USA here we are!

We arrived in the United States of Amerika! 

The ride from the Bahama's to West Palm Beach, Florida, was a bumpy one. Lots of lightning, the wind turning in all directions, annoying waves and squalls. Even Ties got seesick... poor boy. 

West Palm Beach reminds us of Miami Vice. Bill and Leslie, our friends from Manjack, are here. We're having a wonderful time together. Waiting for better weather to move more up North and to pick up our friend from Holland, Martijn, who will be joining us on the last part of our big journey. 

We meet a lot of English speaking people, more and more. So again I try to start writing in English ...try again ... I'll do my best. 

Ties is born

26 july, 12.02 at Bonaire

Mother and son are fine, daddy is proud.

Waiting...

We have a good time in Bonaire. People are friendly, our little house is very nice, the cat is used to the house as well, we meet nice new people, our boat has a good place in a harbor and most important, I'm still feeling good with the baby in my belly.
It may come out now. That's a strange thing. Because it could also take another two weeks before it will  come, we don't know. We are ready for it, that's for sure. And at the same time...are you ever ready for such a thing...?
In the meantime, we snorkel a lot, Maarten goes windsurfing with our neighbor about twice a week, he works on the boats and repairs things with his sewing machine for people on the island. People start to know he's here and start to know what he's capable off, that's very nice.
On a island like this, a lot of people come and go, so everybody is used to quick contact and for short periods. So are we, after traveling on a boat for a year. So that's a good thing.
We're good and looking forward to be with the three of us!

Bonaire, natuurpark.

Bonaire

Here we are!
It's hot hot hot in Bonaire, but we do enjoy it to be here. We are very happy with our new home. Sleeping on the boat was a real problem with the heat and the mosquitoes. In our sweet little cottage we have a big bed with air-conditioning. How luxury!!
There are more luxury things to enjoy in our house: a big fridge, a freezer, a normal toilet, a shower and a washing machine! We love being on our boat, but have to admit that after living on the boat for a year, we really enjoy the 'normal' house stuff. Especially with my big baby belly!
We also like it to really live here for a while. That's a big difference with traveling, when you only stay for maximum a week or two. Bonaire is a small island, so it's easy to find your way. We love the animals on the island, for example the iguana's in our backyard and the donkey's who run around freely.
There's a lot to do for us: Cleaning our boat, fixing our boat, going to the obstetrician, finding work and making new friends. We enjoy it all.

We had a great time in Sint Maarten. The carnival on Queensday -30 april- was a big party. You can see an movie from it on our website--> movie (filmpjes) number 9. Then Maarten worked hard and with a lot of joy on the La Goelle, another Dutch boat. From Sint Maarten lots of Dutch friends are going in a different direction. So we had lots of goodbye-drinks.
With boat Tahira we sailed to Sint Barts, what an expensive island!!! If you don't pay attention, you pay €6,- for a bear!?!?! That only happens once, ok, twice to be honest... It is a pleasant island to be. The nature is lovely, the people are friendly, nature is beautiful.
Yesterday, the plan was to leave the island for Saba, but we didn't make it. We sail together with the Tahira and they had motor troubles. Smoke and water in the engine room--> no good! We threw a line to them and dragged them to the harbor. Quite exiting to throw a line on open see to a uncontrollable boat! But we made it.
Now Maarten is helping Arthur out with his engine. We hope that the right parts arrived this afternoon. The plan is to leave tomorrow, if the reparation is finished this evening. We'll see. We skip Saba and go straight to Los Rockos, an island above Venezuela. In about 12 days we'll be in Bonaire, where we're gonna live for about half a year. That's gonna be a new phase. Looking forward to that too.

For the carnival movie, you can also use this link:
http://youtu.be/tIYEYXa0e4I

With Maarten in Sint Maarten

It's april now and Mell & Nick told me to write more in English! They are right!
I went home in the beginning of april, because my mother was sick. She recovered good, but can't speak very well (and that's an understatement...). We hope that will be alright in the future, but we don't know...
On board is everything ok. I'm becoming a big lady, with my baby-belly. Everything is fine with the baby, it kicks a lot! I'm feeling good and can still climb a crater. We did that in Sint Eustatius where we just come from. A very nice walk together with the Tahira.
Maarten has got a new hobby--> windsurfing. Here in Sint Maarten the wind is very strong and good to do that, so he's having fun! He's also going to work here on board of the La Goelle. They wanted him to help with the preparation for their big crossing next month. So that's what he's going to do the next couple of days. Except on monday, than it's Queensday and we're gonna celebrate that in Philipsdorp, on the Dutch site here in Sint Maarten.
Miss Luna is very fine as well. Lazy in daytime and playing and running around the boat in nighttime. We were in a harbor lately in Basseterre, Sint Kitts, and then she goos off the boat at night. No problem so far.   But bringing a big friend with her to the  boat was a problem--> a big fat cockroach!! At the same time we're trying to get  rid of them -already for months!!!!- so we kicked him immediately out. She was so proud she caught him...