Have you ever seen manatees kiss? #sailing Part of the joy of cruising is the unexpected events that happen each day.
There are moments in life when it’s meant to be observed: life that is. How lucky was I to spot these manatees. Being a foot away from such magnificent creates made me stop and think.
I hide my head in the pages of the novel I’m writing and enjoy every moment of it, but what am I missing? Sometimes is pays to take a break!
Dogs bring special needs with them onto a cruising boat. #sailing One of their needs is exercise. While in the U.S. or Canada is easy to find dog parks. When you pull into an anchorage, Google will find one for you if you don’t know where one is. Locals are always happy to point us in the direction of a good dog park.
Just north of the Titusville Municipal Marina in Florida is a fenced in dog park. It’s split in two. Half designated for small dogs, half for big dogs. It has a double gate for entry, ensuring our pup can’t run away. It even has water. It was a nice surprise for us and for Farley.
There is a dog park near Vero Beach Municipal Marina, but it’s not fenced.
Seaside beaches in the U.S have varying rules for dogs. Some allow them, some don’t. We always check first before taking Farley for a run.
If you’re cruising to the Bahamas, dogs can run free on the beach. Some places have organized “doggy beach parties” depending on how many dogs are in an anchorage. It’s easy to start one up. Just get on the VHF and announce one.
“Who let the dogs out?” Woof Woof
When don’t you want wind for your Genoa? #cruising This morning we awoke to 3 knots of wind. Perfect for rigging the genoa. She went up without a hitch – literally (and pardon the cliché). Rigging the sail is easy on a catamaran. The wide bow with a trampoline gives us plenty of working space.
Now to rig the mainsail . . . The radar is telling us a rain storm is on they way, so the mainsail has to wait until tomorrow. Maybe we’ll get lucky and wake up to 3 knots of wind again.
Sometimes I love the rain. It gives me an excuse to stay inside and write.
It’s time to celebrate! #sailing Big moments in life shouldn’t go unrecognized. Mattina, our Lagoon 380, is in the water. We keep her on the hard for the summer and then, after a lot of hard work each fall, she goes back in the water for a winter of cruising.
Waking up this morning, I was too excited to write. The sun is up, coffee is ready and it’s time to put the sails up. Not literally. Before that can happen, we clean the sails, check and maintain the rigging, wait for a calm morning, and then up they go.
What does this have to do with writing? Well, aren’t all milestones important. Like the day you wrote your first page, finished your first draft, had your first reader, or sent your work to an agent. Every one of these moments should be acknowledged. Tomorrow, I’ll settle down and get some writing done.
A digital recorder is the solution for me. #writetip I happen to be getting my Lagoon 380 ready for the winter season. My recorder is small enough to keep in a pocket. As I shine up Mattina (her hull is pictured here), I often think of plot ideas. It’s amazing how often a plot issue gets solved while working on something other than writing, especially physical labour.
I used to think I’d remember ideas, but I rarely do if I don’t write it down. Sometimes it’s not convenient having a pen a paper handy, so I use the recorder.
I also use the recorder while jogging or walking my dog. I hate to lose a good idea just because I thought of it when I was doing something other than writing.
When do you write? #writetip My dog (updated cruising with dogs today) hasn’t noticed the water is cold or that it’s Friday. He doesn’t know we’re preparing to go cruising for the winter. And he doesn’t feel guilty about not writing.
I read somewhere once that “writing is like having homework for the rest of your life.” How true. To overcome this feeling, I write Monday to Friday and take the weekend off. Because I’m not trying to get words on the page every day of the week, my mind relaxes and sometimes a plot issue solves itself or the next scene pops into my head.
Everyone has different writing times. Find yours, but also find your time off.
