Behan Gifford

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I live on a boat with my husband and three children. We left our home in the USA in 2008 for sailing adventures.

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MY BLOGS

Sailing with Totem http://sv-totem.blogspot.com/
Our family of five lives and travels on our sailboat, Totem. We write about the places we visit, our traveling lifestyle, homeschooling afload, and the adventures we have along the way.

LATEST ARTICLES ( 537 )

Engine Trouble and Kidnappings

There’s a Yiddish proverb: “Man plans, God laughs.” The cruiser’s equivalent is to say that our plans are written in the sand, at low tide. Yes, we still make... Read more
Posted on 25 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Engine Trouble and Kidnappings

There's a Yiddish proverb: "Man plans, God laughs." The cruiser's equivalent is to say that our plans are written in the sand, at low tide.Yes, we still make... Read more
Posted on 25 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Tense Moments and Unanswered Questions

Pulling out the jib was an unexpected bonus as we sailed south from the islands of Langkawi.It’s more than 400 miles from there to Singapore, and we hoped to... Read more
Posted on 08 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Tense Moments and Unanswered Questions

Pulling out the jib was an unexpected bonus as we sailed south from the islands of Langkawi.It's more than 400 miles from there to Singapore, and we hoped to... Read more
Posted on 07 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Safe Passagemaking in the Straits of Malacca

There’s a long history of piracy in the straits of Malacca, and plenty of modern bandits too- this area currently has more pirate activity than any other part o... Read more
Posted on 05 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Safe Passagemaking in the Straits of Malacca

There's a long history of piracy in the straits of Malacca, and plenty of modern bandits too- this area currently has more pirate activity than any other part o... Read more
Posted on 05 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Maintenance on Board: How Mechanical Are You?

We just had a crazy stretch of boat work on Totem, and knocked several big items off our list of essentials for maintenance or repair as we anticipate next... Read more
Posted on 03 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Maintenance on Board: How Mechanical Are You?

We just had a crazy stretch of boat work on Totem, and knocked several big items off our list of essentials for maintenance or repair as we anticipate next... Read more
Posted on 03 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Enter to Win a Flag- Just Two Days Left!

I’m looking forward to picking a name out of the virtual hat (OK, so actually, it’s randomized event executed with a mouse click…), and going through pictures o... Read more
Posted on 01 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Enter to Win a Flag- Just Two Days Left!

I'm looking forward to picking a name out of the virtual hat (OK, so actually, it's randomized event executed with a mouse click...), and going through... Read more
Posted on 01 June 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
24 Hours Under Martial Law

On May 22, a military coup displaced the elected government in Thailand. They enacted martial law, put a curfew in place, dispersed protests, and quelled... Read more
Posted on 30 May 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Installing Silentwind: Power Projects Aboard

This could be the shortest post ever, because installing the Silentwind wind generator was a non-event.The instructions were easy to follow. Read more
Posted on 27 May 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Cooking with a Solar Oven Aboard

We’re in the tropics. There is a lot of sun. We can cook with the sun. It makes sense, right? Still, you don’t see a lot of solar ovens on boats- and that’s... Read more
Posted on 20 May 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Cooking with a Solar Oven Aboard

We're in the tropics. There is a lot of sun. We can cook with the sun. It makes sense, right? Still, you don't see a lot of solar ovens on boats- and that's... Read more
Posted on 20 May 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Choosing a Wind Generator: Power Projects Aboard

Increasing energy produced from wind and sun are part of our ongoing power projects on Totem. Silentwind was a clear standout from the available options, with... Read more
Posted on 17 May 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Top 10 Signs It's Time to Leave the Island

We may not be with the fleet heading to Africa (this year), but it's time to go. Here's how to know when you really should move on to a new place:10. Gooseneck... Read more
Posted on 05 May 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Passagemaking Dreams

The unmistakable bellow of conch horns echoed around the bay yesterday morning as the 50' sloop Love Song headed out, bound for the Indian Ocean. Next stop:... Read more
Posted on 01 May 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Mail Call: Especially Pawsome Deliveries!

Mail! It's something we rarely get, unless it's brought by visitors; our changeable routing and backwater destinations make it difficult. Spending a more... Read more
Posted on 24 April 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: How Cruising Kills Your Stuff

rich in experiences, poor in StuffStanding in the dinghy and holding on the toe rail of the Canadian boat, Gromit, we went from introductions to bon voyage... Read more
Posted on 21 April 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL
Battery Bank Replacement: Power Projects Aboard

More than six months ago our battery bank ticked past the five year mark. That’s a pretty good life for marine AGMs, so we've been thinking for a while about... Read more
Posted on 17 April 2014 FAMILY, OUTDOORS, SEA, TRAVEL