All Who Wander are Not Lost

As most of you know by now, I love and regularly devour classic sailing books and stories.  Our bookshelf is filled with the names and literary prowess of Tristan Jones, Bernard Moitessier, Joshua Slocum, Robin Knox-Johnson, Mark Twain and many, many more. I am now pleased to add Sterling Hayden to that esteemed list.

Disillusioned by his life and forever lulled and pulled by the sea, Sterling Hayden left a successful Hollywood career and fame and fortune to sail the south seas on an old tall ship. A forever rebel and seeker,  his story is compelling, relatable, at times philosophical, at others heartbreaking and totally captivating.  I don't think he ever found the peace he was looking for in his life, but he did manage to achieve his dream of captaining his own tall ship and escaping a life and society he viewed as wretched.

Here's a teaser for you.  I find this man, his insights, and thoughts to be right on and incredibly profound.  Enjoy.

Little has been said or written about the ways a man may blast himself free.  Why?  I don't know, unless the answer lies in our diseased values...'I've always wanted to sail to the South Seas, but I can't afford it'.  What these men can't afford is not to go.  They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of "security".  And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it, our lives are gone.

What does a man need - really need?  A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment.  That's all - in the material sense. And we know it....The years thunder by.  The dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience.  Before we know it, the tomb is sealed.

Where then, lies the answer?  In choice.  Which shall it be, bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?

 

I could not agree more.


Love,
Brittany & Scott

Spicey!

“Our minds are like our stomachs; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetites.”          

- John Quinton

 

Don't know what spices to buy?  How about a spice necklace?  They smell wonderful!

One of the very best things about living and traveling abroad are the local markets.  I think open-air markets are one of the quickest ways to transport yourself to another culture.  Whether it be a Farmer's Market in Wisconsin, a Bazaar in Egypt, a Flea Market in Turkey or a Produce Market in Africa - it is a guaranteed cheap and easy way to spend an exciting afternoon while taking in the sites, sounds and smells of a place.  I seek out a local market wherever I go.

Here in Grenada, the most famous market is the Spice Market (I mean, this place is not called "Spice Island" for nothing).  As soon as you walk in the battle for your attention begins; "Hey sexy!! Come look here!" "Girly - delicious spices for you!" "Beautiful woman, it takes nothing to look - please come!" - these folks have (obviously) learned that flattery can get you far!  Your senses are attacked as you wind in and out of the aisles: vendors hawk their colorful goods in your face, your ears ring with the elevated buzz of buying and selling, and the smells - oh the smells - nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, curry and more fill the air - it's impossible not to feel a little hunger pang.

Nutmeg (Grenada's most famous spice) - in the raw - laced by the Mace spice

Now if only I knew what to do with all these spices...hmmmm...

Love,
Brittany & Scott

Windjammin' with Island Windjammers

I don't even know where to begin with this post...in fact, I have re-written the entry line about five different times and none seem to do it justice.  As you know, Scott and I are back from our week long "vacation" aboard s/v Diamant with Island Windjammers, and what a vacation it was!  Not being much of an all-inclusive vacationer and someone who is not a huge fan of cruise lines, I had no idea what to expect when I stepped aboard this beautiful vessel.  Let me tell you - this trip proved to be a highlight of our journey thus far.  We had the best time.  Where to begin?

First of all, the itinerary Island Windjammers follows is exceptionally efficient and you will get to see the very best the Grenadines has to offer: from unspoiled beaches to quaint Caribbean towns, from wildlife sanctuaries (where you swim with sea turtles in the wild!) to lively beach bars that serve only the best tropical slushy rum drinks, they cover it all.  Did I mention the ship is all-inclusive?  Yeah.  Trust me, you will not go hungry (or thirsty for that matter)!

Billed as "Freedom from the Ordinary", the voyage is just that.  It is a wonderful, laid back, and magical way to see this part of the world and, if you have always dreamed of cruising the Caribbean and prefer a more intimate setting as opposed to a giant cruise liner or an all inclusive resort, this is by far the best way to do it!

What really made this trip was the other passengers.  Our group consisted of us, a young American couple who now live and work in Trinidad (we're reuniting with them soon!), a fun and lively American couple who now live in Grenada, an interesting couple from Colorado who raise lamas, grow wine grapes, and have a penchant for race cars (to name a few of their hobbies), a honeymooning couple from Oregon who have been married three years and are incredibly entertaining (there's talk of a Youtube channel), and a lovely British couple (half of which is the Gentleman Joiner) who appear to be prim and proper and are anything but and kept us in stitches the entire time.  So many different walks of life, so many stories shared and so many laughs had!  What a gift!  I don't know the odds of twelve strangers getting along as well as we all did, but I don't think I stopped smiling and/or laughing once the entire week.  I already miss each and every one of them!  We really lucked out and sang our group praise about 100 times throughout the trip.  We almost wished we had at least one stick in the mud just to keep things interesting, but no dice (which, by the way, we played a lot of!).

Island Windjammer's say it best on their site:

Leave your real world behind, and surround yourself with sea, sand, and sails. Rediscover the simple joys of life—sun-soaked days, the snap of sails in the breeze, a wooden deck rolling gently beneath your feet—as you chart a course for a hidden island paradise...

It's now back to the "real world" for us - but since we live on a boat here in the Caribbean, our "real world" isn't so bad!

Check out our Facebook page to see our entire album!

Second Show Sunday

Because Sunday is the day of rest for so many (and stats are famously low on Sundays) I am going to post some blogs from long ago.  I realize some of you might have already read them - but most of you probably haven't.  So grab a cup of coffee, kick back, and enjoy this blast from the past...because sometimes, things are better the second time around...

If I Had my Life to Live Over...

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

My wonderful sister Chelsea shared this with me and I want to share it with you...

If I had My Life to Live Over 

I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.

I’d relax, I would limber up.

I would be sillier than I have been this trip.

I would take fewer things seriously.

I would take more chances.

I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I would have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day.  Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them.  In fact I’d try to have nothing else.

Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.  I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.  

If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have...

~Nadeen Stair~

What would you do differently?

Love,
Brittany & Scott

Free as a Bird

I love sea birds.  I find them magnificent; how they glide so effortlessly over the water, the way they climb in the puffs and soar in the thermals; how they dive, fish, fly, and play...They are always there: on peaceful days they punctuate the beauty and simplicity of nature and during fury-filled storms they provide the most stark contrast as they maneuver the wild wind and white-capped waves with ease while you struggle.  They are masters of the sea, if you ask me.  Beautiful companions to have.

Love,
Brittany & Scott

ps.  This pic was shot with my new Canon G12 - I'm learning how to use it so hopefully quality of pics will be kicked up a notch over here!

What are we Listening to?

A lot of people ask us what sort of music we listen to on the boat.  Scott and I have very eclectic tastes; we have everything from classical to county, techno to tribal, rock to reggae and just about everything in between.  Our "everyday" music, however, consist mostly of bands like; Band of Horses, Death Cab for Cutie (and The Postal Service - they have the same vocalist), M. Ward, Arcade Fire, Counting Crows and Soul Patrol (to name a few).  But what we're listening to a lot these days is the entire Coldplay discography.  We love them and this new song.  Enjoy!

Happy Friday everyone!

Love,

Brittany & Scott

Simple Solutions

One of the greatest aspects of living on a boat is the fact that you are forced to become incredibly resourceful.  You find uses for items that, on land, you'd never think twice about.  An old coconut shell?  Cut it in half and it becomes a great little serving bowl.  A canvas bimini doubles as a rain collector, an old  length of PVC becomes an outboard tiller extension, empty spice jars become great storage units for nuts, bolts and screws.  There are literally thousands of little tips and tricks that make life a little easier, a little more green.  We like green.

When we saw this little trick on our friend's boat - we just had to share it!  It's nothing more than a drilled out wine cork (and god knows we have enough of those!) with a piece of line through it and voila! you have a floating key chain!  I find brilliance in such simplicity.

What creative uses for everyday items have you seen on board?

Love,
Brittany & Scott