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Gromits 47 Random Tips and Lessons Learned
Gromits 47 Random Tips and Lessons Learned
Gromit’s 47 Tips and Lessons Learned (in no particular order)
1. Cheetos are the best seasickness food EVER
2. You don’t need clothes if you don’t plan on leaving the boat but if you plan on leaving the boat you need clothes
3. Getting creative when it comes to “mixology.” Sometimes pays off, sometimes not.
4. Good bacon makes anything better – even PB&J on a bagel.
5. Plan on hitting your head at least 50 times on the first day.
6. Good sunscreen on a boat trip is a necessity.
7. Good forum friends on island are a God-send.
8. You never know who you’ll meet on island from the forum.
9. Captain Brandi is a hottie and has a video camera attached to his hand. Beware!!
10. You can never have too many snacks.
11. Always have some good stories to tell on a boat trip.
12. Always bring a specialty from home to share.
13. You CAN have too much meat.
14. Rain happens. Especially in the middle of the night when the hatches are open.
15. By the time you finally get your sea legs, the trip is over.
16. It’s TOTALLY worth it to risk life, limb and a $350,000 boat to retrieve a $20 STJ hat from the middle of the Ocean. Totally.
17. Good communication is key to avoid insult, injury and a good dunking.
18. Boat people are cool and really help each other out. So do forum people.
19. If you’re seasick, don’t go inside the boat and definitely don’t look left or right if you do.
20. Baby wipes are a must for keeping fresh without water.
21. The Oasis of the Seas is a giant effing MONSTER of a ship!
22. There are a lot of very large yachts out there and a hell of a lot of people with a hell of a lot of $$$.
23. Saba Rock and the Bitter End Yacht club are an interesting slice of paradise in the middle of nowhere. I’d like to go back!
24. Note to self: Lose 20 MORE lbs before going on another trip with Vicki—she takes LOTS of pics!
25. You can never have too much Dramamine or too much Imodium on a boat trip. Never.
26. Bring your weight in Zip loc bags. They come in handy.
27. Bring plenty of spices, a flexible cutting board and good knives.
28. Don’t let Vicki make the coffee.
29. Bring along some of STJ Spice’s “Sugar and Spice” to use on Plantains. Just add butter and dark rum!
30. Bruises aren’t just an injury, they are a fashion accessory.
31. Febreze and Bounce sheets come in really handy.
32. Do freeze and bring your own meat.
33. Do pack everything in duffle bags. They are collapsible and take up less space on the boat.
34. Bug spray is only necessary if you plan on being on land.
35. Save your plastic bags from grocery shopping they can come in handy later.
36. Do bring DVD’s for those nights when it’s raining outside.
37. Do not be ashamed to put on minimal makeup if it makes you feel better.
38. Do bring a hat clip, or three.
39. Do organize bathing suits and undergarments in the aforementioned zip loc bags – it makes it easier to find what you need in the dark recesses of the limited cabinet space you have.
40. Do bring a neat sheet.
41. Do bring LOTS and LOTS of clothespins.
42. Do bring your own nalgene water bottle.
43. Keen H2’s are still the best shoes to wear for a trip like this whether you are on land or sea.
44. Do bring walkie talkies. These were GREAT.
45. Do bring an extension cord with power splitter. This is good for recharging several electronic devices at once.
46. No one looks glamorous or coordinated getting into or of a Dinghy. Ever.
47. When a virtual stranger asks you to go on a boat trip for a week. Say yes. Because if you say no you might regret it.
1. Cheetos are the best seasickness food EVER
2. You don’t need clothes if you don’t plan on leaving the boat but if you plan on leaving the boat you need clothes
3. Getting creative when it comes to “mixology.” Sometimes pays off, sometimes not.
4. Good bacon makes anything better – even PB&J on a bagel.
5. Plan on hitting your head at least 50 times on the first day.
6. Good sunscreen on a boat trip is a necessity.
7. Good forum friends on island are a God-send.
8. You never know who you’ll meet on island from the forum.
9. Captain Brandi is a hottie and has a video camera attached to his hand. Beware!!
10. You can never have too many snacks.
11. Always have some good stories to tell on a boat trip.
12. Always bring a specialty from home to share.
13. You CAN have too much meat.
14. Rain happens. Especially in the middle of the night when the hatches are open.
15. By the time you finally get your sea legs, the trip is over.
16. It’s TOTALLY worth it to risk life, limb and a $350,000 boat to retrieve a $20 STJ hat from the middle of the Ocean. Totally.
17. Good communication is key to avoid insult, injury and a good dunking.
18. Boat people are cool and really help each other out. So do forum people.
19. If you’re seasick, don’t go inside the boat and definitely don’t look left or right if you do.
20. Baby wipes are a must for keeping fresh without water.
21. The Oasis of the Seas is a giant effing MONSTER of a ship!
22. There are a lot of very large yachts out there and a hell of a lot of people with a hell of a lot of $$$.
23. Saba Rock and the Bitter End Yacht club are an interesting slice of paradise in the middle of nowhere. I’d like to go back!
24. Note to self: Lose 20 MORE lbs before going on another trip with Vicki—she takes LOTS of pics!
25. You can never have too much Dramamine or too much Imodium on a boat trip. Never.
26. Bring your weight in Zip loc bags. They come in handy.
27. Bring plenty of spices, a flexible cutting board and good knives.
28. Don’t let Vicki make the coffee.
29. Bring along some of STJ Spice’s “Sugar and Spice” to use on Plantains. Just add butter and dark rum!
30. Bruises aren’t just an injury, they are a fashion accessory.
31. Febreze and Bounce sheets come in really handy.
32. Do freeze and bring your own meat.
33. Do pack everything in duffle bags. They are collapsible and take up less space on the boat.
34. Bug spray is only necessary if you plan on being on land.
35. Save your plastic bags from grocery shopping they can come in handy later.
36. Do bring DVD’s for those nights when it’s raining outside.
37. Do not be ashamed to put on minimal makeup if it makes you feel better.
38. Do bring a hat clip, or three.
39. Do organize bathing suits and undergarments in the aforementioned zip loc bags – it makes it easier to find what you need in the dark recesses of the limited cabinet space you have.
40. Do bring a neat sheet.
41. Do bring LOTS and LOTS of clothespins.
42. Do bring your own nalgene water bottle.
43. Keen H2’s are still the best shoes to wear for a trip like this whether you are on land or sea.
44. Do bring walkie talkies. These were GREAT.
45. Do bring an extension cord with power splitter. This is good for recharging several electronic devices at once.
46. No one looks glamorous or coordinated getting into or of a Dinghy. Ever.
47. When a virtual stranger asks you to go on a boat trip for a week. Say yes. Because if you say no you might regret it.
*Another fine scatterbrained production
Re: Gromits 47 Random Tips and Lessons Learned
This alone has me in awe. A boat, no matter the size, is close quarters. Then add spouses/SOs in the mix. The potential for "issues" is great.Gromit wrote:
47. When a virtual stranger asks you to go on a boat trip for a week. Say yes. Because if you say no you might regret it.
Good for you guys for making it work.
You would have thrown my husband overboard after the first night!
ETA - My darling husband, if you read this, don't you dare get offended! You know how high maintenance you are!!!!!
-
California Girl
Re: Gromits 47 Random Tips and Lessons Learned
Elizabeth sent me a set of these for my birthday before our trip with Scubagirl & Mr. Scubagirl and I have to say they are the best thing since sliced bread! (sorry I didn't remember to tell you this before your trip!). I like the variety of sizes and with the mesh top, they "breathe" and let some air circulate. I bought an extra couple of sets before our trip and we managed to stay pretty organized.Gromit wrote: 39. Do organize bathing suits and undergarments in the aforementioned zip loc bags – it makes it easier to find what you need in the dark recesses of the limited cabinet space you have.
In fact, I use them EVERY time I pack now!
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores ... &cat4=2931
I'm with CA Girl when it comes to the packing cubes. I never leave home without my Eagle Creek packing cubes. I love the packing folders/envelopes too for shirts and dresses. It makes packing so much easier and staying organized a snap.
I also use a ton of zip-lock bags and take a supply of 3 different sizes when I travel.
I also use a ton of zip-lock bags and take a supply of 3 different sizes when I travel.
-
California Girl
Personally, I wasn't planning on the boat going down, and if it did, my undies would be the last thing I'd worry about. Get my laptop!! Get my iPod!! Screw the undies!!Gromit wrote:Yeah but do they float?
If the boat went down at some point I knew I'd have my undies floating on the water in the zip loc bags -- with the extra added bonus that they would be dry as well!!!
And maybe another boat would circle around to retrieve the floating undies!Gromit wrote:Yeah but do they float?
If the boat went down at some point I knew I'd have my undies floating on the water in the zip loc bags -- with the extra added bonus that they would be dry as well!!!
From one zip loc-er packer to another - Tip #48 - Use hat clip to attach zip loc undies to self
I have those packs but I still zip loc bundles of undies, bras and bathing suits in my suitcase and I don't even do boat vacations.
