Interesting read

[deza]

I've been talking (via the Intertubes, of course) with Captain Dave of the Exit Only. He sent me a link to his son David's blog. When the Exit Only started out on a circumnavigation, David was a typical 14-year-old. Can you imagine being on a 40' long boat with a teen boy for years?

David wrote a great entry called 34 Things I've Learned in 33,000 Miles. Here are some of my favorites:

5. There is no shortage of adventure in the world but most of the real ones aren’t easy.

7. Cruising let’s you share a back porch with a billionaire. In Turkey we anchored next to a diamond merchant’s 200 foot megayacht for two days. He spent 50 million dollars to visit the same destination as us. Some people buy floating condominiums and some people buy the sailing equivalent of a cargo crate, but we all meet at the same barbecue pit on the beach.

12. One of my favorite things about cruising is how every day is different. You never know what wrinkles will be thrown into your schedule so you might as well take off your wristwatch.

13. Don’t use pens from the desk of an Immigration officer without asking for permission first.

14. Lost in an arid, desolate land? Shipwrecked on a deserted island? Trapped in a canyon by a pack of hyenas? Never fear. They'll build a new Starbucks at your location within the week.

18. Always learn a few phrases in the local language. People appreciate the effort and it’s a great way to make new friends. (NOTE: be sure to know the exact meaning of your newfound phrases before you shout them across crowded rooms at sword-toting strangers)

29. Never trust a strange camel.

34. Imagine if aliens from the nearby Chewbaccan galaxy landed a spaceship on South Beach (in Miami) and claimed Florida as part of the Chewbaccan Republic…never mind the high rise buildings full of Canadians….or the sun-drenched beach revelers angry about the spaceship blocking their sun…or the fact that no one wants to subjugate themselves to a Republic named after a sidekick (“We bow to no one but Han Solo!”). The aliens aren’t concerned because they have energy cannons, sonic blasters, and shields which make them impervious to anything Will Smith or Tom Cruise can do. If the Chewbaccans want Florida, we are helpless to stop them.

Comments

[carisjax.livejournal.com]

Is it bad that I want to explain what a Wookie is to him?

[deza.livejournal.com]

I, for one, welcome our walking carpet overlords.

[carisjax.livejournal.com]

As an actual resident of the state in question, may I request the annexation?

[lafay.livejournal.com]

thanks for that. I checked out the site and now even more want to set sail on a nocean adventure.
this is something my husband and i constantly talk about. *sigh*

[deza.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we've been discussing it, too.

Have you read about the Northern Magic? The mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer, so they decided to do a circumnavigation--no sailing experience, no training, precious little money. She died shortly after they finished. The humanitarian efforts they started are still changing lives in parts of the world.

[lafay.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't. I'll check it out thanks.

[deza.livejournal.com]

You might want to check out Toast Floats, as well. It's the blog of a woman and her family that started sailing down the west coast last fall. :)

[lady-autumnstar.livejournal.com]

Have you ever seen Captain Ron? Ah, shipboard life!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103924/

[deza.livejournal.com]

The 51' Formosa used in the movie is currently for sale.