fodor’s Caribbean: our one non-sailing travel book.  good to cross check what the “regular” tourists do.

Marine Navigation, Richard Hobbs: Chris’ college textbook.  We thought we’d have all kinds of time to reteach ourselves celestial navigation and go all old school.  Nope.

A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast, Taft: Best cruising guide ever.  I actually got upset the day we left Maine and I had to put that book away under our bed.  I was equally as distraught by leaving Maine as I was from not getting to read this book anymore.  It’s that good.

Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion: the be all and end all of acupuncture texts.

A Pebble in Your Pocket: Mindful Stories for Children and Grown-ups, Thich Nhat Hanh: a great book by the beloved Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.  I read the stories aloud to the kids and we talk about the messages they have to offer.

In the Heart of the Sea: the tragedy of the whaleship Essex, Nathaniel Philbrick: Chris read this in two days, a miracle in the busy world of a captain.  It is the true story that inspired Moby Dick.  Appropriate, as his nickname in college was Ahab.

Heal Your Body A-Z, Louise Hay: try not to get sick or hurt if you don’t have this book on your nightstand.  Louise Hay offers possible emotional root causes behind most ailments.  She then suggests ways to meditate upon those causes in an effort to heal oneself.  Try it before reaching for the Tylenol, BenGay, or NyQuil.  You might surprise yourself.

Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations, and Terms: just as a back-up.  We haven’t needed it.

PADI SCUBA Manual: Bryson and I took our open water certification dives on our trip, so we brought this to study.

The Atmosphere, Frederick Lutgens and Edward Tarbuck: another 1994 textbook of Chris’.

World Cruising Routes, Jimmy Cornell: my dad lent this to us.  It is an absolute must-have for sailors who dream big.

I Remember Nothing, Nora Ephron: I have decided to read everything Nora Ephron has written.  I just don’t know how I will avoid trying to copy her writing style, which is witty, meaningful, and so so true.

The Sailing Fanatic: Timeless Reflections on Water, Wind and Wave, Christopher Caswell: where I get all my obscure quotes at the top of my blogposts.  What?  You thought I had read all those books?

The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine, Ted Kaptchuk: it should be called “not understanding chinese medicine”.  I got to chapter five and my head almost exploded.

Inward Revolution: Bringing About Radical Change in the World, J. Krishnamurti: mmm.. sounds like a good idea.

Leadership and Self-Deception: getting out of the box, The Arbinger Institute: Chris brought this one.

The Diamond Cutter: the Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life, Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally: another Chris pick.

I Feel Bad About My Neck and other thoughts on being a woman, Nora Ephron: so funny!  I read it on the beach in 3 hours.  And now I’m dragging it all over the Caribbean because I can’t bear to part with it.

Sea Survival: the boatman’s emergency manual, Robb Huff and Michael Farley: hoping we will never need this one.

Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea, Steve Callahan: or this one.  Although this book is wonderful, even if you don’t sail.  Next time you are tempted to watch Survivor, read this instead.  He’s the real deal.

All in the Same Boat: living aboard and cruising, Tom Neale: Great resource for living aboard, especially all the technical and mechanical aspects of maintaining a boat.  You just have to get past a bit of arrogance and judgement.

Chesapeake, James Michener: at least three people insisted I get this book when we were headed for the Chesapeake.  It’s REALLY LONG so I haven’t read it yet.

The Pocket Encyclopedia of Healing Touch Therapies, Skye Alexander and Anne Schneider: beautifully photographed book showing acupressure, massage, and reflexology points to help with everything from headaches to tendonitis to hangovers.

The Parent’s Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents, William Martin: a gift from a very special friend and an amazing parent.  I long ago decided I was done with books that tell me how to be a parent.  But Martin briefly and poignantly uses the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching to remind us of the Way and how it relates to being a parent.  I try to read one a day and contemplate it as I hug and kiss and play with and (try not to) yell at my kids.

Gift From the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh: this is my favorite book. Of all time.  I can’t live without it.  It was given to me by my Tante Betsy when I graduated from high school.  I was changed by Lindbergh’s wisdom then and continue to learn and grow from her timeless advice every time I reread it.

Field Guide to Shells, National Audobon Society: it has been fun to look up interesting shells we find on the beach.

Sailor’s Guide to the Windward Islands, Chris Doyle: just about every sailor in the Caribbean has Chris Doyle’s books.  They give detailed information about customs & immigration procedures, anchoring, sightseeing, and the availability of all kinds of services from garbage to laundry to where you can buy a spare water filter.

Sailor’s Guide to the Leeward Islands, Chris Doyle

A Pirate Looks at Forty, Jimmy Buffet: Buffet music is daily fare on a boat.  And his books are salty and funny.

The Hungry Ocean, Linda Greenlaw: written about offshore fishing by the female captain of one of the boats caught in The Perfect Storm.

America’s Victory, David Shaw: about the first America’s Cup challenge.

Just Cruising: a family travels the world, Liza Copeland: we enjoyed Copeland’s presentations on sailing with children at the Annapolis Boat Show.

The Greatest Sailing Stories Ever Told, edited by Christopher Caswell: excellent as an armchair sailor book or to properly scare you out of your wits if you are reading the stories on a boat.

United States Coast Guard and US Department of Homeland Security’s Navigation Rules: we are required to have a copy onboard.  Go ahead.  Test us.

Tales of the Caribbean, Fritz Seyfarth: interesting, light reading about various islands.

Island Hopping to the Caribbean, David and Annie LaVigne: a personal account of cruising.

Watching for Mermaids, David Roper: purchased at the Newport Boat Show last year from the author, who was very personable.  Chris loved it.

Atlantic Coast Beaches, Neal, Pilkey, and Kelley: all about the ecology of the beach.

Pirates of the Virgin Islands, Fritz Seyfarth: just what it says.  fun!

Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book, 2012: lists tides for the Atlantic.  All boats have one onboard.

The Old Farmer’s 2012 Almanac, Robert Thomas: I thought it would be fun for the kids to peruse.  Nope.  They’re too busy swimming!

A Star to Steer Her By; A Five-Year Odyssey of Coming of Age at Sea, Alex Ellison: about a boy who sails with his family for five years.

Passages South: the thornless path to windward, Bruce Van Sant: Chris likes the information given in this book even though Van Sant makes no apologies about suggesting which islands have the prettiest women.  Really?

The Joy of Cooking, Irma Rombauer: the only cookbook we brought with us.  ’cause I thought we’d have internet….

Anatomical Illustration of Acupuncture Points, Guo chang-qing, Ph.D., Hu Bo, Ph.D., and Liu Nai-gang, M.A.: the perfect guide for an amateur.

We have a few more, but I have buried them in a bag under our bed as we finished them or decided we didn’t need to have them instantly accessible anymore.  What would you bring?

What We Wouldn’t Give For….

So we’ve been on our journey for 8 months.  That’s a long time to be away from home!  We love living on Patronus, but there are a few things we miss (aside from our friends and family, of course).  The kids’ lists are especially amusing.  You’d think they haven’t had anything to read for 8 months!  Here is a list of what each of us is longing for:

Our kitchen looks absolutely gigantic after cooking in a galley for 8 months!

Our kitchen looks absolutely gigantic after cooking in our tiny galley for 8 months!

Chris:

a car

my king-sized bed

a full-sized bathroom and kitchen

Filet mignon

Environmental control (air conditioning and heat, whenever I want it)

 

I almost can't breathe right now.  I'm that excited looking at my own laundry room.

I almost can’t breathe right now. I’m that excited looking at my own laundry room.

Erica:

Acupuncture

Yoga classes

pedicures

Haagen Dazs and Carvel

my king-sized bed

114my bicycle

a bathroom that smells like an unscented candle

my vegetable garden

 

Kelli, Reese and Christina pick basil in our garden

Kelli, Reese and Christina pick basil in our garden

Snow, our fireplace, our hot tub, boots, and jeans

long, hot showers & blow-dried hair

storage

internet service

 

08-30-2011_100810Bryson:

my bicycle

stairs and fluffy carpeting

the school playground and track

unlimited electricity

internet service

Sleepover with James and Ryan

Sleepover with James and Ryan

television and movie theaters

sleepovers

space to play inside

all my books

my closet full of clothing

Sunday Breakfast

 

Doesn't everyone read like this?

Doesn’t everyone read like this?

Riesling:

A shower where I can use as much hot water as I want

All the books in our bookshelves

the water dispenser on our fridge door (lukewarm desalinated water isn’t quite cutting it for Reese)

02-20-2010_123831

16 inches of snow

School

My own bed

Internet service

 

 

Bryson, Reese, Kelli, and Porter at Krauzer's getting ice cream on a nice, hot day in summer

Bryson, Reese, Kelli, and Porter at Krauzer’s getting ice cream on a nice, hot day in summer

 

Porter:

Charlie, Conner, and all my friends

Mema and Grandma and Gma

(he made me put in people, even though I told him this one is just about “things” we miss)

Internet service

The Olive Garden

DQ

Krauzer’s

Sunday Breakfast

Updated Floatplan/Itinerary

Wondering where we’ve been and where we’re going?  I’ve updated our Floatplan (since it seems to change every 20 minutes or so).  Today we are in Soufriere in St. Lucia, which is our 90th unique port of call (we have been to some places several times, but I have only counted each port once).  We have travelled 4,536 miles in 252 days!

Floatplan: s/v Patronus
July 1, 2012-July   1, 2013
Arrival Departure Distance State/Country Port of Call Points of Interest Unique Port of Call
7/1/2012 New York West Haverstraw, Haverstraw   Marina 1
7/1/2012 7/2/2012 51 New York Port Washington, Manhasset Bay   Yacht Club Eric and Eileen Weintraub 2
7/2/2012 7/3/2012 34 New York Port Jefferson Mindy Morales, Sue Nissle, Mike   Matz 3
7/3/2012 7/10/2012 90 Rhode Island Newport Lana/Dave Armitage, Marlene/Jack   Horan, Bryson/Cindy Hall 4
7/10/2012 7/12/2012 41 Massachusetts Marion Buzzard’s Bay Music Festival,   Historical Society 5
7/12/2012 7/14/2012 40 Massachusetts Wellfleet Janet 6
7/14/2012 7/16/2012 61 Massachusetts Marblehead Keith/Liz Bernhardt 7
7/16/2012 7/17/2012 10 Massachusetts Gloucester 8
7/17/2012 7/19/2012 44 New Hampshire Portsmouth Michael/Patty Bardwell 9
7/19/2012 7/22/2012 49 Maine Portland 10
7/22/2012 7/23/2012 9 Maine Jewell Island 11
7/23/2012 7/24/2012 16 Maine Sequin Island 12
7/24/2012 7/25/2012 7.3 Maine Five Islands 13
7/26/2012 7/27/2012 9.5 Maine Boothbay Harbor 14
7/27/2012 7/30/2012 5.8 Maine Reed’s Island, East Boothbay Edelson party 7/28/12 15
7/30/2012 7/30/2012 11.4 Maine Monhegan Island 16
7/30/2012 7/31/2012 14 Maine Tenant’s Harbor 17
7/31/2012 8/1/2012 10.4 Maine Pulpit Harbor (North Haven) 18
8/1/2012 8/3/2012 10.4 Maine Camden Coleman’s 19
8/3/2012 8/4/2012 20.8 Maine Seal Bay, Vinalhaven 20
8/4/2012 8/5/2012 28.3 Maine Clark Cove, Spuce Head Lisa and Chris Seiler, lobster   festival 21
8/5/2012 8/6/2012 2.6 Maine Tenant’s Harbor
8/6/2012 8/7/2012 48 Maine Frenchboro, Long Island 22
8/7/2012 8/11/2012 16 Maine Somes Harbor, Mt. Desert Island Acadia National Park 23
8/11/2012 8/13/2012 6.2 Maine Northeast Harbor, Mt. Desert   Island Acadia National Park 24
8/13/2012 8/14/2012 6.2 Maine Somes Harbor, Mt. Desert Island Acadia National Park
8/14/2012 8/15/2012 32.6 Maine Duck Harbor, Isle Au Haut Acadia National Park 25
8/15/2012 8/16/2012 31 Maine Port Clyde 26
8/16/2012 8/16/2012 135.19 PASSAGE: PORT CLYDE TO   BOSTON
8/16/2012 8/19/2012 109 Massachusetts Boston Keith and Liz Bernhardt 27
8/19/2012 8/20/2012 38 Massachusetts Onset 28
8/20/2012 8/21/2012 43 Rhode Island Dutch Harbor 29
8/21/2012 8/28/2012 5 Rhode Island Wickford Bryson and Cindy Hall 30
8/22/2012 8/27/2012 CAR TRIP HOME Ho-Ho-Kus Carolyn and Aaron’s   Wedding!!!!!!
8/28/2012 9/5/2012 10 Rhode Island Newport Lana and Dave; Marlene and Jack
9/1/2012 9/3/2012 11.9 Rhode Island Bristol 31
9/3/2012 9/5/2012 11.9 Rhode Island Newport
9/5/2012 9/13/2012 58.3 Massachusetts Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard Art and Mary 32
9/13/2012 9/14/2012 27 Massachusetts Cuttyhunk 33
9/14/2012 9/17/2012 26 Rhode Island Newport Lana and Dave; Marlene and Jack
9/17/2012 9/24/2012 23 Rhode Island Block Island 34
9/24/2012 9/30/2012 42 New York Noyak Kari wedding 35
9/30/2012 10/2/2012 372 PASSAGE: NOYAC TO ROCK   HALL
10/2/2012 10/3/2012 Maryland Rock Hall 36
10/3/2012 10/13/2012 17.6 Maryland Annapolis Annapolis Boat Show 37
10/13/2012 10/16/2012 26.8 Maryland Baltimore Cowboys vs. Ravens game 38
10/16/2012 10/18/2012 26.1 Maryland Annapolis
10/18/2012 10/19/2012 51.5 Maryland Solomon’s Island 39
10/19/2012 10/20/2012 42 Virginia Tangier Island 40
10/20/2012 10/21/2012 77.8 Virginia Great Bridge Bascule Bridge ICW 41
10/21/2012 10/22/2012 64.4 North Carolina Columbia ICW 42
10/22/2012 10/31/2012 63.4 North Carolina Aurora Mom and Sal’s, Hurrican Sandy,   Passage Provisioning 43
10/31/2012 11/4/2012 46.1 North Carolina Morehead City Trick or Treating, preparing for   passage, s/v Full Monty 44
11/4/2012 11/12/2012 1441.1 PASSAGE: NORTH CAROLINA   TO ST. THOMAS
11/12/2012 11/14/2012 USVI: St. Thomas Red Hook 45
11/14/2012 11/15/2012 9.2 BVI: Tortola Soper’s Hole check into BVIs 46
11/15/2012 11/27/2012 27.4 BVI: Virgin Gorda Gorda Sound Bitter End Yacht Club, Saba   Rock, Prickly Pear Island 47
11/27/2012 11/28/2012 16.7 BVI: Tortola Road Town provisioning for BVI trip 48
11/28/2012 11/30/2012 8.9 BVI: Tortola Soper’s Hole
11/30/2012 12/1/2012 6.6 BVI: Tortola Cane Garden Bay school, blown glass place,   Callwood Rum Distillery 49
12/1/2012 12/2/2012 6.9 BVI: Jost Van Dyke White Bay Soggy Dollar 50
12/2/2012 12/3/2012 3.7 BVI: Jost Van Dyke Diamond Cay Bubbles 51
12/3/2012 12/4/2012 4.5 BVI: Tortola Soper’s Hole
12/4/2012 12/6/2012 7.5 BVI: Norman Island The Bight Indians 52
12/6/2012 12/7/2012 7.6 BVI: Peter Island Great Harbor snorkeling on the RMS Rhone 53
12/7/2012 12/7/2012 3.2 BVI: Salt Island Salt Island 54
12/7/2012 12/8/2012 7 BVI: Tortola Marina Cay 55
12/8/2012 12/9/2012 13.1 BVI: Virgin Gorda Gorda Sound Saba Rock
12/9/2012 12/9/2012 1.3 BVI: Virgin Gorda Gun Creek 56
12/9/2012 12/12/2012 16.1 BVI: Anegada Anegada Harbor 57
12/12/2012 12/13/2012 16.5 BVI: Virgin Gorda Gorda Sound Bitter End Yacht Club
12/13/2012 12/13/2012 9.5 BVI: Virgin Gorda The Baths 58
12/13/2012 12/14/2012 5.8 BVI: Cooper Island Manchioneel Bay Cooper Island Yacht Club 59
12/14/2012 12/14/2012 6.3 BVI: Tortola Road Town checking out of BVIs
12/14/2015 12/15/2012 7.3 BVI: Tortola Soper’s Hole
12/15/2012 12/15/2012 7.7 USVI: St. John Cruz Bay Check into USVI 60
12/15/2012 12/15/2012 2.8 USVI: St. John Trunk Bay snorkeling in underwater museum 61
12/15/2012 12/16/2012 1.7 USVI: St. John Francis Bay 62
12/16/2012 12/17/2012 10.3 USVI: St. John Coral Bay 63
12/17/2012 12/18/2012 3.6 USVI: St. John Lameshur Bay 64
12/18/2012 12/19/2012 14.3 USVI: St. Thomas Charlotte Amalie xmas shopping, provisioning,   visit with Weintraubs 65
12/19/2012 12/19/2012 8.4 USVI: St. Thomas Christmas Cove snorkeling/lunch with Weintraubs 66
12/19/2012 12/20/2012 7.1 USVI: St. Thomas Charlotte Amalie
12/19/2012 12/20/2012 38.9 USVI: St. Croix Christiansted 67
12/24/2012 12/25/2012 2.75 USVI: St. Croix Green Cay Harbor Green Cay Marina 68
12/25/2012 12/25/2012 3.25 USVI: Buck Island Buck Island Christmas luncheon/swimming 69
12/25/2012 12/30/2012 3.25 USVI: St. Croix Green Cay Harbor Green Cay Marina
12/30/2012 1/1/2013 201.8 PASSAGE: ST. CROIX TO   GUADELOUPE
1/1/2013 1/4/2013 Guadeloupe Deshies 70
1/4/2013 1/4/2013 12.4 Guadeloupe Pigeon Island 71
1/4/2013 1/5/2013 6.9 Guadeloupe Pigeon Harbor 72
1/5/2013 1/6/2013 13.4 Guadeloupe Basse Terre 73
1/6/2013 1/9/2013 32.8 Guadeloupe Pointe a Pitre 74
1/9/2013 1/11/2013 22.4 Les Saintes Terre d’en Haute, Bourg des   Saintes 75
1/11/2013 1/13/2013 1.47 Les Saintes Terre d’en Haute, Pain au Sucre dolphins 76
1/13/2013 1/14/2013 1.9 Les Saintes Terre d’en Bas, Anse Fideling pottery, windmills 77
1/14/2013 1/28/2013 21.7 Dominica Portsmouth 78
1/28/2013 1/29/2013 261.3 PASSAGE: DOMINICA TO   GRENADA
1/29/2013 2/1/2013 Grenada Prickly Bay 79
2/1/2013 2/9/2013 10.6 Grenada St. George 80
2/9/2013 2/12/2013 35 Grenada: Carriacou Hillsborough Carnival 81
2/12/2013 2/13/2013 1 Grenada: Carriacou Sandy Island 82
2/13/2013 2/16/2013 3 Grenada: Carriacou Tyrell Bay 83
2/16/2013 2/20/2013 11.9 St. Vincent/Grenadines Union Island 84
2/20/2013 2/23/2013 4.9 St. Vincent/Grenadines Tobago Cays, Baradal Marine Park 85
2/23/2013 2/24/2013 0.5 St. Vincent/Grenadines Tobago Cays, Petite Bateau Marine Park 86
2/24/2013 3/1/2013 28.8 St. Vincent/Grenadines Bequia, Port Elizabeth Admiralty Bay for restaurants,   market for provisioning (can be aggressive), turtle sanctuary 87
3/1/2013 3/5/2013 80.2 St. Lucia Rodney Bay IGY Marina 88
3/5/2013 3/6/2013 10.6 St. Lucia Marigot 89
3/6/2013 3/9/2013 10.4 St. Lucia Soufriere volcano, Pitons, sulpher springs 90
3/9/2013 3/14/2013 Dominica Portsmouth swim under waterfalls, volcanic   lakes, rainforest, Carib Indian village
3/14/2013 3/20/2013 Antigua/St. John’s Antigua Rainforest Adventure   Zipline, Race Week April/May, good museum
3/20/2013 3/23/2013 Nevis Basseterre nevis plantation inns and   Sunshine’s Beach Bar, triathlon club
3/23/2013 3/26/2013 St. Kitts
3/26/2013 3/28/2013 Saba
3/28/2013 3/30/2013 St. Barts anchorage not good in NE
3/30/2013 4/5/2013 St. Maarten Marigot: lagoon/stores
4/5/2013 4/9/2013 Anguilla
4/9/2013 4/19/2013 British Virgin Islands Armitage Family cruise
4/19/2013 4/22/2013 PASSAGE TO BAHAMAS
4/22/2013 Bahamas various islands and ports
 Bahamas Exumas, George Town Darry (produce), Mom’s bakery,   Christine Rolle (taxi, tours, bush medicine), Exuma Cay Land and Sea Park
Bahamas Norman’s Cay Mc Duffs (airport bar)
Bahamas Stocking Island Shells on leeward side of island
5/23/2013 5/27/2013 Bahamas, Eleuthera Harbor Island Carolyn, Aaron, Rosemary
5/27/2013 6/1/2013 Bahamas Abaco Islands Provisioning for Passage
6/1/2013 PASSAGE
 6/11/13? Newport?
7/1/2013 New York Haverstraw Welcome Home!
Distance   Traveled: 4536.71