We are on our own

The weather forecast isn’t great this week, so we decided to fix the anemometer before the wind and rain arrive.

However, we returned to the boat a bit too late. The sun sets around 6:30 p.m., and it was getting too dark by the time Nico reached halfway up the 12-meter mast.

We gave up for now—we’ll try again next time Nico’s dad is around.

To-do list

Today, Nico’s parents are leaving because of the bad weather. There isn’t much outdoor work they can help us with anymore.

- We have to polish the boat and rework the heavily damaged teak.

- We need to fix the unfurling mechanism of the mainsail.

- We have to repair the solar panels.

- We need to fix the bow thruster.

- We have to repair the arch.

- We need to clean the dinghy.

There’s probably more on Nico’s list.

A lot of things aren’t working inside either:

- Fix all the cupboards that won’t close.

- Wash the upholstery and curtains.

- Replace the halogen lights with LEDs to save power.

- Clean the cabins to make space for all our belongings—right now, everything’s stored haphazardly in the guest shower.

The list goes on.

Nico’s parents are leaving with their camper van, taking everything we no longer need for the remaining repairs.

They’re letting us keep their car for a month while we’re at the harbor. We’ll return it at the end of the month before we leave the harbor to start our adventures. We’ll come back by train.

It’s sad to see them go. They’ve helped us so much—not just with the work but as emotional support. It was comforting knowing where to go for meals in the morning and evening. :)

Anyway, they’ll return as soon as the weather improves to help with the rest of the repairs.

Everyday life

Once they left, we discovered the challenges of a nomadic life. No laundry service! We have to do it ourselves, and it’s not cheap.

The dryer at the first laundromat was out of order, so we had to visit two more to dry our clothes and curtains. It took us the whole afternoon.

We also had to cook for ourselves. We cheated at lunchtime and gave in to a nice seafood restaurant, but at night, I had to figure out how to use a gas oven—something I’d never done before. It kind of worked out, though.

It was our first meal on the boat, just the two of us.

We’ve been staying up late every night because there’s always something to do.

We finally decided to clear out the guest cabin. Can you imagine there’s a bed under all that mess? The seller left fishing rods, life jackets, and other junk in there. To make it worse, we added our own stuff plus all the tools for fixing the boat.

After sorting everything, here’s the final result…