Mass Provisioning -- Round One

I have read countless articles about long-range cruisers. Most of them are about blow boaters (sailors) who are preparing to sail across the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.

In days gone by, they used to do all kinds of weird things to help make the provisions last longer. Much of their long-term food stores had to be stored within every nook and cranny of the boats. Thus, they would receive an occasional soaking of rainwater or seawater from a storm. Labels would fall of tin cans, and some tin cans would fail/spoil. They coated their eggs with Vaseline and such to keep them from spoiling. Since cans were susceptible to loosing their labels, sailors would use permanent markers to label the contents of the cans, and then proactively rip the labels off (to avoid them sliding off on their own, and then clogging-up a bilge pump or other necessary gear.)

Similarly, cardboard in the tropics was the home of all sorts of unwanted bugs. So, most provisions were removed from their cardboard boxes/containers, and transferred into Tupperware or other plastic/tin holding containers (while still ashore.)

Thanks to refrigeration, solar power, wind power, diesel generators, power inverters and the like, provisioning is a bit different these days... Especially while cruising inland waterways and coastal cruising. We will pretty much be within a short cruise/drive of major metros throughout our trip. So, we don't need to store as many foodstores. I'd guess that we have enough to last us a bit more than a week (maybe even close to two weeks?)

When we have the chance to stop/stay at a major city/marina overnight, we will likely dine-out as oppose to dinning aboard (which will extend the duration of our provisions.) Many marinas have their own restaurants, snack shops, etc. Our marina here in Alton, has a decent breakfast and lunch menu -- not to mention drink service delivered right to your boat!

Also in days gone by, boaters/sailors ate some pretty gnarly meals. Fortunately, our meals aboard are VERY similar to those we eat ashore. Our freezer is stuffed with chicken breasts, filet minon, pork steaks, brats, pork tenderloin, fish fillets, bacon, frozen veggies, hamburger, etc. Our meals include pastas, Asian stir-fry, and a variety of Mexican and Cajun surprises.

But, once we cast off, we will be between grocery stores for quite a few days... If we forgot something, we can't just hop in the car and run down to the local grocery store to pickup whatever we forgot. Instead, we have to wait a few DAYS to make landfall, and trek into the store (via bicycle or taxi or public transporation.) Some grocery stores offer delivery to the docks. :-) Otherwise, grocery shopping can still be a bit of a chore/hassle... Along the Gulf Coast, some grocery stores are waterfront and have docks, too! (We can't wait to get back to waterworld -- where grovery stores, fast food restaurants, banks, Walgreens, shopping malls, etc. are all available waterfront!)

Sidebar: After all of my work on the fuel lines the past few days, the motor started/ran flawlessly today -- ALL day! So, it's looking like I have slayed the fuel gremlins! (Or, at least I won this round...) We will put the boat through a few more sea trials on Wednesday and Thursday, with fingers crossed that the fuel gremlins are gone.


We have two final days of provisioning left: Aldi's, Schnucks, WalMart, West Marine, Sprint Store, plus a few other odd stops. Then, top-off the fuel and water tanks, and it will be time to shove-off.


Critter Watch:
When we arrived, there were two groups of baby ducklings. Our most friendly/familiar group initially had six little ducklings. They were VERY cute -- like waterborne fur-puffs. Unfortunately, nature claimed two of them, and we were soon down to only four duckings... We feed them from the stern of our boat daily (they now make housecalls to us.) They are growing quickly, and I wonder who will depart the marina first -- the baby ducks, or us?

It's gettin' late, and I have a full day of chores to complete tomorrow. So, nite all!


Nick.