In the Spring of 1999 as we were preparing to leave, Jim came up with the idea of creating a web site. Initially I thought he was crazy as he doesn't know anything about web development and dealing with the logistics of updating it, especially without a regular Internet connection. As I thought more about it, the idea grew on me. It would give Jim an opportunity to write and provide me with a way to keep up with my web development skills.

Around this time I had bought a Compaq laptop and portable Cannon Bubblejet printer online from Ubid (an online auction). I started looking for an inexpensive digital camera which I quickly found for less than $100. It's a very basic Mitsubishi model (DJ-1000) that is a little bigger than a credit card that handles about 14 pictures at a time using a reusable 2 MB memory card. We also bought an extra 16 MB memory card that allows us to take about 115 pictures at a time. The camera doesn't have any fancy options such a flash or zoom, but it takes fairly decent pictures outdoors on a sunny day. It's a lot of fun "developing" pictures without taking film to be developed the conventional way. In addition, digital photos are easier to use in web pages, without requiring a scanner (which we would have no room for anyway).

I then discovered an inexpensive way to host a web site through Geocities. The site allows users to use up to 15 MB for free and is based on advertising banners. The banners can be annoying, but the price was right. I can do the uploads either by using their file manager utilities (although is often slow) which can be done almost anywhere with an Internet connection, or by using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) using our laptop.

We decided to try to do weekly updates with related pictures. Typically Jim writes the text, while I do the editing, take care of the web development part, and also the actual uploading part. The uploading part has been the most challenging. Initially I had tried to find places that would allow me to use a phone line to get an Internet connection, but this proved to be difficult. Currently, I have found the best way is through Public libraries along the way. Most U.S. towns we visit have a library that is close to the waterfront and usually have at least one computer connect to the Internet. I do the web development on our laptop, then copy the files onto a diskette, then upload them at the library.

While in the Bahamas it is next to impossible to keep the web site up-to-date weekly. It's difficult to even find public telephones on many islands we've visited, let alone an Internet connection. As of March 2000, the only Internet connection we've found was in Nassau. While weekly updates have not been possible, we've been periodically sending disks back home to our friend Skip so that he could update the site for us.

As it's difficult for us to keep in touch personally by phone, the web site has made it easy to let friends and family know what we've been up to and where we are. It's been fun doing and we've had a lot of positive comments about it. We also have realized it will make a memorable journal and photographic log for us to look back on when we return.

We'd like to hear from you. Please contact us at jbbolton@yahoo.com.