Annie’s Books – Page 4 – Have Wind Will Travel

Exciting News!

November 16, 2015anniedike

“We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a very important message.” Hello followers! I’m taking a short break from the Nonsuch saga to share some exciting and incredible news. Shout it from the rooftops:

Yes, that’s me, rocking a Rosie the Riveter ensemble.

Keys to the Kingdom is in the trusted hands of my editor and we are just a few weeks out from release (with all sorts of giveaways, sneak peeks and other goodies I’ll be sharing with you in the interim). Here’s the first! I wrote a guest blog for MissMinimalist.com, recently, which I cobbled together from some chapters of my new book that deal with down-sizing and how frightening and enlightening that can be. Sign up at MissMinimalist to get daily, inspirational “Real Life Miss Minimalist” stories and awesome tips to help you live a better, more beautiful life with less stuff. I hope you enjoy the article. There’s much more in store. Get ready for some serious (Have)Wind. These next few weeks are going to blow your socks off!!

MISS MINIMALIST ARTICLE

Thanks to my Patrons who help me share the journey. Get inspired. Get on board.

Chapter Three – Amateur Kretschmers

October 12, 2015December 11, 2015anniedike

“Now what is this ‘none’ stuff?”

“Naan.”

“Okay, fine. Naan. What is that? A snack?”

He was big on the snacks.

So, no surprise here I’m sure: Mitch got the boat. At 6’4″, if you’re in the market for a boat and you find one you’re, in his words─”comfortable on”─you get it. Not to mention this boat was well-made, by a dependable builder, in fantastic condition, had passed the survey/sea trial with flying colors needing only minimal repairs and was going for half the asking price. Half?! Pssshhh … There’s really no way Mitch could say no. He let the time lapse on rescinding the offer and on June 14, 2015 Mitch became the proud new owner of a 1985 Nonsuch. All he needed to do was sail it home from Ft. Myers, FL.

All that required was willing crew.

It’s probably no surprise here, either: he asked Phillip and me.

I don’t know, though. Would you trust these two?

Seems Mitch was keen on cashing in the favor chips he had racked up when he helped us sail our Niagara 35 from Punta Gorda, FL to its new home port in Pensacola back in 2013. But, the irony of it was almost comical. Not only were the three of us about to make just about the same trek again on a sailboat, but (BUT!) we were going to do it again on another 1985 model boat and (AND!) another Hinterhoeller. Shut up. I’m serious. The symmetry of it was kind of wild. Can you say: Salt of a Sailor the sequel! We hoped this time, though, we wouldn’t have to hack off any critical parts of the boat, string a puke bucket around one of the crew member’s necks, suffer a man down to (allegedly) non-drowsy Dramamine or endure any other significant equipment failures like last time. (If you haven’t read Salt yet, I hope you’re intrigued now.)

We all hoped for a safe and prosperous delivery of Mitch’s new boat from Ft. Myers to its new home port in Pensacola, FL. But─maybe it was just Phillip and I although something tells me Mitch maybe a little too─we were also hoping for a bit of an adventure. You don’t ever want anything to go wrong during a passage across blue waters, but you know it can always happen. No matter how hard you prepare, plan or tread cautiously, a lot of it’s just luck. Sometimes it’s just your time for shit to go wrong. We didn’t want that to happen to Mitch, but if it was going to, we wanted to be there to help─and experience and learn from it.

Now this time thankfully I was a bit more sail savvy than last time. I didn’t ask at least─with big, blinking doe eyes: “When are they going to deliver your boat, Mitch?” I knew we were going to have to sail her home, and Phillip and I were excited to head out on another blue water passage. We’re always up for a blue water passage─Phillip especially. That man loves nothing more than to stand behind a helm and look out on a blue horizon.

Okay, lay. He likes to lay behind the helm too.

Mitch really didn’t even have to ask. It all seemed a given from the moment he started looking for a boat in south Florida. He had been there for us and he knew we would do the same for him. Hell, we were happy to. We set a date that worked around everyone’s schedule─June 19, 2015─and started planning and provisioning. If everything went well, we were expecting the entire trip to take seven days but we cleared ten just in case. My only concern was the Bahamas. I was set to fly out of Pensacola to Ft. Lauderdale on July 2nd. Honor of a lifetime: I had been asked by a friend’s parents to crew with them on their boat in the Abacos Regatta. After reading Salt, seems they thought I would be helpful to have on board─or entertaining at least. The Bahamas saga will be coming up next on the blog. Be excited!

So, June 19th to July 1st was the time slot. The Mitch trip was going to be a tight fit, but it did fit. And we figured if something happened and we had to leave the Nonsuch somewhere─like, say, I don’t know … Carrabelle─we could leave her and drive the rest of the way home. We hoped that wouldn’t happen (again this time). We wanted to sail her right into the Pensacola Pass our first time out but there was always the possibility the wind, weather and whatever sailing karma is out there would see otherwise. Whatever the case, we were up for it.

What cracked me up, though, was Mitch. He always does. I love that guy. It’s fun to watch a new friend sort of walk up to the boating ledge, look over, kick a little pebble off then just fall, head-over-heels and tumble all the way down. No matter how many times you tell said friend it’s going to cost a lot, things are going to break often, and then it will cost a lot to repair them, it’s like they just can’t hear you. You continually try to warn them: You’re going to have to buy a lot of boat crap. Then you’ll start using all of that crap and discover what other boat crap you really want and then you’ll have to buy all of that too. It’s just a process. But when you finally get your boat dialed in─just the way you like it─it’s totally worth it. And, after having endured that entire process, you’ll really have fun watching friends go through it after you. I have to admit. I was having a hell of a time watching Mitch.

The naan was the least of his worries. After going through the list Mitch made when he was on the boat for the survey/sea trial of equipment already on board, we made another list of items he would need to purchase for the three of us to safely make the passage on the boat. The amount of stuff baffled him.

“Towels? What kind of towels?” Mitch asked, bewildered.

All kinds dude. Dish towels, bath towels, work towels. The three of us are essentially about to move onto your floating home and live there for a week, while we’re sailing and working on it. We might need to─I don’t know─bathe on occasion. Wash our dishes. Wipe our hands. I mean, maybe. If you don’t think so, though, nix the towels. He was funny. And some of the costs really put a thorn in his side, like the EPIRB.

“Do we really need that?” I remember him asking Phillip.

“Only if you want the Coast Guard to come if we’re sinking,” Phillip said.

But, I get it. I mean, those things are like $400. It’s not an easy pill to swallow. I had to laugh, though, when we started talking about a hurricane haul-out plan for his boat. And, again I agree. If $400 for the EPIRB gives you heartburn, you’re really going to take it on the chin with the $1,500 price tag on the haul-out. Mitch was understandably trying to stop the bleed:

“So, it’s $1,500 to haul out, if need be, for a hurricane?” he was trying to get Phillip to confirm.

“Well, it’s $1,500 for the year,” Phillip replied.

“Oh, okay, so if they don’t haul out, then that carries over next time, right?”

“No, it’s $1,500 a year.”

“Even if they don’t haul you out?!”

Sorry buddy. Boats are just expensive. But, like I said, Mitch had got the Nonsuch for an exceptional price so he, thankfully, had a little wiggle room left in his budget. Still doesn’t make it any easier to write those checks. He was a good sport about it, though. Better than I ever expected. Mitch really stepped up. Phillip and I gave him a pretty extensive list of things we would need for the trip─stuff for him to buy, stuff for us to bring and stuff for him to bring. It was good practice for Phillip and I to go back through that thought process of readying a boat for passage, except this time we kind of felt like yacht delivery people, like very amateur Kretschmers. But, some of the tips and tricks Kretschmer had mentioned when we attended his seminar at the Miami Boat Show back in February did seem to trickle through.

The whole idea of sitting down to make a list of items and equipment we would need to bring a boat across blue waters just gave Phillip and I a little tingle. It was exciting to think we would soon be back out there, in the Gulf of Mexico, looking out on a vast body of water with nothing on the horizon but a sun sinking into blue denim.

Thankfully, we had kept a digital copy of the list we had made when we were preparing to bring our Niagara 35 back home across the Gulf. We dusted that off and modified it a bit to suit Mitch’s boat and needs. In case any of you find it helpful in preparing for a passage, or a Kretschmer like yacht-delivery (yeah!), here ‘tis: our Provisions List.

We went through it with Mitch, item by item, making sure he had each one. And he did. He had bought it all, even some extra goodies for the two of us─little treats for us for agreeing to make the passage with him. Like I said, he was big on the snacks.

We were set to leave the following week and the only thing Mitch got stuck on was the naan.

“It’s not a snack. It’s bread, like a soft fluffy pita. We’ll eat it with the tiki masala.”

“The what?”

“Masala. Tiki masala.”

“Malasalla?”

Yeah that. We’ll get that one buddy. See you in a few days.

Thanks to my Patrons who help me share the journey. Get inspired. Get on board.

“Where Are You Sailing to Next?”

September 21, 2015anniedike

Friends, I have another adventure-on-the-high-seas tale to tell you. We’ve been busy over here. While I’ve had a lot of fun cranking out the videos for you─sharing our cruising adventures, our struggles, repairs, outings, friends and fun on the water─I still seem to face the same question from many followers: “Where are you sailing to next?” Well, while we’ve got long-term plans percolating, sometimes unforeseen opportunities arise and you find yourself jumping on board for an unexpected sailing trip or three. For those of you who have been reading the blog since the beginning or have read my first sailing book─Salt of a Sailor─you know the tale of our seasick saga in crossing the Gulf the first time to bring our Niagara 35 from Punta Gorda to her home port in Pensacola. You may recall the 4-6 foot seas, the clanging of the davits, the hacking off of the dinghy and the “non-drowsy, my ass” Dramamine. Such tall tales! Well, we’ve yet another.

You may not have thought the three of us─Phillip, myself and Mitch While-You’re-Down-There Roberts─would have ever set foot on a boat again together to traverse the boisterous waters of the Gulf. Mitch himself─when we had to leave our boat sad and busted in Carrabelle─said he would never get on a boat with us again to go … well, anywhere. But I’m here to tell you friends it happened. We got back on a boat. We crossed the Gulf again. And I’m going to take you along for the adventure. You want to know where we’re going? Well, let me tell you a little tale of where we’ve been. You know me … warts and all. I’m going to share every detail─really build it up, keep you guessing, let you savor every harrowing and hilarious moment, right here on the blog. We tend to encounter adventures, big and small, every day. We seize them and savor them and I try─with every bit of my storytelling might─to share them with you. Here’s yet another. You want to get back on a boat with us and set sail? Come aboard!

Thanks to my Patrons who help me share the journey. Get inspired. Get on board.

Saving to Sail – Guest Post: Market First, Write Second

September 14, 2015anniedike

So, this was fun. I’ve been following this site — SavingtoSail.com — for a while now. Great tips on downsizing, spending and cutting costs so you can cut the lines (okay, maybe you don’t want to actually cut them – you might need them later, it just sounded good), but it will help you toss the lines sooner and start cruising on a better budget. I wrote a piece for their blog geared toward cruisers who are looking to write a book and self publish. I hope you find some helpful tips in there. I’m no expert, but I’ve made a few mistakes worth passing on. Enjoy!

SavingtoSail.com – Guest Post by Annie Dike: “Market First, Write Second”

Thanks to my Patrons who help me share the journey. Get inspired. Get on board.

“Dinghy Gas” — Is That Different Than Regular Gas?

August 31, 2015anniedike

“Going to the shore in the dinghy is totally free. Well, like it might cost two cents worth of dinghy gas. But, if you row! I guess if you row it’s free.”

Yes, these are the kind of things I say when I’m being interviewed. Where do I come up with this stuff? Phillip paused the playback and turned slowly toward me. “‘Dinghy gas?'” he asked, his eyebrows floating up. “Is that different than like … regular gas?”

If you’ve been following on Facebook, you may have seen this. I was recently interviewed by Travis Parsons with 180 Tack for his Adventure Sports Podcasts. The podcast offers in-depth interviews three days a week from a variety of adventure sports enthusiasts around the globe: outfitters, guides, instructors, authors and many more who live their lives to the fullest. Travis said he reached out to me after seeing my book, Salt of a Sailor, on Amazon and he wanted to do an interview with me about what it’s like to cruise and how others can get out there and do it. That’s my whole platform, Travis! “Get inspired. Get on board.” Needless to say, I was thrilled to do it and Travis was super easy and fun to talk to.

But I only recently found the time to sit down and seriously listen to the podcast all the way through and there are definitely plenty of little Annie gems in there. Like the “dinghy gas” for instance. “Yes, Phillip, it is. Dinghy gas is totally different than regular gas. It comes out of the dinghy pump at the fuel dock. You didn’t see it there?”

I’m such a goober sometimes. Many other nuggets in there for you as well. I think I mentioned “flapping around like Daffy Duck” at one point, my dad’s long-ago “lady friends” and the notorious “What happen’ was.” Oh my … I cringe every time I hear my voice on playback. Who knows what the hell is going to come out. If you’re curious, give it a listen. Enjoy.

Adventure Sports Podcast — Ep. 075: Annie Dike – Life Aboard a Sailboat

Thanks to my Patrons who help me share the journey. Get inspired. Get on board.

Sometimes You Need a Hacksaw – Article in SAIL Magazine

August 26, 2015May 9, 2018anniedike

“I was just reading along and I started to think, hey, that sounds like what happened to us. Then I looked at the cover photo and thought, ‘That looks just like me!’”

Followers, this was Mitch speaking, and I couldn’t not share this with you. Many of you may already know Mitch─either personally or you feel a sort of close kinship to him from reading my book, Salt of a Sailor. He was “Neal Armstrong stepping on the moon” every time he stepped on the deck of our boat. Ka-boom! He was the “elephant going through a carwash” as he bumbled and climbed up and down the companionway stairs─an uncomfortable display which eventually caused his evolution into Mitch “While-You’re-Down-There” Roberts because every time Phillip or I would hint─even slightly─that we might─just possibly─could be in some way headed down below, he would start in with: “While you’re down there.” But, Mitch was also the man with the “heart of gold” who made a huge commitment in helping Phillip and I bring our Niagara 35 home across the Gulf of Mexico in some pretty rough seas. Thank you Mitch. However, he also─like me apparently─suffers from the occasional blonde moment. This one, in particular, was quite entertaining.

So, Mitch is hanging around the airport last week, waiting for his son’s plane to come in and he’s looking for something to read. He meanders into one of the many book and magazine corner stores in the airport and, being a bit of an avid sailor and water-sports kind of guy, picks up the September issue of SAIL Magazine. Mitch starts thumbing through, skimming the table of contents and eventually finds his way to this page, where he thinks an article about the occasional need for a hacksaw on a sailboat might be entertaining.

So, here’s what he tells Phillip and I about the incident:

“So, I─you know─look at the picture and I’m checking out the dinghy back there all crashed out in the water with the davits and all, I see the crew trying to cut it off, and I think, hey, that sounds like what happened to us.”

It IS what happened to us, Mitch. That’s us. But this thought hasn’t yet struck him.

“So, I start reading and, sure enough, it sounds exactly like us, so I start thinking who wrote this? I see Annie’s name up there and know, once again, I’m going to have to correct this story.”

You have to know this is a long-standing (friendly) disagreement between Mitch and I. He likes to think he didn’t get as sea-sick as he actually did on our inaugural passage, and he likes to pretend the whole incident with the “broccoli crappola” didn’t happen (if you’re not familiar with the event, I highly recommend the book), or at least that it wasn’t his fault because we shouldn’t have fed him broccoli. Yeah, we should have known better. Who eats that crap anyway?

But, here’s the real kicker. Once everything finally clicks into place and Mitch realizes this is not just a similar incident, but the actual incident, he then finally takes in the illustration for what it really is─a depiction of us cutting off the dinghy. (Which, awesome illustration accompanying the article by the way. Thank you SAIL Magazine and Jan Adkins!) And, you know what Mitch says about the drawing?

“Now that’s an accurate representation. That looks just like me.”

Yeah, okay buddy. It looks just like you.

If you guys haven’t seen the article yet, be sure to pick up a copy of the September issue of SAIL Magazine and enjoy!

Thanks to my Patrons who help me share the journey. Get inspired. Get on board.

Why Am I Doing This?

August 19, 2015August 19, 2015anniedike

Big changes are coming. Parental discretion advised. I’m kidding. It’s all PG … 13. We’re about to launch some exciting new things on the blog. If you’ve been following me on Facebook, you know what’s coming. If you haven’t, you should! I’ve been sharing lots of fun photos and things in between blog posts on my personal Facebook profile, but I just re-vamped our HaveWindWillTravel.com Page for the video launch and will use it to share photos, adventures and other fun tidbits that don’t make it to the blog (yes, there is a ton of stuff that doesn’t make the cut). So “Like” and follow on the Page to get every bit of HaveWind goodness. I wanted to take a moment, though, and talk to you here about all this crazy social media stuff I’ve been doing recently: Facebook, GoPro, now videos? Lord, when will she stop? You’re probably wondering: Where is all this going? Why am I doing this?

Good question. I ask myself that every day (which may sound crazy to you, but, trust me, as a self-published author, it’s not). I constantly have to ask myself: What am I doing to help grow my readership and engage my audience today and is it working? Uhhh … marketing. Easily the least fun part of my job as a writer/creator. But I was serious about this writing gig when I left the practice, so I do want to succeed at it. Just because I’m not a high-priced lawyer anymore doesn’t mean I’m not still driven, disciplined and want to succeed. I just define success differently now. It’s finding fulfillment in what I do to earn a living so that my time is spent in a more meaningful way. I have found that in writing about our adventures, big and small. And I have been flattered and humbled by the support I have received from readers who have read and enjoyed my blog posts and books and those who have written reviews and supported me on Patreon. It seems I am reaching people and they’re enjoying what I’m doing. That motivates me to continue. The writing I love. It’s the most frustrating, but rewarding, challenge. I could do it every day, all day─well, all morning, rather. In the afternoons I like to get out and play! But, turns out, unfortunately, even if you write the best stuff on earth (or at least a good salty yarn or two), it won’t reach people unless you tell them about it. As a self-published author, that whole “telling” bit falls on Yours Truly, which means what little time I have outside of writing my next book (that’s coming─this fall, lookout!) and playing (equally important) is spent currently devoted to … say it with me. Yes, with the sigh. Uhhh … marketing.

Thankfully, my version of marketing includes writing in that I try to engage readers with blogs, video scripts and Facebook posts, so I don’t feel it’s too far astray from my true passion and it does help me learn what my readers want from me, but it is a bit of a necessary evil. At least that’s how I used to see it─as evil. Like this tiny little grungy gremlin crunched down in the corner, eating the edge of the carpet and asking me what I had done today to promote myself. “Nothing yet you nasty little bastard. You got some carpet in your teeth.” I hated that critter. And I hated seeing marketing as just that─as the loathsome task of constantly promoting myself. I’m just not good at that. I like the downplay, the soft sell, the self-deprecating approach. But I’ve had some great people inspire and advise me recently (thank you Conrad, Jeff and Tim Grahl) so I thought I would share. They turned what I viewed as an evil critter in the corner to a rewarding and fulfilling task and the answer to the very question posed: Why am I doing this?

The answer is simple. It’s the same reason I write: because I want to share my journey in hopes that it will make your lives better by forcing you to laugh, reminisce, escape your mundane routine (even if only vicariously and momentarily), inspire you and encourage you to get out and pursue your own cruising-like dream, whatever that might be. While writing is a great way to do that, the videos are just another avenue to help me share with more people in a different way. I’m happy to share. Sharing is great. I just didn’t know that could qualify as my “marketing.” Apparently it can. The new goal is to simply create lasting connections with people by sharing my adventures, discoveries and lessons learned in hopes of making people’s lives better. That sounds way better than the “M” word. Screw you carpet critter! No more promoting. Just sharing.

I suppose I have been trying to do that with the blog for about two and a half years now (wow, how time flies) and I hope it has inspired some of you but I think I can do a better job of it. Little Annie that Could here. I love a good yarn and will continue (always, always!) to capture the gritty, warts-and-all details of our adventures in my writing, but I know I can reach and engage with more people, more frequently, in a vivid way by using photos (which Facebook is perfect for) and now videos. So, look out YouTube, here Annie comes. They can’t handle me …

I’m going to share it all with you─big stuff, small stuff, mundane stuff, life-changing stuff. Everything (well, almost everything). Why am I so hellbent on sharing the cruising lifestyle? Because it changed my life. It rescued me. I found cruising is not just a lifestyle. It’s a mindset. It requires a resourcefulness, a ruggedness. You have to be creative, durable, self-sufficient. But every day is an adventure. Every day is interesting, challenging and rewarding. What little cruising I have done has already inspired me to spend my time in a more meaningful way─whether that’s sailing, kite-surfing, cooking, reading, climbing the silks or cramming myself into the engine room on the boat to replace a gasket. As a result of cruising, I no longer just “spend” my time, I try to savor every minute of it. We’re not full-time cruisers yet, but we’re working to get out there. And when we do finally untie the lines, you know I will share every bit of the adventure with you.

Would you like to share our journey? Come aboard. Sign up, subscribe and follow on the blog, Facebook, Patreon, Amazon, or YouTube.

And tell me what you want to see, what you want to know about cruising, kite-surfing, the silks, the contents of my underwear drawer (I’m kidding). But I want to know what you want to learn and do with me. Comment on the videos or Facebook or reach out to me here on the blog. Tell me! I want to make your lives better by sharing mine, both the successes and failures. I hope you enjoy the journey. If you do, share with friends to get more people inspired and on board. In the meantime, I’ll keep sharing and extending the invite:

Come aboard!

Thanks to my Patrons who help me share the journey. Get inspired. Get on board.

Instant Pirate — Just Add Rum

July 15, 2015July 15, 2015anniedike

Okay, who are we kidding? He doesn’t need the rum. He’s always a pirate.

May 1, 2015:

It’s B! Our buddy, Bottom-Job Brandon (who has rightfully reminded me anytime I mention his name, I should also mention his company — Perdido Sailor, Inc. — or he’s going to have to re-brand). He’s all decked out here for the annual Pirate’s Ball, the kick-off for the annual Perdido Wooden Boat Festival at Pirate’s Cove in Josephine (more commonly referred to as Orange Beach), Alabama.

Phillip and I had the event on our calendar for weeks — May 2-3, 2015. Not just because it’s an awesome pirate party, our friends were planning to sail over for it, too, and we really don’t need an excuse to get that boat out. No, we were really going for the book signing! The Point Yacht Club, the self-proclaimed “Little Yacht Club That Could” whose clubhouse-in-progress is right next door to the Cove, invited me over for a Salt of a Sailor book reading and signing before the ball. Pirate costumes, rum and salty book sales? Who says ‘no’ to that?

We were also curious to see how the fridge would perform without power for the weekend after the pancreas-splitting Great Stuff repair. We turned the fridge on on Wednesday evening to let it start cooling down. While it did take some time (and several cranks up on the fridge setting), we were pleased to see it finally reach 40 degrees Friday morning on the 6 setting and holding. We headed out that afternoon, planning to meet up with Brandon and his family on their Gulf Star at the Cove. But, we were surprised to have him cruise right up next to us in the ICW on our way over. Good timing.

That little 17′ sloop rig he’s towing is s/v Ellavday, a wooden boat he and his father-in-law built for Brandon’s daughter, Ella. Great name, huh? That thing is a beauty and so much fun to sail. If you want to really sharpen your sailing skills, test them in a little boat!

It was great to have Brandon cruising along next to us, too. I love when we see fellow boat buddies out on the water. It’s just “boat code” to snap pics of each other under sail. With s/v 5 O’clock leading the way, we made our way on over to the Cove.

In the weeks before the ball, Phillip and I had been snatching up some pirate attire and accessories and sending pictures to Brandon and his crew with a little light trash-talking as to whose costumes were going to be better. It must have worked because the Halls took the prize with their complete family pirate ensemble, from parents to little pirate run-a-mucks, even the gangly photo-bomber in the back.

Nice hat Uncle Russ.

I would say the doo-rag on their little pirate bundle (Kaitlin) was the cutest, but I just couldn’t. This little rapscallion (Ella) stole the show, unsheething her cardboard sword at every opportunity and poking the air with a fierce “AAAaarrrggghhh!”

You know it makes you want to do it, too. Go on. Who cares what your co-workers think. Close your door and unleash your inner pirate — “AAaarrrgghhh!”

The Captain and I came decked out in full costume as well, donning head-to-toe swashbuckler attire:

Jody Horner with the Yacht Club was instrumental in putting together this whole reading and signing, and I can’t thank her enough.

She literally dragged people over to my table by force, fished twenties out of their pockets and made them buy my book. It was awesome!

At Jody’s request, I read a fun passage from the book that describes our Second Mate for the momentous journey — the infamous MITCH! This was the passage she chose:

Now, let me take a moment to tell you a little more about our Second Mate–the infamous Mitch. Where do I begin? First, I must say, he’s an incredible friend to give up five days to sail across the open Gulf with us and help get the boat back. As fun as it is, remember what I told you about sailing, it is indeed hard work, and we were out of touch with the rest of the cellular world for days at a time. That’s a big commitment, and there is no way we could have done it without him. But, as I mentioned, Mitch is all of six feet, four inches. While that may seem pretty normal for a guy–on land–it’s a bit much on a 35-foot sailboat. Mitch lumbered and bumbled around that boat like an elephant going through a carwash. Each step of his foot on the deck sounded like Neal Armstrong landing on the moon. Ka-boom. I honestly felt sorry for him while I watched him bumble up and down the companionway stairs and through the hatch. He must have felt like he was crawling around on Playskool equipment. After a while, he decided to give it up altogether. Instead, each time I got up to go down the stairs, and I mean the minute I merely lifted my ass off of the cockpit seat, he would start in with “While you’re down there.” Sometimes I just had to screw with him. “Down where? I was going up on the deck to check the sails,” I would say as I walked up topside, knowing full well I had had every intention of going down below, but whatever it was for was now going to wait another fifteen minutes until the next time Mitch beckoned. I have to admit, it was fun, and Phillip and I had a good time christening him with the nickname–Mitch, While-You’re-Down-There, Roberts. But, to be honest, I’m sure it was a lot of work for him to lug that big body up and down those tiny stairs, and he did hold the helm for several shifts that day, so, the teasing was always followed with, “Sure buddy. What do you need.” Mitch was a talker and a screamer but he had a heart of gold. He taught me a great deal about sailing and he was a true asset on the trip.

The reading really was quite an honor and I enjoyed chatting with readers and fans afterward while Jody hustled them out of their hard-earned bills.

I also donated a few books and bottles of wine as a giveaway to help the Point Yacht Club raise money to finish their clubhouse-in-progress. They’re getting close!

After my Sharpie was worn to a nub, it was time for the much-anticipated Pirate’s Ball! We shuffled our way over to the Cove and stumbled upon this striking figure on the way in:

Lady BlackSquall!! Yowza!

And, do know that the bottle she’s holding was chalk full of home-made moonshine which she forced you to take a shot of before you could pass through to the party. Love that gal. But, the real treat of the evening? Mr. While-Your-Down-There himself showing up for the party, dressed in full pirate regalia with his trusty sea-wench at side!

Clearly we don’t need the rum to act like pirates …

After we petered out from the pirate party, we crashed hard on the boat. Having it right there docked up at the Cove always makes for an awesome boating weekend. That way you have easy access to all your amenities (which for us, was still a cold fridge on the 6 setting), yet easy access to the ongoing party at the Cove.

The next day we toodled around and checked out the exquisite wooden boats on display for the festival.

I set up a little table as an official “vendor” with my books in tow (Little Author Who Could here) in hopes of selling a few copies at the festival. Business was slow at first, so I busted out my ukulele and started strumming about in hopes of drawing folks to my sad little tent. Somehow, I managed to entice this interesting chap. Meet Gnarly:

He’s gnarly. He was also an awesome guitarist. He gave me his pick and taught me how to (in his words) “spank on the strings.” I had a great time hanging out with Gnarly. Life is so full of cool people.

With Gnarly’s magic touch on the uke, I was able to snag a few folks in my web and sell some books.

It was enough, at least, to buy us dinner and a few rum drinks that night. If sales ever start to cover boat repairs and maintenance, I think we’ll be all set. In all, it was another wild and raucous weekend at the Cove, with great friends and supporters of my author endeavors. I can’t thank the kind folks at the Point Yacht Club enough for hosting the book signing for me. It was fun being a celebrity for an hour. We had a great sail home, too, with the sun setting on our port and the moon rising at the same time to starboard.

Strange to think it really is the same sun and moon that set and rose back in the pirate heydays. Heck, I’ll bet some of the crumbling planks that make up the walls at Pirate’s Cove are from the same era. The swashbuckling behavior there sure hasn’t changed. They still drink, holler, spit and dance. I don’t think it’s the rum that makes the pirate, it’s the spirit.

Thanks as always, to the many patrons who help make these posts just a little more possible through PATREON.

Bon Buffett Voyage Day Three – Burgers, Bunnies, Balloons … Oh My!

June 17, 2015June 17, 2015anniedike

April 23, 2015:

With a heavy heart, we woke the next morning in Ingram’s Bayou and took down the pyrotechnics, the ukulele amps and the aerial silk rig. Nooooo!!!

But, we were excited to make our way over to The Wharf in Orange Beach to claim our slip for the Jimmy Buffett concert.

Recall when we bought our tickets for the concert and called to reserve a slip, they literally laughed at us and put us as No. 93 on the waiting list. Well, 92 cancellations later and here we were, with a slip of our own. So, we hustled up the anchor early and made our way west. I called when we were close and chatted with a gal named Judy who runs the marina office. She was super friendly and sent two strapping young men out to come help us with our lines.

While I love to see her out sailing, all canvas up, I also love to see her docked as well, all safe and sound! Another no-mishap docking accomplished. Whew!

Judy gave us a tour of the new facilities there at The Wharf. They have moved the marina facilities over from where they were previously located by the fuel docks on the west basin to the center of all the action on the east side of the bridge, and the new bathrooms, shower and laundry facilities are all primo. We were really impressed.

Judy was great, too–super knowledgeable and friendly. I may or may not have let it slip that I’m an author and that a book would soon be coming her way. It would be the first to start their marina book swap at the new facility. I was sure donating my very own book to start the swap would totally revive my piteous book swap mojo. Let us all hope. If I have to face another Fabio cover, his white flapping French shirt agape with some frail yet fully-endowed maiden clinging to him, I’m going to puke. Thankfully, Judy, was in my camp and was proud to welcome a good, salty yarn written by a local female sailor, to start the swap out right.

I put a little log in the book for readers to list their vessel, when they got the book and where they dropped it off to help document the book’s travels. Judy wanted to read it first, and then she’s going to send it on its merry way!

Another little traveling book set free! I hope to hear from some folks who find it some day.

After the “drop,” it was time for some food. We headed over to Ginny Lane‘s for lunch and were thrilled to find your first martini is only $1. Sweet! We’ll take two!

I have to say that’s some smart marketing, though. Because the next round is full price, but by then your whistle’s already wet with the stuff and your pocketbook is a little looser. Nice, Ginny. Real nice. They served us up a fine burger and salad as well, which we had earned with all of our hard work peddling my penmanship around the marina.

Then it was over to the Oasis. Have any of you seen the pool at The Wharf? It’s like something a wealthy oil tycoon would build in his backyard–a wave pool, a slow, curvy lazy river, complete with waterfalls and spouts, slides, hammocks, palm trees, a hot tub, a tiki bar. It’s incredible!

We lounged the afternoon away at the pool (cruising is real hard) then hopped on the free marina bikes and peddled the grounds for a bit before cleaning up for dinner, which apparently at The Wharf, comes with a show!

Every Thursday night, the Wharf hosts a “Sunset Festival” much like the Mallory Square festivities in Key West. Remembering our “sloppy sunset” at Mallory Square during our trip to the Keys last year, we knew we were in for a treat.

While the crafty carnies at Mallory have really perfected the craft, I will say the folks at the Wharf did give them a run for their money. There was cheery knife and flame juggler/tightrope walker, a trained dog, live music and some ladies from the local zoo with their more exotic animals in tow.

“What the heck is that?” asked Phillip.

“That’s a bunny, my friend.”

“A 13-pound bunny.”

WHOA!

But, the real talent at the festival? This balloon guy.

I mean, look at his fancy, flattering balloon apron. That’s some dedication. And anyone who can crank out a pretty much lifelike Mario in under a minute–suspenders, mustache and all–takes the trophy in my book. Sorry flame dude, this man was a genius.

In all, the Sunset Festival was really entertaining and, most importantly, totally FREE! Our favorite kind of fun! Dinner with Phillip’s fantastic family at Jimmy’s sister, Lucy’s, place — Lulu’s at Homeport Marina — rounded out the pre-birthday festivities. Tomorrow was the big day for the Captain. His birthday, yes, but more importantly … BUFFETT!

Thanks as always, to the many patrons who help make these posts just a little more possible through PATREON.

Annie’s First Interview – “Get Frugal, Get Friendly”

April 21, 2015April 21, 2015anniedike

April 16, 2015:

This may be the shortest blog post I’ve ever written. Why?? Because you’re about to hear me ramble on for an entire hour, that’s why. Oh wait, I’m sorry, an hour and fifteen minutes, in my first real, live interview as a … well, an author I suppose, but I think the term “authorpreneuer” © is more appropriate. It seems these days I’ve got a lot of plates spinning. But, that’s essentially the message I was trying to convey–get creative with your funding, frugal with your spending and you, too, can get out and spend more time sailing and cruising. I was humbled and honored to be interviewed recently by Teddy J, the creator of Sail Loot, an innovative and informative website, to try and help Teddy answer the question folks want to ask every person who lives on a boat and cruises around the world — How the heck do you pay for it? I hope I gave some insight and some inspiration to other budding cruisers out there.

Here ’tis. Next time you’ve got an hour (and fifteen minutes) to kill. Click to play:

If you’re short on time, I’d particularly recommend the “how to impress a hot guy” tips. It’s basically–try anything adventurous and pretend like you know what you’re doing. Works every time.

Phillip and I have been following Teddy J’s Sail Loot interviews for quite some time. Teddy has interviewed many cruisers, live-aboards and marine innovaters who have traveled the world and launched a diverse range of cruise-funding endeavors. One of the first interviews I heard was of the s/v Delos crew.

Captain Brian’s bio plays out much like my own. “After years in the IT business Brian dreamt of bigger adventures and more meaning in his life. He read the book “3 years on a 12-foot boat” and the dream to create his own odyssey and sail around the world was born. Three boats later and endless days of hard work, Brian’s dream became a reality when he bought Delos in Seattle in 2008 and has lived on board ever since.” You can listen to Teddy’s podcast interviews of the Delos crew here:

Sail Loot Interview of Brian and Karin (Teddy’s podcast numero uno)

Sail Loot Interview of Brady and Josje (pronounced Yaaw-jsuh – beautiful name! – although I prefer her more common alias – Josjerama)

I also found Teddy’s two-part interview of Jeff Siegel, the creator of Active Captain, fascinating.

Jeff’s mind is always buzzing with new ideas and helpful technology. He has a very honest and realistic approach to new business endeavors and speaks openly about his own failures and the lessons he learned in developing what is now the fastest-growing, most interactive marine navigational software on the market.

Sail Loot Interview of Jeff Siegel (Part 1)

Sail Loot Interview of Jeff Siegel (Part 2)

These are just two of the dozens of others Teddy has interviewed, all of whom have provided his listeners with some great insight about transitioning to a more balanced life.

In all, I was incredibly humbled to be added to this eclectic group of creative thinkers. Thank you, Teddy J, for the experience and the platform to share my passion for cruising and my less-is-more philosophy with others.

While I was happy to talk to Teddy about the various, creative ways I have found to make money remotely, as it always seems, when you give you seem to get more in return. Through Sail Loot, I was able to connect with several other cruisers Teddy has interviewed and help support them in their endeavors, which encouraged them to, in turn, help to support me. It was actually the Delos crew who initially turned me on to Patreon.

Patreon is an awesome platform that allows artists of all walks (singers, songwriters, videomakers, bloggers, underwater basket-weavers, whatever!) continue doing what they love by allowing their fans to empower them in a direct and meaningful way. I’m happy to say I am a proud patron of Delos on Patreon and (even on my tight cruiser’s budget) happily fund each of their wicked worldly videos. I would highly encourage others to sign up to support them too. It will be the best two dollars you’ve spent in ages, trust me!

Also, once I heard fellow boat-bum-turned-author, Ed Robinson’s, interview on writing and self-publishing, I reached out to him as well and asked if he would like to read my Salt book to perhaps provide an endorsement for the back cover. And, look what happened …

Just goes to show you–when you help people, help tends to find its way back. So, to answer Sail Loot’s burning question — How do you pay your way to cruise?

You get creative. You get bold. You get frugal. And, you get friendly.

As Teddy would say, it never hurts to ask. Offer something of value and then ask for support. Worst that can happen is they say no.

Many thanks to all–my loyal followers (believe it or not – it’s been over two years now since I started this blog!), my supporters, patrons and friends. I wouldn’t be here without your encouragement and support. I hope you have found the posts fun, entertaining and inspiring. Trust me, there’s always a way to make it work. Get out there before it’s too late!

Enjoy the interview!