Baltimore, MD to Eastern Caribbean by way of Central America

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Sealife said:
Closed our chapter in the Eastern Caribbean. One of the last stops was St. Barths. Which we had originally planned to skip for several reasons. After an invite from Hughes (101tug username) we went. It was the highlight of our time in the EC. He went way beyond anything I have ever experienced to make us feel welcome. We stayed 3 weeks, mostly due to his kindness. As always we were the old, small, dirty boat in the Harbour :) Caroline got to see Jimmy buffet play 5’ away from her at a small gathering (check that off her bucket list).

We are now in San Juan PR for 2 weeks, probably be here another week or so waiting for weather. We had hoped to be in the Southern out islands of the Bahamas by now. Oh well. Update for any interested, San Juan sustained little damage from the storms. Caroline has binged on over 100GB of data already. So blog should be catching up with us!
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wow fun times!!!
 
Sealife said:
Closed our chapter in the Eastern Caribbean. One of the last stops was St. Barths. Which we had originally planned to skip for several reasons. After an invite from Hughes (101tug username) we went. It was the highlight of our time in the EC. He went way beyond anything I have ever experienced to make us feel welcome. We stayed 3 weeks, mostly due to his kindness. As always we were the old, small, dirty boat in the Harbour :) Caroline got to see Jimmy buffet play 5’ away from her at a small gathering (check that off her bucket list).

We are now in San Juan PR for 2 weeks, probably be here another week or so waiting for weather. We had hoped to be in the Southern out islands of the Bahamas by now. Oh well. Update for any interested, San Juan sustained little damage from the storms. Caroline has binged on over 100GB of data already. So blog should be catching up with us!
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What a cool experience.

Hughs seems like a damn good guy. Didn’t he mobilize his boat to provide aid to PR after the hurricane?
 
We didn’t discuss it, but yes I believe he did run supplies for relief efforts. He also helped locally in Gustavia. A very stand up guy. His company Hughes Marine also seems top notch.
 
Leaving San Juan tomorrow first light, should be about 460nm to Great Inagua. Should be 70-85hrs depending on speed. San Juan harbor was not kind to our bottom. I scraped off most, but not as clean as I like.

The weather isn’t as good as I would like either, but good enough since we have been here almost a month.

I’m sure I will regret skipping DR, but as we have learned repeatedly, you can’t see it all. Looking forward to Hogsty reef anchorage, raggeds and Jumentos.
 
Tomorrow is the day! If all goes as planned we will cross our path from 2015 in the Berrys (Bahamas) which will be an entire Caribbean circumnavigation (bit of a wierd circle granted we didn’t want to be in Venezuelan waters)

Trip wont be finished until we reach Baltimore after 3 years, probably in October.
 
Wow! Didn’t realize it has been three years! Congrats. Quite the achievement and adventure.

What’s next?
 
Reluctantly go back to work for more cruising money. Probably 2-3 years still living on boat full time. We discuss going north, but the season is so short, and it doesn’t fit my employment schedule as summers are my high demand time. Maybe 18 months, head straight for Panama as it was our favorite.

Either way, there will be tear drops in my rum come winter in Baltimore :(
 
If you would have vloged the adventure like the LaVagabond kids or the Wynn’s you could have continued across the Pacific and not worried about money! Maybe even bought a new 55 Krogen Expedition with all the Patreon and advertisement money! [emoji51]

I’m kidding, but I do wonder how much those folks make. Plus, there is no powerboat version of what they do, that I know of. It could be y’all!
 
We’ve met some “vloggers” who will remain nameless. They spend so much time going places and doing stuff to impress their followers they really don’t seem like they are having a good time. Some of them are down right rude. Not the kind of cruisers we are accustomed too. They spin the reality of it all!

Besides chasing the kind of internet you need to edit videos, then the time involved to edit, who the hell is actually enjoying their cruise. Caroline works so hard and she is months behind, and thats w/o videos.
 
What did you like so much about Panama?

That trip is one of my bucket list trips.
 
I thought of sponsorship during my refit. Equipment and such, but decided I wanted what I wanted, and not what I was given at a discount. I really wanted to do a hybrid electric boat given the efficiency of this hull......but it would have delayed my schedule, and I don’t know how keen I would be going offshore to places where parts/mail service doesn’t exist with all the “latest technology”.
 
Everything. Between Bocas del Toro and the San Blas Islands, you have everything. Jungle rivers, mountains, palm trees, white sand beaches, reefs, fishing, culture, restaurants, etc. best of both worlds. Check out the blog post/photos and you will be sold! We spent 8 months there and would return in a heartbeat. It was our plan if we had the money. Eastern Caribbean OK, but Panama was more our style.
 
Interesting on the vloggers. Thanks for the insight.

Also thanks for the rec on Panama. When the kids were younger we travelled to Costa Rica every year to visit friends who lived there, and I always wanted to go check out Bocas but never made it. Now I really want to go check out Bocas specifically and Panama in general.
 
You can go back to work if you need to, but as far as I am concerned:

Your still in San Andres and I have 2 more years to go!!!
Really enjoying your Blog and look forward to the next page every day I can

Thanks again for doing it. :dance:
 
Sealife said:
Everything. Between Bocas del Toro and the San Blas Islands, you have everything. Jungle rivers, mountains, palm trees, white sand beaches, reefs, fishing, culture, restaurants, etc. best of both worlds. Check out the blog post/photos and you will be sold! We spent 8 months there and would return in a heartbeat. It was our plan if we had the money. Eastern Caribbean OK, but Panama was more our style.
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Wifey B: Bocas del Toro absolutely beyond fantastic and the whole area so beautiful. It stands out among all the places we've been. :)
 
cardude01 said:
If you would have vloged the adventure like the LaVagabond kids or the Wynn’s you could have continued across the Pacific and not worried about money! Maybe even bought a new 55 Krogen Expedition with all the Patreon and advertisement money! [emoji51]

I’m kidding, but I do wonder how much those folks make. Plus, there is no powerboat version of what they do, that I know of. It could be y’all!
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Wifey B: You need to video lots of T & A too to make money. Clearly they make enough to survive and continue. No telling what they'd make if they went porn all the way. :lol:
 
I’ve noticed the T&A aspect. One vlogger down here brings on young foreign girls who don’t see an issue with topless etc. and videos them for more ratings. Seems wrong to me. He was a A#&hole anyway, couldn’t anchor, hit boats, no common sense, really a shame he is one of the faces for cruising on youtube.

As for me and Caroline going nude, I think people would stop following the blog!
 
Sealife said:
I’ve noticed the T&A aspect. One vlogger down here brings on young foreign girls who don’t see an issue with topless etc. and videos them for more ratings. Seems wrong to me. He was a A#&hole anyway, couldn’t anchor, hit boats, no common sense, really a shame he is one of the faces for cruising on youtube.
!
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Wifey B: Sex sells. As to right or wrong, everyone getting what they want. Topless girls get boating paid for by boobs (double meaning intended), vlogger gets videos and income to support his boating plus gets hot girls to boat with. People who follow get T&A to look at and pay the vlogger's way. It's not a boating vlog, it's a T&A vlog using a boat and beautiful waters as it's setting. These aren't like you, serious boaters who blog along the way to share their love of cruising. These are video productions designed to support one's cruising and living. I've got no problem with them at all, no big deal to me, but let's not confuse what they're about.

I love reading your blog, but it would never be a youtube hit as those of us who love such are limited. On the other hand, those who love T&A make up a far larger group. :)
 
Update: Original plan was to go from Berrys to Lauderdale. Of course that has changed, why wouldn’t it. So we extended our time in the Bahamas and have/are doing the Abacos. Unfortunately stuck in Hopetown with some health BS (self diagnosed diverticulitis, too much fried food, booze and not enough fiber for past year probably) but should be leaving today to make another stop or two.

We will go straight to St. Augustine from Abacos around the end of the week. Need to get North for Insurance coverage, and don’t want to push our luck too much.
 
Oh, and the fishing has been good!

E5DF42D1-3833-4D20-B337-E75EEA997D04.jpeg
 
Nice catch! Love the Abacos. Was there this time last year, dodging storms.
 
cardude01 said:
Nice catch! Love the Abacos. Was there this time last year, dodging storms.
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Wifey B: Like all of the Bahamas but actually like the Abacos better than the Exumas. More variety. Exumas are escape but Abacos have more amenities. So much to do there. :)
 
RTF, don’t know the weight, but I’d say about 4-5 dinners for and me and the misses for the big one!
 
Back in the good old USA. Made landfall in St. Augustine. Used the CBP ROAM app, was cleared in online in a few minutes, no phone call, video chat, etc. Binging on non metered electricity and free water. Poor Sea Life has not had a proper bath in a long, long, long, long time. They have irish pubs here, and west marine, and home depot, and Chick fil A, and Mcdonalds, and Burger King, and mexican food, and did I mention Irish pubs!

Had to completely disassemble, clean, lube and reassemble 3 way valves to make them work again from non use. Did this in Bahamas, and locked them in prep for a Coast Guard bording just in case.
 
Yes, so well done indeed! Now I’m going back to live the experience over again!
 
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