Fixing Boats, Finding Friends Island Choices and Shifting Plans To recap, French Polynesia consists of five island groups, each with its own vibe. The Society Islands, arguably the most well known, with Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora. With volcanic peaks, turquoise lagoons, and resorts that scream luxury. Second might be the Marquesas, popularized by the…
I want to begin by saying that the heartfelt encouragement and support everyone has given us on our recent journey across the Pacific has made a difference. When things seemed bleak, your words lifted us up. When bad things happened, your prayers and well-wishes kept us afloat. It is rather ironic that the number one…
When the waves turn rough and the sea feels like your enemy, you hit the end of your rope with two choices: give in or get stronger. Sunset on the Pacific As most of you know, our journey has been a wild ride these past months, filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. This…
Chapter 1: The Toughest Dive of Our Lives Our unexpected detour to the Galapagos Islands has been a rollercoaster of jaw-dropping sights, backbreaking repairs, and heartwarming connections. Picture this: Dan and I, seasoned divers since our twenties, geared up for a dive at Gordon Rocks with Shark Bay Scuba Shop. This would be one of…
It was time for our much-anticipated visit to our second Galapagos Island. We departed Santa Cruz at 8:00 AM for the island of Floreana by small ferry. The ride was rocky, a 90-minute overwater rocket where some of the passengers lost their breakfast. Thankfully, our time in rough seas made us immune to the choppy…
Sometimes, there can be beauty in despair, silver linings in misfortunes, and blue skies in the future where there seems to be nothing but storms. A Confounding Time in Panama In our seven years of circumnavigating, I have to say that our time in Panama has been the most confounding. She beat us up, spit…
The First Attempt: Hope Meets Heartbreak We thought we were ready. Our boat was in great shape, we were fully provisioned, and favorable winds promised a push to the equator and into the trade winds that would carry us 3,000 miles to French Polynesia. Everything seemed aligned. We even reunited with our boat buddies on…
Ready to Set Sail Last week, we sent pictures of our departure and hopes of beginning our crossing of the Pacific Ocean to the magical islands of Gambier. Our boat friends, John and Shannon on S/V Carisma, who we had planned to cross with, arrived at Vista Mar Marina, where we had been since December…
Yesterday at the Rey grocery store in Panama, I was standing in a long, slow line with a cart overflowing with food. Canned goods, fresh produce, snacks, pasta, and plenty of cheese (my favorite) —you name it, it was probably in that cart. We’re about to set sail on our longest ocean crossing yet: more…
Perhaps you have read my sailing stories and perhaps even read Riding the Waves of Reality: Tales of Turmoil and Triumph. Las month, I published my latest fiction novel, The Seven – An Odyssey of Seven Horses and Seven Humans. This is the story of seven individuals from around the globe and their encounters with…