Boat Hair - KJ's First Hair Cut

When should a child get their first hair cut? I believe the answer depends on the child. In the case of crew member KJ, she was 4 years 8 months old. It was KJ's decision to cut her hair and Bill agreed.

Bill and I believe that we should teach our girls about how to make decisions, as soon as they can comprehend the concept. KJ and her Dad have been getting close to making a decision on when she should get her first hair cut, for the past year. But we knew that her hair would be cut before we started our adventure. Very long hair gets really tangled in the wind and on a sailboat there is usually wind (we hope ;)).

The decision to cut her hair came after our long 4th of July weekend, at the boat. KJ's hair was really tangled and a bear to brush. So many tears :(. A couple of days later, KJ told me she wanted her hair cut and Bill gave me the go-a-head.

One pony tail and a couple of snipes from the scissors and KJ's hair is 9" shorter, but still well below her shoulders. With the baby hair gone, her hair looks and feel healthier and is a lot easier to brush. KJ love her shorter hair.

Family Trip to Health Clinic for Yellow Fever and Typhoid Vaccination Costs + Advice

We received a call from a worker at a health clinic that Val had befriended. The clinic had just gotten in a batch of Yellow Fever vaccinations and that we had better get there soon. First thing the next morning, we were all on our way, the entire clan. The clinic opened at 8:15, and we were there at 8:10.

Lesson 1: The quantities of the Yellow Fever vaccinations are very limited. First dips always goes to the military, and then the rest is dolled out to clinics in a region. Make friends with someone at the clinic so they will call you when doses arrive.

As the first people in the vaccinations portion of the clinic, we thought it would be fairly quick event. Alas, it wasn't. We proceeded to wait for 1 hour before being called back! Yes, 1 full hour and we were not only the first, but the only people there!!!!

Lesson 2: Be ready to wait a long time .... even if you are the first and only people there.

When we finally made it back, we met with the travel nurse. We shared with her that we were in to get some Yellow Fever vaccinations. She proceeded to ask us a serious of questions. The first one, "Where are you going?" Ah, that was easy, "We are going around the world." She gave a queer look. "I need a specific place please." I knew this was going to be an experience, but I wasn't ready for how mechanical it was going to be.

I looked at the world map on the wall and started reading off all the countries along the coast of Central and South America. The nurse dutifully typed them all in. With each one, she would pull back out sheets of information. At about country 5, I finally let the futility of the situation carry the next step. I said, "Look, we are just going to Brazil ... let's just do that one please." "Where in Brazil?" Ugh. So I looked at a map and named a city. "You don't need Yellow Fever for that one." Ugh. "Well, that is just our starting point, we plan on venturing deep into the Amazon river, and spend months and months there." "ohh, well then you definitely need Yellow Fever", she stated, "and you should get Typoid" (BONUS! We wanted that too, but were very focused on the limited quantity of the Yellow Fever vaccination).

Lesson 3: Find a specific place that requires you to have the shots you need, and simply go in with that on your agenda. Don't list every place.

Then she asked, "When are you leaving and when are you getting back?" At this point, I just made up dates. She was going by her script, and she was going to be very through (just as one would want a health care professional).

Val paid the fees: $110 per Yellow Fever shot, $60 per Typhoid shot, and $100 for the entire family consultation giving a grand total of $780.

I went first. KJ held my hand to comfort me watching everything close up. Next up was Val, KJ holding hands again. Then KJ. I had to hold her very still, and KJ braved the shots like a trooper. Next up Dy, she too did great. Sure, there were tears, but it was all good.

2 hours 30 minutes later, we were all done. The reality of the trip was made physical as all our arms were sore the entire day!

Oh, once we were done, there was only 1 Yellow Fever vaccination left for someone else and the clinic manager told us that another shipment wasn't due for 30 days.

Tune Ups For The Trip and The Ironman Triathlon

Today we are in South Carolina, near Newberry. I'm competing in a Sprint triathlon, the shortest distance of all the triathlon races. I'm using this race as a tune up for the Ironman race I'm competing in, in July. Races like these are great for working on the mechanics of transitions (from swim to bike, and from bike to run).

Such races are analogous to the weekends we will begin taking in Savannah to practice for sailing around the world. The Sprint triathlon provides a way to experience all the same actions as the Ironman race, but compressed into a 2 hour period. This is exactly how our weekends in Savannah will become. 3 days out on the boat will micro tastes of the trip to come. As August rolls around, we will start taking week long trips on the boat, adding even more to the tune up experiences.

Going for the full distance, even if one has done them before as I have with my past Ironman races, without some tune ups increases the odds of encountering problems. Lower the odds, practice in small containable periods. Plus, you get all the joy of doing what you love.

Jellyfish On Beach At Hilton Head

While visiting Ariel, we made our base of operation the Crowne Plaza resort on Hilton Head Island. This resort is our favorite in Hilton Head. It is reasonably priced, in a good location with lots of bike paths, clean, has 2 nice pools (one a kiddie pool), and has a nice beach right on the ocean.

The girls really enjoyed running up and down the beach, screaming and chasing seagulls. And then, this mystery creature was spied

This beautiful creature stopped KJ right in her tracks! "What is it?" KJ asked. Ahh, the mighty Jellyfish! It became a topic of conversation for a few moments ... until a wave came up and washed it back to the sea.

As we explained to KJ, a Jellyfish isn't really a fish at all and there is a big movement to rename them Jellies. The movement has the same passion and fervor as the efforts to return Pluto to planet status. Anyway, we talked to KJ about not touching Jellies as they have stinging capabilities (nematocysts).

Even though they can sting some people eat Jellyfish. In fact, there is such a thing as a Jellyfish Master whom processes these creatures to make them edible. KJ liked the idea of a Jellyfish Master.

Ah, the wonderful factoids one learns when becoming a dive master (such information is entertaining to tourists as well as kids! :))

Happy Birthday Dy!

Today is a BIG day! Dy turns 2!! Happy Birthday Dy!! We are so happy you are a part of our family and a member of our crew.

I wouldn't much of a dad if I didn't also include an embarrassing picture of my beautiful "cool" daughter. The next photo is of her after she binged on chocolate milk. Oh Dy... that is going to hurt when you wake up.

Oh yeah, I turn 40 today. :p

Teethy Kids and the Traveling Orthodontist

KJ had her very first dentist appointment about 2 weeks ago. The dentist said her teeth were fantastic, but that she should see an orthodontist because she may have a bite issue.

This week, KJ visited an orthodontist and he confirmed what our dentist said "KJ may be developing a cross bite", but that he couldn't be sure until she was 7 years old.

Fortunately 7 is still young enough to correct the problem without major brace action. Unfortunately, KJ is still 2.5 years from being 7, and at that time we will most certainly be on our journey. Val explained this to the orthodontist, and he mentioned something interesting. He said that "Brazil and Argentina are excellent places to take care of this. They have excellent dentists and are very cheap."

Val shared with me that the orthodontist's wall was covered with mementos of the his journeys around the world. He was a kindred spirit and encouraged us to go!

Calverts Boat Home Schooling Curriculum

KJ, the eldest of our 2 daughters, will be 5 when we set sail, and in the fall of 2011 she will need to be enrolled in kindergarten. Since we will be voyaging around the world at that time, how do we handle her formal eduction? We've elected to home/boat school her. In the boatschooling world, the most well known system is Calverts.

Calverts provides a fantastic eduction for those on the road all the way up to 8th grade. The system is designed for people who don't have immediate access to the Internet, and for people whom want to teach the learning approach of self paced/self taught learning. Interestingly, if you review all their materials carefully, you see that everything a child would need to pass the GED is taught to them by the 8th grade. At this time, you can't take the GED until you're 16, but it is nice knowing that the material will be in KJ (and Dy's) head. Thousands and thousands of children have followed the program successfully and gone on to college. KJ and Dy may just join their ranks.

We have a number of options after the 8th grade too, like enrolling them in universities that allow for remote education, such as Brigham Young University and the University Nebraska (these 2 schools are favorites of those roaming the world). Will we do that? We won't know until KJ is older. Our immediate issue is, however, kindergarten.

The cost of the kindergarten package, new, from Calvert is $585, a value in our opinion. However, we bought a Calvert kindergarten package from a seller on eBay for $98!

With Dy being only 2 years behind KJ, Dy should be able to reuse the material without an issue. We suspect that KJ's learning sessions will naturally spill over into Dy's consciousness anyway. The boat is only so big, plus Dy is always curious about what her sister is doing.

This is a most excellent way for us to dip our toe into the water of boat schooling. We're glad to have found this system, and to have purchased it cheaply.

Happy Birthday Val!

Today is Val's birthday!!! Happy Birthday Val!!

In our family, ones birthday is the most important day of the year. It marks the day you started existing. Without Val's existence, the amazing course of life that KJ, Dy, and I enjoy would not be. For this alone, we are grateful to Val.

On this day, 39 years ago, Valerie Annette Ford Peer came into the world. The world is a better place for it.

Happy Birthday Val.

I love you.

Crew Member Spotlight - Dy

Dy is a Greenhorn. She was born in April of 2008, and she loves the water.

Dy had zero issues with the "I've fallen off the boat" drills we put her through. She demonstrated that she knows how to relax and float.

Dy began taking her exercises classes at the local gymnasium about 6 months ago. She has to get into shape to make the voyage.

Dy will be taking her drown proofing class in another few months. This is critical for her safety and our mental well being.

Dy has mastered letter recognition, and is currently working on her numbers.

Crew Member Spotlight - KJ

KJ is an able seaman. She was born in October of 2005, and she loves the water. When you ask KJ why daddy works she will reply,

"So we can make money to sail around the world!"

She has already been at the helm, and knows how to make the boat go to port and to starboard.

She has also proven herself to be a fearless mechanic, just like her mom and grandfather. No job is too gross or complicated to frighten her. She constantly wants to help fix things. Perfect.

KJ has already been through her drown proofing class (where the final test is having the kids thrown in the pool fully clothed in winter apparel in the deep end and they have to float for 10 minutes and then make their way, unaided, out of the pool.

KJ has taken a year of gymnastics, ball class, and ballet. Next year, she will be enrolled in Calvert's home (boat) schooling program for kindergarten.

Beautiful Day, Let's Go Sailing!

Monday was the first beautiful day that we have had in over a month. As with anything, nice is relative. So given that it has been really cold or rainy in Georgia since November, a sunny day in the high 50's was very welcomed. We had planned on working on our boat modifications, but the weather was too nice.

KJ was so happy that we took Ariel out to stretch her legs that she was dancing all around. This kid

really loves the boat. We all do.