Our last days in Madagascar were filled with whales. Humpbacks breaching in the Sakatia anchorage, swimming around and underneath our dinghy in Mamoko, and doing backflips as we passed them underway to Antanimora.
And there were the last meandering walks along the streets of Hell-Ville.
Now armed with a few conversational Malagasy phrases and a comfortable familiarity with the streets, I found people to be far more approachable than when I first arrived, feeling lost and babbling in broken French.
Whenever I would greet people with a ‘mbola tsara’ (hello) or respond to their ‘inona vaovao’ (what’s news) with ‘tsy vaovoa’ (no news), they would smile widely, laugh with delight and try to teach me more phrases.
I felt very welcome in Nosy Be. It had become ‘home’ over our four months stay and I was not ready to leave. But the time had come to say so long to our caretakers, the trusted ‘boat-boys’ Jimmy and Kool at the town pier and to our new friends Marcelo and Brooke at their recently christened Tamana Hostel …
…and bid farewell to our ‘old friends’ Stefano and Andrea in Antintorona, and to the Mpanjaka and all the villagers of Nosy Mamoko.
We lifted anchor and started making way south along Madagascar’s west coast with plans to sail across the Mozambique Channel to Bazaruto and onward to South Africa.
Along our way, we called in at Moromba Bay where a dense variety of baobabs seemed to dance upon platforms of karst limestone.
On our first peaceful morning in this anchorage, I learned from one of my favorite street photographers, Eric Davidove, that my image, Fresh Coat, had been selected by juror Krista Rossow for PhotoPlace Gallery’s ‘Travel: Places and Faces’ exhibit; the icing on the cake to a perfect day.
When we sailed onward to the major seaport of Mahajunga to exit Madagascar, I felt as if we’d traveled to another country. The population seemed poorer than the residents of the Nosy Be area. There were no zebus in sight with goods often being transported by barefoot man-powered ‘Pousse-Pousse’ running along unpaved roads.
Many colorful rickshaws equipped to carry passengers stood empty as the yellow auto-Pousse-Pousse (Tuk-Tuk) had replaced them as the favored mode of transportation.
What left the greatest impression on me was the red-river delta at Bombetoka Bay. Sitting at the mouth of the sediment-filled Betsiboka River, the blood-red colored water ‘results from deforestation causing significant land erosion, a phenomenon that can be seen from space’ [1].
I wanted to linger longer, but expiring visas and distant shores beckoned us to sail to Baie de Baly where we would wait for an optimal window to cross the Mozambique Channel; a notoriously treacherous body of water in bad weather.
And wait we did first with two boats, then five boats, then eleven with more arriving.
After eight very long days, our local weather guru Des Cason gave us the thumbs up and we were finally on our way. The wait was well worth it as we enjoyed a very comfortable five-day passage to Bazaruto in calm seas.
And here we would wait for an even longer time with an ever-growing number of boats for the next window to carry us to the eastern shores of South Africa.
But Bazaruto is a beautiful place to wait with its white sandy beaches, sprawling dunes, clear waters, and charming locals; a great place to hang out and to CELEBRATE.
People often say to me ‘oh you are so lucky to live the life you do’. And I am. But I also know that anyone from the first world can make the same ‘luck’ that I have if they are truly compelled to be out here.
And then there is our friend Dustin Reynolds, the poster child for ‘dream it, do it and don’t let anything stand in your way’.
On October 18, 2008, Dustin was in a head-on collision with an underinsured drunk driver. The collision tore Dustin’s “left arm clean off, flinging it nearly 50 feet from the site of the crash. His left foot was so badly damaged, it, too, was eventually amputated” [2]. The accident also punctured his spleen, broke four ribs and his scapula, and forced his stomach through his diaphragm into his chest cavity. He had vomited into his lungs and aspirated.
On the side the road after the collision, Dustin hesitated before dialing 911, realizing that his life was changed forever, and questioning whether he wanted to continue it. After minutes that passed like lifetimes, he made the call. At the hospital, the doctors didn’t hold out much hope and offered Dustin a choice to spend his last hours saying goodbye to friends and family or enter surgery with a very low chance of survival.
Dustin chose surgery and on that day started a journey along a different path that brought him from Hawaii, across two oceans and into our lives, where he is a constant source of amazement, amusement, and friendship. When he set out on his journey, Dustin didn’t know how to sail, didn’t have any money, and didn’t have a left arm or left leg below the knee. But he had a $12,000 ‘seen better days’ sailboat and a dream to circumnavigate the world; a dream that carried him to Bazaruto by the 10th anniversary of this life-changing moment.
On October 18, 2018 (Aleutian Standard Time), the crews of some fifteen-odd boats in the anchorage gathered to celebrate Dustin’s choice to live, a decision that transformed him into our captain of misadventure on track to become the first double amputee to circumnavigate the globe solo.
You can read more about Dustin’s escapades here and join us in sponsoring Dustin via Patreon here or GoFundMe here.
On 24 October 2018, the crew of Amandla set out from Bazaruto with a flotilla of twenty-four boats; weather delays having spontaneously formed a rally fleet. We arrived in Durban on 28 October, completing our third ocean transit ‘with ease’ …at least that is how it seems in hindsight. After sailing over 7600 nautical miles this season, we are now enjoying a bit of land travel in KwaZulu-Natal before we carry onward along Africa’s southern coast with plans to round the Cape of Good Hope and return back to the Atlantic by year-end.
See you on the other side of the Cape.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too. Your photos with so many expressions always impress me. Thank you for the inspiration to follow our dreams!
Thank you so much for your visit and very kind words on your pages and here. Looks like your man has set you up for a wonderful feast this holiday!
Hi Lisa D…
Dustin’s story almost made me tear up,
Powerful!
And the pictures here are your culture-rich humanity beauty.
And the group photo has so much joy.
Ahoy Yvette! Thank you for your visit and kind compliments. I was just recounting Dustin’s story yesterday over lunch to a few sailors who had never met him and it had me tearing up all over again. He’s sailing in Antarctica as crew on another boat at the moment but will return to his own boat in January for more solo sailing adventures. Can’t wait to see him again and hear his latest adventure stories.
What an adventure!!! From close encounters with whales to an encounter with modern day hero Dustin – talk about courage – this made for dramatic reading and no doubt even more so in reality!
Welcome to my country of birth and childhood, South Africa. Can hardly wait to read more!
Wonderful photos!! Love all the colors and your Bazaruto welcome !
Peta
I have been thinking of you our whole way here …wondering if you still plan to visit Mozambique (you must!) and whether we may even have the pleasure of your company aboard Amandla in Cape Town. We head to Namibia in late January if your plans are delayed and your travels take you there. The boat will be filled with crew once we leave Cape Town, but it would be great fun to do a bit of land travel with you both if you find yourself in Namibia. Thank you as always for your visit and for your compliments. Dustin is most certainly my hero …and the life of the party. You know there is fun to be had whenever Dustin sails into the anchorage! We will bid him farewell for a time as he leaves on the 26th for Chile where he will join a crew sailing to Antarctica (#unstoppable) but we hope to see him again in Cape Town on his own yacht before we leave there.
Although I was familiar with every bit of this news from our correspondence, reading it here with your glorious photos and your burgeoning storytelling skills made it all brand new! What a trip you had; you even filled your delays with island visits and the wonder that you bring to all new places and adventures.
That sense of wonder is your “luck,” I am convinced. But it’s not that passive; more accurately, it is your willingness to surrender to the wonder and go seek it in full doses. I have also been told over the years that I am lucky to travel the way I have (and I’m not half the brave adventurer you are!), but I always tell people “you could do this, too!” Hell, my son on a teacher’s salary in his early years managed to get to six continents and, as you know, is on his seventh as I type!
But this is about you and your journey! Congrats on yet another ocean crossing and thanks for checking in with a fantastic post about the time since I left you in Hell-ville – can’t wait to see more of your land forays in South Africa and beyond!
How delighted was I to wake up to your beautiful compliments and congratulations this morning! ‘Burgeoning storytelling skills’ and ‘sense of wonder is my luck’; I am basking in the glow of your lovely accolades! I wish I had had the good sense to start traveling extensively as early as Alex and Brittany are now but eventually, I managed to get myself out here. Looking forward to doing more adventuring with you again soon my friend. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Such amazing photos! Madagascar is truly a magical place. I visited Nosy-be and fell in love with it as well, such beautiful souls and scenery.
I can see how Madagascar inspired you. You’ve got some gorgeous Madagascar imagery on your photography site. The site showcases your photographs beautifully.
Thank you for your kind words Lisa?
Hi Lisa,
I always enjoy reading your updates when Peta calls me over and says “come and check out and see where Lisa is NOW!” and inevitably this leads to conversations about whether we should include THAT destination in our growing list of MUST go to….
I am always impressed by the fact that all the logistical hassles that obviously come with this way of life, seem to take a back seat and the joys are what you focus on and feature. This makes for great reading.
How awesome that your beautiful photograph taken in Sri Lanka is bringing you fame and glory!! Well done.
Love love the whales and the description of them…
Ben
Awww – I love being a topic of discussion in your ever-widening list of places called ‘home’. I see you have returned to your Eden in Sri Lanka #missit #missyou. Am very hopeful that your upcoming travels bring you one of our locations soon. Thanks for all the love. Happy Thanksgiving
Great update! Thanks for sharing your adventures, Lisa! They’re very inspiring!
Sending love from New York!
Ahoy from South Africa Aaron! What a pleasure to hear from you on the blog! Thank you so much for being a part of my life-time of adventure (because CS was an adventure after-all) and for joining me on this leg virtually. Hope you are loving life in your (not so new anymore) role at 8of9 and that your family is doing well. Happy Thanksgiving.
All of life is here in your words and photos, Lisa – Dustin’s story not the least of it. What a courageous return!
And well earned attention for Fresh Coat, but then all your shots are captivating. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much for all the love, Tish; delivered with such eloquence as always. And speaking of beautiful words, I adored your book ‘Losing Kui’ completing it the day before we left the shores of Madagascar. You left me longing for more of your great storytelling.
Thank you for those most heartening words, Lisa. You have made my morning
Such a perfect post for Thanksgiving. You are living the life that so many dream about. Yes, lucky, but as you said, if you really want it, you can make it happen. Dustin is the ultimate example. His story has me nearly in tears. One second can change a life forever. So, LIVE. So good to hear news from you. I’ve been wondering about your passage. Are you getting excited for the Cape of Good Hope? I’m excited to hear all about that adventure. You will be in my thoughts on this most contemplative of holidays. Thankful for your presence in my life, sister gypsy. Happy Thanksgiving.
Ahoy from the sky sister gypsy. How I adore being counted among your traveling tribe.
LIVE indeed! Or in Dustin’s words ‘live a life worth paying an arm and a leg for‘. He is in the process of writing a book about his solo circumnavigation and I sent him your way to give him ideas for crafting his story.
Honestly, I haven’t thought much about rounding the Cape of Good Hope just yet. That seems a million miles away from NOW. I am too busy luxuriating in ‘the moment’ which is being experienced in sprawling two-bedroom condo (upgraded from an incredibly affordable studio) at The Capital Pearls in Umhlanga. After months at sea, I can’t manage to leave the glorious confines of these four walls (two of which are balconies). We head back to the game parks tomorrow for one last tour before we lift anchor and sail onward to Cape Town.
Enjoy your much-deserved luxury. You’ve earned it!
Hi, Lisa – I agree that this is a perfect Thanksgiving post. Congratulations on your photo ‘Fresh Coat’ being selected for exhibition. Thank you for sharing the inspiring story of Dustin. His is an incredibly moving story. Enjoy your land travel. Safe journeys!
Ahoy lovely lady! I’ve enjoyed celebrating your 60th and the Thanksgiving holiday with you virtually. May we have the good fortune to celebrate in person one day soon! Hugs from Umhlanga.
Hi, Lisa – I would love that and will hold on to that thought until we do meet in person!
Happy Thanksgiving, Lisa Dorenfest!
Ahoy You! Thanks for coming through to the blog and leaving a comment. I adore comments.
Was great catching up with your mother on FB yesterday! I truly believe that if I had to poll our grade-school classmates who would win ‘Coolest Mom’ that would be hers no contest. My mother would certainly be a contender for ‘Nicest Mom” although she would have been in stiff competition with Mrs. Hasselbring. Perhaps mine would win ‘Prettiest Mom’ and she would certainly win the ‘Honorable Mention’ for surviving the exploits of the ‘World’s Most Difficult Child’.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Such wonderful adventures, Lisa. Congrats on you photo having been chosen. It’s a fabulous image. You really do meet the most interesting people in your travels and Dustin’s courage is amazing. Kudos to him for fighting back against adversity. Happy Thanksgiving to you and the Captain. ??
Our time with Dustin was definitely a top highlight of our Indian Ocean crossing. From the time he first helped us with our dock lines in Galle, Sri Lanka to the time we bid him goodbye this weekend (he has set out to join four friends aboard a boat sailing from Chile to Antarctica) the sun always brightened when Dustin was in the anchorage. We look forward to catching up with him again somewhere along our way in 2019. Thank you so much for sharing in the adventure and for your kind compliment on ‘Fresh Coat’.
Happy Thanksgiving, Lisa and Fabio!! And, wow. This has been quite the adventure. All Mark and I can say is “And we’re just house sitting in Ojai, Southern California”. How our lives have changed from similar to yours to very different, and oh-so-comfortable and empty of adventure. Now, we did have an amazing four-months in our camper van with more to come, but still…
Your photos are captivating and transporting us into your world. That photo of the painters on the stupa is magnificent and I hope you win first prize! Sending hugs across the globe. I hope you have another nice party with friends old and new.
I think there are still many similarities in our lives. You’ve simply switched modes of transport. Vagabonds forever! Your posts have me longing to do another road trip in the US … but what I really envy is that house site in Ojai! Just had a small taste of ‘cruisers paradise’ (a stationary bed, hot running water, and an occational bit of privacy) and it’s got me longing for more ;-).
Happy Thanksgiving and many thanks for this wonderful update. Your stories and photos are so vivid I feel as though I am sailing with you. Congratulations re the selection of your outstanding photo.
I am delighted to be traveling with you virtually. Saddened by missed opportunities to travel with you in person in NZ or OZ. Next time around. Thank you so much for your visit, kind words and for the beauty / fond memories that your posts bring my way.
Lisa, once again you have outdone yourself with spectacular photographs! I so enjoyed reading this blog and reliving the memories! Looking forward to you joining us in Cape Town soon.
How lucky are we to have shared the Indian Ocean with Team Grasshopper #very. Thank you so much for your supportive friendship on the journey. And I love your persuasive ‘call to action’ in Dustin’s latest Patreon video here Compelling!
PS. I adore comments on the blog! Thank you for coming through to leave yours.
So nice to see you back, Lisa, and know that you are well.
As usual, your post is full of amazing photos and stories. Dustin Rey’s story is both a tragedy and great success. How is it that some people can take a truly horrible situation and turn it into something awe-inspiring while others flounder in self-pity over much less!! I admit to being rather teary-eyed over this one.
Your photos are stunning and I look forward to seeing your next batch. Safe travels ?
Ahoy from Durban where we’ve just returned from our second go at the Safari Parks. Dustin’s story is definitely the thing of inspired tears! And he just keeps going. We bid him adieu this weekend as he has hopped a plane to join friends as crew on another boat that is sailing from Chile to Antarctica. He’ll be back aboard Tiama to continue his solo circumnavigation in January and we hope to have the good fortune of seeing him somewhere along our sailing route in 2019. Always a pleasure to see you here! Thank you so much for the kind compliments on the images!
Lisa my friend, thank you for continuing to share your wonderful story with us. Reading this latest chapter truly made my Thanksgiving. You are such an inspiration and Dustin’s story is remarkable. I wish you safe passage. Take care of yourself.
Ahoy you! Thank you for being part of ‘my crew’ since long before I dared to set sail. Encouragement from friends like Olivia and you is what helped me to throw off the dock lines in the first place. Miss you buddy!
We are wrapping up our time in KwaZulu-Natal and getting ready for the big journey to the Cape of Good Hope. Just bid goodbye to Dustin who has flown to Chile to join another boat sailing to Antartica as crew. He’ll be back on Tiama in late January for more solo sailing and we hope to catch up with him somewhere in 2019.
So good to hear from you, Lisa! I was recently thinking about when you’d post another update, and here you are! Congratulations on your photo on exhibit! It’s beautiful and well-deserved. Absolutely love your elephant photo to end this post. Enjoy your land travel in Africa…looking forward to reading more soon! Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Friend.
Ahoy Britta! How lovely to hear that I am in your thoughts. Thank you so much for your lovely compliments on the images. Many more wildlife photos to share if I could only sit still for a few moments. The safaris here have been magnificent (at least in terms of diversity …density has been a bit less than expected as we are here in the off-season). I hope that you are flourishing in your new role and fully adjusted to your new housemate and look forward to hearing more from you on your pages soon!
Starting to think about writing my 2018 recap as we speak! (or as I write this reply ). As always, safe travels to you., friend!
Looking forward to it! Big hug from the land of ‘wind on the nose’ (my impatience is showing as we continue to wait for favorable winds to sail onward to Cape Town)
Lisa there is so much to love about this post I barely know where to start. Of course I am always happy to see you pop up again and to know you are safe and sound. Congratulations again on your photo being chosen. I find it to be one of the most fascinating images I have ever seen. Your friend Dustin is inspiring beyond measure. It is people such as these that we meet that give perspective to our own challenges. Sending hugs dear one. I think you are making your way toward Canada…well that might be some time away but we remain waiting with open arms.
Ahoy from sunny Durban! Just back after a second go at the game reserves. Loving South Africa. Sadly, we will not make it to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to share in your wonderful experience given time constraints, but we are throwing of the dock lines on Thursday to make our way to Cape Town. We are armed with your good tips on hiking Table Mountain. Will we walk or will we ride?!?! And yes, we are sloooowwwlly making our way toward Canada. See you there ‘soon’ Thank you so much for your visit and your love #canadaorbust
It is amazing to travel the world like you do! Love seeing it through your eyes Lisa! Well done on your photo being chosen! Welcome in South Africa! I use to live in KZN. Can not wait to meet you soon!
Thank you so much for your congratulations and kind feedback Aletta! We’ve loved our visit in KZN (can now boast that I’ve seen all the Big 5 and so much more) We are very sad to be leaving here but super-happy to be heading your way! We are off with the next weather window and should get at least as far as East London. Maybe we’ll get lucky and head all the way to Cape Town in a single window …but its more likely that we will have to wait in EL for a time for favorable winds. ETA Cape Town by 10 December!
I am so glad you got to see the big 5! Safe sailing and let me know if you are in CapeTown!
Happy Thanksgiving, Lisa, for all your safe passages, past and future. <3 Waiting for a window with your fleet is not a bad way to live indeed, among the whales, happy sailors, and all the blues an ocean can hold. Good that you tell people they can do it too, if only they decide. Greetings from utterly uninspiring Slovenia. I took not many more than 10 photos all week. But here is family, and that beats good light.
Families do indeed offer the best light of all :-). And if you looked at Slovenia through my ‘never been there’ eyes, I am certain you would be awed by its beauty. Hugs from Durban where we are getting ready to throw off the dock lines once again to head onward to Cape Town, likely with a few more weather window waits in between here and there. The Captain will complete his full-circle when we reach longitude 29° 52′ 59″ E. Pretty gosh darned excited to reach that milestone myself a little further down the road.
Oooo, here’s a cin cin with Italian red to new milestones!
Your photos are from a dream Lisa. I always am so amazed. I feel like I’m reading a National Geographic but better. You are so blessed to see and experience such gorgeous places in the world. I can’t wait to see where you go next!
I wish I was going to climb Kilimanjaro next but sadly, not this time around. Our Africa ports will be limited to South Africa and Namibia this visit. We had hoped to start our journey from Durban to Cape Town tomorrow, but the weather window is shortening and looking a bit too boisterous for our tastes, so there is a high likelihood we will remain on the docks here until 4 December, then soldier onward. Thank you for all the love! After all of your adventures, I am delighted that my posts continue to inspire your dreams.
Wow. My Thanksgiving was nothing like yours. Thanks for the run down.
Dustin is amazing. What an encouragement to never give up.
After him, no one has an excise not to keep going.
Happy returns to the Atlantic,
Phyllis
Ahoy from earth Phyllis! We are getting ready to throw off the dock lines and sail onward from Durban to Cape Town with a few stops along the way. We have a very short weather window to make it to the first port of refuge, East London, but it is closer than Akiane, so we think we are going to go for it ;-).
The ever inspirational Dustin has just flown off to Chile to join a boat sailing to Antarctica as crew. He will be back aboard his beloved Tiama for more solo sailing adventures in January and we look forward to catching up with him somewhere in the Atlantic in 2019.
What an adventure you live.
Looks like you read my book(s). I do hope you like it. I’m well on my way to finishing the trilogy.
I am just getting started and enjoying your writing very much!
Thank you. I’m glad you like it. Just to let you know, the second book is better and the one I’m working on now is even more better. Ha.
It’s always such a pleasure to read of your travels Lisa. You seem to capture the spirit of a place with your stories and photos. And Dustin is one remarkable man.
Alison
Thank you so much for your visit and generously kind feedback. We are in Durban right now getting ready to throw off the dock lines and sail onward to Cape Town. Attempts to fully capture the ‘spirit of South Africa’ has thus far proved to be a daunting challenge, but I’ve managed to get a few nature shots that I am happy with. We bid farewell to our good friend Dustin this past weekend as he set out to join a crew sailing from Chile to Antarctica. He’ll be back on Tiama for more solo sailing in January and we hope to catch up with him again in the Atlantic in 2019. Hugs from KwaZulu-Natal.
Congratulations, Lisa, on your Fresh Coat photo being selected for exhibition. Every photo you have in this post is a winner to me. I thought of you when I was in Morocco earlier this month and was looking at the Atlantic Ocean. Thank you for sharing Dustin’s remarkable story, too. Safe travels!
How lovely of you to think of me during your recent visit to Morocco! I’ve had the good fortune to sail across the Atlantic once already but left from Galicia Spain, calling in only at Madeira and The Canary Islands. The Captain called in there on his own Atlantic Crossing and we have some gorgeous memorabilia aboard Amandla from that visit., If only I could convince The Captain to sail back to the Med so we could call in at Morocco on our way there (so far, no takers). Looking forward to seeing more from your travels there. Thank you for your lovely compliments on all the photos in this post and for celebrating Dustin’s awesomeness along with me.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading your update, as usual! What an amazing person Dustin must be. Congrats on your picture being selected for an exhibition.
Ahoy from Durban Anabel. Thank you so much for your visit and congratulations on the photo! We are wrapping up our time in KwaZulu-Natal with hopes of leaving for Cape Town tomorrow. But the way the wind is howling outside at the moment, I question whether we should just wait for a more favorable weather window. Unlike me, Dustin continues to be fearless. We recently bid him adieu as he left for Chile to join a boat as crew for a sail to Antarctica. A-MA-ZING. We look forward to seeing him again in 2019 when he returns to solo sailing his boat, Tiama. Best!
Ahoy! How nice to come in from torrential rain to find messages from you. Don’t like the sound of howling winds though – caution sounds right to me …
Great minds think alike! Let’s hope the winds calm by tomorrow and that your torrential rains subside soon!
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned about this story before, but in case I haven’t…
Three years ago when I was traveling for six months in South and Southeast Asia with my best friend, there was one time when we went to a remote corner of Indonesia called the Banda islands. It is where nutmeg is originally from, the very reason why the Europeans sailed halfway across the world starting the Age of Discovery, and later colonialism. One afternoon I met the crew of Vega, an old Norwegian vessel which happened to dock during my stay there. I said to them how lucky they were to have the freedom to explore the world on a boat. They agreed it was a very rewarding experience, but they also told me that it’s not like what people think. There was a huge amount of manual work they had to do, things that would put off most people.
You must have dealt with a lot of challenges too, but I really admire your passion which has brought you to far corners of the world like Madagascar. Happy Thanksgiving, Lisa! and keep inspiring!
Oh! I so envy your travels in the Banda Islands. I am familiar with them and know people who have sailed there. Sadly, time did not permit us to visit them as we sailed from Darwin to West Timor and then island hopped our way northwest to Singapore. Your friends on Vega were spot on in terms of the work required to be out here. Circumnavigating the globe on a boat means ‘getting to repair your boat in exotic locations’ as the old saying goes. Still, even in my darkest moments, I know I have many other choices and I wouldn’t give up this experience for any one of them. Off to your blog now to experience your Banda vicariously while we wait for a weather window to proceed to Cape Town.
You would love Banda! I went in September, but what I heard October is the best time to go there. You’re currently heading to one of the cities I most want to visit, Lisa. Happy sailing!
Can not wait to round The Cape of Good Hope and behold Table Mountain! And looking forward to seeing your lens on Cape Town one day as well. We will stay through the end of January if you find yourself traveling there in the near term
Thanksgiving is not an Australian tradition (although anything that celebrates the brining in of the crops in our drought affected season should be). (I note we seem to have adopted Halloween). As usual, enjoyed your update and the stories of other people out there tends to put one’s own issues into perspective. Unfortunately, we have missed the whales on the way down Australia’s east coast this season. Enjoy your land travel and fair winds for your next watery road. Oh, and well done on ‘Fresh Coat’ – that’s fabulous!
Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite US holiday! Relatively uncommercial and generally secular. It is the one holiday where everyone comes together to break and give thanks in any way that they choose. All holidays should be as inclusive and affordable :-). And we certainly had a great deal to give thanks for again this year including your visit here and very kind words. Bummer that you missed the whales in Oz, but the good news is that you’ve got a lot of them in your future I am certain!
WOW! What a post! Terrific!
Thank you for joining us in the virtual anchorage. We continue to plan our 2019 adventures and an inland visit to Medellín remains a possibility …although honestly, we still haven’t thought much past Brazil with even fuzzier plans to make our way to Panama by mid-year to complete our first united circumnavigation. We shall see how things shake out as we move into Q1.
Pardon me for badly quoting Dr. Seuss, But “Oh the places you’ll go! It is always a pleasure to read your posts and look at your beautiful pictures and travel with you as you go around the world. Those whales must have been amazing- and maybe a little frightening! You do see the most amazing sights and meet such interesting people. I have been to Germany and California in the past few weeks (not so adventurously as you) and am heading to Mexico for my daughter’s wedding. Then I will get back home and back to writing.
It is always a pleasure to travel the world with you virtually. As I write this you are probably deep into your sunsets and wedding festivities. Huge congratulations to you and your family.Relax and enjoy your festivities! Can’t wait to see your updates when you return from Mexico. Hopefully, we will get our weather window soon and I will be catching up with you from Cape Town!
What an incredible story, that of Dustin! Makes me ashamed for all the times I’ve griped over nothing. I read this a couple of days ago on my phone, Lisa, but struggled to leave a comment. It’s day 1 of my new Algarve life and I’m settled with my laptop after the most beautiful of starts- a new and lovely neighbour and a stroll on a perfect beach. Life doesn’t get much better. Hugs, darlin!
How excited am I to receive your lovely comment on Day 1 of your new life! I’m sorry that my blog was giving you difficulties when you tried to comment earlier! I thank you for giving it another try from the comfort of your new digs!
Dustin’s incredible story continues. We recently bid him adieu as he’s flown off to Chile to join a boat (as crew) heading to Antarctica. We look forward to sharing an anchorage or two with him when he returns to his beloved SY Tiama to continue his solo journey late January.
Enjoy your new home and expect me for a visit just as soon as I can convince The Captain to sail Europe way again.
He is an extraordinary young man. Thank you so much for sharing his story.
Your interaction and connection to everyone you meet is so encouraging. I am thrilled to read about your advenures and the beautiful people you meet. It’s heartbreaking to hear of the environmental issues you witness like the sediment-filled river due to our consumer choices. It’s definately one big ocean and we need to wise up quickly! Your kindness and Dustin’s courage and strength have brightened my afternoon…happy sails to both of you!
Thank you for sharing in the heartbreaks and joys of the adventure. Dustin’s courage and strength have now taken him to Chile where he will crew on a boat sailing for Antarctica. He will continue solo sailing on his beloved Tiama in late January and we look forward to sharing more anchorages with him in 2019. People indeed need to wise to care for our one ocean and our one world. Ahoy from South Africa where we are waiting for weather to sail onward to Cape Town #cannotwait
A belated happy Thanksgiving Lisa.
What a post.
Congrats on the photo.
And to your friend. Some people are so brave. They are (should be?) an example to world.
Enjoy Africa
We have enjoyed a delightful month drinking in KwaZulu-Natal’s delicious wildlife and landscapes. Now we are waiting for a weather window to proceed to Cape Town #takemetherenow. Dustin continues to amaze! He is departing Chile today as crew on another’s boat headed for Antarctica. We look forward to hearing all of his adventures when he returns to Tiama for more solo sailing in late January. Thank you as always for your visit and kind words.
Always a pleasure to visit you. I’ve also thought of a comment you made on Julie Riso’s blog. I do hope all three of us will join for a beer or a coffee somewhere, some day. Bons vents Lisa.
That would be delightful!
Wouldn’t it? Have a great week-end Lisa.
Happy Thanksgiving Lisa, I’m glad to see you are enjoying yourselves and are safe and well. What a wonderful part of your journey to meet up with Dustin, does he need a deckhand? lol.. .Enjoy Africa, and be safe out there!??
? You’ll have to stand in line for that crew position Teresa (and of course I know you would miss your beloved hubby after a few days at sea). Many gals have already applied, flocking to Dustin like bees to honey. The biggest problem he has with women is trying not to anger those who want him to give up his solo circumnavigation, settle down and have babies. There was a lovely lady named Lisa with him in Chagos and Madagascar that was supportive of his free spirit. She sailed as crew on another boat so she could meet up with Dustin in port (he does all his passages solo) but she sadly had to return to work in Australia in the late summer. On another note, was very sad to read of Buggz’s passing. He was such a little charmer and great friend. Sending love from South Africa.
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Happy belated Thanksgiving, dear Lisa! First of all, you inspire me with your amazing lifestyle and of course your ability to tell a compelling story with your fab photos! Congrats on fresh coat being displayed! Your story about Dustin is both heartbreaking and glorious, and truly inspiring! I never tire of reading about what choosing a leisure lifestyle does for people.
Thank you for all the love Terri! Always a pleasure to see you here. Leisure is definitely balm for the soul and as you once so eloquently put it, ‘leisure is a state of mind’. We are currently filling our days with hikes and walking tours so as not to get too frustrated waiting for the optimal weather window to carry us on to Cape Town. And Dustin, the master of the leisure lifestyle, is currently sailing Antarctica as crew on another boat. We look forward to seeing him again next year when he returns to SY Tiama for more solo sailing. Big hugs from South Africa and a very happy birthday month to you!
So lovely to hear from you again, Lisa. Looks like you’ve been traveling well. So good to hear. It did sound hard to leave behind Nosy Be and sail on. Those are some very welcoming and friendly faces there, which you captured so well. Speaking just a bit of another language can get you a long way and others usually open up to that – and open to you the place did. Baobabs…looking a bit bare but always as strong as ever Congrats on Fresh Coat being exhibited. Such an achievement for you and well deserved. Here’s to having more of your photos exhibited. Dustin Reynolds is such an inspiration. A single choice can change one’s life, and also change others’ in the process. Sail on, Lisa and Amandla. Mr Wobbles is waving all of you on ??
Ahoy Mabel! Thank you so much for sailing the passage with me virtually and for all the love! We are missing Madagascar a great deal but finding much to soothe our souls here in South Africa. We’ve enjoyed multiple visits to wildlife parks (I bet Mr Wobbles would love a ride on a Zebra – or perhaps he’d prefer a visit to a winery or two when we get to Cape Town). We’ve also done several wonderful mountain hikes, some just minutes from the city. But now we are sadly waiting again (much longer than we would like) for a weather window to carry us to Cape Town. The good news is that it gives me a bit of time to catch up with friends online. No rest for our friend Dustin however. He is currently crewing on a boat sailing in Antarctica. We look forward to seeing him again in 2019 when he returns to his boat for more solo sailing adventures. Hugs and a shaka sign to Mr Wobbles #hangloose
South Africa sounds every bit the adventure. Mr Wobbles would love to ride a zebra and also pay a visit to all the wineries he can. Maybe more hikes for you as you wait for the weather to come round Safe travels and hugs across the miles from our clan to yours
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Wow! Loving the elephant photo. Happy sailing Lisa!
I swear those fellows were posing for us. Now if we could only manage to get a weather window as welcoming as those elephants, we would be on our way to Cape Town…
Isn’t it the way? Four months in Madagascar, you start to become one of them, and then you have to leave. I wonder if this is one of those places you would completely drop anchor at if you could?
Your friend Dustin clearly made the right decision, but I think I would have hesitated at the roadside before making the emergency call as he did.
Enjoy the rest of your travels and Christmas/New Year in Africa.
I would have hesitated too. I thank goodness that Dustin had the strength to ‘power-through’ that moment on the roadside and sail into our anchorage ten years later. He continues to inspire us as he is now sailing in Antarctica as crew. We so look forward to hearing the stories when he returns to his boat, Tiama for more solo adventures in January.
Madagascar is definitely a place one could linger for many seasons and never get tired. Its actually got us thinking about sailing around again after we finish the first circumnavigation in the Carribean mid-2019.
Happy Holidays to you Dragon!
Hope is the only constant in your posts, Lisa! Thank you for sharing Dustin’s incredible story with us. Makes me believe in the power of believing in yourself. The blue skies and views of whales show me such a different side of the world. We’re lucky to have sunshine these days and blue skies. The leaves have fallen and its getting colder. Your journey gives transports me to warmer shores and places that bring a smile. Thank you! Safe travels and I can’t wait to read more. xoxo
Ahoy from South Africa Cheryl! I am delighted to bring a little hope, inspiration, and warmth to your world! I’ve just been enjoying the changing seasons on your blog and thank you for that delicious taste of autumn. We are planning to set sail again this weekend for Cape Town with a few stops along the way to avoid those nasty south-westerlies. Looking forward to getting safely around the Cape of Good Hope.
Can’t wait to read about it Lisa! We’re having a spell of snow and it’s freezing here. Your pictures surely brighten my day. Safe travels! xoxo
I had to walk a lot to comment. You really have a faithful audience of your travel adventures. That means you have a blog of the best. As for Madagascar, I only had it as a reference for children’s cartoons. That trip must have been fantastic due to the photos that are well taken and that say an unforgettable adventure. The sea is a beauty. Its people and its customs. The traditional meals. You have told a very interesting story and I have the feeling of having accompanied you on this wonderful journey. I will continue looking for your prints and I will enjoy your photos and your narrations. Greetings.
…as you have a faithful audience for your enticing poetry, Manuel. I am delighted that you enjoyed this journey through Madagascar and I do hope you will join me here again someday in the future. Looking forward to your next captivating creation.
I would like to do it with the greatest pleasure in the world.
Para mi será un honor hacerlo nuevamente. Saludos.
Absolutely love your candid shots!
Isn’t it interesting that people always comment on how ‘lucky’ you (we) are to e able to do what you’re doing without realising that it takes hard work to get to this point. Many people don’t want to go without so they never get to this point…
Ahoy from Chiapas de Corzo. Thank you so much for the lovely feedback on the images. Given your talent, the compliment means a great deal to me. I’ve been thinking lately about the sacrifices made to realize the dream, taking comfort in the fact that I’d do it all again in a heartbeat :-). And of course, I had the privilege to do so.
Great to hear you made it there safely.
Don’t sell yourself short, you’re a wonderful photographer!
The sacrifices definitely make you appreciate what you’re doing much more than if things were handed on a platter.
Awww. You are lovely to say. Hugs from Tapachula – we are almost back to the boat
It’s true, love your candid street shots.
Hugs from Calabria…
What a great experience! You’ve capture your time in this area beautifully!!
Thank you so much for your visit and kind words on the post, Jenn. Blessed to have sailed these waters and met so many awesome people along the way.
That must have been really magical to see the big whales like that, what a dream come true
Whales are magical indeed. Was a blessing to experience so many sightings in Madagascar. We recently had another humpback surface next to our boat on the Pacific Coast of Mexico and I hear that we have more to look forward to as we approach Banderas Bay and The Sea of Cortez next month.
Isn’t it weird how when you start thinking about a specific thing, it keeps popping up! Some friends of ours spent winter in SA, and we’ve been considering it for an upcoming trip. Then we watch Safe House on DVD last night, and it was based in SA, and now here I am reading a blog post about your trip to SA … it’s the universe’s way of saying … we need to visit!
Oh my goodness, you must listen to the universe. Honestly, South Africa was not on my ‘must-visit list’ when we sailed there, just another port that we needed to call into on our way to somewhere else. But I fell in love with the place and love revisiting it through other’s travel diaries. Can’t wait to see it again through your lens!
What an incredible and fascinating adventure. Madagascar has been on my bucket list for years but not by yacht, I am terrified of the water but love reading about other people’s adventures.
I do hope you find your way to Madagascar. I would totally recommend a visit to the Nosy Be area. It is the best part of the country with good accommodation and so much to see. If you are comfortable enough to day-hop from Nosy Be to the surrounding islands in the area, you’ll get to experience some amazing culture, turtles, whales, whale sharks, and wild lemurs. Overland travel through Madagascar’s interior is a bit more challenging, but I understand it is still worth it.
What a voyage! Despite the challenges the oceans may have thrown your way, I have enjoyed reading your incredible journey. I will now subscribe and follow. I wish I have one tenth courage of Dustin – an incredible and an amazing human being whose journey I look forward to following. I have thoroughly enjoyed your post.
Delighted to introduce you to Dustin’s story and to know that you will be following his adventures. I greatly appreciate your following me as well. Thank you so much for the lovely feedback on the post.
Every time I read your articles I’m filled with wonder. You present to us a different side of travel, away from the crowds and tourism. It swells my wanderlusting heart! As for Dustin, well, what an inspiration. I’ll be sure to follow his travels too!
I am thrilled that Dustin’s story inspired you to follow-his adventures (or misadventures as he likes to say). Such an awesome guy.
To be able to swell the ‘wanderlusting heart’ of one who swells mine is quite a compliment. Thank you so much for your kind words.
I was just singing the praises of your blog today to two friends that are trading in the sailboat for an over-landing adventure in South America. I suggested that they could craft an awesome trip simply by following in your tracks.
What a utterly wonderful blog post. Your story, the visuals it just had me hooked. What an experience you are having, and as for your friend Dustin, my goodness he is a true inspiration to so many people who feel down on their luck. He has proved that life can and does go on and I am so glad he is living out a life only dreamed of. Thank you for sharing your story.
Dustin is inspiring indeed. Delighted to introduce you to his story and thank you for listening to mine. I greatly appreciate your generous feedback on the post.
This is such an amazing journey in so many ways. And congratulations on your award-winning photo, “Fresh Coat”! Your photography really captures the moment, making me feel as though I am experiencing the people and places along your travels firsthand. The baobabs are particularly meaningful to me—the stuff of legends (or fiction) as one of my favorite books is “The Little Prince.” In it, the baobabs took over his tiny little planet, and it’s easy to see why! I cannot imagine what that moment of life-or-death must have been like for your friend Dustin… I am so inspired by his perseverance and commitment to living his best life and wish him all the best! Thanks for sharing all this with me.
Believe it or not, I have never read The Little Prince. But now that I know about the baobabs, I am going to download a copy of the book. Thank you so much for joining me on this leg of the adventure and for all of your love. I will pass along your good wishes to Dustin!
What a great adventure! Love those pictures of the whales at close up. Also, your image ‘Fresh coat’ is very interesting – the way all these men are balancing on a single ladder painting the huge monument in Anuradhapura. Fantastic shot!:-)
Thank you so much for your kind feedback on the images. We are starting to see whales again on our passage up Mexico’s Pacific Coast and I am hopeful to have a few more close up shots to share soon. Ahoy from Zihuatanejo!
This is so inspiring! What an amazing adventure you are having. All your images speak of such great stories of connection and adventure. Seeing those whales must have been something else.
The whales have been the icing on the cake of a wonderful adventure. Thank you so much for your visit and lovely feedback on the images.