Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.7.2, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Cream Puff - Life's Sweet Treat Mark and Cindy's Sailing Blog ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.creampuff.us/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog Stuff](https://www.creampuff.us/blog-stuff/) - [Back in New Caledonia - Round 3](https://www.creampuff.us/2026/07/back-in-new-caledonia-round-3/) - Back in our happy place, we can't wait to get in the water and explore. New Caledonio - the third time around. - [Adios, Ciao, Bye Bye](https://www.creampuff.us/2026/06/adios-ciao-bye-bye/) - We bid farewell to Australia and set sail. It saddens us deeply to leave friends behind. More so this time as the people we met were awesome friends. - [We're Not Dead](https://www.creampuff.us/2026/05/were-not-dead/) - Lots of stuff is going on in Australia. Between boat maintenance and continued exploring, we still make time for our Aussie friends as we wrap up our stay here. - [Coober Pedy Opal Mines](https://www.creampuff.us/2026/01/coober-pedy-opal-mines/) - We go underground in the land down under. A road trip to Coober Pedy - the opal capital of the world. An interesting way of life for these miners... - [Australia's Great Ocean Road](https://www.creampuff.us/2026/01/australias-great-ocean-road/) - In Australia, the Great Ocean Road is an absolute must-do! This is one of the world's most scenic drives. Warning: a long post with tons of incredible pics. - [Back in the Land Down Under – Part 2](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/12/back-in-the-land-down-under-part-2/) - The long-awaited part II comes with some awesome pics as we wind up our time in Sydney. - [Back in the Land Down Under - Part 1](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/11/back-in-the-land-down-under-part-1/) - We are back in Australia, spending some time in Sydney. Wow! What an incredible city this is. No wonder it ranks consistently as one of the top cities to live. - [Back in New Caledonia](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/09/back-in-new-caledonia/) - We are in the wonderful French territory known as New Caledonia. Like most of the islands in the South Pacific, New Caledonia was named in 1774 by Captain James Cook when he sailed past. The landscape reminded him of the Scottish Highlands, so he borrowed the name. Caledonia was the Latin name the Romans used - [Christmas in July - Down Under](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/08/christmas-in-july-down-under/) - We are invited to celebrate Christmas with our Aussie friend - in July. An Australian tradition very few are aware of in the northern hemishere. Hope you enjoy... - [Gnarly and Nostalgia](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/08/gnarly-and-nostalgia/) - We go hunting for whales just off the Queensland coast in Australia, and I take a walk down memory lane in Ipswich. Waint until you see what happened... - [Down Under Sports](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/06/down-under-sports/) - We go to our first Aussie Rules Football match and Cindy checks off attending a football (soccer) match from her to do list. And, we have lunch with friends we haven't seen in 10 years. - [Seeing Koalas in the Wild](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/05/seeing-koalas-in-the-wild/) - Join us as we see Koalas in the wild. We take an eco-tour and hunt down these little cute fur-balls. Enjoy the latest update on our wacky adventure... - [Sailing Breakthroughs](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/04/sailing-breakthroughs/) - Sailing technology breakthroughs and now AI. Today's sailor is a little more skilled in techno stuff, but probably can plot with a sextant - [The Outback - Part II](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/04/the-outback-part-ii/) - The second and final part of our trip into the Australian outback. Wow What an adventure this trip was. Here's the story and lots of pictures. Hope you enjoy... - [The Outback - Part I](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/04/the-outback-part-i/) - We venture into the Australian outback. Abandoning life on the water, we seek dry heat and hopefully sightings of a few animals - [Airlie Beach and Some Really Fun Stuff](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/03/airlie-beach-and-some-really-fun-stuff/) - Huge amounts of fun while in Airlie Beach, then having to deal with Cyclone Albert back in Brisbane. Plus we make a ton of new friends. Hope you enjoy the latest update in our wacky adventure. - [A Long Reminiscing Post about a Long Journey](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/02/a-long-reminiscing-post-about-a-long-journey/) - The Cream Puff Crew has hit a few milestones. 2024 marked 42 years that Mark and I have been sailing together. In a few months, we will have owned Cream Puff for 14 years. In just a few days it will be 10 years of living full-time on Cream Puff. We tend to forget to - [The Hunt For Kangaroos - Part I](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/01/the-hunt-for-kangaroos-part-i/) - We head north to hunt for Kangaroo in the coastal wilderness. On the way we discover a gem of a town called Rockhampton City. The latest on a wacky adventure... - [The Hunt For Kangaroos - Part II](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/02/the-hunt-for-kangaroos-part-ii/) - Our hunt for Kangaroos pays off with dividends. We grab some great photos as we watch kangaroos and wallabies feed on the beach in the early morning - [What do we think of Australia, so far?](https://www.creampuff.us/2025/01/what-do-we-think-of-australia-so-far/) - We venture to Brisbane for lunch and share our first thoughts about Australia. Perhaps more than you need to know. Enjoy the latest update on our sailing blog. - [Redcliffe and Bundaberg](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/12/redcliffe-and-bundaberg/) - Our first road trips take us to Redcliffe and Bundaberg. We hope you enjoy this latest update to our wacky sailing blog. - [Australia!](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/12/australia/) - We have just arrived in Australia, cleared customs, immigration, and biosecurity. We can't wait to explore the land down under. - [Loving New Caledonia](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/11/loving-new-caledonia/) - Unlike most islands we’ve visited so far in the South Pacific, New Caledonia has a large boating population. The marina we call home at the moment is massive and 99% of the boats here are owned by locals. And, this is just one of many marinas. What does this mean for us? The short answer - [We’re in New Caledonia](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/11/were-in-new-caledonia/) - After the last post, I think I need to make sure this one is slightly more upbeat. We happily put Fiji in the rearview mirror and made our way to New Caledonia. This is a French Island. Lately, there has been a lot of civil unrest here due to a minor group pushing for independence. More - [Violated in Savusavu](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/10/violated-in-savusavu/) - As you read this, I will ask you to keep in mind that we are always very polite and accommodating to officials. We understand they have a job to do and we are respectful of their job. During our almost 10 years of full-time cruising and in our previous part-time sailing life, we have - [Birthdays on the Ocean](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/10/birthdays-on-the-ocean/) - I am happy to say we finally have Nawi Island in the rearview mirror. We wound up waiting for our part longer than expected. Fiji customs held up the windlass part for 9 days for no apparent reason. Cindy found a senior contact at DHL and asked them to investigate the delay. Fiji customs said - [Frustrated in Fiji](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/09/frustrated-in-fiji/) - Things are not going well in Fiji. Frankly, I can't wait to leave. This year our experience is nothing at all like our previous time here. Here's why... - [Dinghy Driving School of Hard Knocks](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/12/dinghy-driving-school-of-hard-knocks/) - We hate our dinghy. Maybe hate is too strong a word but we really, really don’t like it very much. Among other things, it is too small. Once we put a small gasoline tank, oars, life jackets and two people, there is not much room. It is not easy to maneuver and it leaks. It - [Losing My Keys](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/03/losing-keys/) - I guess I really have not given key chains much thought over the past 30 years or so. That is, until today. I remember my first key chain. I was not even close to driving age yet but I had a little key chain. The novelty of buying souvenirs at roadside stops was new to - [We're Back in Fiji](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/08/were-back-in-fiji/) - We're back in Fiji. This time we visit a different island and plan to slowly head westward across the country. Enjoy the latest update to our sailing blog. - [Two Cents from the Crew-New Zealand](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/07/two-cents-from-the-crew-new-zealand/) - When we first stared this adventure, I was surprised to learn that in the boater/cruising community it is common to call people by their boat name. We are no longer Mark and Cindy. We are collectively called “Cream Puff”. When we lived on land our friends knew our personalities were divergent. I find in the - [Minerva Reef](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/07/minerva-reef/) - We finally escaped from New Zealand and are hanging out for a couple of days at an oasis in the middle of nowhere. - [Now What?](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/06/now-what/) - Hopefully our last sailing blog post from New Zealand. We are sooo ready to leave but the weather has us pinned down for the foreseeable future. - [New Zealand – South Island – Part IV](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/05/new-zealand-south-island-part-iv/) - The last in a four-part series of posts on our sailing blog about our visit to New Zealand's South Island. - [New Zealand – South Island – Part III](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/05/new-zealand-south-island-part-iii/) - Part III in our visit to New Zealand's South Island. I hope you enjoy this latest update to our sailing blog. - [New Zealand – South Island – Part II](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/03/new-zealand-south-island-part-ii/) - In Part II of our trip to New Zealand's South Island, we walk on a glacier and spend time exploring Christchurch. I hope you enjoy all the pics... - [New Zealand – South Island – Part I](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/03/new-zealand-south-island-part-i/) - Going to New Zealand’s South Island for 4 weeks put our planning skills to the test. We had to line up or figure out airplanes, Ubers, multiple trains, a helicopter, rental cars, a ferry, buses, places and places to stay. During this trip we saw 84 towns, used one taxi and five Ubers. We rode - [Another Road Trip – Part I](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/01/another-road-trip-part-i/) - Here’s something funny; in French Polynesia and Fiji, we fell in love with a brand of New Zealand made ice cream called Deep South. In French Polynesia like all things there, it was expensive and we splurged only once in a while for a tub. In Fiji, it was a regular treat as a store - [Another Road Trip – Part II](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/01/another-road-trip-part-ii/) - Continued from Part I The second time I was in awe this week was during a visit to Hobbiton, located in Matamata, New Zealand. Matamata was about a 40 minute drive from our AirBnB condo in Hamilton and is a world-renowned tourist destination that brings the enchanting realm of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth to life. As - [Happy Cream Puff Day](https://www.creampuff.us/2024/01/happy-cream-puff-day-2/) - Happy New Year. And, Happy Cream Puff Day. Yes, it is such a thing. January 2nd in the USA is Cream Puff Day – Google it if you don’t believe me. Amel boats are French as are Cream Puffs. French chef Antonin Carême was the first to add cream to puffs in the early 19th - [First Thoughts on New Zealand](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/12/first-thoughts-on-new-zealand/) - It’s nice to be back in a populated first-world country. We can tell we are because of the eggs. I’ll explain my theory. In small nations or unpopulated areas of the world whenever we need eggs, we go to the store and stand in front of the shelf of eggs. In these smaller islands - [Cream Puff is in New Zealand](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/11/cream-puff-is-in-new-zealand/) - I keep telling Cindy that I hope the hassle of New Zealand is worth it. I’ll explain. Sailing from Fiji to New Zealand is tricky. The trip takes about 7-9 days depending on winds. However, about every 5 days a nasty weather system will move across northern New Zealand from Southern Australia and - [Final Thoughts About Fiji](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/11/final-thoughts-about-fiji/) - We both agree Fiji has super-friendly people. I know I have said this before when writing about Fiji, but it warrants mentioning again. Cindy and I both tend to say hello to strangers. When passing someone on the street, getting on a bus, or the person sitting next to us on a plane will all - [Snorkeling with Our Buddies](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/09/snorkeling-with-our-buddies/) - This is a quick blog post about a fun experience while snorkeling recently. Sergeant Major Damsel Fish are one of my favorite fish. We typically see them closer to the surface. Often under boats or dinghies. We mostly saw yellow Sergeant Major Damsels in the Atlantic. Since we have been west of Galapagos we have - [Suva - Part 2](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/09/suva-part-2/) - I’ve been really looking forward to writing part 2 of this because some funny stuff happened in Suva. Here we go. In part 1, you learned our hotel didn’t have bedbugs. The real downside was it was up a hill (pun intended). At the end of the day spent walking up and down the - [Suva – Part 1](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/09/suva-part-1/) - We decided to go to Suva, the capital city of Fiji. Over the weekend, we talked to a couple of local people and mentioned we are heading to Suva. Our hope was they’d share some insight about what to see and do there. We both were a little surprised when we announced our intentions - [Malolo Islands and Musket Cove](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/08/malolo-islands-and-musket-cove/) - We recently visited the Malolo islands, specifically a place called Musket Cove. It felt a little bit strange actually sailing the Puffster without looking ahead to an overnight passage. Most of the places we’ve visited in the South Pacific require an overnight sail or longer. We can actually see the Malolo Islands as soon as - [Fumbling Around Fiji – Part 2](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/08/fumbling-around-fiji-part-2/) - Link to Part 1 When we left off last time, I was talking about fresh produce and Farm Boy. We made another discovery that involves farm-to-table. We first became familiar with the farm-to-table concept many years ago when in the US Virgin Islands. Simply put, the concept is fresh locally grown organic food is sourced - [Fumbling Around Fiji - Part 1](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/08/fumbling-around-fiji-part-1/) - The past few weeks we’ve been doing something we love to do. We’ve been exploring the island we’re on. We are currently on Viti Levu. This is Fiji’s main island and includes the capital city of Suva. I almost called this post Farting Around Fiji but decided to keep it G-rated instead. About 87% of - [Leaving French Polynesia - A Rare Post from the More Private Crew Member](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/05/leaving-french-polynesia-a-rare-post-from-the-more-private-crew-member/) - Mark and I are often asked what is the hardest part of the cruising lifestyle. The answer usually depends on where we are located at the time. Our lives are often dictated by bureaucracy and weather. Other times the hardships can be obtaining parts and supplies. Interestingly, long voyages over vast expanses of ocean are - [What is it Like to Make an Ocean Passage?](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/07/what-is-it-like-to-make-an-ocean-passage/) - Being at one with nature and the elements is remarkably calming and soothing. One feels a sense of peacefulness as the boat gently glides across the sea and rippling waves. We listen to Caribbean-style ska music or Jimmy Buffet and we sip rum concoctions in the evenings. During the day we bask in the - [Finding Our Way Around Fiji](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/07/finding-our-way-around-fiji/) - On the way to Fiji, we crossed the Anti-meridian line also known as the International Date Line (IDL). This completes the 4th hemisphere for us and the Puffster. We crossed the equator from the northern to the southern hemisphere on our way to Galapagos. And, now we have crossed from the western hemisphere to - [Bora Bora](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/06/bora-bora/) - We made it to Bora Bora. This will be our last stop in French Polynesia. There is a funny saying, I went to Bora Bora and left poorer poorer. And, this adage is justly due. This place is the world’s ultimate tourist’s trap. Personally, I think the real purpose of Bora Bora’s place in our - [Hurry Up and Wait](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/06/hurry-up-and-wait/) - (This post contains some of my favorite pictures taken while in French Polynesia) For the past couple of months, we’ve been trying to put Tahiti in the rearview mirror. First, we had to wait for a small health issue to clear up and now, the weather is uncooperative. Our next venture means sailing into more - [Karl](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/01/karl/) - Meet Karl. Karl was responsible for getting us around Martinique for seven days. I am happy to call an inanimate object a “Him” instead of a “Her” for a change. However, referring to a boat, plane or any lifeless object as female or male has always annoyed me. But at the same time I have - [Drug Trafficking, Cheers, and Lost Treasure](https://www.creampuff.us/2023/02/drug-trafficking-cheers-and-lost-treasure/) - Drug Trafficking Every time we arrive in a new country, we are required to clear customs and immigration. For the most part, this is a pretty relaxed process and very rarely have customs officials set foot on the boat to inspect. We normally fill out their forms, go to their office and get official papers - [Yikes! This Blog is Getting Rusty](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/12/yikes-this-blog-is-getting-rusty/) - Cindy has returned from an extended visit to her family – yay! Unfortunately, just like any other time we’ve traveled internationally by plane, she caught a cold on the return trip. Thankfully, it was on the return so as not to spoil her visit. However, we’ve passed this darn cold back and forth now for - [Meanwhile, Back on Tahiti...](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/10/meanwhile-back-on-tahiti/) - Something happened today that made me think, this is it – I’ve finally lost my mind. Several people have questioned whether I am of sound mind over the years. I’m not like normal people and I know that. But until this morning, I’ve never questioned myself regarding sanity. So, here’s what happened. I woke up - [Fun in Fakarava – The South Pass](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/07/fun-in-fakarava-the-south-pass/) - Usually, when a place is hyped by fellow cruisers, it is often a bit of a letdown due to high expectations. This was not the case with Fakarava’s south pass. We have now spent a couple of weeks here on a mooring ball and have had tons of time to explore. The first thing I - [Fun and Fuel in Fakarava](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/06/fun-and-fuel-in-fakarava/) - To continue on with part three ( Part I – Part II): Sailing inside an atoll Yes, fuel is available in Fakarava. In fact, it couldn’t be easier. Once we dropped the anchor near the small village of Rotoava after dodging bommies and pearl farms on the way up, we could see the fuel pump near - [Fun in Fakarava – Part II](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/06/fun-in-fakarava-part-ii/) - I am picking up where we left off in Part I. Here is a video I wanted to attach to Part I but, with the ailing hamster situation, it wasn’t possible. We have moved a little and believe it or not we have 4G service. Or perhaps the hamster has been replaced with gerbils, four - [Fun in Fakarava - Part I](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/05/fun-in-fakarava-part-i/) - What is there to do in Fakarava? The short answer: not much. The internet here is either driven by a hamster in a wheel or a windmill. It seems like whenever the wind dies so does the internet. Or, perhaps the hamster collapses periodically from heat exhaustion. Or maybe, it’s a combination of both. When - [Finding Fakarava](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/05/finding-fakarava/) - We are anchored in Fakarava. Where the heck is that, you might ask. Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of it. Unless you are a sailor passing through the South Pacific or a world-traveling SCUBA diver, the chances are you have no idea where we are. It’s not like Fakarava is high on any geography - [Fish and Food](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/04/fish-and-food/) - The topic of this post is fish and food. I am going to write about food while showing you pictures of fish. The fish pictures are all taken in waters surrounding Tahiti at some of our favorite snorkeling spots. One thing that is very true for both Cindy and me is, we’ve always eaten well. - [7 Years of Sailing](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/03/7-years-of-sailing/) - Seven years ago this month we moved onto Cream Puff to live full-time. On May 4th, 2015 we departed St. Petersburg, Florida to set sail and travel the globe. Above is the picture we took as we departed wondering what lies ahead and over the horizon. Now we know what was over the horizon. We - [Beaufort, NC (pronounced: bow-firt)](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/07/beaufort-nc-pronounced-bo-fout/) - Sailing from Fernandina, Beach FL to Beaufort, NC achieved a couple of milestones for us. It was our longest single passage yet at 360 nautical miles (414 miles) over three days. It was also the passage where we crossed our first 1,000 (1150 miles) nautical miles of sailing since we started this cruising thing. We - [7 Years Ago](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/02/7-years-ago/) - Seven years ago today, we sold our house and started out on this wacky adventure of ours. Click here to take a look back at that day. Coming soon: Seven years of cruising, our favorite pictures, and fondest memories. - [French Bureaucracy, iPods, and The World](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/02/french-bureaucracy-ipods-and-the-world/) - There is a funny saying; the French may not have invented bureaucracy but they’ve certainly perfected it. It’s that time of year again. We need to renew our visas or carte de séjours (residency cards) for another year in French Polynesia. Before I talk about some of the bureaucratic idiosyncrasies, I must first say, - [We are thinking about trading in Cream Puff for an ark](https://www.creampuff.us/2022/01/we-are-thinking-about-trading-in-cream-puff-for-an-ark/) - Today, the sun came out. It is the first time we’ve seen the sun in about seven days. It’s been raining. And I mean, raining! I’m talking about days and days of tropical storm-like hard relentless rains. We have a low-pressure system over us that will eventually turn into a cyclone as it moves away - [Christmas in Tahiti, Again](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/12/christmas-in-tahiti-again/) - It just dawned on me I haven’t written anything here for quite some time. I guess it’s time to rectify this. The real reason this page is a little quiet lately is because we’ve been so darn busy. Let’s begin with the obvious: Hope you had a happy Christmas and we wish you a wonderful - [Bonaire Washington Slagbaai National Park](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/09/bonaire-washington-slagbaai-national-park/) - We decided to take a tour of the Bonaire Washington Slagbaai National Park. Based on what we read about the park, it is highly recommended to have a truck or utility vehicle to explore as the roads are unpaved. When businesses, national parks or tourist boards outside of the USA make recommendations such as this, - [Back to Normal](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/11/back-to-normal/) - Wow! What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Since our last post, things are significantly better here now. Covid cases are again minimal and manageable. The hospital staff is able to breathe again. Most restrictions have been lifted and there is chatter about more being eased very soon or totally abandoned. Swimming was allowed - [Confined to the Boat](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/09/confined-to-the-boat/) - I have to say this upfront: I love our lifestyle and wouldn't trade it for anything. Even with our current confinements, I would rather be here than most other places. French Polynesia went from one of the safest places on the planet to dodge Covid to one of the worst in about 3 weeks. We - [Going Up Hills as French Polynesia Goes Downhill](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/08/going-up-hills-as-french-polynesia-goes-downhill/) - We recently did one of our favorite things. Renting a car and roaming aimlessly about is as good as it gets. Although we’ve done this numerous times on Tahiti, we still find fabulous nooks and crannies, incredible vistas, and great local cuisine. We are in the minority when it comes to cruisers renting cars. This - [Heiva 2021](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/07/heiva-2021/) - Heiva is a 140-year-old French Polynesian festival. All of the islands in French Polynesia come together in July. Following the Christianization of the archipelago by the London Missionary Society in the early 19th century, a ban existed on songs, games, and lascivious entertainment. This changed in 1880 and in celebration of French National Day, the - [Belvédère de Taravao](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/07/belvedere-de-taravao/) - Based on the previous post, I have a feeling you might be expecting to see pictures of Bora Bora and a post detailing our travels there on this update. No such luck. We are still in Tahiti. And, we are going to be here for a little while longer. I have to laugh at the - [Injections and Bus Etiquette](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/06/injections-and-bus-etiquette/) - We have been Covidized. Both of us are now fully vaccinated with Pfizer’s concoction. I know I have said this before here but, it’s worth repeating. The French Polynesian government has done a fabulous job of managing this crisis. During the onset, they recognized some boats (including us) were en route and had very limited - [Cream Puff Goes to the Spa](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/05/cream-puff-goes-to-the-spa/) - This has been our view for the past ten days. It’s awesome, isn’t it? We rented a house high in the mountains because Cream Puff went to the spa and we became homeless. It is that time again when we open our wallets and shell over thousands of francs for the Puffster to have her - [Sails, Toilet Paper, ATMs, Directions, and Food](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/05/sails-toilet-paper-atms-directions-and-food/) - Sails Sometimes in life, we have to do things going completely against the grain. Cutting up our old sails was one of these things. It pained me we can’t recycle or donate them. The customs laws of French Polynesia do not allow it. We ordered a full set of sails for Cream Puff last year - [Jim](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/04/jim/) - Quite a bit of time has passed since my last post. There is a lot happening here, but not stuff you’d be interested in. I did find it within myself to offer up one tidbit of a scribble. Hope you enjoy and I’ll try not to wait so long before the next update. Every once - [Tsunami Warning](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/03/tsunami-warning/) - Let’s begin this post with some excitement brought about by being pretty much in the middle of the Pacific Ring of Fire: A tsunami warning. Not a drill; a warning! On March 5th (19:28:31 UTC on 4 March 2021) there was a massive 8.1 earthquake. The center was near a group of New Zealand islands - [Chinese New Year in Tahiti](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/02/chinese-new-year-in-tahiti/) - Today I saw a young kid hopping while wearing flip-flops. I would need to go to the hospital after I trying this. But, this is not what I am here to talk about today. I just thought is it was kinda sorta cool. By the way, have you ever tried to walk backward in flip-flops? - [You Pick the Food](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/02/you-pick-the-food/) - For the past few days, we’ve been bombing about Tahiti in a tiny rental car. If you are a regular reader, you know we do this from time to time and explore all the nooks and crannies of places we stay. We try to get the smallest car possible for two reasons. The small cars - [Top Sailing Blog 2021!](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/01/top-sailing-blog/) - Forgive me while I toot our own horns a little bit. I recently received an email from The Adventure Junkies informing us our blog made a list of 2021 top sailing blogs to read. The Adventure Junkies brings together all sorts of publications to inspire people regarding outdoor activities such as sailing, hiking, climbing, and - [Wow! 2020 is Over](https://www.creampuff.us/2021/01/wow-2020-is-over/) - We began 2021 in the best way. This New Years' day began with an early morning trip to the reef and a snorkel before breakfast. Taking full advantage of the glassy morning waters we hopped into the dinghy about 6:00 am after a couple of blueberry muffins. Some friends recommended a new spot to us - [Christmas in Tahiti](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/12/christmas-in-tahiti/) - Aboard Cream Puff, we have our Christmas bling up. We have collected Christmas tree ornaments from each country where we’ve spent Christmas, and then some. For example, the star on top of our tree is a starfish ornament from Rockport, Tx. Hanging the ornaments on our mini-tree this year reminds me of the places we’ve - [Dinghies and Cars](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/12/dinghies-and-cars/) - Using our dinghy, we are exploring Tahiti’s best snorkeling spots. If you are thinking about living this lifestyle, the best little golden nugget of wisdom I can offer is get a great dinghy with a reliable motor. I smile as I write the word reliable, more to come on this. When we first started to - [Musings from the Crew](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/11/musings-from-the-crew/) - I have two musings rattling around in my head. Neither of which would make a complete post so I will mix them up a bit. First a bit about tropical flowers and plants. Second about buses. Mark and I have always enjoyed gardening however indoor plants were a nemesis. Thank goodness Mother Nature did most - [Just Pictures, Again](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/11/just-pictures-again/) - Since t_e last post, I cleaned my keyboard and now t_e letter Y is working again. _owever, w_atever it was stopping t_e Y from working _as s_ifted to t_e letter _. So t_is post is just pictures again until I feel like taking my computer apart again. Once again, I _ope you enjoy t_e pictures - [Just Pictures](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/10/just-pictures/) - The letter _ on m_ ke_board stopped working. I was hoping to write something happ_ and upbeat toda_ but alas it’s hard to be happ_ with no _. Sorr_, _ou are going to have to just look at some pictures while I clean my ke_board. I hope you enjo_ these wonderful pictures of beautiful Tahiti. - [20th Annual  - Made in Fenua Market](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/10/made-in-fenua-market/) - Regular readers of this blog already know we love street markets. Portland Oregon in the USA and Buenos Aries in Argentina are still favorites. I just looked at the pictures we took at these markets and reminisce to the good ol’ days of people not social distancing or wearing masks. If the markets have street - [The Day Our Ship Came In](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/09/the-day-our-ship-came-in/) - Just to recap, we put Cindy’s parents to work at the Cream Puff USA based receiving and repacking center. We ordered a ton of things we needed for the boat since we are sitting still right now. They received stuff for us, checked to make sure the items are good, and then they re-box everything - [Good Food on Tahiti](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/09/good_food_on_tahiti/) - The subject of good food is near and dear to me. I think I once wrote about two paragraphs describing steaks we ate in Buenos Aries, Argentina. Just writing that previous sentence made my mouth water. Yes, they were that good. I get a little bit excited when we find a place with some good - [Isabela Island, Galápagos](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/03/isabela-island-galapagos/) - Karma caught up with us. In our previous post, I gave the ARC boats a hard time for not using stern anchors and basically not looking at surrounding boat’s ground tackle before they picked their anchor location. Well, when it came to for us to leave, we had an issue retrieving our stern anchor. It - [Moving to Pape'ete](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/05/moving-to-papeete/) - Our first two weeks in Tahiti were spent in a nice little cove near Marina Taina on the northwest side of the island. From day one, it has been very educational. The morning following our arrival we got our dinghy ready for the short trip to the marina dinghy dock for our check-in with customs - [Tahiti is Beautiful](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/06/tahiti-is-beautiful/) - Tahiti is beautiful! We have been out and about on the island. The scenery is stunning. Meet Corinne Mc Kittrick, PHD, our tour guide for the day. Corinne can trace her ancestry on Tahiti back to the 1800’s and has her doctorate in Polynesian Languages & Civilization. How much did we enjoy the tour? This - [Pape’ete Murals and Other Crazy Ramblings](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/07/papeete-murals-and-other-crazy-ramblings/) - We recently learned that Pape’ete, about once per year, has an artist paint a mural in the town. During our walkabouts, we are awestruck by some of these fabulous giant works of art. Aruba and St Petersburg are a couple of other places we’ve visited with murals. Besides the incredible creativity and unbelievable art, these - [Mo'orea - Part 1](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/07/moorea-part-1/) - Every now and then, we happen to find ourselves in a place rendering us utterly speechless. Mo'orea is one of those places. Located just 16km (10 miles) west of Tahiti, Mo'orea is clearly visible from the western shore and is home to fewer than 20,000 people. Almost every time we catch a glimpse of Mo'orea, - [Mo’orea – Part 2](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/07/moorea-part-2/) - Link to: Mo’orea – Part 1 Chances are you’ve never heard of this beautiful place called Mo'orea unless you have traveled to Tahiti. Surrounded by a turquoise lagoon, the island is utterly stunning. Thunder and lightning are not common in this area of French Polynesia. Our first night in our rental cottage we were awoken - [Ouch!](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/09/ouch/) - Things are getting back to normal on Tahiti. I think I already mentioned in a previous post how on July 15th French Polynesia opened the airports to tourists. The government realizes there needs to be a balancing act between allowing tourists and devastating the local economy which is about 85% service driven dominated by tourism. - [Heiva Tū'aro Ma'ohi, Tahiti](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/08/heiva-tuaro-maohi-tahiti/) - Here on Tahiti, things are changing. The island was Covid-19 free when they decided to open for tourists. The keyword in the previous sentence is was. What a huge difference one week makes! On July 15th, French Polynesia opened for tourism. This included the airport and local cruise ships based here. Many tourists come to - [Grocery Shopping and Shoes](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/08/grocery-shopping-and-shoes/) - In this post, I thought I would share some pictures of what a day is like when we buy groceries. It is not like most other people’s grocery shopping days. And yes, it does take us most of the day. In-between the beautiful pictures is a rather weird commentary about shoes. The grocery shopping extravaganza - [C'est la vie](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/06/cest-la-vie/) - C'est la vie. (That’s life) This blog is known for sharing the sunny side of cruising and the sometimes not so sunny side. This is one of those not so sunny sides. Well, it is and it isn’t. Our view of French Polynesian remains cheerful. Others here are starting to hate it. You can judge for - [Pape’ete, Tahiti](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/05/papeete-tahiti/) - As of this week Tahiti and all of French Polynesia are now Covid-19 free with no active cases. All restrictions have since eased. Even bars and nightclubs have re-opened. This week inter-island travel is authorized for everyone, including private boats. Everything is getting back to normal. Many of the local businesses were forced to close - [Out at Sea and Out of Touch](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/04/at-sea-when-the-world-ends/) - You would think to be in the middle of the ocean as a contagious virus infects people all about the globe is be a good place. It is and it isn’t. First and foremost, our crossing of the South Pacific Ocean was awesome. We had great weather and absolutely enjoyed the experience. After leaving Galapagos, - [Cream Puff is in Tahiti](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/04/cream-puff-is-in-tahiti/) - When we left Galapagos, our destination was meant to be the Marquesas Islands, specifically Nuku Hiva in French Polynesia some 3400 miles due west. Our plans changed because of new Covid-19 regulations made by the French government regarding check-in procedures. About 60 hours out of Nuku Hiva, our agent notified us of the changes - [We arrived safely in Galápagos](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/02/we-arrived-safely-in-galapagos/) - Yea! We arrived safely in Galápagos. The passage from Panama to Galápagos turned out to be one of the most challenging sails were have encountered so far in our wacky journey. The passage requires crossing an area called the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The area has doldrums and can produce spectacular thunderstorms. I hate lightning. - [San Cristóbal, Galápagos (Part One)](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/02/galapagos/) - Arriving in Galápagos my expectations were pretty low. I know I have said this before, I can be a little pessimistic. Pessimists are either right or pleasantly surprised. Cindy, as always is much more optimistic. Based on all the fees, red-tape, and the hoops we had to jump through to get here, I had envisioned - [Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos - Part One](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/03/santa-cruz-island-galapagos-part-one/) - Some mornings after I have made my pot of Taylors of Harrogate English Breakfast Tea and climb up into the cockpit to do the morning crossword, I am amazed we are in Galápagos. This place is awesome! Cindy said a couple of days ago, she too looks around and is so glad we are here. - [Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos - Part Two](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/03/santa-cruz-island-galapagos/) - The biggest disappointment so far in the Galápagos Islands is the Darwin Center. We were hoping to learn about Darwin and the details of evolution. Instead, we were made to feel guilty for being human. It is nothing more than a bad zoo with captive iguanas and giant tortoises. It is touted as a research - [San Cristóbal, Galápagos (Part Two)](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/03/san-cristobal-galapagos-part-two/) - Still on San Cristóbal, we are exploring the small town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It is really charming. What has surprised me the most is the food here is very good. We fell in love with an open-air restaurant called Rosita’s. Looking at the menu, it has a dish for just about everyone. I couldn’t - [We are Tourists](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/01/we-are-tourists/) - Before we arrive in a new place I like to read about the etiquette. It is important to me that I don’t upset anyone or their values. Recently an article I was reading had a paragraph about how to fit in and not stand out as a tourist. It occurred to me that I can - [Parting Ways with Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/02/parting-ways-with-panama/) - One last trip to the big city to return our rental car, check out with immigration and bus back to the marina in San Carlos. Bye-bye Panama! As you read this, Cindy and I are sailing approximately 1,000 miles or 7 days to Galapagos. We have finally left Panama after a very long enjoyable stay - [Feeding the Traffic](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/02/feeding-the-traffic/) - While Mark negotiates the traffic at rush hour, I have time to take it all in. We know our way around now so my navigation duties are on hiatus. I came to a realization while sitting in traffic in Panama yesterday. The reason there is so much fast, erratic driving back home in the USA - [Check Ups](https://www.creampuff.us/2020/01/check-ups/) - A warning to any readers in the United States, this is probably going to upset you. If it doesn't, it should. In previous posts, I have mentioned more than once about getting Cream Puff ready for our next passage. We are getting ready to go to the boonies. The next two legs will be - [2019 in Review](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/12/2019-in-review/) - I think we might have broken a record in 2019. We only sailed about 700 miles. For two people on a wacky sailing adventure traveling the world, this is pretty pathetic. This has to be some sort of new record. So, why didn’t we move very far? The simple answer is we fell in love - [Lunch With Friends](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/12/lunch-with-friends/) - We are hanging about on the Puffster. Okay, technically we are not just hanging about. We are working our butts off for a jaunt to Galapagos and French Polynesia. Cindy has done a ton of research about what is available and what is not available on these islands regarding food. I am guessing - [Crazy Stuff](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/12/crazy-stuff/) - My brain just gave me a presentation. I had no idea it had access to PowerPoint. One of the slides it emphasized was stating I had 125 days this year where I was sleep-deprived. I disagreed. I said it was 126 because having this conversation in the middle of the night wasn’t going to help. - [Buenos Aries - Part Three](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/11/buenos-aries-part-three/) - When we traveled to Portland Oregon a few years ago, I was very impressed with the Saturday (under the bridge) market. I love street markets and I especially love street entertainers. Roaming about these venues is a sort of happy place for me. It is so easy for me to lose track of time and - [Buenos Aries - Part Two](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/11/buenos-aries-part-two/) - We are loving it here in Buenos Aries! Springtime in Buenos Aries can be a little bit chilly. We are here as the trees are starting to bloom. Seasons are opposite in the northern and southern hemispheres. Sometimes when the wind blows down the street, it can feel darn right nippy. The locals are bundled - [We’re Going to Buenos Aries](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/10/were-going-to-buenos-aries-sailing-blog/) - Buenos Aries has been on the bucket list for a while. Often referred to as the Paris of the Americas, I have long wanted to see if it lives up to the reputation. It is quite a long hop from Panama to Buenos Aries, about 7 hours by plane on a direct flight. We’ve watched - [Buenos Aries – Part One](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/10/buenos-aries-part-one/) - Arriving in a new city at midnight can be a little daunting. We do not speak the language and we have no local currency. Argentinean pesos are hard to get outside of the country and somewhat hard to get inside the country; More on this later. Normally, we’d take an Uber from the airport to - [Buenos Aries - Part Four (The Final Installment)](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/11/buenos-aries-part-four-the-final-installment/) - Sleeping on a bed that doesn’t rock me to sleep is taking a little bit of getting used to. We are loving the vacation from our boat and sleeping in a real king-size bed. The high-pressure water in the shower is amazing. Unlimited supplies of hot water: incredible. His and her sofas to stretch out - [Pacing in Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/10/pacing-in-panama/) - Why do credit cards have an expiration date? It isn’t like they are going to go stale, moldy, lose their nutritional value, or crumble because of age. Imagine the money the card companies could save if they abolished the expiration date or considered tripling it to extend years into the future. They would no longer - [Sloths, Bus Stops and Air Conditioning](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/09/sloths-bus-stops-and-air-conditioning/) - A visit to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort proved to be a fun day. The resort is a favorite for eco-tourists. As you would expect by the name, it is set in the rainforest on the Chagres River. The hotel offers all sorts of tours for guests and visitors. The attractions that really got our attention - [Puttering About Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/09/puttering-about-panama/) - I think Panamanian people are born with an umbrella attached to their hand. The few times we ventured off without our umbrella, we’ve been forced to pay the price. Most recently when we went shopping at a massive shopping complex called Albrook Mall, we found ourselves stranded inside for a couple of hours due to - [Boquete - Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/08/boquete-panama/) - The five and a half-hour drive to Boquete treated us to panoramic vistas of the lush green mountainous Panamanian countryside. The main road up and down Panama is the Panamericana Highway. Once away from Panama City the road becomes much less congested and the four-lane blacktop smooth highway makes for an easy drive. In Panama, - [I Guess We’re Going to Gamboa](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/08/i-guess-were-going-to-gamboa/) - It’s funny how sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry. And then, as if by magic, things work out and the day is one to remember. The rain here in Panama has started to become a little more frequent as we progress deeper into the rainy season. Having to look at the weather for any - [Mystery Solved!](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/07/mystery-solved/) - We have been stumped by something recently. Every time we go to a fast-food restaurant, a manager has come to the cash register and enters a code. The total price goes down a little bit. At first, we thought we might be doing something wrong when we placed our orders. But, how can we be - [Visa Renewal in Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/07/visa-renewal-in-panama/) - Panama has become a top destination for expats. There are good reasons for this. The cost of living here is very reasonable. Healthcare is excellent and affordable. Gaining a visa or residency permit (not the same thing as a citizenship) is not very difficult. And, there are tons of special benefits for expats and retirees. - [A Geography Lesson](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/07/a-geography-lesson/) - Moving from the Caribbean closes the book on a chapter of our wacky sailing adventure. Our passage through the canal wasn’t exactly an easy decision to make. The decision mostly evolved from a lack of wanting to continue to cruise the Caribbean islands. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know - [Transiting the Panama Canal - Part Two](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/06/transiting-the-panama-canal-part-two/) - Link to: Transiting the Panama Canal - Part One 5 am came too soon. This is it. This is the big day. I quickly brushed my teeth and got dressed. Going into the main salon and peeking in the forward cabin I see the line-handlers completely zonked out. I’ll make the coffee, I thought, that’ll - [Transiting the Panama Canal - Part One](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/06/transiting-the-panama-canal-part-one/) - Absolutely feakin’ awesome! Wow! We went through the Panama Canal! I won’t say this was a dream of a lifetime come true but it’s pretty darn close. Because there is so much to talk about, I am going to have to divide this post into two parts. I’ll begin with the preparation and take you - [Trading with the Friendly Kuna People](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/05/trading-with-the-friendly-kuna-people/) - We tend to buy a few things from each San Blas Island we visit. Our small way of thanking the Kuna people for allowing us to anchor in their beautiful front yard. After over a month in these stunning islands, I have all the molas and beaded jewelry a girl could want. Mark has his - [Panama City!](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/06/panama-city/) - Shelter Bay Marina is a brief stopover for us. The marina is nice but it is in the middle of nowhere. It is a 30-40 minute bus ride to the closest grocery store in Colón. The marina is located on the old US Army base Ft. Sherman from pre 2000 when the USA controlled the - [Goodbye San Blas](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/06/goodbye-san-blas/) - The canned ham is gone and the rains are here. We have absolutely loved our time in the San Blas Islands. The Kuna Yala region of Panama is a little slice of heaven on earth and every day was like a dream come true. The San Blas are exactly what we dreamed about when we - [Passage to Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/04/passage-to-panama/) - It’s my job to throw the dead fish off the deck in the mornings when we are underway. I do this each morning before they start to bake in the sun and stink up the place. They will also stain the deck if left stranded. We had nine dead fish on our second night out. - [Sin City](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/05/sin-city/) - We went to Sin City. I’ll explain in a little bit. We have been having an absolutely awesome time in the Coco Banderas Cays. Our ear infections cleared up and we spent about 5 days snorkeling in the area. Lucky for us, we discovered one of the best snorkel spots since Bonaire (9°30'35.2"N 78°36'50.9"W). Water - [Croc Watch at Green Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/05/croc-watch-at-green-island/) - After our visit to Sin City and still sailing in the San Blas Islands, we found a fantastic spot to anchor behind aptly named Green Island. I felt a little bit bad since there was one other Australian flagged boat in this spot and my intuition was when they saw us coming they probably thought, - [San Blas Islands – Chichime Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/04/san-blas-islands-chichime-island/) - Venancio welcomed us to the San Blas Islands but more on him later. The San Blas Islands! Most people have no idea where these are. Don’t fret, neither did we before we started this adventure. The San Blas Islands are a part of Panama, well sort of, on the Caribbean side. I say sort of - [San Blas Islands – Coco Bandero Cays](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/05/san-blas-islands-coco-bandero-cays/) - Cream Puff is anchored in a really sweet spot. We sailed to a small group of about 12 islands called the Coco Bandero Cays. We are anchored between three islands that are an easy swim from the boat. When we looked at the guidebook we are using for this area we were amused to see - [Kuna and Karma](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/04/kuna-and-karma/) - One of the Kuna fishermen cut his foot while out on the panga. The three fishermen in the boat turned towards the anchored cruising yachts for aid. Like us, many cruisers carry an extensive first aid kit. And, I mean extensive. We carry it for times just like this. Being very isolated here, self preservation - [San Blas Islands - Eastern Holandes Cays](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/04/eastern-holandes-cays/) - For the past few days our daily routine is to get up, eat breakfast, walk on the beach and visit boats in the area while out and about on our dinghy. Returning to Cream Puff, we eat lunch and go for a swim or snorkel. The waters are crystal clear and warm. In fact, the - [It's Time to Leave Santa Marta](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/03/its-time-to-leave-santa-marta/) - We decided to leave Colombia. As soon as we made this decision, the wind started to howl making the passage out of here very uncomfortable. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know by now how we are all about comfort. So here we sit just sort of hanging until the wind - [Colombia's Yellow Cabs](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/03/colombias-yellow-cabs/) - For the year prior to arriving in Colombia we lived mostly on small, quiet islands. The crowds, traffic and hustle and bustle in Colombia has been a little overwhelming. Mark and I use public transportation at most of our stops. In Colombia however, taxi cabs are more convenient and very affordable. I have been trying - [Rodadero](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/03/rodadero/) - This past week we extended our Colombian visas. This means we have been here for about ninety days. The itch to get moving again is starting to flare up but we’ll not scratch it just yet; soon, but not just yet. We are still really loving Colombia and the people here. Also, the longer we - [Tragedy Adverted](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/02/tragedy-adverted/) - Today could have turned out to be a very bad day for me had I not possessed the foresight to plan ahead. Cruising on a boat forces a person to live with less. Deciding to stock a spare pump over an extra pair of shoes are common decisions made by cruisers when prioritizing space aboard - [Four Years & Counting](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/02/four-years-counting/) - Mark and I recently celebrate four years of continuously living aboard Cream Puff. The years have gone by so fast. Here are just a few of the hundreds of things I have learned along the way and some pictures from our adventures. Some of the pictures you might have seen before. Some are new to - [Cartagena – Part Three](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/02/cartagena-part-three/) - I am very pleased to say my Spanish is getting better. I now can ask the location of the bathroom. I don’t understand the answer but at least people seem to get the question. I just kind of hope that some part of the answer includes pointing. One of the more recent words I have - [Cartagena - Part Four](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/02/cartagena-part-four/) - A free walking tour is the best way to experience the Walled City. We noticed the tour guides with yellow umbrellas and their groups of about twenty people and wondered if they offered English speaking tours. Luckily they did offer tours in English and we reserved a spot online. I am repeating myself when I - [Cartagena – Part Two](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/01/cartagena-part-two/) - Our choice to stay in a hotel in Cartagena proved to be the right move. This is because we found ourselves in the heart of the Bocagrande area. It is a touristy area due to the long beaches on both the ocean and bay sides of the peninsular. Within a few blocks of the hotel - [Cartagena - Part One](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/01/cartagena-part-one/) - We are in Cartagena, Bolívar. We decided to leave Cream Puff in Santa Marta and travel by land. There are a couple of reasons for doing this. First, the marinas in Cartagena did not have good reviews and a weekly stay is quiet expensive (we are getting a very good rate in Santa Marta). Second, - [Shopping in Santa Marta](https://www.creampuff.us/2019/01/shopping-in-santa-marta/) - Shopping in Santa Mart is kind of fun. We have found the city is divided into specialty districts. So far, we have found clusters of specialty stores for hardware, auto parts, bicycles, furniture, mattresses, fabrics and even flowers. We are not use to so many choices. It has been a while since we docked on - [Wow! What a ride 2018 has been](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/12/wow-what-a-ride-2018-has-been/) - We started this year in Martinique. Throughout the year we visited: Dominica, Guadeloupe, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, USA (Florida, Texas and Georgia) and Colombia. Yes we flew to the USA but it still makes the list because it’s another passport stamp. Believe it or not, we didn’t sail a lot of miles this year. When we - [Christmas Greetings From Santa (Marta)](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/12/christmas-greetings-from-santa-marta/) - Santa Marta is one of the few cities to which we have traveled and found the restaurants haven’t yet been destroyed by Coca-Cola and their desire to monopolize the restaurant industry with their exclusivity agreements and strong arm tactics. I guess I need to explain this a little bit. Coca-Cola has convinced restaurant owners to - [Going Walkabout In Santa Marta](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/12/going-walkabout-in-santa-marta/) - People in Santa Marta seem to be willing to work for any amount of money. The hustle and bustle on the crowded streets of Santa Marta is amazing. No matter which way you turn there are people trying to make a buck. The city is colorful and noisy. Drivers here love their horns. They honk - [We Venture into Santa Marta, Colombia](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/12/we-venture-into-santa-marta-colombia/) - The island mindset is gone. Over the past couple of years, we have hopped from one Caribbean island to another. Each has their own traits but there are a lot of similarities. One of the similarities is the lack of availability regarding boat parts, specialty foods, or essentially anything that is not a basic necessity. - [We made it to Colombia](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/11/we-made-it-to-colombia/) - Yea!!! We made it to Colombia. The passage was as expected. I would like to say it was boring but it turned out to be lively. Winds were forecasted at 20 knots most of the way but as usual the forecast was a little underestimated. We plan for this. For the most part, winds were - [Hanging Out in Aruba](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/11/hanging-out-in-aruba/) - I am sitting on a bench outside of the Ling and Sons grocery store in Oranjestad, Aruba. It is on the shady side, thank goodness. There is a nice breeze today since the trade winds have picked up a little. The trade winds, besides having a cooling effect, keep the mosquitoes at bay. Sometimes the - [Loving it on Aruba](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/11/loving-it-on-aruba/) - Before I get started on all things Aruba, I would like to bring your attention to an article about Bahamian swimming pigs I recently read on CNN Travel. It feels awesome to read an article about a travel place and rather than add it to a bucket list of places to go someday, we can - [One Happy Island - Aruba](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/10/one-happy-island-aruba/) - We haven’t purchased a watch and we decide to visit the health department. Let me explain. Let’s start with the visit to the health department. Our future sailing plans include visits to Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica in the upcoming year. These countries highly recommend, if not require, Yellow Fever vaccinations. I don’t know about - [San Nicolas - Aruba](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/10/san-nicolas-aruba/) - Cindy is the Entertainment Director aboard Cream Puff. When we arrive at a new location she will gather all the tourist information from the internet and local kiosks or offices. She will then put together a plan of places we should visit and tourist traps to skip. This task is often much harder to do - [It's all Dushi](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/10/its-all-dushi/) - We are in Aruba where everything is dushi. I just love the word dushi. Papiamento is the local language spoken in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, the ABC islands. They also speak Creole, Dutch and sometimes Spanish. Papiamento is sort of a combination of all the languages. We are so happy we have found most - [Hacked!](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/10/hacked/) - Our credit card was hacked and shut down by our bank. Not a big deal, you say. Just have the bank send you another card and credit any fraudulent charges. If only it were this easy. Being a boat nomad makes some of the simple things in life become very complicated. Receiving a single piece - [Birthdays and Boats on Bonaire](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/10/birthdays-and-boats-on-bonaire/) - Every morning when I wake up I set a new personal record for most consecutive days alive. This last week I celebrated a birthday. Cindy and I have been cruising full-time now for about four years and it has taken us this long to get away from Hallmark. Like most people living on land, we - [Making Bubbles in Bonaire](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/09/making-bubbles-in-bonaire/) - I recently read something very interesting about parrot fish. They create most of the sand on the beaches around the world. A single parrot fish creates about 200 pounds or 90 kilograms of sand per year. How? Parrot fish munch on rocks as they feed on the algae attached to the rocks. When underwater, we - [Bumming About Bonaire](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/08/bumming-about-bonaire/) - Have you noticed yet every post from Bonaire contains a picture of a flamingo? This post is not different. Here you go. Your random flamingo picture from the beautiful little island of Bonaire. We spent a little bit of time exploring the east side of the island by car. This is the windy side and - [The Ultimate Trade Deficit](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/08/the-ultimate-trade-deficit/) - Lately in the USA, trade deficits are in the headlines. It is impossible to read anything in the news without articles on tariffs and trade wars. It seems to be the consensus of the American people having a trade deficit with economic partners is a bad influence on the US economy. The focus of the - [Bumbling About Bonaire](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/08/bumbling-about-bonaire/) - As islands go, Bonaire is not a very big one. We rented a car for a couple of days and drove around the island. And, I mean we drove all the way around the island. We did this in one day. Well, it wasn’t really even a full day; it was more like half a - [Red Tape](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/07/red-tape/) - When I retire I want to travel. How many times have you heard someone say this? Or, I want to see the world. And even, I’ll have all the time in the world and can go slowly and take it all in. Sounds like a good plan doesn’t it? But, doing it is not easy. - [Searching for Flamingos](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/07/searching-for-flamingos/) - Sometimes there are desires in life that take awhile to come to fruition. When we were in the Bahamas a couple year ago, I had hoped to see the flamingos on Great Inagua Island. The Inagua Islands are the southernmost islands in the Bahamas. It is reported that there are between 20,000 and 80,000 flamingos each - [Oops  – Wrong Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/05/oops-wrong-island/) - We loved being at Îles des Saintes but all good things come to an end. We reluctantly departed setting sail for Curacao, some 450 nautical miles away across the Caribbean Sea. We estimated the trip to take about 3 days and nights. We departed on a Tuesday and expected to arrive Friday morning. Little - [Bonaire – The Dusty Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/05/bonaire-dusty-island/) - We had the luxury of a few unplanned days on Bonaire due to our re-routing. It turned out to be a really good move. We arrived on the island during some sort of holiday and everything was closed. And, I mean everything. The downtown looked like a ghost-town. Then, the cruise ship arrived. Things came - [Living in a Boatyard](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/07/living-in-a-boatyard/) - Why are we living in a boatyard? The simple answer is: great WI-FI. Football fever! The whole island of Curaçao has this disease. The symptoms are such that for about 2 hours every day, sometimes twice a day, infected people must migrate to the largest TV in the area for treatment. If there is - [A Thank You to Our Furry Hosts and Hostesses](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/07/thank-furry-hosts-hostesses/) - As Mark's post said, our USA trip was a busy one. The time flew by as we checked off a lot of land life items that needed attention. But the best part of the trip was the time we spent with family and friends. That part of the trip past much too quickly. It was - [Bags and boat parts](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/07/bags-boat-parts/) - See the big pile of bags? This is what we lugged all the way back to Curaçao. We have been living out of the two backpacks while in the USA . The rest of the pile, the three large duffle bags, are parts for Cream Puff. We took full advantage of being in the USA - [We Visit Wimberley Texas](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/06/we-visit-wimberley-texas/) - Continuing our trek, we departed the Texas coastal plains and headed inland to the little town of Wimberley located just outside of the capital city of Austin where we planned to visit with Cindy’s brother. Our journey took us mostly on back roads where we could take in the rural landscapes and small - [Rockport Strong](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/06/rockport-strong/) - We are back in our old stomping grounds. We made a stop in San Antonio for a week to visit Cindy’s sister. For the past few days we have traveled around the Corpus Christi Bay area in Texas. I can’t believe I can write sentences beginning with the words, “Thirty years ago”. This makes me - [Road Trip](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/06/road-trip-2/) - Big cars! We rented a Toyota Camry in Miami. For us, the car seemed huge. We have rented tiny cars on the islands and have become somewhat used to bumping shoulders in the front seats. I move Cindy’s knee out of the way when I need to shift gears. When we first sat in the - [USA Bound](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/05/usa-bound/) - We got a very short peek of Curaçao before heading off to the USA. Curaçao is the middle island of the ABC’s (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao). Our sail over from Bonaire was really uneventful which is always a good thing. There are quite a few cruising boats hanging about Curaçao during hurricane season (July – - [Îles des Saintes – 2nd Time Around](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/05/iles-des-saintes-2nd-time-around/) - Cindy and I both agree Îles des Saintes is our favorite place we have visited so far in the Caribbean Islands. It seems a little odd for me to say this since it really lacks the social environments we enjoy at other anchorages. Most of the boats here fly a French flag and there - [Guadeloupe - The last few days](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/04/guadeloupe-last-days/) - Our time in Gwada is coming to and end and we rented a car one last time so we could visit the few remaining little towns on the island we had not yet seen. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know I am a little tight with the money. The - [Exploring the Wings of the Butterfly](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/04/exploring-the-wings-of-the-butterfly/) - One of the things we have notice on the French islands is the local people really seem to enjoy the beaches. When we traveled in the Bahamas, we were both fascinated by the fact the Bahamians wanted nothing to do with beaches or water sports for the most part. There were some islands with sailing - [Walking in the Tree Tops](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/04/walking-tree-tops/) - Guadeloupe has a pretty cool botanical gardens and zoo park. It is not a big place but it is one of the most unique places we have visited. The park is situated on the side of a mountain in the greenest part of the island, which means it rains a lot in the park. We - [Death in Paradise](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/04/death-in-paradise/) - Doesn’t Death in Paradise sound like a great name for a movie or television series? Well, that’s because it is a name of a television series. It is a British and French production that airs on the BBC. Season 1 aired in 2011 and the 8th season has just been commissioned. Cindy and I love - [Hanging About The Marina in Gwada](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/04/hanging-about-the-marina-in-gwada/) - Some cruisers, for some strange reason, think staying in a marina is taboo. We think otherwise. We stay in a marina when we can because the amenities are simply awesome. We can walk to restaurants, grocery stores, chandleries and markets. We meet neighbors and have made a ton of new friends whilst staying in marinas - [Welcome to Gwada](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/03/welcome-to-gwada/) - Gwada is the pet French Creole name for Guadeloupe. It is also a brand of a local beer I have happily sampled since arriving. Thumbs up! Guadeloupe is also known as the butterfly island because of its shape. One wing of Gwada is pretty flat and the other is mountainous. The area in-between the wings - [The Rescue and a Walkabout - Gwada](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/03/the-rescue-and-a-walkabout-gwada/) - So here we are, stuck in the middle of nowhere at Cascade aux Ecrevisses. The key to our rental car is lost. Everything we brought with us on our day trip is locked inside the car. This includes our rental car agreement with the contact information of the local agency from who we rented. It - [Dominica](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/03/dominica/) - Dominica was hit hard by hurricane Maria last year. This little island was devastated. Since Dominica is a country they struggle to get any aid. For example, St. Maarten was hit by Irma and is a French island. It wasn’t long before aid started to arrive from France. Puerto Rico received aid (eventually) from the - [Bubba Takes a Hit](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/02/bubba-takes-hit/) - For the past few days we have worked our way up the western side of Martinique. I wanted to stop in Les Anses-d'Arlet for a couple of days but it was just too crowded with boats. This time of year in the Caribbean there is a phenomenon called Christmas winds. From December to February, the - [A Quick Trip Back to Saint Lucia](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/02/a-quick-trip-back-to-saint-lucia/) - It is so awesome to hear and read English again! I can actually read the labels on the products in the store and I know what I am getting without the use of a translator! Not like Martinique where I bought body wash instead of hair conditioner because I forgot to take the translator with - [Martinique and Repairs](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/02/martinique-and-repairs/) - French Martinique, one of the few places in the world where you can make a living as an accordion player. The other day I was bar-b-queing aboard Cream Puff. An accordion and clarinet player strolled down our dock serenading the boats. They were promoting a local bar with live music. What a creative way to - [Martinique – The Victory Lap](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/02/martinique-victory-lap/) - We decided to do a victory lap around Martinique. We were almost successful. Let me explain. At this point we have been all over this island and explored just about all it has to offer. It is one of our favorite places and we have loved our stay here. There were a few little - [Still Loving Martinique - Les Trois-Îlets](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/01/still-loving-martinique-les-trois-ilets/) - One of our favorite places on Martinique to explore has been the peninsular of Les Trois-Îlets, Les Anses-d'Arlet and Le Diamant. Touring this area by car rather than boat enabled us to see some magnificent vistas as the narrow roads snaked about the hilly terrain and into the small villages. Almost every hilltop exuded a - [Loving Martinique - Sainte-Pierre](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/01/loving-martinique-sainte-pierre/) - We took Karl for a ride up to a little coastal town called Saint-Pierre. This is a pretty cool old town that was once the largest port on Martinique, back in the old days. Then, the volcano, Mount Pelée , erupted in 1902 killing all but one person in the town. About 28,000 people died - [More of Martinique](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/01/more-of-martinique/) - According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the French have the best healthcare system in the world. The French is a universal system largely financed by government and national health insurance. Believe it or not, doctors still make house calls to people unable to visit the clinic. A GP visit costs about US$30 of - [Finding Our Way Around Martinique](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/01/martinique/) - We love Martinique! It is clean, safe and beautiful. It is also very French. We generally find most people are patient with us as we consult with Google translate or bumble-mumble some French words. My high school French is okay for basics but we really struggle when we get off the beaten path, which is - [Happy Cream Puff Day](https://www.creampuff.us/2018/01/happy-cream-puff-day/) - January 2nd is Cream Puff day. I swear. I’m not making this up. A couple of years ago while Googling something for our boat Cream Puff I discovered this. Then, I forgot about it. My mind is not the steel trap it once was. Little things slip away every now and then. Other old - [Joyeux Noël](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/12/joyeux-noel/) - It’s Christmas time in the Caribbean. There is no snow. It is sunny and hot, always. I don’t really understand how Santa’s magic sled is supposed to work without the snow. That sled is going to make a hell of a mark on the roof when it lands. There are no chimneys for Santa to - [Some of our Favorite Memories: 2017 Cruising Season](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/12/favorite-memories-2017-cruising-season/) - While hanging out in the cockpit one night, Mark and I were reminiscing about 2017 coming to a close. We thought it would be fun to do a blog post on some of our favorite things this year. We hope you enjoy it too. We go slow. So far this year we have sailed or - [Sainte Anne’s – Martinique](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/12/sainte-annes-martinique/) - We are back in France. We had a fantastic 5 hour sail from St. Lucia to Martinique. It was one of those very rare days when everything was in our favor. The wind was coming from the right direction. The seas were moderate. We managed to not break anything along the way. It didn’t rain. - [Happy to see St Lucia in the Rear View Mirror](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/12/rodney-bay-st-lucia/) - We are finally legally admitted to St. Lucia. After never finding the immigration officer at Marigot Bay, we traveled to Rodney Bay and made contact at the local office. It wasn’t a problem we had stayed on the island for a few days without fully checking in. We know a couple of other boats having - [Inspirations](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/12/inspirations/) - Whenever I think of our friend Jack, a vivid memory comes to mind. James Brown is singing “I Feel Good” at high volume through the speakers of his boat. Jack is wiggling his bottom to the music and swinging around the cockpit. He is busy pouring us a second helping of the most potent yummy - [St Lucia - The hunt for immigration in Marigot Bay](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/12/st-lucia/) - St Lucia is an island where a tourist must be careful about places they visit. Our first views of St Lucia included the magnificent twin pitons. Unfortunately the bay and town of Soufriere at the base of these pitons has a group of armed thugs at large who recently attacked a charter boat with two - [The Beautiful Little Island of Bequia](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/11/beautiful-little-island-bequia/) - Admiralty Bay and the township of Port Elizabeth on Bequia Island was a wonderful surprise. We originally planned to skip this island based on reports of crime posted on various cruising internet sites we follow. However, this was one of the very few times where someone else’s confidence of safety changed our plans. While in - [Meet Sidney](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/11/meet-sidney/) - “Are you going to be here tomorrow? Can I bring you anything? Do you need bread”. These were the questions Sidney asked as he approached Cream Puff. I sat on the rail with my feet over the side. He said. “I am a vendor, I sell all sort of things. This is my store”. I - [The Tobago Cays](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/11/the-tobago-cays/) - Another passport stamp. Another new country. Cindy said we probably change countries more than most people change their sheets. This week we arrived in the Grenadines part of the St. Vincent. We stopped very briefly at the port of Clifton on Union Island to clear in with customs and immigration. This was pretty simple since - [Snorkeling Sandy Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/11/snorkeling-sandy-island/) - I discovered I have a new pet peeve. I now lack tolerance for people who suck the fun out of life, people who burst the bubble or party poopers. Life is too short to deal with such negativity. I reluctantly conversed with such a person on the beach of Sandy Island located just off Carriacou. - [Carriacou](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/11/carriacou/) - Carriacou turned out to be our meeting place. Our first stop this winter cruising season is the small island of Carriacou. This is the most northern island in the Grenada chain and home to about 8,000 people. We anchored off the capital city of Hillsborough across the bay toward Sandy Island. Most cruising sailors opt - [Bye Bye Grenada](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/11/bye-bye-grenada/) - Rian (Ryan) ask me at dinner,”What have you most enjoyed about Grenada”. Rian was our new found friend and taxi driver. He has traveled most of the Caribbean islands. This is a little unusual for a local. Most of the local people we meet have not traveled extensively to other islands. They may have - [Naked Men and Boatyards](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/10/naked-men-boatyards/) - Three ladies walked in front of us and we caught a few words of their conversation, “I think he’s naked in the pool”. The pool they were referring to was the fountain outside of the IGA (grocery) store here on Grenada. Cindy and I parked ourselves on a shady bench with a cart full of - [Attacked by a Drone](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/10/attacked-by-a-drone/) - We’ve Got Milk One of the most exciting events of this week: We found boxed milk that doesn’t taste nasty. I'm leading with this because we are more impressed by this than being hit by a drone. We posted about milk and the horrid tasting tetra-packs and powdered milk in March. We made mention in - [Touring The Spice Island - Grenada - Part Two](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/10/touring-the-spice-island-grenada-part-two/) - If you missed part one of this series, you can read it here. Tomatoes Re-visited! We have discovered the truth to the tomato shortage on Grenada! It is the fault of Americans. Let me explain. Tomatoes can be picky to grow, they need care. The plants fall over when heavily fruited. They require watering, but - [Touring The Spice Island - Grenada - Part One](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/09/touring-spice-island-grenada-part-one/) - Birthdays on Boats Buying birthday presents for each other is massively more difficult when you live on a boat. And, even more of a challenge when you don’t own a car. Add to this being in a foreign country, on an island. Besides the logistical challenge of getting to a store the real question is - [All Things Chocolate](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/09/all-things-chocolate/) - Today was a pretty interesting day. We went to a cocoa farm to see how beans are grown and then as a part two we went to a chocolate factory. The entire process is completely organic. Let’s start at the cocoa farm. The place we visited is called Belmont Estates. It is on the east - [Grenadians Love Their Rum](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/09/grenadians-love-rum/) - I don’t think I would make a very good pirate as I’m not particularly fond of rum. I only drink rum when stuff is added to it like when Cindy makes a mean Bahama Mama. We have watched people knock a couple of these back before realizing how potent they are. It’s always fun to - [Scavenging Tomatoes](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/09/scavenging-tomatoes/) - Today we went to St. George’s, the capital of Grenada. We caught a Number One bus outside the marina. We were on a hunt for tomatoes. There is a shortage of tomatoes on this island. It is a mystery perhaps not worthy of a novel but certainly deserving of a blog post. It seems as - [Condiments on a Boat](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/08/condiments-on-a-boat/) - One of the big factors of what we bring aboard Cream Puff is space. Where is it going to go? Does it need to be readily accessible? Does it need refrigeration or to be frozen? When it comes to refrigeration another question becomes important; do we use it often enough for it to take up - [Carnival](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/08/carnival/) - We are so fortunate to be in Grenada during Carnival. The Grenadians really know how to through a party. Events for the Carnival take place over a five month period and climax two weeks in August with the highlights being J'ouvert and Spice Mas Parade of the Bands. J'ouvert means to celebrate the dawn. This - [New All Over Again](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/08/grenada-bus-system/) - Sometimes when we land on an island I get that déjà vu feeling. We go through the same routines of checking in with Customs and Immigration. Once this is done, we try to get on the internet. Sometimes this is pretty easy and we can pirate a connection from a nearby bar or restaurant. Often - [Grenada – Our First Glimpse](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/08/grenada-first-glimpse/) - Traveling from Îles des Saintes to Grenada was interesting. We saw a weather window where the trade winds slackened a little bit. In this same window the chance of rain was minimal. We only got rained on once. The wind however was really misbehaving. Winds were forecasted at 15 knots. Actual winds were closer to - [St Kitts but not Nevis](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/07/st-kitts-not-nevis/) - Hurricane season is officially upon us and we need to be safe. The plan this season is to spend our time in Grenada, The Spice Island. Some folks think Grenada is far enough south to be out of the hurricane zone. One Google search of “spice island hurricane” will quickly reveal images of huge piles - [Anchoring Antics at St Croix](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/07/anchoring-antics-at-st-croix/) - Finally, we turned south! After what seemed like years going into the east wind working our way from the west coast of Puerto Rico to the Virgin Islands we managed to get in a full day of sailing. Our last good sail was the 4 day trip from Turks and Cacaos Islands to Puerto Rico - [Guadeloupe - Îles des Saintes](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/07/guadeloupe-iles-des-saintes/) - At the first sliver of sunlight on the horizon, I am awakened by a single rooster soon to become a chorus. I turn in my bunk and listen to the waves gently lapping against Cream Puff’s hull. The day is beginning. I am still a little groggy since our overnight sail from St Kitts. I - [Swimming With Turtles at St John, USVI](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/07/swimming-turtles-st-john-usvi/) - Our tendency to be sociable when in a marina or anchorage is paying off. One of the things we both do is talk to other cruisers to find out which way they are going. If they happen to be going the same way as us, great. We can look for them again in the next - [PiZZA Pi](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/07/pizza-pi/) - Do you love to hear great stories about how a business started? Then, I have a good one for you. A couple of my other favorites include Guy Laliberté , the founder of Cirque du Soleil, and how he was turned down by every bank he talked to for a loan he needed to expand his - [We're in St Thomas, USVI](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/07/st-thomas-usvi/) - We arrived in St Thomas after a bit of a bumpy ride. Since we are still facing the east winds and are trying to travel directly into the wind we have to motor. A die-hard true sailor would sail and tack all the way. We are not sailing purest. We don’t mind motoring now and - [Coconuts](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/coconuts/) - It is not often we get to see a palm tree growing from a coconut. The coconuts are usually picked before they hit the ground or picked up shortly afterwards. When Mark and I hiking through Humacao National Reserve we saw hundreds of coconuts growing into Palm trees. Here are a few pictures: Interesting fact - [Spanish Virgins](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/spanish-virgins/) - We departed Palmas Del Mar and sailed (meaning we motored) to the small island of Culebra. Culebra is still Puerto Rico and is one of the many islands to the east referred to as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Wanting a couple of days of isolation we went to a beautiful cove and hung out for - [The Bars of Puerto Rico](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/the-bars-of-puerto-rico/) - As Mark and I traveled Puerto Rico one of the first things I noticed was the vivid colors. The bright colors with the back drop of the beautiful mountains and blue water of the ocean makes this a breathtaking island. The second thing I noticed as we travel the island is the wrought iron work everywhere. The use of ornate - [Habla Usted Inglés? In Puerto Rico](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/habla-usted-ingles-in-puerto-rico/) - We are having fun trying to communicate while finding our way around Puerto Rico where the predominant language is Spanish. It is one of the fun parts of our adventure. To complicate matters, the Puerto Rican language is a different dialect from the little bit of Spanish I remember. My translation app does not always - [Road Trip](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/road-trip-puerto-rico/) - Our plan was to take a coastal road, take a mountain road, grab a meal and see what we find. Other than this, the agenda was pretty loose and we figured we would go where the road took us. There is some reassurance that if we got totally lost, we are still on an island. - [Old San Juan](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/old-san-juan/) - We visited Old San Juan and for two days walked about this wonderful corner of Puerto Rico. If you are ever on the island of Puerto Rico, this stop is a “must do”. Our old motto of, “walk ‘til our feet hurt and drink 'til they don’t” came alive. The historic area is packed full - [El Yunque National Forest](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/el-yunque-national-forest/) - Two things: First, we visited a rain forest. Second, I am feeling very old. Let’s talk about the rain forest first. Why? Because it is fun and I have lots of pretty pictures to show you. I’ll get to the feeling old part in a minute. Mona had on her bucket list that she wanted - [Spoil the Women and the Men will Come](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/spoil-the-women-and-the-men-will-come/) - Earlier this week Mark posted about Palmas del Mar. This is Cindy's addition to the post. I always get a bit uneasy as we approach a marina for the first time. Things happen quickly when backing into a slip. Things can go from good to bad fast, especially in high winds. And, like most cruisers, - [Drinking Bacardi Rum for Breakfast](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/06/drinking-bacardi-rum-for-breakfast/) - Still in Puerto Rico and loving it. Our dear friend Mona arrived and is staying with us for a full week. She makes the most delicious homemade cookies in the world and lugged about 3 dozen of them in her carry-on as a special treat just for us. Mona is our point of contact when - [A Tale of Two Snorkelers](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/03/a-tale-of-two-snorkelers/) - We had a little bumpy start to our cruising season this year. We were stuck for weather. Then, stuck again for weather. Stuck for engine troubles. On our way again. Hop. Hop. Hop. Then Ahhhhh….we arrived at our long awaited destination. The beautiful Exuma Land and Sea Park, (ELSP). Last season we rushed through the - [Eleuthera - Governer's Harbour and Searching for Pink Sandy Beaches](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/03/eleuthera-governers-harbour-and-searching-for-pink-sandy-beaches/) - We dropped anchor in Governor’s Harbour. We had read good things about this location and were not disappointed. High on our list of things to do was find a pink sand beach. We have been to Bermuda that touts pink sand beaches to tourists. Quite frankly their beaches were a serious let down. Yes, the - [Off! Insect Spray: The Unofficial Perfume of the Bahamas](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/03/off-insect-spray-the-unofficial-perfume-of-the-bahamas/) - When we first arrived in the Bahamas in December we decide to celebrate our first official stop. We had just arrived after a long trip and were tired. Once we cleared customs and did our arrival chores It was getting late in the day. The sun had already set but we had just enough energy - [Texas](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/08/texas/) - Texas. The Lone Star State. The 28th State admitted to the Union. My home state. When a Texan moves to another state in the country he or she will generally say “I live in (fill in the city or state) but I am from TEXAS”. Because they are Texan first you might hear, “I am from - [Free Solar Energy?](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/08/free-solar-energy/) - We are finally joining the ranks of many other sailors who spent a lot of money to capture free energy. We have had an Air Breeze wind powered generator aboard Cream Puff since taking ownership. Air Breeze generators are known for being very robust reliable pieces of equipment. Ours broke in the Bahamas earlier - [You Know You are a Cruiser if….](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/01/you-know-you-are-a-cruiser-if/) - (Special nod to Jeff Foxworthy who developed “.....You Might be a Redneck….” Which has been reinvented in so many ways) You Know You are a Cruiser if....... You get your daily servings of fruit from rum drinks You wait for the tide to turn the boat so you can get a better wifi or cell - [Communications on a Boat (Part Three)](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/05/communications-on-a-boat-part-three/) - Our new InReach by Garmin--Wow, is this little gizmo fun! Our friends, Ian and Margaret, on Loca Lola II sent us the link to their InReach by Garmin last year. We loved it! It did not take Mark and I long to decide to purchase one for ourselves. The InReach device uses Iridium satellite to - [Palmas Del Mar](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/05/palmas-del-mar/) - We have finally arrived in the Southeastern corner of Puerto Rico. I say finally because we took longer than expected to get here. The trade winds have been in true form making our eastward travel head into the wind. On most days the wind has blown 25-30 knots. The long range forecast showed no sign - [Caja de Muertos (or Coffin Island)](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/05/caja-de-muertos-or-coffin-island/) - I always thought cacti were soft inside. Silly me. I’m not sure where or how I came upon this wisdom, or lack of it. Perhaps it was the old western movies watched as a kid where some Indian native cut open a cactus for a drink of water while all the bad guys suffered heatstroke - [Ponce](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/05/ponce/) - Our first order of business in Ponce was to take an Uber to PF Chang’s. How very American is this? We have both been longing for Chinese food. It was a regular part of our life in Atlanta but we are finding it harder and harder to get good Chinese or Thai food in the - [Boquerón](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/05/boqueron/) - Our stay in Puerto Real was a little bit longer than planned. I think the close proximity of the awesome bakery might have had something to do with this. It’s hard for me to get motivated to move away from daily fresh bread and pastries. We purposely skipped a weather window to move east along - [We’re in Puerto Rico](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/04/were-in-puerto-rico/) - We just made a 405 nautical mile sail (466 miles) from Providenciales Island in the Turks and Caicos to Puerto Real in Puerto Rico. Our passage took us around the west side of West Caicos and then southeastward along the northern coast of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We have seen an unusual amount of - [Rincón, Puerto Rico](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/05/rincon-puerto-rico/) - It didn’t take us very long to scope out a bakery near the marina. I’m talkin’ real bakery here. This is the kind of shop where you walk in and the smell of fresh baking bread hits you hard and makes you want to stuff everything you can get your hands on into your - [Skeletons in the Closet](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/05/skeletons-in-the-closet/) - You know when you start a conversation with a couple of sailors who have a waving skeleton hanging on their boat the next few minutes are bound to be entertaining. It’s only six months to Halloween, so why not hang out the skeleton. Meet Ed and Annette. His name is Slim. Slim was found at - [Time to Leave Turks and Caicos Islands](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/04/time-to-leave-turks-and-caicos-islands/) - If the British Virgin Islands are the play ground for charter boats, the Bahamas are the play ground for beginning cruisers, I think I will dub Turks and Caicos Islands the turnstile for the Caribbean. All of the cruisers we met in Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) were on their way someplace else. Some boaters - [Providenciales – Turks and Caicos Islands (Part 2)](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/04/providenciales-turks-and-caicos-islands-part-2/) - Everything on Providenciales is new. In the early 1960 only about 500 people lived on the island. There were no cars or electricity. Then the building started. A huge Club Med was one of the first resorts. Exquisite beaches like those found on these islands attract tourist. Today the full-time population is about 30,000. And - [Seeking a Safe Harbor at Cambridge Cay](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/03/seeking-a-safe-harbor-at-cambridge-cay/) - To quote my favorite author, “It was a dark and stormy night…” Well, it isn’t stormy, yet. But, is sure as heck is dark. We have been blessed with really clear skies the past couple of days. This is good for three reasons. First, it’s not raining. Second, our solar panels work better without clouds. - [Hunkering Down for a Blow](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/03/hunkering-down-for-a-blow/) - The cruising life is not all grins and giggles. We are currently working our way southward down the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas. In previous posts, I have mentioned we have held for weather or moved to a safer area. We received a few questions about what this really means. I thought a couple of - [Trash Day](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/03/trash-day/) - We have not been in a place to drop off trash since we left Bimini. The Exuma Land and Sea Park’s rule is what you take in you must take out. We had a month’s worth of trash. Two contractor size bags full of smaller trash bags. We double bagged the larger bags to keep - [Communication on a Boat-Part Two](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/03/communication-on-a-boat-part-two/) - A few years ago we went to some seminars at the St. Petersburg Boat Show. One of the seminars was about docking, mooring and anchoring. We had anchored before but mostly in the bay. We had never moored. We thought it would be a good idea to hear what the more experienced boaters had to say. The - [Hallelujah. Got Milk!](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/03/hallelujah-got-milk/) - We landed in Staniel Cay. This is a big stop for tourists because of the swimming pigs on neighboring. Big Major Cay. Staniel Cay is the first island south of the Exuma Land and Sea Park. So, boats heading south are usually in need of fresh vegetables, bread, eggs and milk. We too need all - [Passage from the Bahamas to the Turks and Caicos Islands (Part One)](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/04/passage-from-the-bahamas-to-the-turks-and-caicos-islands-part-one/) - We have sailed south this year down the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas. These beautiful islands offer a glimpse of a time gone by. The local residents are happy and content with island life. Unlike the metropolitan areas of the USA and Europe, there is not very much to spend money on here on these - [Passage from the Bahamas to Turks and Caicos Islands (Part Two)](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/04/passage-from-the-bahamas-to-turks-and-caicos-islands-part-two/) - Hanging out in Abraham’s Bay on Mayaguana, we killed time until the winds died down. Well actually, they died down yesterday but we are giving the sea a day to settle down a little bit from the 2 days of strong northeasterly breezes. And, it rained yesterday most of the day so we stayed put. - [A Quest for Bemis](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/01/a-quest-for-bemis/) - A few weeks before we started cruising on a boat (about 2 years ago) some long-time cruisers pulled up alongside Cream Puff in St Petersburg, Florida. They were preparing to leave their boat for about 5 months at the marina while they took an extended land vacation. As part of the prep they put all - [U-Turns in the Ocean](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/02/u-turns-in-the-ocean/) - You would think I would know better by now. When will I learn? I jinxed our trip just before leaving Key West. When Cindy and I were enjoying our last meal in Key West, an awesome burger at Fogarty's on Durval Street, we thought this was going to be our last meal in the USA - [We're In The Bahamas - Just Barely](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/02/were-in-the-bahamas-just-barely/) - We are in the Bahama Islands, just barely. We sailed (meaning we motored) from Ft. Lauderdale across the Gulfstream. We departed Ft. Lauderdale about 3:30 am to ensure we made a daylight landing in the Bahamas. The Bahamian government is pretty lax about maintaining navigational aids such as buoys and channel markers so it is - [Flags](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/02/flags/) - Last year we were sailing in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Mark and I watched a sailboat sail pass and noticed they had a yellow t-shirt tied to a rope next to the spreaders. This is usually the place boats display courtesy and quarantine flags. Their yellow quarantine flag probably got ripped up or lost somewhere along - [Highborne Cay - Exuma Islands](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/02/highborne-cay-exuma-islands/) - Yey! We are in the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas! Our route here was a little unconventional. We departed Bimini and sailed (meaning we motored) for a full day across an area called the Great Bahama Bank. For miles and miles, the water is only about 20 feet deep with no land in sight. At - [Shroud Cay](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/02/shroud-cay/) - A friend in Canada sent us this picture today: We sent this picture back to him: We departed Highborne Cay knowing we were in for some strong north winds for one night so we tucked in behind a small island called Elbow Cay just a little west of Shroud Cay and set the anchor. - [Communication on a Boat-Part One](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/03/communication-on-a-boat-part-one/) - It has been an exciting couple of years cruising. We have really learned a lot and we have so much more to learn. One of the many things on the learning curve is how to communicate with friends and family back home and with other cruisers. It can take a bit of patience and planning sometimes. - [Close Encounters of the ELSP Kind](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/03/close-encounters-of-the-elsp-kind/) - Every now and then we have a day that puts a bounce in our step and wind in the sails. Last year I posted an encounter with some dolphins generating a memory I will cherish forever. I didn’t think that could be topped. I was wrong. We are on a mooring buoy at Warderick Wells - [Providenciales – Turks and Caicos Islands (Part 1)](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/04/providenciales-turks-and-caicos-islands-part-1/) - On our way to the Turks and Caicos Islands we sailed south of the Tropic of Cancer. This is a line of latitude at about 23° 26'. This marks the northern edge of The Tropics or West Indies. We are now in the West Indies. To answer the question posed in my previous post about - [We're in Key West - Stuck Again!](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/01/were-in-key-west-stuck-again/) - We made it to Key West where we are promptly sitting for about 10 days waiting for the winds to change direction. We have been to Key West many times before and love the architecture, the food and people watching. It is a great walking town with everything we need just a short walk from - [Stuck!](https://www.creampuff.us/2017/01/stuck/) - Finally! We are out of here. We have been trying to get south but nothing is going our way. Things are not going as planned. But then again, they never do. Our travels are dominated by weather forecasts. We have time on our side and no schedule. They is really no reason for us to - [All Systems Go - Or, So We Thought](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/12/all-systems-go-or-so-we-thought/) - Well, we are kinda sorta ready to get going. We have enough food to feed an army. We have full tanks of fuel and water. We have our repairs done and most of our projects completed. We have good easterly winds that would make our trip down the west coast of Florida perfect. There is just - [Shopping, Car Towing, Parades and Boat Shows](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/12/shopping-car-towing-parades-and-boat-shows/) - We have a car this week and have been provisioning so we can leave Tampa Bay and head off to sunny islands somewhere. Definition of provisioning: going to Wal-Mart, Publix Grocery and Costco, spending an absolute boat-load (pun intended) of money. Stashing food and goodies in every nook and cranny of the boat while watching - [Help! I'm Locked in the Head](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/12/help-im-locked-in-the-head/) - As a follow up to our last post about me doing stupid things, earlier this week I locked myself in the bathroom (head – for you nautical types). On Amel boats, as with most brands, doors can be fastened closed from both sides or fastened open. Doors need to be fastened one way or another - [Doing Stupid Things](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/11/doing-stupid-things/) - Every once in a while I do something really stupid. I'm really good at doing stupid things. Today was the day. Picture this; I am in the engine room working on the Onan generator. Onan is the brand of our generator. The work was nothing major, just boring routine maintenance stuff like changing the oil. - [Circus Act](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/11/circus-act/) - I first became familiar with the phrase circus act quite a few years ago. In the late 1980’s to early 1990’s we were in Texas and kept our boat Water-Melon at the Corpus Christi Municipal Marina. Our next door neighbor on the dock was Celica S. Celica S was a beautiful antique classic motor yacht. - [We're Still Here...](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/11/were-still-here/) - The blog has been a little neglected lately. Sorry about that. It is not that we have given up on this whole sailing adventure. It is simply the fact we have been busy having some fun as well as finishing up on a long list of projects we had when we arrived in Tampa Bay. - [Fear of the Unknown](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/10/fear-of-the-unknown/) - It is October. We finally have a break in the Florida heat. Fall is in the air. Halloween decorations are abound in stores around town. Haunted houses and movies made to frighten are advertised on television and billboards. I’ve been thinking a bit about fear lately. Fear, it seems, comes in all types of packages - [Seriously! Again?](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/10/seriously-again/) - I’ve been watching way too much television lately. Not the normal stupid election stuff or crappy network programming. Instead, I am glued to watching hurricanes. It started a couple of weeks ago with Hermine and now continues with Matthew. I am glued to it. It is like the car accident on the highway that you - [Segwaying Around St. Pete](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/09/segwaying-around-st-pete/) - If you find yourself walking the promenade along St Petersburg’s waterfront and see a group on Segways coming toward you, do not assume the operators know how to control them. We often find ourselves walking along waterfronts. We are usually heading to the grocery store or a local dining option. The broad sidewalks offer the - [A NEW DINGHY!!](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/09/a-new-dinghy/) - Not a “new to us”used dinghy but a brand new dinghy! How exciting! As you may have read, we have been exploring our options. Our West Marina folding dinghy was too small. Our Porta Bote dingy was too big. Our new Highfield dinghy is just right. When we untied from our land life we had a few unanswered - [Hunkering Down for Hurricane Hermine](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/09/hunkering-down-for-hurricane-hermine/) - I may very well be responsible for hurricane Hermine that just hit Florida. Most cruising sailors, or at least the smart ones, spend the hurricane season outside of the hurricane zone. June to November is the hurricane season with August - September being peak. The safe zone is north of Florida or the very south - [Sarasota, FL](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/08/sarasota-fl/) - I’ve been in a bit of a melancholy mood lately. We have several projects going aboard Cream Puff causing us grief. We are replacing carpet. We ordered new marine carpet (special backing – non-mildewing – double the price) and planned to save money by installing it ourselves. We cut it to size using the old - [Eighteen Months by the Numbers](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/08/eighteen-months-by-the-numbers/) - We had a wonderful time exploring the Chesapeake Bay and Bahamas. We are now back in the USA enjoying some of the comforts we missed while traveling the remote areas of the Bahamas. We feel absolutely spoiled! We thought this might be a good time to write a "By the Numbers" post. In true Cream - [Cuba?](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/08/cuba/) - Oh, decisions, decisions, decisions! A big part of our logic about spending this hurricane season in Tampa Bay is that we thought our next stop might be Cuba in November. Now I am reading about Cuba and I am having serious second thoughts. Cuba has long been an attractive cruising destination for Canadians. Most - [Road Trip](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/07/road-trip/) - We landed in the USA with a long list of things to repair and buy. In our first couple of weeks here, we have spent an absolute boat load of money (pun intended). If you are wondering why the Amazon stock price has sky rocketed recently, you needn’t look any further. We are single handedly - [Please Stop the Noise](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/07/please-stop-the-noise/) - There are quite a few things we have missed since hanging around in the Bahamas for the last six months. We missed Italian food, Mexican food, Chinese food, and well… we missed good food in general. The Bahamian Islands, or at least the ones we visited, are not well known for culinary creations. That is, - [A Quick Stop in Key West](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/07/key-west-again-2/) - I have never met a person who has been banned from a restroom/shower facility before. Here is how the conversation went: Marina official: Next please Live-aboard boater lady: I need to get a new key for the bathroom (Weekly and monthly rate for use of facility which includes showers. Often purchased by boaters who are - [Time for a U-turn](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/06/time-for-a-u-turn/) - It is that time of year again, Hurricane season. We need to clear out of here and hang someplace safe until November. We have toyed with the big question of where we want to sit in hot humid weather and wait until November or when it is safe to venture out again. Last summer, we - [We Made It – Back in the USA](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/06/we-made-it-back-in-the-usa/) - It took us 7 days of sailing to cover the 850 miles from the southern Bahamas to Tampa Bay. Our trip was uneventful. Uneventful is a very good thing. We really really like uneventful. We made one stop unplanned stop in Key West. When we started out, we knew the winds would be moderate. We - [Getting to Musha Cay](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/06/getting-to-musha-cay/) - We are heading back to George Town on Great Exuma to get food. We are running out of all sorts of things since we have been in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP) for so long. We made a stop in Staniel Cay for some basics: bread, potatoes, tomatoes, more Cuban cigars, rum - [Warderick Wells Cay](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/05/warderick-wells-cay/) - Warderick Wells Cay is in the heart of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. The park was established in 1958 and is maintained by the Bahamas Nation Trust. It is 176 square miles or over 100,000 acres encompassing land and sea. It is a protected area meaning everything humans bring in must also be - [Big Majors Spot - aka Piggy Beach](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/05/big-majors-spot-aka-piggy-beach/) - What does it take to mix the people who have massive mega yachts (them) and those who sail on a budget (us)? Rounding the point into an anchorage off Big Majors Spot we were surprised to see 9 mega yachts, 10 motor yachts and about 20 sailboats. They were all anchored together. Why? Pigs! Or - [Cambridge Cay](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/06/cambridge-cay/) - Still inside the boundaries of the Exuma Land and Sea Park we sailed from Warderick Wells Cay to Cambridge Cay (aka Little Bells Cay). Some other cruisers told us the diving and snorkeling at Cambridge Cay was better than Warderick Wells Cay. We were really impressed with Warrick Wells Cay so, we had to go - [Beautiful Staniel Cay](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/05/beautiful-staniel-cay/) - Staniel Cay turned out to be a real gem. This little 2 mile long island is the nearest provisioning point to the Exuma Land and Sea Park. Inside the park there is nothing but nature. This is the last chance for fuel or any fresh vegetables. Boats do not stay here. They just pass through. - [Iguanas](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/05/iguanas/) - The northern tip of Bitter Guana Cay is an iguana sanctuary. This is where many northern Bahamian rock iguanas call home. And, they have become quite a tourist attraction. This is not a bad thing as tourists bring food. In fact, the iguanas are so use to the tour boats, when we arrived ashore in - [Black Point, Exumas](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/05/black-point-exumas/) - This time of year there are quite a few boaters moving north through the chain of the Exuma Cays. They are returning home to the USA and Canada for hurricane season. The leeward side of the Exumas is like a main artery through the chain. The numerous anchorages along the way are the rest stops. - [Lost Shoe Monument](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/04/lost-shoe-monument/) - How you ever been walking down the street and come upon a single shoe? I have seen lone shoes on beaches, sidewalks, in parks and playgrounds. Who are these people who lose a single shoe? I mean, how does this happen. Do people not notice their shoe has fallen off? Are there really people in the - [Ups and Downs in George Town](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/04/ups-and-downs-in-george-town/) - Part I We recently had two sets of cruising friends swallow the anchor. This expression means they are selling their boat and giving up the cruising life, for good. The thing they both had in common is once they made this decision they became excited about returning to a life containing various aspects of - [Life on an Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/04/life-on-an-island/) - We decided to slow our travels so we could take time to experience each leg of our journey more thoroughly. We are taking time to soak in the way of life on the smaller islands in the Bahamas. Things are really different once you get away from the tourist areas. I thought maybe everyone would like a peek - [Yeay! Our Friends Have Arrived](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/04/yeay-our-friends-have-arrived/) - We came to George Town on Great Exuma because we needed to extend our tourism visa and this is one of the few islands that have direct commercial flights to the USA. Some of our friends from Atlanta wanted to come and visit and asked us what would be the best place to meet. We - [George Town - Great Exuma Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/04/george-town-great-exuma-island/) - When sailing up and down the 365 islands that make up the Exuma islands, George Town is the place to stop for ATMs, government services and food provisioning. It is located on Great Exuma, the southernmost island of the Exumas, which is about 37 miles long and has a population of 7,500. We needed to - [Rainy Day on the Ocean](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/03/rainy-day-on-the-ocean/) - We do not have very many rainy days while we are underway. If we know bad weather is imminent we stay in port. Sometimes there will be a rain shower in the forecast but as long as it is brief and does not pose danger we will sail on. The original section of our - [Eleuthera – Alice Town](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/03/eleuthera-alice-town/) - Our first stop on Eleuthera is Alice Town. I am not sure who Alice was but there are several places in the Bahamas who seem to be quite fond of her. Alice Town is tiny. It has just one food store and a couple of shops and restaurants. Looking at the map of Eleuthera, the - [Good Bye Abaco Islands](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/03/good-bye-abaco-islands/) - We decided it was time for us to move south and leave the Abaco Islands. Our route took us to Tilloo Cay where we waited a couple of days for some windy weather to pass. On our way from Marsh Harbour to Tilloo Cay, we were joined by our new Canadian friends, Ian and - [Errands](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/02/errands/) - Not every day is a play day. While we’re fortunate enough to be tied to a dock this week, we are taking advantage of not having to load everything in the dinghy to go to shore. Today on our list is grocery shopping and laundry. We both really miss the days of driving to - [Marsh Harbour - Great Abaco Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/02/marsh-harbour-great-abaco-island/) - Marsh Harbour is not very scenic. Once again our expectations were too high. Other cruisers told us we would most certainly enjoy Marsh Harbour. They enthusiastically raved about a grocery store called Maxwell’s. It’s true. Maxwell’s is a large format grocery store similar to the stores to which Americans are accustomed. But, Maxwell’s, with their - [Our One-Year Anniversary](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/02/our-one-year-anniversary/) - Exactly one year ago today, we posted Earning Checkmarks signifying our departure from Atlanta and selling our home of over 20 years. Did we make a mistake? Is it everything we thought it would be? Are we going to carry on? Mark’s thoughts.... Life on a boat is a little harder than - [We Need Toilet Parts](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/02/we-need-toilet-parts/) - When you need boat parts, nothing will make you appreciate being in a populated area more than this. A connection to one of our holding tanks recently failed. The holding tank is where sewage is pumped from the toilet. It is held there, hence the name holding tank, prior to being discharged into the ocean - [The Migration South (My Two Cents Worth-Part Two)](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/03/head-south-young-cruisers-head-southmy-two-cents-worth-part-two/) - This post was written November of 2015. It was put on the backburner until now. I apologize it is out of the timeline/order of our travels. Ah, it must be dawn. The familiar short bursts of errrtz, errrtz is penetrating my sleep. Numerous bow thrusters are hard at work pushing water to move the boats - [Elbow Cay – Hope Town](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/02/elbow-cay-hope-town/) - Hope Town on Elbow Cay is the most scenic and charming island we have visited in the Abacos. We can see why it is a popular spot for cruising sailors and vacationers. The natural harbor offers protection from storms and all wind directions. The township is packed with delightful cottages. Instead of numbers, the - [Golf Carts - The Road to Happiness](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/01/golf-carts-the-road-to-happiness/) - Our main modes of transportation are walking, shuttles, buses and dinghy. I guess another way to look at it is, we pay a city or company for a ride otherwise we dinghy or walk. There are just some places the feet and dinghy cannot take us. Oh, by the way, if the dinghy is involved, - [Great Guana Cay](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/01/great-guana-cay/) - We stopped at Great Guana Cay on our way south. Well actually, we stopped outside of Treasure Cay first but didn’t get off the boat. Treasure Cay is a resort port. Other than the marina and beach there isn’t much else there. We anchored outside of the harbor as it is a little too - [Green Turtle Cay](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/01/green-turtle-cay/) - Green Turtle Cay offered us exactly what we sought over the holidays. We wanted a small island with the comforts of a marina and to be away from any hustle and bustle of civilization. This is the sort of place where everyone smiles and waves. We never made it into the town of New Plymouth - [Cookies](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/01/cookies/) - I love cookies. I’m not talking about the kind you get on your computer when surfing the net. I’m talking about the good ole fashioned sugary treats you wash down with a glass of cold milk. We have had a couple of nice surprises lately with the most recent one being the large variety - [Dry Feet](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/01/dry-feet/) - There are special moments in all of our lives. Special days we remember fondly. Sometimes with a smile and maybe a bit misty eyed as well. Your wedding day, the birth of your children, all special days. Yes, it is true. We had one of those days recently. We have a new dinghy. Tissue please. Albeit - [Junkanoo](https://www.creampuff.us/2016/01/junkanoo/) - New Year’s Day was incredible! We experienced our first Junkanoo. What is Junkanoo? It is an intoxicating carnival atmosphere with drums, bright colored costumes and dance. You don’t really watch it. You become a part of it. The energy of the dancers and the beat of the music will entrance people to join the - [Top 10 Pictures of 2015](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/12/top-10-pictures-of-2015/) - Happy New Years from the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas! Today we spent some time reflecting back on our adventures this year. Our journey so far took us from St. Petersburg Florida, up the east coast to the Chesapeake Bay and then down to the Bahamas this fall. We sailed over 3,100 - [I Could Have Saved $3.00](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/12/i-could-have-saved-3-00/) - I really appreciate the frugality and innovation of cruisers. Once in a while I see some creativity that just makes me smile. Let’s suppose you have a window in your home that doesn’t stay open. If you are like me you start to think about the products for sale in a hardware store specifically - [Beach Dat Way](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/12/beach-dat-way/) - [This Old Man and The Sea](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/12/this-old-man-and-the-sea/) - I seriously suck at fishing. It’s a darn good job we have two freezers on Cream Puff full of meat. If it were up to me to provide fresh fish, we’d die. We do have some fish aboard. Cindy knows too well about my inability to pull fish from the ocean. She bought fish - [We’re In The Bahamas](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/12/were-in-the-bahamas/) - Close your eyes and imagine being on a sailboat safely tucked away behind an uninhabited island in clear turquoise water. Imagine that all you can hear is the gentle lapping of the ocean against the hull of the boat and the occasional sea gull. We are in Great Sale Cay, Bahamas. Once we dropped anchor - [New Canvas - Finally!](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/11/new-canvas-finally/) - We’re hanging around the east coast of Florida for a little longer waiting for the weather to settle down. The Abaco Islands in the Bahamas were recently threatened by tropical storm Kate. Cindy was watching the system for a few days. We’re glad we delayed our departure. Although this system didn’t impact the Bahamas much, - [A Nice Reprieve](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/10/a-nice-reprieve/) - One of my jobs on Cream Puff is to track the weather. The things Mother Nature can do fascinate me. Weather affects most of the aspects of our lives on a boat. We have always been very cognoscente of the weather while sailing but we need more information in the form of long range forecasts while cruising. This - [Whining About Wine](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/11/whining-about-wine/) - Who would have thought buying wine would be hard. Seriously! Cindy and I have spent most of our married life in Georgia. Georgia had some very strange laws when we moved there. I remember the very first night we arrived in Georgia after a long drive from Texas. We checked into a Residence Inn (they - [Dolphins Dancing in the Moonlight](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/10/dolphins-dancing-in-the-moonlight/) - I heard a shriek from Cindy. I was below in the cabin doing something inconsequential. Cindy was on watch up in the cockpit. When I hear her shriek, I have an instant feeling of panic. It takes a nanosecond for me to process the words. My panic turned to relief after a moment when I - [Sitting Still and Spending Money](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/10/sitting-still-and-spending-money/) - We have made our way to the lower end of the Chesapeake Bay and sit here in Hampton VA in frustration. To explain why, I need to back up just a bit. Since entering the Chesapeake Bay in July, we have had a bit of an engine issue. Our faithful Yanmar overheats when running - [Moving South](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/10/moving-south/) - Mona (our third crew member) joined us on our trip south from Deltaville, VA. She spoiled us with a big batch of Mona Cookies. The marina we stayed at (where the Coast Guard towed us) was great. Deltaville VA has a lot of marinas but the town is really lacking. They really have nothing at all to - [Rescued by the Coast Guard](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/10/rescued-by-the-coast-guard/) - When things go good, it all happens very slowly. When things go bad, it happens very quickly. We set sail from Solomons to Deltaville. We knew weather would be an issue this leg of our trip as a front moved across the Chesapeake Bay. Winds were forecasted at 20 knots from the northeast. This is - [Phew!](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/10/phew/) - What a difference a day makes. - [Uh Oh!](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/10/uh-oh/) - Turn baby turn! - [Easton, MD](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/08/easton-md/) - As mentioned in our previous post on St. Michaels, we rented a car. Traveling at speeds over 10 MPH again is quite exhilarating for us. We were docked in Crisfield, MD (more on that later). The closest rental car company was in Pocomoke. However, they never answered the phone. So we talked to the folks - [Annapolis, MD](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/09/annapolis-md/) - Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I forget where I am. I popped my head up this morning to see what the weather was like and I forgot we sailed into Annapolis Harbor yesterday. “on the road again” is the next idiom popping into my head. This feeling is not new to - [Maryland and the Friendly Places Along Our Journey to Get Here](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/09/maryland-and-the-friendly-places-along-our-journey-to-get-here/) - I grew up in a small town outside a small city. I joke that if I got into trouble on Avenue A my Mom heard about it before I got to Avenue C. It was a great place to grow up. People looked after each other. We took time to stop and chat with our - [Solomons, MD – Part 2](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/09/solomons-md-part-2/) - When a boat is in the water things like to stick to it. We are constantly at war with algae slime, barnacles, mussels, oysters and all sorts of other crustaceans. This is a battle no boat owner has ever won. The best us boat owners can hope for is a mild growth. When we kept - [Solomons, MD – Part 1](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/09/solomons-md-part-1/) - I am a little confused that this place is referred to as Solomons Island. Look at the map. It’s not an island. The post office refers to the town as Solomon but all the towns’ people say Solomons Island. We haven’t figured this out yet. We’ll keep asking. I need to start asking better questions. - [Onancock, VA](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/09/onancock-va/) - Our cruising guide referred to Onancock as a small town of fabulous restaurants where foodies gather from all over Maryland. We like food. We like small picturesque towns. We’re thinking at this point Onancock is going to be a real winner for us. Snaking up Onancock Creek from the main body of the Chesapeake is - [Crisfield, MD](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/09/crisfield-md/) - Our cruising guide described Crisfield as “a town in transition”. What does that mean? To find out we went there. Crisfield is the southernmost town in Maryland and was once a bustling town during the boom years of oysters. It also served as a railroad hub for ships in the Chesapeake Bay to unload seafood - [St. Michaels, MD](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/08/st-michaels-md/) - St. Micheals' claims to be “The town that fooled the British”. I had to Google this because I can assure you anything pertaining to the town of St. Michaels is not in the British history books. Apparently, the town folk managed to avoid damage to the town by the British ships because they dimmed the - [Cambridge, MD](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/08/cambridge-md/) - Cambridge was a little bit of a disappointment. We are finding the cruising guide we use tends to be overly upbeat when describing places to visit. So, perhaps it wasn’t the town’s fault. Maybe it was because we had high expectations. We should learn to set lower expectations. This way, when we land we are - [Oxford, MD](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/08/oxford-md/) - I think the people who purchased homes in Oxford must have to pass a gardening test as a prerequisite. This is a sleepy little river town on the Tred Avon river. If by the pictures you think the town is small, you’re right. It took us little less than a day to walk the entire - [Flies, Crabs and the Bay](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/08/flies-crabs-and-the-bay/) - Dear future cruisers, if you plan to visit the Chesapeake Bay I have two words for you; mosquito netting. Oh wait! Let's make that five words; mosquito netting and fly swatters. I have found these items to be as necessary as cooking pots and sunscreen. Nothing more needs to be said. Maybe more does - [Ocean City](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/08/ocean-city/) - We had an absolute blast in Ocean City. Even though Maryland has a lot of coast line on the Chesapeake Bay, the state has very little ocean beaches. Ocean City is pretty much it and it is awesome. The highlight of Ocean City is the boardwalk. I haven’t been to a boardwalk in years. In - [Chesapeake Cowboys](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/08/chesapeake-cowboys/) - Chesapeake Cowboys are not what you might expect. They are not the ten gallon hat wearing chafe sporting ropers the name might conjure up in your imagination. They don’t ride horses or herd cattle. I don’t think they sit around campfires at night and tell stories of the old frontier. Who are they? They are - [Smith Island and Cake](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/08/smith-island-and-cake/) - Have you heard of Smith Island cake? Until recently, we hadn’t. Which is really a shame since it is delicious. So far we have tried chocolate, coconut, banana, banana-strawberry and orange. Ten layer Smith Island cakes originate from Smith Island Maryland and were baked for the men who spent several days on crab boats in - [We Made It To The Chesapeake Bay](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/07/we-made-it-to-the-chesapeake-bay/) - About 2:30am yesterday, we sailed into the Chesapeake Bay. This is our summer destination. We are extremely excited with the offerings of the bay particularly the picturesque small towns, bay front cities and isolated tree lined coves for which the Chesapeake is renowned. We tried to time our entrance into the bay at dawn. But - [Stuck in Fernandina Beach](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/07/stuck-in-fernandina-beach/) - I can’t help but think we are stuck here because we said out loud, “Hey, we made it to a port and nothing broke along the way”. Yep. Probably shouldn’t have done that. I made a rookie mistake in Fernandina Beach when I ran the shore power cable. When at dock, we plug Cream Puff - [The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/07/the-night-the-lights-went-out-in-georgia/) - If you remember this song titlle you are probably around my age or older. Ok, maybe it wasn’t Georgia, but we were just across the river from Georgia and “The Night the Lights Went out in the Town Across the River from Georgia” just was not as humorous. And there is not a song - [Fernandina Beach](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/07/fernandina-beach/) - Meet the third member of the Cream Puff crew. Mona is our land contact and knows the whereabouts of Cream Puff at all times. During ocean passages, we check in at predetermined times. If we don’t check in, Mona has a protocol to alert authorities. She is also the primary contact in case an EPIRB - [Saint Augustine - Part 4](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/06/st-augustine-part-4/) - Our fenders are disgusting. Fenders are the plastic bumpers you see hanging on the side of boats to protect the boat from scratches and scraps. Ours are filthy and leave horrible black smudge marks on the boat. What? Clean them, you say? Ha! A task that has proven to be easier said than done. - [Saint Augustine - Part 3](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/06/saint-augustine-part-3/) - I love tall ships. I have ever since I was a kid. I find it awe inspiring these massive wooden creatures sailed the world with very little in the way of charts, navigation and weather forecasting. If they hit rocks, they drowned or were forced to a life on the land they struck. There they - [Saint Augustine – Part Two](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/06/saint-augustine-part-two/) - In St. Augustine, we learned all about coquina. Coquina is a porous limestone available in North Florida. It was used by the Spanish as a building material during their control of Florida. The original homes in the area are built with coquina blocks and are covered with concrete or stucco or their era. The outer - [Saint Augustine – Part One](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/06/saint-augustine-part-one/) - My mood has past and the sun is shining in our world once again. We love St. Augustine. St Augustine Florida claim to fame is they are the oldest city in the USA. This year, St. Augustine celebrates 450 years as a city. If you are here for any length of time, more than 30 minutes, - [Shake, Rattle and Roll](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/06/shake-rattle-and-roll/) - Ah…land ho! The sight of St Augustine, Florida was just wonderful. We originally planned to be in St. Augustine for a week but we think we will stay two. During each leg of the journey from St. Petersburg to St. Augustine something on the boat simply decided it didn’t want to play anymore. As - ["If I had a Shotgun..."](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/06/if-i-had-a-shotgun/) - “If I had a shotgun, I’d shot a hole in the bottom of this boat”, Cindy, said upon our arrival in St. Augustine FL. As we continue our trudge up the east coast, we have been plagued with problems. We sort of expected some issues as Cream Puff has not been sailed hard in quite - [Key West - Again](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/05/key-west-again/) - Have you ever sat in a bar or restaurant while a band set up? Our initial thought was, oh rats, it’s going to get loud. We were drinking our adult beverages waiting for our food to arrive watching the set up and listening to the standard “check one two three” over and over. Then, they - [Dream Big](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/06/dream-big/) - One of the best deals in Ft. Lauderdale is the water taxi. The fare is $26 per person for an all day ticket. For us, this was less than renting a car, no worries about parking, no worries about traffic and okay to have a couple of glasses of wine with the evening meal. In - [This Stinks!](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/06/this-stinks/) - “This stinks!” was the common phrase uttered after leaving Key West. While sailing motoring from Tampa Bay to the Dry Tortugas, the winds were too light to sail and we were forced to listen to the diesel engine for 32 of the 36 hour trip. When leaving the Dry Tortugas for Key West, we had - [H2-O-M-G](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/05/h2-o-m-g/) - This is the most expensive glass of water ever. Here’s why. Prior to leaving St. Petersburg, I changed all the filters and membranes in our water maker (French). We have two water makers. One is original and installed at the Amel factory and runs off the house batteries. The second was added by the previous - [Big Jumps](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/04/big-jumps/) - Mark wrote that about eight months ago I said to him, “We are both sitting on the dock with our toes in the water. One of us needs to jump in and pull the other with them”. This meaning our plans to retire early, go sailing and the clock of time ticking loudly in our - [Stuff](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/04/stuff/) - For those who read my post about what to do with our stuff here is the update: I had written about what to do with so many years of accumulated stuff. So far we have filled an entire construction dumpster with “junk” that we no longer need. You know, the stuff that accumulates for years, - [Chores](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/07/chores/) - Owning a boat and a house has a lot of pluses and a few negatives. One of the down falls is that you have double the chores. I either read or heard someone categorize chores into blue chores and pink chores. The phrase is quite self explanatory and I am sure you already have mental - [Marina Life](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/10/marina-life/) - Many ladies I talk to are worried about leaving behind their social life for cruising life. From what I have read and heard first hand, there is quite a lot of social life for cruisers. I have found that one of the best decisions we made was moving to a more social marina before going - [To Toss or Not to Toss](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/08/to-toss-or-not-to-toss/) - To Toss or Not to Toss…it has become a frustrating question. As you have read, we are in the throes of tossing stuff. Pun intended. Unfortunately, we have tossed stuff that we later need. It has become a bit frustrating. I hear Mark mumble around the house that he recently either gave something away - [Cindy's Thoughts on Retirement](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/09/cindys-thoughts-on-retirement/) - Ahhhh…retirement….I have been retired a month now. People often ask me what I am doing with myself now that I am retired. They have visions of me sleeping on my hammock, reading a good book, lazing away the days. Here is my answer to their questions in pictures: I am also meeting with - [Fifty Shades of Gray ….. but not What You are Thinking](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/04/fifty-shades-of-gray-but-not-what-you-are-thinking/) - It is nice that in these days and times people have more options when it comes to hairstyles. I would have loved to have had the blue or pink streaks added to my hair when I was young. Much to my family’s delight this idea was not invented until I was too old to - [Cindy's Two Cents Worth at 50% Off](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/03/cindys-two-cents-worth-50-off/) - A week or so ago, Mark was working on a post for the blog. I think he was writing about moving from the house onto the boat. He asked me if at some point I would “add my two cents on the subject” and put it in a post. I think I was busy trying - [Meals on the Go](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/05/meals-on-the-go/) - One of the questions I am often asked is about food while we are sailing. How do we have meals while we are on trips when we are sailing several days to get to a destination without stopping? This is a good question because I can see the wheels turning in their minds. How do - [Ft. Jefferson - The Dry Tortugas National Park](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/05/ft-jefferson-the-dry-tortugas-national-park/) - If you look at a map, about 70 miles west of Key West Florida, in the middle of nowhere, you will find The Dry Tortugas National Park. The park consists of 7 small islands and is the southernmost tip of South Florida's coral reef tract. This represents the third-largest barrier reef system in the world - [The Dry Tortugas](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/05/the-dry-tortugas/) - About 10 years ago, Cindy and I came to the Dry Tortugas during a long weekend in Key West. A friend suggested we take the high speed ferry from Key West to Garden Key which is the location of Ft Jefferson. During the tour of the fort, I remember looking out one of the windows - [Sailing South](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/05/sailing-south/) - Our first stop after leaving the marina was top off the fuel tanks. Cream Puff holds 158 gallons (US) of diesel fuel. This is used to power the engine and generator. The engine is used in cases where wind is nowhere to be found or for tight controlled maneuvering. The generator gives us all the - [Gone Sailin'](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/05/gone-sailin/) - Early this morning, Cream Puff slipped her mooring lines as we embarked upon our new life as full time cruisers. What is a cruiser? There are many definitions of a cruiser; see Cindy’s post for her explanation about the different ways people can travel by boat. For me, a cruiser has always been a sailor - [St Petersburg – The Arts](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/04/st-petersburg-the-arts/) - One of the things we've noticed during our stent in St Petersburg, FL is art. No we are not talking Garfunkel. St. Petersburg has built into the cityscape wonderful murals and statues. Taking a short break from readying Cream Puff for our escapades, we took a walk about the city armed with cameras. We have - [Under 30 Days](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/04/under-30-days/) - We gave our marina office the required 30 days notice we will be vacating our slip and applied our security deposit to our last month’s rent. Our list of “must do’s” is shortening daily. We have a list of tasks that must be done and a second list of things we would really like to - [Frustration](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/03/frustration/) - A day in my life. “Hey Cindy, today I’m going to install the new GPS unit I bought. You remember me telling you about it. It tracks the Russian satellites from the GLONASS system as well as the USA system. I think I told you about it, didn’t I? Well, during the cold war, the - [Adjustments](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/03/adjustments/) - Our time in St Petersburg is getting short. We are slightly giddy with excitement about our first passage as cruisers. Although, we are not sure where we will go first. As it stands right now, we will hop to the Dry Tortugas, sail around Key West (been there, done that), and hit some stops up - [A New Rig](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/02/new-rig/) - This week was the most expensive week of our lives! Ouch. Okay, perhaps the day when we purchased a house or one of our boats was really the most expensive week of our lives. But, we don’t have jobs anymore and when money goes out, it doesn’t come in (this is really quite scary - [We’ll know in a couple of hours...](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/02/well-know-couple-hours/) - Am I about to die of food poisoning? I have an insatiable curiosity. It is who I am. Because of this, I read. A lot! As our plan to go sailing came closer into view, I substituted my reading material of investment prospectus’ and sales related leadership books to boat blogs, cruising guides and - [Earning Checkmarks](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/02/earning-checkmarks/) - 10 Things to do before going cruising, made easy: Set a 20 year savings plan allowing us to retire before 55, afford a boat and not have to worry about money during our sailing adventures Work Hard Save money Avoid buying - [Fortune Cookies](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/02/fortune-cookies/) - We ate Thai food tonight. Here are the fortunes from the fortune cookies. We had a real chuckle when I opened mine (the bottom one). When we opened Cindy's we were looking for the Candid Camera. - [Surprise Surprise!](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/01/surprise-surprise/) - Nobody is more surprised than I am at the number of people who follow our blog. We really enjoy doing the updates and hope we can bring a smile to a reader’s face every once and a while. We do the blog mostly for selfish purposes. It is a way for us to look back - [Almost Homeless](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/01/almost-homeless/) - So, the blog has been quiet for a little while over the holidays. Just the opposite is true in our lives. We returned to the house on Christmas day to clean up the yard and rake leaves. As I write this, I am so happy to think it will be a very very very long - [The Day of the Binder](https://www.creampuff.us/2015/01/the-day-of-the-binder/) - I have carried a personal planner in the form of a DayTimer binder around with me for, well, probably since when they were invented. I cannot remember in my adult working life not having one with me at all times. I continued using one even with today’s modern technology. I found that if I did - [Our First Christmas on a Boat](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/12/our-first-christmas-on-a-boat/) - St. Petersburg never ceases to impress me. The downtown activities here are nonstop. There seems to be a happening just about every weekend. There are always concerts, festivals, parades and even a Grand Prix. This weekend was the lighting of the Christmas tree and a lighted boat parade. Allow me to digress here for a - [Over & Under The Sunshine Skyway Bridge](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/12/amel-55/) - The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is an impressive piece of architectural engineering spanning the mouth of Tampa Bay. This Thanksgiving I had a wonderful opportunity to do something unique. I left Cream Puff, drove over the bridge and returned back to Cream Puff by coming under the bridge. How on earth did I do that, you may - [Our Home Entertainment System](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/12/our-home-entertainment-system/) - For the past few years, we have stashed a few books in the closet with good intentions of reading them later. Almost all the books you see here where given to us or we swapped with some of our friends. Knowing one day we would be sailing and have some time for rest and - [Life on a Boat](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/11/life-on-a-boat/) - Our first week on the boat was marvelous. Our pace has slowed from crazy go like a mad thing to slow but sure. We hoped to do a little sailing but the weather this week was yucky. But hey, we have plenty of time for sailing down the road. We spent most of our time - [Moving onto the Boat – Part 2](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/11/moving-onto-the-boat-part-2/) - For the past nine weeks at our house, our daily routine has been get up, eat breakfast stuff, pack stuff, throw away stuff, clean stuff and repeat. We have worked our little derrières off and our fingers to the bones. Each night, after a 14 hour day of this routine, we lay in bed and - [Moving onto the Boat – Part 1](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/11/moving-onto-the-boat-part-1/) - Please exit via the garage. Turn left for the dumpster. Turn right for the moving truck. We still continue to participate in the exasperating exercise of keep it or toss it. For those of you counting, this is our third dumpster. Can you believe it? I can’t. Perhaps we could have picked up a - [Real Men Sew](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/10/sailrite-ultrafeed/) - Cruising sailors are notoriously tight fisted with money. I would like you to think of a friend who is tight with money. Got one? Okay, now think of how tight they are and double it. You are getting close. Now multiply it by ten. Welcome to the world of cruising sailors. I cannot begin to - [NAIS-400](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/10/nais-400/) - The NAIS-400 has proven to be the most unreliable piece of equipment on our boat. This model of AIS unit has failed us twice in less than a year. An AIS unit is an electronic device with a built in GPS and VHF radio transceiver. From the GPS the unit will calculate our position, speed - [What if….](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/10/what-if/) - One of the questions people ask us (a lot) is, how safe is it to cruise on a boat? Well, quite honestly, it isn't very safe at all. A lot of really bad things can go wrong and when they do, serious consequences are lurking. But, I think I have to ask myself the question, - [Storage Wars](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/10/storage-wars/) - Wanted: 2600 cubic feet Wow! What a rollercoaster ride we have had this week. As you could see in Cindy’s latest post, we are up to our ears in boxes and packing materials. Our challenge this week was to finalize storage facility requirements. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Not so much! To get on a - [Unsung Heroes](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/09/unsung_heroes/) - Each time we enter or exit our marina, we motor through a United States Coast Guard (USCG) station. As we pass, I cannot help but feel a profound respect for this branch of the armed services. These folks will risk their own lives to help save a fellow sailor. I think we have all seen - [Fun With Friends](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/09/fun-with-friends/) - Both Cindy and I agree perhaps the hardest part about going sailing is leaving good friends behind. And, I mean good friends. Friends who show up at our boat and bring a bottle of wine for everyone on board. Yes. Very good friends! We have talked to our friends, whom by now I’m sure are - [Murphy Lurks in the Shadows](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/09/murphy-lurks-in-the-shadows/) - We carry a large inventory of spare parts aboard Cream Puff. The previous owner included bags of goodies when we purchased her. We have continued to add to the inventory. Each time something breaks, we replace it and add a couple of extras into inventory. This was much easier to do when we had - [The Liebster Award](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/08/the-liebster-award/) - Warning: It you are not a fellow blogger, you may just want to skip over this post. Although it contains the normal humor, exceptional penmanship and wit, it has little to do with sailing or the Puffster. It is also very long. However, it does reveal some personal information and you might think we should’ve - [A Few Good Men](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/08/a-few-good-men/) - Have you ever wondered how much cubic footage you would need if you stacked just about everything you own into one space? We just figured it out. We are at a point now where we need to start moving things into a long-term storage facility. We plan to keep some stuff in the house we - [Downsizing](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/05/downsizing/) - The pictures pretty much say it all..... - [Taking Out The Trash](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/05/taking-out-the-trash/) - We are systematically looking at every item in our house and making a tough assessment. We ask ourselves, do we: Take it to the boat? Put it in a storage unit? Donate it to charity? Put it in the trash? For the past 2 weeks, we worked on the last item: trash. It is - [Please Cancel Our Mail, Forever](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/06/please-cancel-our-mail-forever/) - There was a great Seinfeld episode (Season 9 - Episode 5) where Kramer tries to cancel his mail, forever. Here’s a clip certain to bring a smile to your face: (click here or below) I have just gone through a similar experience. Our friends often ask us how we will get our mail once - [The Keys to My Traveling Future](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/08/the-keys-to-my-traveling-future/) - Today I got a new passport, probably a good thing when you consider I will need one soon. I shelled out the extra money for the thick jumbo 48 page passport giving me plenty of extra pages for country stamps. I hope this is not wishful thinking! Yes, it is a British passport. - [The Day the Moccasin Died](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/07/the-day-the-moccasin-died/) - I am a person who doesn’t like change. And, we’re not talking nickels and dimes here. For as far back as I can remember, when faced with the purchase of new clothing, I have always wanted the same thing I just had. If I found a dress shirt I really liked, I would buy five. - [Let There Be Light](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/07/let-there-be-light/) - Since the installation of our fans, the weather has cooled. Seriously! We planned to spend a last few days bobbing up and down the west coast of Florida. The weather was not cooperative, at all. With the cooler weather came westerly winds, choppy seas, rain and strong afternoon storms. We wound up taking shelter in - [I Think We Can Stow the Space Heaters](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/06/stow_the_space_heaters/) - Summer in Florida, need I say more? I purchased twelve 24-volt Hella Marine fans about a year ago. They were about 50% off. I guess I could say, I got a hellava deal ~ groan. Installing them has been a back burner project since I bought them. They have been collecting dust. Well, the back - [Big News - We're Both Unemployed!](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/06/big_news/) - Today is a very special day. Cindy sold her company and we have just returned from the closing. I’m sure Cindy will add to this later, but knowing her as I do, she will not pat herself on the back. She started her company from scratch with nothing more than an idea. The first day - [Charleston, SC](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/05/charleston-sc/) - We just took a little side trip by car (not that there is anything wrong with that) to Charleston, South Carolina. For some fun pictures and a walking tour, please click here - [Our Boat Stinks!](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/05/our-boat-stinks/) - Peeeeee-yew! That’s what our neighbors are saying about Cream Puff. We have a pet Osprey who enjoys using the very top of our mizzen mast (rear shorter mast) as a dining room table. Ospreys eat fish. They are messy eaters. All the lovely parts of the fish the osprey doesn’t eat, like the guts, head - [Upsizing](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/04/upsizing-2/) - I have a new mental picture. It comes to me often. I see our boat sailing on a nice blue sky day. We are off on some nice adventure to some far off land. Behind us, I see a U-Haul (moving van) on a raft holding all the overflow from what will not fit on - [Time to Change the Batteries](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/04/time-to-change-the-batteries/) - When away from the dock, our on-board systems are powered by a series of batteries. The systems include are our refrigeration/freezers, fresh water pressure pump, lighting, bilge pumps, navigation equipment, auto pilot, lights, fans and so forth. Cindy and I tend to be little energy hogs. At any given time, we will have a couple - [Hallelujah](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/04/hallelujah/) - The final chapter of the Geeky stuff: The Signal Side-Band radio (SSB) is working ~ I think. I spent some time last week getting the SSB working. Ed, my H.A.M. friend, gave me a bunch of stuff. He also gave me awesome advice. Ed is retired Coast Guard and rebuilds vintage aircraft radios for - [Cover Girl](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/03/cover-girl/) - Cream Puff has made her super model cover debut No one is more surprised than me about the number of readers our blog attracts. We have about 2,000 people per month check us out from all over the world and over 100 subscribers have updates delivered directly into their email in boxes. I guess - [All Is Lost](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/03/all-is-lost/) - So, I watched the movie. Cindy didn’t want to watch it. Cindy, as it turns out, is the smarter one. What do I have in common with Robert Redford? We both lost something. He lost his boat and I lost one hundred and six minutes of my life. Cindy’s decision not to watch was - [New Neighbors](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/03/new-neighbors/) - Well, the rent in our neighborhood just went up. Check out our new neighbors. This is truly well into the yacht classification. This 145 foot Christensen yacht is new to the current owner. The original owner kept the yacht on the East coast of Florida. The new owner is a St. Petersburg local resident. The - [Hmm! Not What I Expected](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/02/hmm-not-what-i-expected/) - If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know I have been selling our home wares on eBay and Craigslist in preparation for our move aboard Cream Puff. As I get money in my PayPal account, I purchase something on the wish list for Cream Puff. So far ~ knock on - [What Are The Odds?](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/02/what-are-the-odds/) - Follow my blog with Bloglovin Bogart’s famous line from Casablanca: “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine” Of all the stores in all the towns and all the cards on all the shelves in all the world, what are the odds Cindy and I would pick - [Big Bend Power Station](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/02/big-bend-power-station/) - We took a little side trip this week to Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach, Florida. Why on earth would we go to a power station you may ask? Well, it was a cold day and the Tampa Bay water is below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the location of a power station using - [SSB Radio](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/02/ssb-radio/) - Have I told you lately how much I hate my SSB radio? This continues to be the project from hell. I have just spent the last 6 days installing the final components during which my body was upside-down, pretzelized, compacted, stretched and turned inside out. I am now convince to be capable of installing electronic - [Drilling Holes in the Boat](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/01/drilling-holes-in-the-boat/) - Any boat owner will tell you, it is always a little nerve wracking to drill a hole in the boat. This eye is a location for the helmsperson to affix their harness in rough weather tethering themselves to the boat. Gee, I hope we do not use it very often. But wait, there's more... About a - [Ab initio](https://www.creampuff.us/2014/01/ab-initio/) - ab in·i·ti·o [ahb i-nit-ee-oh; English ab i-nish-ee-oh] adverb Latin: from the beginning. It seems this year, a fresh kind of New Year’s Resolutions are taking America by storm, one word resolutions. If I am to believe the mass media, gone are the days of making lists and promises. This apparently is according to all the people who claim to - [Arrrgh!!!](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/12/arrrgh/) - I was really hoping this post would be the last of the geeky stuff bragging about my successful setting up of the SSB radio. But alas, the saga of the SSB radio installation continues... The idea was to pull out and replace a very old GPS unit with the SSB in the navigation station woodwork. - [Goodbye to Good Friends](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/12/goodbye-to-good-friends/) - (click any picture to enlarge and start a slide show) Our good friends, Jonathan and Monica, left St Petersburg today for the first step in a long journey. They set out for the Caribbean and then they are off to who knows where. We wish them nothing but fun in the sun, fair seas and - [Published!](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/12/published/) - News Flash! I’m sorry; I have to interrupt the string of Geeky postings. I know everyone is anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series. However, I have some very good news. I recently submitted an article with pictures to Southwinds Magazine. Southwinds is a regional sailing news publication covering all aspects of sailing and - [Geeky Stuff (part three)](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/11/geeky-stuff-part-3/) - I’m not sure the Geeky postings deserved a third in the series but, the installation of the Single Sideband radio (SSB) has taken a real twist…. I purchased an Icom M802 SSB radio. I had enough money in my PayPal account to buy the radio (I am selling our unwanted household stuff on eBay and - [Geeky Stuff (part two)](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/11/geeky-stuff-part-two/) - (click any picture to enlarge and start a slide show) So, the computer installation is finally completed. Per my previous posting, I made a design change at the last minute. I removed the existing back panel in the area where the computer was to be installed and replaced it with some wooden slats I fabricated. - [Geeky Stuff (part one)](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/11/geeky-stuff-part-one/) - I apologize upfront for the nerdy update. You non-nerdy types may want to just skip this one. (click any picture to enlarge and start a slide show) As a follow up to my post regarding installing new stuff, the past few days have been spent sorting through a muddle of wires aboard Cream Puff. When - [There's No Palm Trees Here](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/11/theres-no-palm-trees-here/) - Since this month was perhaps our last opportunity to see fall foliage for a while, we packed up our camera gear and took a jaunt to Nantahala National Forest, Chattahoochee National Forest and the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains. Rather than a tedious essay about the beauty of this area, I will just let the pictures - [Squeaks](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/10/squeaks/) - (click any picture to enlarge and start a slide show) This past week Cindy celebrated her birthday aboard Cream Puff. We spent an entire week away from land. We started by anchoring in the Manatee River. Yes, they do have manatees in the Manatee River. This was followed by a fantastic sail offshore in - [eBay Karma](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/10/ebay-karma/) - I’ve been doing a lot of buying and selling lately. I am selling stuff on eBay that has some value but we do not want to put in storage for the time we are cruising. It is amazing how much stuff I have listed. And, on the flip side, I’m buying stuff for Cream Puff - [Boats and Birthdays](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/09/boats-and-birthdays/) - I recently celebrated my birthday. What better way to do this than to enjoy a few days aboard Cream Puff. As a part of my birthday celebration we went to the boat with a list of nothing. Usually, I have an assignment listing of chores needing to be done, checked, learned, cleaned or lubricated. This - [St. Pete Grand Prix](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/04/582/) - I can check one more thing off the bucket list. I went to my first Grand Prix race. For the past 11 years, St. Petersburg has hosted the IZOD Indy Car race. For about a month in downtown streets are slowly shut down and converted into the raceway. The track consists of a combination of - [Dirty Bottoms](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/08/dirty-bottoms/) - Cream Puff is out of the water once again. We recently had bottom paint applied. The purpose of the bottom paint is two fold. First, it protects the fiberglass hull from direct contact with the salt water that can cause pitting and blisters (not good). Second, it prevents growth of barnacles and all sorts of - [My $45,000 Rental Car](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/08/my-45000-rental-car/) - I am flying to St Petersburg ahead of Cindy and need a rental car for 4 days until Cindy catches up with me. Being the very tight fisted individual I am with money, I check all the web sites, discounters and wholesale groups for the best possible price for car rentals. After all, a car - [Please Don’t Kill Me](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/07/please-dont-kill-me/) - Cindy and I just returned from a fantastic 10 days aboard Cream Puff. Every time we are aboard we become more motivated to eradicate our land life and step in the world of fulltime cruising. When we have mentioned full time cruising to our - land - friends in passing, often the question of safety arises. They - [Amelia Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/06/amelia-island/) - We just got back from Amelia Island. Great restaurants, a historic downtown, fluffy sandy beaches and sunshine make this a fantastic spot. To read about our adventure please click here. - [Wow! That's a Big One](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/06/wow-thats-a-big-one/) - I don’t often stop to think about the forces on the rigging or the sails. But, once in a while something will make me pause in awe of Cream Puff. During our recent jaunt to Key West, we noticed the Sunbrella covering on our genoa was looking a little shabby. The genoa is the front - [Guy Humor](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/05/guy-humor/) - I think this is hysterical, but then again I'm a guy. This is a toy at one of the stores on Duval Street called KIDs In All Sizes. I wanted to add this on our Key West post but needed to figure out how to edit the video and add sound. I figured it out. - [A Little Bird](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/05/a-little-bird/) - This is really amazing. So here we are about 18-20 miles offshore. We are making our way into Tampa Bay. The winds are easterly, blowing away from the land. It is almost dark. All of a sudden a little bird crashes into our boat. We normally see gulls and the occasional hawk this far our - [Key West](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/05/key-west/) - We recently took a trip to Key West for some key lime pie. To read about our stormy adventure, our dancing with the stars, fine food and to view some brilliant pictures, please click here. - [Cream Puff Gets Her Bottom Scraped - Oh My!](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/04/cream-puff-gets-her-bottom-scraped/) - After the St Petr Grand Prix race, some serious work was scheduled for Cream Puff. We are overdue for a haul out and bottom maintenance. Every couple of years, paint is applied to the part of the hull that is underwater. This prevents bottom growth such as barnacles, algae, and such. It also protects the - [We Recently Installed Type B AIS](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/04/we-recently-installed-type-b-ais/) - I am selling a lot of stuff on eBay getting ready for our downsize. Items that we figure we do not want to keep or store. We had a huge construction dumpster at the house a couple of weeks ago and we filled it up in one day. It is truly amazing how much junk - [September 2012 Trip to Oregon](https://www.creampuff.us/2012/09/september-2012-trip-to-oregon/) - In a non-related boating adventure, Cindy and I just got back from a trip to Oregon. We started in Portland. We found Portland to be a remarkably friendly city that is very walkable and picturesque. From Portland we headed out to the Columbia River gorge and Mount Hood. We took off south to through the - [Magic Number](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/01/magic-number/) - How much does it cost to go sailing? This is a question we asked for years and years. We never seemed to get a straight answer. You would think Cruising World or Boater’s World magazines, that I subscribed to for years pre-internet, would shed some light on what is perhaps the single most pondered question - [Cindy's Version of New Year's Day ](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/01/cindys-version-of-new-years-day/) - Mark is correct, every year we have our New Year’s Day traditions. I shall shed my light on that special day. When I was younger a friend told me I had to eat black-eyed peas for good luck on New Year’s Day. It was probably one of my worst years ever. I had, however, noticed - [Ringing in the New Year](https://www.creampuff.us/2013/01/ringing-in-the-new-year/) - Each year on January 1st for the past 15 years, or so, I have updated a spreadsheet tracking our savings for the little sailing adventure gig we have planned. January 1st is a big day in our house. It begins with a hearty breakfast followed by an annual event that has never been missed in - [Dog Island – It Wasn’t Meant To Be](https://www.creampuff.us/2012/11/dog-island-it-wasnt-meant-to-be/) - At this very point in time our plan was to be at Dog Island for a few days. About a week ago, while on Cream Puff getting things ship shape for the trip, I came down with the crud. And, being the kind sharing person that I am, I passed it to Cindy. Between the - [Random Acts of Kindness](https://www.creampuff.us/2012/11/random-acts-of-kindness/) - Sometimes a random act of kindness can really knock your socks off. Ed Stewart, who was previously mentioned on this site as a crew member who helped move Cream Puff from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Petersburg, recently knocked my socks off. Ed called up out of the blue and wanted to know if I was - [Gettin' Ready for Dog Island](https://www.creampuff.us/2012/10/gettin-ready-for-dog-island/) - We are getting ready for a trip to Dog Island. Where the heck is that you might ask. It is a small barrier island on the panhandle of Florida. As mentioned in previous postings, our plan is to get to know our boat and get our “sea legs”. This place is a little off the tourist - [Fixin' Stuff](https://www.creampuff.us/2012/10/fixin-stuff/) - One of the many joys of boat ownership is “fixin' stuff”. In my opinion there are two types of boaters in this world, those that fix their own boats and those who pay people to fix their boats. Of course, the implied constant here is boats will always need fixing. And, guess what, they do. ## Pages - [Home](https://www.creampuff.us/) - Welcome to our sailing blog and the story of our cruising adventure. We are sailing an Amel 53 and this is our story of how we got here, what we are doing and where we are going. We plan to update our site as our adventure unfolds with pictures and regular postings. Cindy has always - [Australia](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/australia/) - We landed in the land down-under in December 2024. This is a list of our posts while exploring here. Australia! Redcliffe and Bundaberg What do we think of Australia, so far? The Hunt For Kangaroos – Part I The Hunt For Kangaroos – Part II A Long Reminiscing Post about a Long Journey Airlie - [The Reality of Working From a Boat While Cruising](https://www.creampuff.us/about-us/the-reality-of-working-from-a-boat-while-cruising/) - If you plan to work from a boat while cruising, be very careful. It's probably illegal and you can be deported. It's not easy. Read the legal pitfalls to avoid. - [FAQ](https://www.creampuff.us/about-us/) - We are Mark and Cindy. We have been married longer than we were single. We have both traveled extensively. We love to travel, experience new cultures, and fill our senses with the joys the world has to offer. Sailing is not our preferred method of travel, NetJets is ~ if only. Sailing off to faraway - [The Plan](https://www.creampuff.us/about-us/the-plan/) - Perhaps one of the most profound statements to impact my life recently came from Cindy when she said, “we are both sitting on the dock with our toes in the water. One of us needs to jump in and pull the other with them”. To what was she referring? The age clock ticking and our - [Questions Women Ask](https://www.creampuff.us/about-us/questions_women_ask/) - ** I have developed a category for "Questions Women Ask" from questions people send to me. You can find it at the bottom of the page under "Categories". Or click here: https://www.creampuff.us/category/questions-women-ask/. If you have questions send me a comment. I try to share what I have learned. *** Women often take me aside out - [New Caledonia](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/new-caledonia/) - After a long delay due to some civil unrest, we finally made it to the French Island of New Caledonia in 2024. Enjoy the awesome pictures of this beautiful place. We’re in New Caledonia Loving New Caledonia - [Ports of Call](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/) - This is a list of places we have sailed organized by country. The links will refer you back to postings made on the blog pages or will sometimes contain additional pages. Enjoy! Argentina Aruba Australia Bahama Islands Bonaire Colombia Curacao Dominica Fiji French Polynesia Galápagos Islands of Ecuador Grenada Guadeloupe Martinique New Caledonia New - [Fiji](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/sailing-fiji/) - We arrived in Fiji in June 2023. These are the posts we made as we explore these beautiful islands Finding Our Way Around Fiji Fumbling Around Fiji – Part 1 Fumbling Around Fiji – Part 2 Malolo Islands and Musket Cove Suva – Part 1 Suva – Part 2 Snorkeling with Our Buddies Final - [New Zealand](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/new-zealand/) - We arrived in New Zealand in October of 2023. We visited just about every nook and cranny of both the north and south main islands. Here are links to the blog post we wrote while here: Cream Puff is in New Zealand First Thoughts on New Zealand Happy Cream Puff Day Another Road Trip – - [Why We Picked Amel](https://www.creampuff.us/the-boat/why-we-picked-amel/) - The Search We searched for 4 years to buy a boat. And, we had a great time doing it. We went to all the major shows and boating meccas. We had our search criteria set up in www.yachtworld.com and browsed most weekends. We soon had it down to a handful of brands. We tried to - [The Downsides to Living on a Boat](https://www.creampuff.us/about-us/the-downsides-to-living-on-a-boat/) - The things nobody tells you about the cruising lifestyle before you set out. This is a little difficult to write. The last thing I wish to do is deter anyone from following a dream. But at the same time, I find very few people talk about what the cruising lifestyle is really - [French Polynesia](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/french-polynesia/) - We arrived in Tahiti, French Polynesia amid the Covid-19 outbreak in April 2020. We wound up staying a little over 3 years. And, we loved every minute! Here are our posts so far for this beautiful country: Cream Puff is in Tahiti Out at Sea and Out of Touch Moving to Pape’ete Pape’ete, Tahiti Tahiti - [The Name](https://www.creampuff.us/the-boat/the-name/) - As with any boat, the naming is very special. An owner’s personality is apparent by the name of their vessel. We are no different. We struggled with a list of names and started to write them down as early as 2 years before we bought the boat. Our short list included Passing Wind. We thought - [About Cindy](https://www.creampuff.us/about-us/about-cindy/) - Hello world! My name is Cindy. I am the second crew member of Cream Puff. My happy place is in or on the water. My parents had a ski boat and a lake house when I was growing up. We spent our summers water-skiing and swimming from sunrise to sunset. I am the rebel who - [Bahama Islands](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/bahama-islands/) - Our visits to the Bahamas: North Bimini - 2011 North Bimini - 2017 November 2015 - July 2016 St Augustine to Great Sale Cay Abaco Islands We're in The Bahamas Beach Dat Way Junkanoo Green Turtle Cay Golf Carts - The Road to Happiness Great Guana Cay Elbow Cay - Hope Town Errands We Need Toilet - [Animals](https://www.creampuff.us/photography/animals-2/) - Click any picture to start a slide show - [Success](https://www.creampuff.us/success/) - Success. You are now a subscriber to this blog. Welcome! If you don't hear from us immediately, not to worry. We update the blog every couple of weeks. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It just depends on how much fun we're having. A couple of tips to help you navigate: As a subscriber, you will - [Thank You](https://www.creampuff.us/thank-you/) - Yippee! Another subscriber. Thank you. Check your email for confirmation. You will not receive any updates until you confirm your email address. - [Subscribe](https://www.creampuff.us/subscribe-sailing-blog/) - Yey! We'd love to have another follower. Join the thousands of people who receive new postings on the blog delivered by email. No need to keep checking back with us for updates. You are the first to know when we post something new. Sound good to you? We promise your email address is safe with - [Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/panama/) - We divided Panama into two groups just like the canal, the Caribbean side and the Pacific side. We arrived in at the Caribbean side March 2019. Here are the posts from this side: Passage to Panama San Blas Islands – Chichime Island San Blas Islands – Eastern Holandes Cays Kuna and Karma San Blas - [Galápagos Islands of Ecuador](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/galapagos-islands-of-ecuador/) - We loved our time in Galápagos. We arrived on these islands in February 2020. If you love animals and a trip to Galápagos is on your bucket list, move it to the top. Our advice to people wanting to travel there, do not do it by the local cruise boats. Fly to the islands - [Argentina](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/argentina/) - We visited Argentina in October of 2019. Sadly our visit was limited to Buenos Aries and we didn't get a chance to explore the rest of the country. We hope to rectify that someday. Here are the posts from beautiful Buenos Aries We’re Going to Buenos Aries Buenos Aries – Part One Buenos Aries – - [Colombia](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/colombia/) - We arrived in Colombia expecting to stay just a couple of weeks. We loved Colombia and stayed for almost four months using Santa Marta as a base from November 2018 until March 2019. Here are our post from our time there: We made it to Colombia We Venture into Santa Marta, Colombia Going Walkabout In - [St Lucia](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/st-lucia/) - We visited St Lucia November 2017 - December 2017. Here are our posts from this visit: Happy to see St Lucia in the Rear View Mirror St Lucia – The hunt for immigration in Marigot Bay A Quick Trip Back to Saint Lucia - [Dominica](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/dominica/) - In 2017, Dominica was devastated by Hurricane Maria. We visited the island about 6 months later and were truly saddened by the destruction. The people of Dominica showed an incredible attitude. This was an amazing island. Dominica - [Aruba (The ABC's)](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/aruba-the-abcs/) - We loved Aruba and spent time there in October and November 2018. Here are the posts to our sailing blog from our visit: It’s all Dushi San Nicolas – Aruba One Happy Island – Aruba Loving it on Aruba Hanging Out in Aruba - [Curaçao (The ABC's)](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/curacao-the-abcs/) - Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island, is known for its beaches tucked into coves and its expansive coral reefs rich with marine life. The capital, Willemstad, has pastel-colored colonial architecture, floating Queen Emma Bridge and the sand-floored, 17th-century Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue. It’s also a gateway to western beaches like Blue Bay, a popular diving site. We - [Bonaire (The ABC's)](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/bonaire-the-abcs/) - Bonaire, an island municipality of the Netherlands, lies off Venezuela’s coast in the southern Caribbean. Its reef-lined coast is protected by Bonaire National Marine Park. Beyond its rich marine life, the island shelters lizards, donkeys and birds within its immense Washington Slagbaai National Park, marked by beaches, lagoons, caverns and desert-like hills. We visit Bonaire - [Guadeloupe](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/guadeloupe/) - Guadeloupe is a region of France and is one of our favorite destinations. Below are links from our visits. Our first visit was July 2017 and we vow to return: Guadeloupe – Îles des Saintes We return for a couple on months March, April, May 2018 Welcome to Gwada The Rescue and a Walkabout – - [Privacy Policy](https://www.creampuff.us/about-us/privacy/) - Updated: August 10, 2018 Cream Puff ("us", "we", or "our") operates the www.creampuff.us website and the Cream Puff mobile application (the "Service"). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data. This Privacy Policy - [Martinique](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/martinique/) - We loved our visit to Martinique and stay there from December 2017 - February 2018. Martinique is a region of France and has become one of our favorite ports of call, so far. Here are our posts from this visit: Saint Anne's Joyeux Noël Finding Our Way Around Martinique Karl More of Martinique Loving - [St Vincent and The Grenadines](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/st-vincent-grenadines/) - November 2017 was when we visited this area. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are know for high crime against cruising boats. There are a few safe places so we had to pick carefully where we stopped. The Tobago Cays are located in this country and is a haven for charter boats and sailors like us. - [Grenada](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/grenada/) - Due to the location of Grenada, it is considered a relatively safe spot during hurricane season (July-Nov) for cruising sailors wanting to return northward to the Caribbean islands the following season. Storms tend to pass north of this island. However, storms have hit this island hard in the past and sailors watch the weather daily - [St Kitts and Nevis](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/st-kitts-nevis/) - Saint Kitts and Nevis are popular cruise ship destinations. For small vessels this islands take on a different viewpoint. Below are links to our posts when we visited these island: St Kitts but not Nevis - [US Virgin Islands](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/us-virgin-islands/) - We travel to the US Virgin Islands June-July of 2017. These are the links to posts we made to our sailing blog while there: We’re in St Thomas PiZZA Pi Swimming With Turtles at St John Anchoring Antics at St Croix - [Turks and Caicos Islands](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/turks-and-caicos-islands/) - We visited the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2017 during April. Here are the links to our sailing blog post from there: Bahamas to the Turks and Caicos Islands (Part One) Passage from the Bahamas to Turks and Caicos Islands (Part Two) Providenciales – Turks and Caicos Islands (Part 1) Providenciales – Turks and Caicos - [Puerto Rico](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/puerto-rico/) - We sailed into Puerto Rico in May 2017. Here is a link to our sailing blog postings: We’re in Puerto Rico Rincón, Puerto Rico Boquerón Ponce Caja de Muertos (or Coffin Island) Palmas Del Mar Spoil the Women and the Men will Come Drinking Bacardi Rum for Breakfast El Yunque National Forest Old San Juan The Bars - [Florida](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/) - Stops we have made in Florida: Amelia Island, FL Dry Tortugas, FL Fernandina Beach Ft. Lauderdale, FL Key West, FL Sarasota, FL St. Augustine, FL St. Petersburg, FL - [Fernandina Beach](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/fernandina-beach/) - Fernandina Beach is one of our favorite Florida towns. We traveled here many times from Atlanta before owning Cream Puff. Here are the entries to our sailing blog from our visits here: Fernandina Beach The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia Stuck in Fernandina Beach Amelia Island - [USA](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/) - This is a list of our adventures in the United States of America: Chesapeake Bay Area (Maryland and Virginia) Florida North Carolina Oregon South Carolina Texas - [St. Petersburg, FL](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/st-petersburg-fl/) - St. Petersburg was where we kept Cream Puff for 3 years while learning the ins and outs of our boat. Links to posts about St. Petersburg: The boat show The Rib Festival Segwaying St Pete Street Art Sailing an Amel 55 to St Pete 2013 St Pete Grand Prix My First Time Sailing to St. - [North Carolina](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/north-carolina/) - We have only visited one town with Cream Puff on North Carolina, Beaufort. We were there in July 2015. Below is the entry to our sailing blog. Beaufort - [Ft. Lauderdale](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/ft-lauderdale/) - We visited Ft. Lauderdale May 20th, 2015 and 2017 for repairs. Here are the posts from our visit there: This Stinks Dream Big U Turns in the Ocean - [Key West, FL](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/key-west-florida/) - We have sailed to Key West several times over our travels. Since we use to keep Cream Puff in St Petersburg prior to our setting sail full time, Key West made a great stopover for places beyond. Here are a list of our posts about Key West. Key West A Quick Stop in Key West - [Sarasota FL](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/sarasota-fl/) - Sarasota - The town The Circus - [Texas](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/texas/) - Cindy made a side trip to Texas: http://www.creampuff.us/2016/08/texas/ - [Oregon](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/oregon/) - We made a road trip to Oregon: September 2012 - [Amelia Island](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/amelia-island/) - (click any picture to enlarge and begin a slide show) Amelia Island is the northern most island on the Florida east coast. The city of Fernandina Beach is located at the north end and boosts a beautiful historic district and downtown area. The southern end of the island is divvied up into plantation areas - [A Maiden Voyage](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/maiden-voyage/) - We went from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas and back. As you can imagine there is a story behind this. We purchased Cream Puff in Ft. Lauderdale. The timing of the purchase could not have been at a worse time for us. We were both busy with our jobs and one day our phone rang. - [St. Augustine, FL](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/st-augustine-fl/) - We visited St. Augustine FL for 2 weeks beginning May 29th, 2015. Here are our posts from our visit. Saint Augustine – Part One Saint Augustine – Part Two Saint Augustine – Part 3 Saint Augustine – Part 4 - [The Dry Tortugas](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/the-dry-tortugas-national-park/) - We visited the Dry Tortugas between May 6th, 2015 and May 12th, 2015. Our postings from The Dry Tortugas: The Dry Tortugas Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas National Park - [South Carolina](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/charleston_sc/) - Walk With Us Through Historic Charleston (click any picture to start a slide show) It looks like Lois quit her job at the Daily Planet. I wonder if from time to time she still sees Clark..... We have always loved Charleston. When we were looking for moorings for Cream Puff, we - [Key West](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/florida/key-west-florida/key-west-fl/) - Blowing The Cobwebs Off The Rigging (click any picture to start a slide show) As we had stated in earlier posts, our intentions of keeping the boat in the St Pete area allows us to sail as much as possible while we dissolve our land lifestyle. We continue to learn the ins and outs of - [About Mark](https://www.creampuff.us/about-us/about-mark/) - Hi. I’m Mark. Thanks for coming to our site. I sincerely hope you enjoy following our travels. A little bit about me. Where do I begin? I guess I will start with how I became interested in sailing as it’s a pretty funny story. I am a South African born British bloke and moved to - [Scenic](https://www.creampuff.us/photography/scenic-2/) - Click any picture to start a slide show - [Chesapeake Bay](https://www.creampuff.us/ports-of-call/usa/chesapeake-bay/) - We spent July - October 2015 in the Chesapeake Bay area exploring the shores of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. We made it as far north a Annapolis MD. We wished we could have stayed longer but the winters there are too cold for us. Here are the posts from our time there: We Made - [COMMENTS](https://www.creampuff.us/your-feedback/) - WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU I know this is against the norm in the blogging world but, I try to keep the site clean and easy to read for our reader's enjoyment. For this reason, I opted to keep comments to one page. We would love to hear from you. Do not - [People](https://www.creampuff.us/photography/people/) - Click any picture to start a slide show - [Photography](https://www.creampuff.us/photography/) - The purpose of this page is an area to organize some of our favorite pictures. Mark has been an avid photographer for years. Cindy dabbles and has a keen eye too. These are pictures that have not made it into a blog post for some reason but we feel are worthy to share. These pages - [Landscapes](https://www.creampuff.us/photography/landscapes/) - Click any picture to start a slide show - [Still Shots](https://www.creampuff.us/photography/still-shots/) - Click any picture to start a slide show - [Specs on Cream Puff](https://www.creampuff.us/the-boat/specs/) - AMEL SUPER MARAMU MILLENNIUM A SERIOUS OFFSHORE CRUISING – LIVEABOARD PASSAGEMAKING YACHT LOA: 52’6” LWL/STATIC: 41’4” BEAM/MAXIMUM: 15’1” BEAM/WATERLINE: 13’6” ENGINE: Yanmar – 4JH4-HTE HORSE POWER: 110 YEAR BUILT: 2000 MODEL YEAR: 2000 Millennium Edition HULL NUMBER: 275 FRESHWATER: 264 U.S. Gallons DIESEL FUEL: 158 U.S. Gallons DISPLACEMENT LOADED: 35,840 lbs. DISPLACEMENT EMPTY: 31,360 lbs. - [The Inside](https://www.creampuff.us/the-boat/the-inside/) - [The Boat](https://www.creampuff.us/the-boat/) - In this section you will find information about our Amel. Specifications: Length, tonnage range etc. The Name: How we came to name the boat and the story behind the name. The Inside: A series of pictures showing off the spacious luxury of this fifty three footer Why we picked Amel: Our search for the ## Categories - [Nautical Stuff](https://www.creampuff.us/category/nautical_stuff/) - Sailing technical pages - [About Us](https://www.creampuff.us/category/about_us/) - Pages with personal info - [Sailing Adventures](https://www.creampuff.us/category/sailing_adventures/) - [Funny Stuff](https://www.creampuff.us/category/funny-stuff/) - [Side Trips](https://www.creampuff.us/category/side-trips/) - Fun trips and tid-bits - [Money](https://www.creampuff.us/category/money/) - The financial stuff of sailing and budget related post - [Maintenance](https://www.creampuff.us/category/maintenance/) - [Equipment](https://www.creampuff.us/category/equipment/) - [Pre-sailing Preparation](https://www.creampuff.us/category/pre-sailing-preparation/) - [USA](https://www.creampuff.us/category/usa-ports/) - [Questions Women Ask](https://www.creampuff.us/category/questions-women-ask/) - [Chesapeake Bay](https://www.creampuff.us/category/usa-ports/chesapeake-bay/) - [Caribbean](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/) - Blog posts from our adventures sailing and cruising the Caribbean islands - [Bahamas](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/bahamas/) - Blog posts from our adventures sailing and cruising the islands of the Bahamas - [Shorts and Musings](https://www.creampuff.us/category/shorts/) - [Turks and Caicos](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/turks-and-caicos/) - [Sailing Blog](https://www.creampuff.us/category/sailing-blog/) - A top sailing blog about two people cruising the world on a sailboat - [Puerto Rico](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/puerto-rico/) - [USVI](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/usvi/) - [St Kitts and Nevis](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/st-kitts-and-nevis/) - [Grenada](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/grenada/) - [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/) - [St Lucia](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/st-lucia/) - [Martinique](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/martinique/) - [Dominica](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/dominica/) - Blog posts from our adventures sailing and cruising the island of the Dominica - [Guadeloupe](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/guadeloupe/) - [Bonaire](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/bonaire/) - Blog posts from our adventures sailing and cruising the island of the Bonaire - [Curaçao](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/curacao/) - Blog posts from our adventures sailing and cruising the island of the Curacao - [Aruba](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/aruba/) - [Colombia](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/colombia/) - [Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/category/caribbean/panama/) - [Pacific Ocean](https://www.creampuff.us/category/pacific-ocean/) - [Panama Canal](https://www.creampuff.us/category/panama-canal/) - [Panama](https://www.creampuff.us/category/pacific-ocean/panama-pacific-ocean/) - [South Atlantic](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-atlantic/) - [Argentina](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-atlantic/argentina/) - [South Pacific Ocean](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-pacific-ocean/) - [Galápagos](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-pacific-ocean/galapagos/) - [French Polynesia](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-pacific-ocean/french-polynesia/) - [Awards](https://www.creampuff.us/category/awards/) - [Looking Back](https://www.creampuff.us/category/looking-back/) - [Fiji Islands](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-pacific-ocean/fiji-islands/) - [New Zealand](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-pacific-ocean/new-zealand/) - [Minerva Reef](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-pacific-ocean/minerva-reef/) - [New Caledonia](https://www.creampuff.us/category/south-pacific-ocean/new-caledonia/) - [Australia](https://www.creampuff.us/category/australia/) ## Tags - [sailing blog](https://www.creampuff.us/tag/sailing-blog/) - [cruising blog](https://www.creampuff.us/tag/cruising-blog/)