Kitchen Lessons

Being out of the loop of modern galleys, I mean kitchens, for long periods, leaves us at a disadvantage when we come back. We just don't know how to operate in the kitchen. Add together the trendy, high-tech, non-intuitive appliances, the different venues (Boston and Las Vegas) and our bad memories and we are challenged daily to perform basic tasks. I've already outlined the issues just trying to learn how to use our iPhone, but it just gets worse and worse. I don't think we're techno-phobes, just techno-ignorants.

Here's what I mean …

Many times I'm the first one up in the morning and want to get the coffee started. Well, both Lin and Mary have high tech coffee makers which not only make coffee (which is really all I want to do), as well as set the time to start the coffee, when to shut it off, how to make it bold or regular, feed the dog/cat, etc., etc., etc. How many scoops do you put in? ( 6 at Lin's; 3 heaping at Mary's). How do you keep the water from spilling all over the place when you're filling up the reservoir? (No one knows) Oh, yes, and use the reverse osmosis water only. When making the coffee, hold in one button till the BOLD icon lights up, then press it again to start brewing the coffee. Now I realize, there are much more complicated coffee makers than this, but you're talking to a girl who typically adds boiling water from her whistling kettle to instant Nescafe or an Earl Grey tea bag and calls it done.

Or how about the microwave? Yes, we have one aboard. We bought it in 2000 when we started sailing and we think it still works. We can only use it when we have shore power, which is rare. Even when we're in a marina, we forget we have it. We use it primarily as a Faraday cage for the electronic instruments during electrical storms. So figuring out how to use Lin's was tricky. We finally managed and then hers broke and she bought a new one and we started all over again. Then we came to Mary's and hers was a whole new beast. Reading a manual to figure out how to heat leftovers seems counter-productive somehow. I've always preferred cold leftovers.

The fridge-freezer? You couldn't be expected to open the door to get water or ice and no, there are no ice cube trays to refill. You have to select which you want, however, (cold water, cubes, crushed, etc) and try not to change the fridge temperature or set off any alarms while you're doing it. We have no ice cubes aboard … mostly because we have no freezer. We open the fridge lid, take out cold stuff, close the lid. That's it. No technology involved. Cold water comes from the faucet; hot water comes from the tea kettle.

Lin's stove allows two timers to operate at once (although I use my analog wristwatch since I haven't learned to set even one timer yet) and there are all sorts of options for top-of-stove burner use and setting oven functions. Mary's stove is more user-friendly. It's gas (I'm used to that) and as long as I don't have to use the oven, I'm good as.

Play a DVD or watch TV while cooking? I can't even contemplate this. It's like walking and chewing gum at the same time. After dinner, I'm happy to hand the TV remote(s) to someone who cares and seems responsible and head to my computer or iPad where I can watch a YouTube about correct and proper refrigerator use.

There are blenders, mixers, and food processors, pasta makers and rice cookers, popcorn makers, slow cookers, fast cookers, electric griddles, egg steamers and SodaStreams. Oh, we'll eventually catch up once we have a house and have to use all the gadgets every day, but in the meantime, it's nearly overwhelming. Give me a GPS, chartplotter, AIS, radar, Navionics charts on an iPad … now we're talking easy to use.

10 Unexpectedly Cool Ports of Call

We rarely find a port we don't like, but some are such pleasant surprises, we're amazed we hadn't heard more about them before we visited. What's our criteria for “unexpectedly cool”? Well, it's usually a small port that's welcoming and cruiser-friendly and offers some interesting things to see and do that we were just not anticipating.

Mosselbaai (Mossel Bay), South Africa

We anchored just off the friendly Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club, located on South Africa's south coast. Everything is close and within walking distance. There are pleasant walks to the point and great views from the Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse. The best part of Mosselbaai, however, is the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, just a stone's throw from the anchorage. This maritime museum is excellent and thoroughly enjoyable.

Deshaies, Guadeloupe

The small Caribbean port of Deshaies (Day-hay), Guadeloupe is wonderfully French. The aromas of coffee, freshly baked croissants and baguettes waft into the anchorage each morning and beg the crew to come ashore. The surprise was the pleasant, 15-acre Jardin Botanique (Botanical Garden) within walking distance from the dinghy dock.

Streaky Bay, South Australia

Streaky Bay is a little coastal town on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The anchorage is idyllic, well protected from the winds and weather of the Great Australian Bight. Again, there are all the basic cruiser amenities, but beyond checking out the great white shark replica at the Streaky Bay Roadhouse, we enjoyed one of the finest dinners we've ever had at Mocean (pronounced Motion … like ocean with an M).

Neiafu, Tonga

If you've ever imagined a tiny South Pacific port where old-time trading ships pulled up to the docks and offloaded their cargoes, this is the place. The myriad of islands and islets to visit within this protected area seem limitless. The culture, the high quality Tongan carvings at colorful markets, the warmth and generosity of the Tongan people made this South Pacific nirvana.

Eden, New South Wales, Australia

A small, protected coastal port along the southeast Australian coast, Eden is a lovely place to catch your breath. The Killer Whale Museum is a highlight, but the town is so pleasant, friendly, and walkable, we could have stayed for months.

Strahan, Tasmania

After bashing down the wild west coast of Tasmania and entering through Hell's Gate into Macquarie Harbour, we weren't prepared for the beauty and calm of Strahan. The town is picturesque and lively and the anchorage is calm … a lovely surprise for weary sailors.

Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand

Dunedin is a gem of a city on New Zealand's south island. It's definitely not small, but it was a surprise nonetheless. A university town, it's vibrant and culturally engaging with museums and parks and everything's within walking distance. It's a great base for exploring the Otago peninsula or heading inland on the Taieri Gorge Railway.

Port Louis, Mauritius

In the middle of the Indian Ocean, we just didn't expect St. Louis, Mauritius to be as cosmopolitan and welcoming as it was. From the colorful, historic foreshore to the traditional Saturday afternoon horse races to the inland tea and sugar cane plantation tours, we were kept busy and entertained throughout our stay.

Lüderitz, Namibia

We chose to stop in Lüderitz, Namibia because it was a convenient stop between Cape Town, South Africa and St. Helena Island. We didn't anticipate enjoying our stay as much as we did. A neat and tidy German colonial town, the town is isolated from the rest of the country by the diamond fields that surround it. The diamond-mining ghost town of Kolmanskop is highly recommended as a tourist stop, but walks around town, out to Shark Island and along the rugged coast are outstanding.

Searsport, Maine

It's been a long time since we visited the little seacoast town of Searsport, Maine, but the hospitality of the town is indelibly imprinted in our memories. The town is dubbed "the home of the famous sea captains" and the "Antique Capital of Maine" and we enjoyed the nautical spirit of the place and the people. Wayne Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Marine, a stellar chandlery, greeted us himself and showed us to a free visitor's mooring, then offered a ride to the chandlery and the classy Penobscot Marine Museum.

Clark County Wetlands Revisited

Whenever we're in Las Vegas, one of my favorite local spots to visit is the Clark County Wetlands Park. A little over a mile from Mary's house, we discovered it on a previous sojourn in Las Vegas a few years ago and have enjoyed it each time we return. It was a bit nippy when we headed out, but warmed up as we were walking. There's a calm, quiet, structured wilderness feel to the 2900-acres of water, trails, and trees encompassed within the park along the Las Vegas Wash. It makes us forget we're in a metro area in the middle of the Mojave Desert, just 7 or 8 miles from the insanity of the Las Vegas Strip.

A Gambel's quail met us at the entrance … scurrying around with a crazy top-knot feather bobbing over his head, impressing all girl quails no doubt. A roadrunner (Beep! Beep!) crossed our path, but was too fast for a photo.

The park is touted to be home to 300 species, but it's not all birds. They claim more than 70 species of mammals and reptiles have been spotted. We saw several, odd-looking spiny soft-shelled turtles sunning themselves, their long, serpent-like necks extended to catch some warm rays.

Desert cottontails dashed in front of us, then hid in the thick bush and bramble, confident that if they couldn't see us, we couldn't see them.

There were coots, and pied-billed grebes and gallinules (We used to call them moorhen, but now it's gallinule … the name was changed. Who knew there was an ornithologist's union with such power?)

Raptors stood sentry high in the high bare-leaved trees, scanning their surroundings for errant, incautious bunnies.

We walked along the multiple paths and trails that criss-cross the park, over bridges and streams, stopping at the edge of ponds and marshes to admire the riparian scenery. A great blue heron stood stock-still, frozen in place, waiting for a fish to swim past. A noisy, busy duck happened to come ashore just next to him and the heron let out a very loud, aggravated, “frawnk”. The duck was oblivious. The scene brought back memories of my grandpa in a little row boat intently trying to fish while his noisy granddaughter chatted and squirmed incessantly beside him.

Speaking of chatting, as the morning warmed up, we were surprised by the number of people we met on the trails. Some running, some strolling in groups, chatting and laughing (scaring the wildlife away). The secret is out. It's obviously become a popular place. With a huge, classy new nature center and lots of scheduled community activities, it's a magnet for families. Glad folks are enjoying it, but (sigh) we might have to find another place for peaceful morning walks.