hey I'm back....

just in case anyone was worried......
more later

Leaving Land.....

See ya later Kauai.....the beautiful mountains and waterfalls of the surrounding area of Hanalei where we have stayed the past few days have been a nice break. However, we have run into some problems. We blew a sail and the only sail that we had didn't make it to Hanalei so we are going to have to do with what we have. Also, Mike's back is out so while he's getting a massage on the beach I'm sitting here writing about it.

The last few days have been nice.....to be on land staying at my friend's Juels and Angus's gysy wagon....however the trip from Oahu to Kauai was one pukey adventure for me.

I puked over the side till I could puke no more. I heaved everything out till it was dry and then some. The channel was pretty gnarly since the typhoon was coming and the waves were 8-10 feet close together, wind going strong and pushed us 23 hours later to Kauai where I went to shore and promptly ate a burger, beer, and fries.....which made my stomach feel a bit happier. Not that I ever eat burgers but it sounded good.

So I have to beat this sea sickness. It's really not good.

But on the bright side, I went to the store and bought another ukelele....this time a baritone uke. Hopefully I will have plenty of time to read, play music, and NOT puke.

Tonight Juels and Angus are coming over for dinner so I better get preparing.....

My thoughts on this trip.

I hope to grow.
I hope to find my strength.
I hope to find my inner power.
I hope to be proud of my accomplishments.
I hope to fulfill my dream of crossing an ocean.
I hope to have fun and laugh.
I hope to have a great sail with no major problems.
I hope to be safe.
I hope to be happy.
I hope to eat well.
I hope to learn a lot.
I hope to be healthy.
I hope to write a lot.
I hope to get along well with my captain.
I hope to reach land.
I hope that Isabella will get us there safely and promptly.
I hope to succeed.

Please think and pray for us.....send your angels to watch over us.

Much love to you all.

Leaving land saturday, June 26 till............

some sort of love....

Well there is something to say about boats....they have a character and over time you some how "fall" in love for the boat. Isabella, and all her quirky charm, has done just that for me. I spent 4 hours practicing her name and painting it on her stern. For those that know me I am not artistic but I think I did a pretty good job of making her proud of her name. I will attach photos soon...

We had to finish up a couple more projects here....got some wires up the mast and wired the boat so the VHF radio will work for weather....all we have left is the water maker and the hot water shower plumbing. Boating is exhausting work...somehow worth it in the end. I'll fill you in on what I find.

I was pressed for my patience still being here.....after all I thought we would be long gone by now...but if the boats not ready, it's not ready. So I'm waiting....tomorrow we are leaving in the evening for the run up to Kauai. It should be a day of sailing.

Last night we watched the fireworks from the boat, played some great music and ate sushi.

Better get to bed...got a long day of stowing tomorrow.

You can't always get what you want ~ part deux

my my.....my little vacation has turned into a construction project. Oh well....as I said before you can't always get what you want....and at least I am learning something new that I can take back with me. iF you don't work hard for it you don't appreciate the reward as much....

If it was up to me and my "perfect plan" I would be sailing across the ocean or at least lounging in Kauai on the deck of the boat in some beautiful lagoon admiring Hawaii's beauty. Right now I am admiring the bright lights of the Wakiki and the full moon and jupiter which light up the sky on the dock. Well I can't complain. Maybe there is a divine reason for all that has gone wrong and delayed us, that I may never know, but you have to let life flow to let the kinks out.

After working tirelessly in the intense heat trying to get the boat ready for our journey, we realized how much more work we had. I've done everything from sanding, painting, installing, wiring, organizing, stowing, cleaning, cooking, repairing, assisting, screwing, inventing, sorting, sleeping, and at times screaming from frustration. I didn't sign up for a boat project. I signed up to sail. But I look at it now in a different way. It's important to practice living on a boat (now a month into this) and becoming aware of the terminolgy which is like a foreign language at times.

We took on Jake, Gemini's captain and our friend Mira, for the journey from Maui, backside Molokai to Oahu. It was light winds but perfect slow sailing. We slept in Honolua Bay and woke up the next morning to admire the tallest cliffs in the world on the backside of Molokai. The wind was so light we put up four sails and cruized along at 5-8 knots. About halfway there, we hear a snap crack! and realize that the main boom has cracked....so mr macgiver (aka captain mike) brings out his duct tape and rope and fixes the boom in about 20 minutes and then we're off again sailing.....tack and jibe and after 18 hours we make it to Oahu.

The next day, Mira and I get manicures and pedicures and I painted my nails green....I won't be seeing much green once I get out on the open ocean.

Mike made a beautiful new boom and attached the aged hardware back on. So our checklist is getting smaller.....we better leave soon....my patience is wearing....also I've learned a lot of tolerance and patience from not living with anyone to all of a sudden being stuck on a small boat in utter chaos can be taxing. We are handling ourselves quite nicely I think.

I am getting the hang of things. By the end I'll be a pro. I already feel comfortable talking boats and I am learning constantly from all the people around me. I have also picked up the ukelele quite quickly and have been entertaining and creating with all my musician friends I've picked up along the way.

Miss you all! Much love and peace.

You don't always get what you want......

There is so much to write, I started a story! But that will take me quite awhile to finish SO...here are the highlights so far.

After the first sailing trip to Oahu, I took the superferry back to Maui and then a couple days later took the superferry back to Oahu where I stayed for a week. Living in the harbor is like a whole nother world. You meet people sailing all around the world from a ton of different locations. Some sailing solo even. You hear horror stories of sailing and heroic tales. Mostly there is an abundance of information spread whether it be true or not. It makes me think about how they used to sail the trade routes and how harbors were a great place for people to spread information about what they had seen in foreign lands. More than anything it's a great introduction and extreme learning experience that gives me information about what I am about to embark on. I have been through every emotion possible dealing with this trip. This journey is a journey. Yes, it's my mode of transportation to the mainland but more importantly it's a time to reflect on my life and where I want to go next. It's time to get away from society for 23 days (hopefully). Oh and I was wrong about the boat....it's a catch with three sails - mizen, jib, and main sails.

I have met so many characters along the way. Another thing that is common on docks is that there these folks who live on their boats year round.....usually unemployed, always drinking and smoking, and very nosy. They watch everything you do on your boat and judge you and talk. It's quite annoying. But they are nice...don't get me wrong.

So, we went shopping at all the stores trying to find all the parts we needed for the boat and ended up so overspending that my friend has no more money. We crammed the subaru station wagon so full, people were pointing at us. The one thing I learned is that boats are expensive and stuff breaks all the time. That makes me quite nervous but my friend says...you just deal with it when you are out there....and if something major breaks it could take you two months to get to shore....that sounds pleasant and all.....but I am praying nothing breaks.

After spending a week of cramming supplies in every nook and cranny of the boat, we take off Sunday morning at 6 am and sail upwind back to Maui. I love watching how the wind powers the boat. I didn't realize the practical application of geometry in sailing...I would have learned it better when I was in high school. We are doing great on time until we hit Molokai and then the wind stops dead. Crap. We motor for 4 hours to find wind....no luck...so we tack and tack and tack again till we ride alongside Lanai past Shipwreck beach all the way down till we tack again straight for Lahaina and arrive at 12 midnight. We pass out from exhaustion and then I take the bus back to deal with repacking my bags BECAUSE....we are leaving too late for me to do Costa Rica so now I canceled my trip there. I am bummed but I can go to Costa Rica anytime...sailing across the ocean is something I may never get an opportunity like this one again. I am a beginner sailor and I am testing my own limits. I have made many mistakes so far but I am not giving up.

Challenges.....There are two challenges that are quite hard for me and they are the easiest thing to do on land. One is cooking on a moving boat with a swinging stove and stuff sliding every where. You have to brace yourself just to do anything on a sailing boat...and usually you are on an angle. I boiled my first pot of water. That was a feat and I am proud of myself that I didn't spill or pour it on me. The second challenge is going to the bathroom....haha...you laugh...it's hard....I have to hold on for dear life....and pulling up your pants in a little bathroom is hell. Sounds silly I know...but after 23 days I will be a pro.

So I will be sailing to Washington, staying there for a week or two and then heading to LA for a week or two and then back to Maui. You don't always get what you want and you can't always have it all. I learned to be happy with my choice and not be too bummed out except for the $150 dollar fee to change my ticket. Oh well....hey maybe I should submit this.....

$150 - Change fee for Costa Rica airfare so that I can sail across the ocean
$200 - Foul weather gear for Sailing trip
$400 - Two months supply of food for Sailing trip
Sailing across the ocean - PRICELESS

Money is money, but experiences that challenge you are worth every penny you spend.

love ya all!

The journey begins!!!

So my journey begins on monday june 23rd when i am taking the superferry to oahu...sailing back to maui on tuesday....stay for a couple days on maui then leave for Honolulu again and then up to Kauai....there is one drawback on the whole trip and that is that if I don't leave by a certain date then I will have to fly back to seattle so that I can catch my flight to costa rica...

I hope it all works out....there's got to be a master plan somewhere.

enjoy the photos.

The pre-pre-pre-pre sail.....

So I just got back from a little 12 hour sailing trip from Maui to Oahu...good practice...I have a lot to learn!!! And I realized how much work it was, but also how WORTH it it's going to be once I make it.....it was challenging, fun, stressful, tiring, but after we got there I realized that it was one of the coolest things I'd done (well at least for a long time...it's been a while since I traveled)...it was also very fulfilling, quiet, relaxing, and spectacular! The Full Moon was so bright we could see for MILES and MILES....we almost got hit by a huge tanker that came out of nowhere moving fast, I have tons of bruises, bumps, sore muscles, slammed toes, but it's so worth it. I am STOKED.

I will be going back to oahu Monday to sail back to maui...then we sail back to Oahu...then to Kauai to visit Juels and Angus and then on to San Juan Island and Seattle where I will then hop on a plane and head to Costa Rica for a month......ahh the life...the journey has already begun....I am feeling so much more determined and excited.....this is going to be a journey that will make me grow and strive more than I can imagine and I can't wait to really challenge myself to succeed.

anyways....i read this and it just felt perfect for how I was feeling so here you go.......

The Light never lies to us. It tells it to us straight: what you want is going to require hard work, but the fulfillment is yours to keep.

This is why, when faced with a difficult situation, we always want to go for it and really deal with the pain and discomfort. We want to pull our sleeves up and stick our hands in the mud. This is what will feed our soul and in the end actually teach us quite a lot about our potential.

Today, remember that you cannot discover your potential if you only take the easy route. It's like kids who learn very easily, but never want to work. How can they ever really discover how talented they are - and how far they can reach - if they're not challenged?

first day sailing tomorrow!

Well....this is the beginning or it could be the end!!!!

I am going to embark on the first part of the journey from Lahaina, Maui to Oahu! We are going with the wind and sailing overnight with the full moon as our company...me, Michael (the captain), Guacamole (co- cap for the journey) and our trusty boat Isabella! It is quite a pain because I have to take the bus from Paia to Lahaina (a three hour journey rather than the usual 45 minute drive) and then after the sail take the super ferry ( i know i know...I'm not proud of myself but it's WAY cheaper than flying and it's round trip!) back to Maui....leaving again next week to sail back to Oahu to get last minute supplies and on to Kauai and then on to Washington !! Yippee !!

So I am going to gauge how happy I am on the boat....and if this is NOT for me I will say thank you very much I opt not to go....however.....I think this will not happen and I will have a jolly grand time!!! haha!!!

PeAcIn OuT!
eLaNa

troubles.....

well part of my trip may be suspended! I hope I still have enough time to sail...whether has not been good and also we found a crack in the compression beam....had to order metal plates and got pushed back a week in Dry Dock.....praying hoping it works out...if not I will have to have PLAN B!!

The adventure began.....

27 and a half years ago when i popped out of my mama's belly and proudly proclaimed "Watch out world, Here I come!" So now 27 and a half years old, ready to embark on my next journey!!

I've have many fabulous journey's in my life.....here's a little taste of my experience:
Age 12 - Travel to stay with Hopi Indians for 3 weeks
Age 16 - Travel to Yucatan, Belize, Guatemala for 1 month
Age 16 - Travel to South Africa and Zimbabwe to study music for 1 month
Age 17 - Tour 8 states in a van - rock climbing, camping, studying geology and hiking
Age 18 - Travel to India, Nepal, Maldives, and Thailand for 2 months studying the lives of 4 women
Age 18 - Travel to Belize to work in local school for 1 month
Age 20 - Solo travel to Amsterdam, Italy, Kenya, India, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Cambodia for 1 year working/living/traveling.
Age 23 - Travel with Village Volunteers to Kenya and Ghana for 2 months
Age 25 - Travel to Israel (on the border of Jordan, Sudan, Egypt, and Lebonan during the war) for 2 months
Age 27 - Sailing from Hawaii to Washington on a 31' Sloop (1 month sailing) And then on to Costa Rica for a month.

I will post as much as I can....when I can...but will be unavailable for the month of sailing!

love you all!