Atlantic crossing - day 16

Back on track. I fell asleep after that philosophy session we had the other night and slept all those hours I missed in the last two weeks. Man, that was some good sleep. Although extremely rolly and bouncy (25 knots of wind here now for the last 15 hours). Alex woke me up today around lunch and said: "Baby, get up now, you're boring when you're sleeping - let's make some corned beef and pasta!" That must seriously have been the most hilarious thing I've ever heard in a similar kind of situation. Just woke up after dreaming of dinosaurs, this blog, christianity and all kinds of other strange stuff and when I wake up I see my man in front of me asking for corned beef. Ha!! It made my day and also it somehow made me realize, once again, how amusingly disturbed this world is with all its paradoxes. What to worry about when you have love and corned beef, eh? 

Now 1359 nm left to Barbados. If we keep up with this tempo we will be there in no time. 135 nm made today and finally finally we're inside of that much longed for tradewind belt.

/Taru

Atlantic crossing - Day 14

If we weren’t confused before this trip we certainly may become. Our discussions in the dark, moonless nights consists of topics such as: was there human beings in the times of the dinosaurs and did they try fighting them? what exactly is the consistence of the lava inside of our world and is the lava really neccesary to keep the world in motion? Does all planets have this type of burning substance within them? Why do you think religions were founded, besides of making money and keeping people in order and under control? Why are some of the stars above us more lit than others? If love is the strongest of powers, why aren’t the world a better place and what would happen to the world and it’s citizens if, hypotetically, all the value of money and trade was gone? Would it even be possible to survive and what would be the strongest forces then in war, politics, international relations and over all in the world? Those things wouldn’t even had to exist?

We might think we have came to a whole lot of conclusions but I fear that it all just’ve made us even more puzzled. Dangerous topics to even begin with as one might as well realize that nothing really makes sense in the end. Who are we to question such fundamental things anyway: two people in love, sailing on a boat towards what they believe is right and easily avoiding everything which aren’t, utterly convinced that they found the right religion and faith already. Our contemplations would probably not make much difference in the end and that is more or less how our midnight discussions ends, most of the times. We always end up saying: ah, fuck it, we don’t get anywhere with this so what’s the point? Let’s focus on our own happiness instead. And so we do. Going to bed, feeling happy and content that we at least have a free will and the possibility to think, act, feel, reflect and question all by our selves without too much of influence by any God, norms made by the society, other peoples values and opinions and so on. That’s what must count the most in the end and that is, I believe, what makes us feel so endlessly much more for this beautiful thing called life.

Now: 1580 nm to Barbados. /Taru

Barbados?

Since it shortens our landfall destination with around 100 nm, we've decided to make a first stop in Barbados when we arrive, whenever we arrive, to the Caribbean and we'll also be picking up two of our friends there. Have any of you guys been to Barbados and do you have any tips regarding that island? We are supposed to move on towards Martinique, St Lucia etc. directly, but might be there are something which we cannot miss in Barbados? Will land around 9-10 th of February. /T&A

Yesterday's lunch and some stats of day no. 12

It was a Mahi Mahi of course. I had it grilled with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Served it with basmati rice cooked in garlic and coriander. Delicious!

Some stats of today:

1899 nm to go to Martinique. 

Position: N 14°02. W 28°42.

Water temp: 30°. I'm soon in. 

Amount of fish caught so far: 1 only! Catastrophe.

Knots of wind in this very moment: 5-7. Engine on. We can see some stronger tradewinds on the grib a bit further West and we have around 200 nm to go to be able to pick them up. Hoping this will be the end of motoring for this journey. 

Amount of flying fish landed on deck: 1

Squalls encountered so far on this crossing: 5? 6? Luckily we got stuck in a big one last night which gave us some good speed forward for a couple of hours. And it also gave a good wash of the teak, thank you weather gods for that one.

And that would be all for now. Don't forget to check out our position and route on the Spotwalla website. /T

Atlantic crossing - Day 11 - Today's lunch

What is all that hacker thing that some of you've mentioned in the comments by the way? Can't keep an eye on the blog all the time from here so please inform me. /T

In Mindelo marina

Look what we found in Cabo Verde. A dismasted Imoca 60 which had to end the (Barcelona World) race because of it’s loss of the mast. What a big fucking thing, it is. Never seen these beasts IRL before. Must be such a tremendous, amazing adrenalin rush to fly over the ocean in one of these in 25-30 knots. Hoping to be able to try it out, one day. /T

SA

Sailing Anarchy = Always making sure to zoom in on the most important of news!

Quick stop in Cabo Verde

We made a landfall in Mindelo last night to fill up the fuel tanks and to get some fresh oranges and other fruits and veggies. These island(s) seem to be a very interesting community with it's eclectic atmosphere, the colors, the music, the colonial history... everything feels intriguing and it is certainly a pity that we couldn't stay and explore it all some more. Maybe on our next turn around the world. But now we're more than ready to move on West again! /Taru

Atlantic crossing - Day 8 - Ghosting around

I was speaking a bit too fast. Just when I had uploaded last post for you with the information of that we will not have to stop in Cape Verde, Alex came down to show me his new discovery from the new grib file. Now the trades seemed to have died out and the further down South we would get, the lighter winds would we encounter. And would we make a turn to the West now, the trades and some stronger winds would equally not appear for at least the next five-six days or so. 5 knots of wind where it was supposed to be established tradewinds for weeks ago? And how is it possible that the whole goddamn ocean is dead calm in every reachable direction of our route? The tradewinds are conspiring against us! Not much else to do than reroute, make that annoying turn back to the East and refuel in Cape Verde. We really had romanticized a picture of making this crossing in around 20 days and we were so happy to have waited until January for the trades to have the time to fully establish, but obviously they are still not at all in balance and once again we're getting hold back by higher forces. The elements does what they want in the end, and we are just a couple of people sailing on a small sailing vessel, desperately waiting for the right winds to arrive. 

So next stop Mindelo, Cape Verde tonight and we'll be leaving from there with full fuel tanks and perhaps some fresh vegetables in the early morning of tomorrow Tuesday. Seems like we'll then have to motor our way from there a bit further down SW for at least a day or two and then, yeah then we might be in the belt of some favorable trades for the last leg towards the West.

Alex is fishing now for the first time on this trip. Sushi for lunch would be nice. Wish him luck. /Taru

Atlantic crossing - Day 7 and 8 - 2130 nm to go

Rain is gone. Although it took around 15 hours to get rid of. Fantastic how different the world can appear in different lights. We are now definitely in the tropics, with a position of N 19.20° W 24.55°, and finally have those warm nights arrived, making the watches much easier to go through. I'm thinking by the way of having a swim in the deep blue sea very soon as the heat is quite unbearable at times. Alex tells me there might be sharks and tries to scare me but I don't intend letting either him or the movie "The Reef" stand in between me and my mid Atlantic dive, for there can't be sharks in the middle of the deep Atlantic ocean, can there? And if there is, how great would the risk be to have a hungry one just around our boat when I dive in? The Reef was by the way a good movie, thanks for the tips whoever that was of our dear readers suggesting us to see it. A bit frustrating though to watch people taking such stupid decisions like the ones taken in the movie.

No flying fishes here yet as far as I am concerned, only a very strange fish swimming along with us next to the hull of our boat, just like a dog or some other type of pet following it's owner. Please let me know if anyone can identify this weird animal. Is it eatable?

We have now been out here for seven days and only two ships have we met. Definitely thought there would be a bit more traffic around here, although we do not mind the loneliness at all. Feels good to have the ocean all to ourselves. Definitely better for the tan as well, as we're able to be naked as much as we want to without curious eyes watching. Speaking of tan, the tone of my skin is slowly turning into something reminiscent of raisins, I might look like an old, dry grapefruit when we're done with this passage although everything is better than the pale white winter look I was sporting earlier.

Although we were earlier convinced that we had found those tradewinds, they quickly died out on us after a few days. It's been some slow and frustrating last 24 hours here with ultra light winds and terribly uncomfortable rolling seas. I can't believe I once was dreaming of dead calm mid Atlantic days, they are the worst to ever have to encounter. Especially when we've decided to not make a stop in Cape Verde to refuel. Will the fuel last all the way to the West Indies is the question of the day. Or no, that is actually not a question any longer, it just has to last as we do not have other options any longer. We're now heading further down SW to catch up with the established trades which we've found on the grib-files and we're having some 300 nm to go before we can turn completely to the West.

I can by the way see that we have +200 new friend requests on Facebook, unfortunately we can't accept them from here so bare with us for two more weeks, will you. Also we're sorry that we can't answer much emails and comments from the sea, will take care of it all when we're back on normal Wifi connection again.

/Taru

Atlantic crossing - day 6

Rain, rain, rain....

Atlantic crossing - Day 5

Our gennaker/cruising chute have graciously carried us over the ocean in lighter winds in a comfortable and non rolling fashion for the last few days. It is quite impressive thinking that this little piece of nylon of just a few kilos is able to carry our heavy (8,5 tons) ship in such a smooth and relatively fast ride.

We have by the way rediscovered how wonderful it is to actually have the time to just be and enjoy the moment without having millions of projects, schedules and appointments breathing down ones neck so we have decided to postpone our Panama Canal transit and the South Pacific tour until next season and instead we'll be staying around to discover the best of the Caribbean islands and Central American countries for at least the next 6-10 months. We're feeling much content with this decision for now and we are also looking much forward to reevaluate some of the interesting invitations and collaboration proposals we've received in the last couple of months concerning this mentioned area of the world.

Definitely on our must-visit-list besides all the beautiful Caribbean islands are: Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras and more.

Consider the Caribbean Sea as our new home for 2011. 

Atlantic crossing - Day 4

Your prayers made a good impact, thank you very much. We've been sailing along with an average speed of 6 knots since the last 12 hours and we've done a good 129 miles progress on the route in the last 24 hours. The NE tradewinds are already encountered although they've been pretty light until midnight last night. Our best approach for this downwind condition have so far been mainsail out to leeward and jib poled out to windward. Getting a steady and good speed like this.

Some statistics of the first 72 hours of this Atlantic passage:

Total route to make: 2850 Gran Canaria-Martinique

Sailed of the actual route so far: 310 nm (total sailed: approx. 360 nm)

Engine used: 18 hours.

Average speed the last 24 hours: 5,3 knots over ground.

If we keep on with the speed of the last 24 hours, we will soon get up in an average distance on 130 nm/day. Hoping that the tradewind is fully established with stronger winds the more SW we get and that the conditions will stay at least like the one of today. We haven't really had the need of using the engine since Monday night thankfully but we'll need to get in on later tonight to top up the batteries and for using the watermaker for an hour or two.

The weather is excellent, it's very very hot in the days with a warm sun and no clouds as far as my eyes can see, the water is crystal clear with a beautiful indigo tone. Seen tons of dolphins. The nights are still terribly cold though and I need one sleeping bag and thick jacket in the night to keep myself warm during night watches. Routines are working good otherwise. We start our night watches at 10pm and switch every second hour until 10am the morning after. We both get 3x2 hours of sleep and equally 6 hours divided by three times of watch. This is what have worked best for us since we started to sail over-night passages together in the winter of 2009.

It feels like the sea is totally ours out here as we haven't encountered almost no other ships or yachts. Last night we saw one cargo ship and otherwise there hasn't been anything else in our close surroundings for the last two days and nights. We've seen a couple of more cargo ships on the AIS but none of them has been in closer distance for us to see them with bare eyes.

It is a strange feeling to be so many hours in total peace and quietness. In a positive way I mean. No phones, Internet, people or anything to disturb the tranquility and it gives us time to reflect and to talk about things and happenings we usually don't have the time or space for. Very interesting also what type of feelings, thoughts and memories this total peace brings with it. It has struck me how much there is inside of us to discover and/or rediscover and that can best be obtained when one cuts off the normal life in a way like this. I love the whole idea of being away from it all for a while and I'm looking forward to what more my brain will encounter during these next 19-20 days on the ocean. Also we're very happy to be just the two of us, far away from all the stress we had filled our lives with from the day one we met for 15 months ago until the very day we left for this crossing. /Taru

Atlantic Crossing Day 3

Hi there!

I hope you all are fine. We are. We've started to get used to this rolling now which probably is a good sign. It's been terrible little wind until now and we haven't made as much progress as we wanted to but we do hope to catch some stronger winds when we get more to the SW. Hopefully tomorrow. Wind direction has changed at least, NE now although very light, between 5-10 knots most of the times. Added to that there is a mixed swell coming from both E and N so that in total makes for a rolly ride unfortunately. One good thing is that it gets hotter and hotter for each day and we are very close to approach the tropical latitudes of the earth and today the thermometer showed above 28°C degrees already, just what we've been waiting for. It was a delightful sound to hear that Bacardi Breezer bottle(s) popping up under the warm sun earlier today. Alex was complaining: "You're drinking like a man". "Well, someone has to do it", I replied and enjoyed getting a bit tipsy three o clock in the afternoon with the beautiful navy blue water sparkling around us from every direction I turned my head. No land in sight and it will so continue for the next three weeks. Aaah those simple yet beautiful things in life. This is freedom! Then the dolphins came, the first ones we encountered on this trip. Around 30 bottle-nosed creatures jumped around us for half an hour or so.

According to our chart plotter, we have now 2653 nm left before we arrive to Martinique. That divided by an average speed of 130 nm/day (which we hope to establish very soon) would make it approx. 20 more days to go and we still think we will be able to get over to le Caribe before the 7th of Feb but we might also be one or two days delayed if the wind keeps on blowing with such a light force as it does right now.

Just like I said earlier, we are ultimately happy to not had to have used the autopilot at all, as the Sailomat windvane works fantastically also in very light winds. We have started to produce some water as well with the Power survivor and that too works just as fine and it is such great news to be able to top up the water tank whenever its starting to dry out. Shower at least every second day=paradise on the sea. And tomorrow my sprouted beans should be ready to eat, good now when we start to run out on the most of the other fresh stuff. Still a lot of fruits left though. Fishing we haven't even got started with as yet, maybe tomorrow when the meat is gone from the fridge.

Is the Spotwalla tracker working by the way? I hope so that you all can follow our (slow) ride across the Atlantic. And pray for us to get some more winds, will you. Find our position on the link to the right.

FYI: we can't answer any comments as it is from the sea, we'll take care of it all when we get to faster connection. /Taru

Atlantic crossing day 2 - Calm seas

Not much news from here. Wind died out last night so we had to motor for a couple of hours, very frustrating. Early in the morning it picked up again and we have now been sailing with wind coming from the SE and a wind speed of 10-15 knots for the last 10 hours. We're cruising slowly towards Cape Verde and having some 650 nm left to go South before we can turn to the West and towards the Caribbean. We're not doing much at the moment. Eating, sleeping, reading and trying to get used to being on the sea again. We are btw so very happy with our Sailomat windvane, it works totally flawless. /Taru

Atlantic Crossing day 1. Goodbye now Europe (finally)

Finally back on the sea. We are very excited and happy but also very very tired due to having to wait for and search all over the island to get a hold on butane gas which were supposed to be awaiting us at the gas station yesterday afternoon. Anyway, today we got it solved and we're now underway. We are just rounding Gran Canarias most Southern point as we speak.

Too tired for any longer contemplations right now so let's speak again in the morning. /Taru

Not on a Friday

The document have finally arrived. Not a day too early. One thing very important to know about Spain is that you need a hell of a lot of patience when you're dealing with bureaucracies and administrative institutions. The fact that you will have to wait for things/deliveries/letters/emails/people much longer than scheduled, is something you just have to get used to and put into your calculations from day one otherwise it is very easy to go completely crazy over here. But Spain is, on the other hand, good in so many other ways so it might even out.

Anyways, the important boat document is now here and we are ready to go. Or at least I am but Alex refuses to leave today as it is a Friday and apparently it means bad luck to leave for a sailing passage on a Friday. Everyday you learn something new about the people around you. I never seen a superstitious side in my man before today. Very interesting. Or maybe just all sailors are living by this superstition. Who knows?

"In some cultures, Friday is considered unlucky. This is particularly so in maritime circles; perhaps the most enduring sailing superstition is that it is unlucky to begin a voyage on a Friday" - cut out from Wikipedia.

/Taru

Thoughts about the crossing

No we're not in the tropics yet, although these little friends looks like they are just from there. The document is still missing and we will have to wait here for it's arrival. Someone was asking about our feelings now when we're just about to begin the long crossing and I have barely thought of it from another perspective  than how interesting it will be and how great it will be to have it done. Am not worried or scared or anything like that as I cannot see any greater risks out there than in any other sea we sailed. I'm sure those nights in Golf of Leon with 5 meter seas and 35 knots of wind or that night of constant thunderstorm and 30-32 knots of wind while surfing on huge seas and praying for my life for us not to get struck by the massive lightnings which were all around us, were much more fearful than an Atlantic crossing can be in January. We will follow the established trade-winds anyway so there shouldn't be too much of surprises, at least not from the weather perspective. Some rain has no one died of and yes the waves can be a bit uncomfortable but that's something I've calculated to have to deal with anyhow. What we could be a bit worried for though and which Alex slightly is already, is the autopilots tiller arm and it's strength after that shock it had to experience in Morocco. The bracket is reinforced a bit but we would definitely have to get it replaced completely and that we haven't had the time for as yet. I am not too worried as I think we will be fine with it and also the Sailomat windpilot, and would both fail - well then it was our bad luck and there's not much else to do than hand-steer and even that is not a major concern from my side. If people have sailed around the world singlehanded without autopilots for almost thirty years now and someone sailed across the Atlantic with a 20-footer by himself for more than 150 years ago, well then we would easily be able to do it without self-steering if that would be our luck. 

I am sure everything will be fine and I'm confident knowing that we will always find a way to solve problems that might arrive. It is a new type of challenge after all and if we wouldn't love great challenges, we wouldn't live this life to begin with.

We feel well prepared and ready, just that goddamn document which has to arrive and then we're ready to go. Will call UPS now again and check what the hell's going on. /Taru

What we're occupied with at the moment

So what do we have left before we can leave? This is one of those things. Alex have designed and mounted new teak seats in the cockpit and these gaps needs now to get filled with sika. Will show the final production once it's finished.

Rest of the list below. (and bear in mind that this is only what has to get done before we leave, there is another long list for not so super important tasks to fulfill when we have more time on some tropical island. ) So:

- Install a new cooler plate for the fridge. We'll be able to produce ice with this new one. Yes!

- One sail is on repair and needs to get back to the boat asap.

- Install the gps antenna for the MaxSea.

- Replace one of the navigation lights.

- Refill with more sika on some of the portholes.

- Fit the battery isolator.

- Install three new battery cables.

- Improve the earthing of the satellite unit.

- Install a larger engine starter battery.

- Clean out the boat and store everything properly.
- Await an important document that should have arrived today, better luck tomorrow I guess.

And.. that would be it for now. /T

Hallucinations

I know I know, all you sailors out there would wish to see a bit more of the boat projects and such but bear with me for a while as we are in a very messy (literally) situation right now when our to-do-list seems longer than that one we started on for one year ago and we are supposed to begin our ocean crossing in about ... 24 hours.

Le Pastis d'Amelie is a cake that Alex sisters friend Nico sent home with us from France and it is one of the most delicate piece of pastry that I have ever tasted. It is from a special bakery in Mazerolles outside of Pau which nowadays are so famous for this round, sweet cake that they only have these on their baking list. When you take a bite of this buttery, creamy dream of a vanilla cake, you instantly get transported to the cake heaven beyond any you've ever visited before. I swear, it feels like you're hallucinating when having the pleasure of having this mixture on your tongue. It is simply ridiculous how buttery one cake can be and I'm mourning in this very moment as we've just finished the grand cake of 700 g this morning. I will definitely have to try putting together something similar asap.

Some other food notes from Las Palmas: I never thought that living with a Frenchman would mean that I would eat this much of foie gras, I think that we two together have eaten around 1 kilo (2.2 US pounds) only since NYE and let me tell you that that is some serious amount of goose liver. My only problem now is to figure out how to get rid of these many extra pounds which these cakes and livers have meant to my body. And somehow that has to get done before I get over to the Caribbean. Will keep you posted. /Taru

Preparing for the Atlantic passage

Pan fried chicken legs with chinese mushrooms and scallions in a hot pepper-sauce.

And that was today's lunch.

As we're about to leave for the Atlantic crossing very soon (tomorrow or Thursday that is), we are now busy with the final planning of the food provisioning for the 18-22 days we will spend on the ocean.

It is a pity that fresh meat isn't lasting for more than the first five days or so and that many vegetables will go bad after 14 days, but we'll manage well with other reserves. What we've been focusing on mostly is to make sure there is enough fresh water (around 100 liters ((26 US gallons)) of reserves in bottles and folding water jugs in case the watermaker would fail), enough pasta/rice/potatoes/beans/noodles/cous cous/cereals/dried fruit/dried vegetables/dried mushrooms/juice/UHT milk and cream for the double of the time we'll be spending on the sea, plenty of baking supplies in case I get baking cravings and obviously everything needed to make some nice fish dishes like lemon juice, coco flakes, garlic, spices, dried basilica and other herbs, soya, wasabi, rice vinegar etc.. With these things we'll be perfectly settled. Will show some pics of how we're storing all of this in the boat, later on. /Taru

Readers reflections

Oh la la, thanks for the nice compliment, K! This women is comparing us with Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkin in the Blue Lagoon and flatters us with even more of her beautiful compliments. Check this out here.

We love your emails and comments and links you send to us, dear readers. Your interaction is one of the main reasons why we, or more specifically I (as I am the writer and producer of this blog) love working with this diary of ours. Every week we receive new wonderful links and trackbacks sent to us with our readers own thoughts about our tour and it is very interesting to see this whole thing from someone else's perspective. 

I have by the way tried to get Alex into the writings of this blog for many months now but he is totally not into it and as he is extremely busy constantly building and fixing with the boat, he also says that he doesn't have the peace of mind or the space in life to gather his thoughts into notes for the moment. We both have our areas in life where we feel most comfortable and writing simply doesn't appeal to him as much as it does to me. Just like boat projects, mounting of gear or mechanical installations might not be priority one in my world.

May be that the blogs content and writings often are angled from my personal perspective, but that is simply how it will have to be, I can't transmit much more than that in a realistic way so you all have too keep up with my ramblings. This blog is as much an interactive tool to stay connected with our families, friends and followers along the tour, as it is my personal diary with images, notes and reflections from these interesting and beautiful years on the sea.

Thanks for reading and make sure we all stay in touch! /Taru

Back again (crossing the Atlantic in a few)

Are you really going to drink both whiskey and two bottles of wine, he asked with a worried look. You sober people do not understand this, she said and took a gulp of the wine. Please leave me to be at least a bit destructive in case the plane would fail and crash.

We're at home now. I never though I could miss a thing of material to this extent, but this boat - our home - most definitely have gotten me addicted. We both feel restless and anxious and worried as soon as we've been away from her for more than a day and it is hard to even imagine what strong bonds of attachment and separation anxiety one must experience when having own kids of flesh and blood to worry about, when only a boat can make you feel this much pain. Anyways, we're at home now and all is good. We'll be finalizing the last preparations tomorrow and then we're meant to be off for a long journey across the Atlantic. Can't wait to get it all started. /T

Night contemplations on a train

In the winter forests between Toulouse and Le Pays Basque (Pau).

If sailing is number one of my preferred ways of transportation and flying the least favorable, train must be up there on number two. The tranquility which embraces your brain when being able to observe the colorful scenery rapidly flashing by gives time to breathe and think, and that is some of what I value the most in life, nowadays. There were times, many years, when I had hard to slow down and I was kind of always on the run and in rush and always looking for something new and now when I analyze those different episodes and chapters of my past life, I can look back on it all with a smile while wondering how the hell did I have the energy for all of that - because right now: peace and harmony is much more worth than anything else that I can think of. Gone are the parties till 9 in the morning, gone are the hectic social life that had to be nurtured and which I loved and valued a lot of course but it is such a distant life to now. Gone are also the constant stress which comes with always being on hunt for one more rush and one more kick and more and more excitements and although there might have been times in my past in which I never thought I would come to this stage, I must say that this calm and harmonic episode is the best time of my life. At least in another way. Obviously I wouldn't know the difference if I hadn't experience the extreme contrary, so for that too I am grateful, for all those contrasts my life has been filled with. Dear universe, I can't thank you enough for all of the opportunities to see so many things and worlds from so many perspectives. With my insights of life alone, I am a truly blessed and rich human being.

So when I was sitting there on that train the other day, listening to the metallic wheels gliding on the rails and while letting my body getting moved by the motion of the ride I asked myself: Are you happy now? Would you never change back to the other life for in that you were so rich, although in another way? Might not have been rich in love from the man of my dreams - but in other sorts of relationships. I had a newly invented business idea with a great future ahead for it and all the necessary contacts and investors ready to turn my ideas to a successful business, I was living in a trendy and happening city full of opportunities in a dream apartment just above Jimmy Choo and other luxurious brands and my balcony was facing Gaudi's trademark of a building on the best spot Barcelona had to offer for living. I was traveling every third week or so to other interesting places in the world and I was living my life to the absolute fullest in every sense of the word. I was strong and felt powerful as I had so many options and I most certainly didn't let anything come between me, my joy and my happiness. I had a driver, a luxurious car available at any time and people who cleaned my clothes and dishes whenever I needed a hand. I was getting spoiled and courted by many and I had a big bunch of friends with whom I had the time of my life in every aspect and both my bank account, my wardrobes and my jewelry boxes were constantly full and ready to give me that superficial glow and artificial happiness - just how many women only can dream of living. If you wish to make an comparison to make the picture more clear, Holly Golightly's life in Breakfast at Tiffany would have been far back in the shadow compared to my life adventures. I was happy. I was fulfilled, as to what were my preferences at that time. I remember I sometimes stood in front of the huge mirror observing myself in my marble coated Versace bathroom, I smiled and I said to myself: You are there now, this is what you have always fantasized of since you were a little girl and you have everything on hand that you could ever dream of. It was a happiness so strong and intense. Cause I had it all. Or did I, really? For what happened that night when I met Alex? How could I have replaced that life full of so much craziness and I'm talking in the good way - to the extreme contrary? I definitely do not mean to sound like a cliché but simply it was love what was missing. And while I've been evaluating and contemplating back and forth during the last 14 months since I decided to leave the past and move on to a new chapter (and it certainly wasn't easy, mind you) the foremost answer that comes up in my conclusions no matter how I twist and turn this thing, is that true love is the king of it all. 

So while sitting there listening to the rhythmical sound from the wheels of the train and with the camera in my hand trying to capture some sorts of balance and unbalance through the lens I quickly answered myself to my question: Yes I am. I am happy and content. I have lived both extremes and also much more lives beyond those two and I have had enough time and situations to reflect upon what really is true and right for me and the answer is already deeply acknowledged by every part of my body and soul. Yes, this is happiness. That type of happiness which doesn't bring you gold and diamonds but true joy and powerful feelings of love. I might not have a job or a stable income for the moment as I left all my security behind but I'm confident in our future plans and I'm willing to take the risk of being broke for a while just because I believe in this journey and in me and my man more than in anything else. This love, life and voyage might not take me on first class flights from one bling bling world to another but it takes me places, real places I've never seen before and it most certainly doesn't bring me black cards with unlimited spend with what you're able to do whatever you wish but it does give me a ticket to life full of purity and freedom and reality and adventures beyond anything I ever experienced and that is something which no titanium cards in the world can buy. 

For what else in life could ever be more important than love, harmony and a peace of mind. Even for a relationship anarchist, a true individualist and a cynical and somewhat destroyed soul who swore that she would never give her heart to a man for real - one day she had to give up the barriers and let it all go for the truth. We all need love and that truth is inevitable, even though the thought of that other type of happiness in another time of my life always will be a sweet memory of mine. 

Whatever happens in the future and wherever I/we're going, I will always feel blessed and thankful for what life had in store for me. Sometimes it takes only such small things as a ride on a train to realize and remember that we human beings have all the possibilities in the world to create our own dream lives. It all can be so easy, once we understand that we have the ultimate power in our own hands to make it happen in one way or the other. And when we get to where we wish, we must remember and have the humbleness to acknowledge that it might happen that although you think you know what is the best life can bring you, one day someone may enter your world and completely turn upside down and inside out on your believes. And for that possibility I am utterly grateful. /Taru

Hello Pyrenees

We survived the flight. Of course we did. We miss our boat tremendously already after a few hours away but we feel confident knowing that we have friends watching her for us until we return in just a few hours. We are now in the French Pyrenees for some family get togethers and also picking up Alex's 6.6 round-tailed surf board. He definitely got a hunger for more when he was up there on those waves in Lanzarote the other day and I can't say anything less than I too feel very amped to get started with surfing. I'm dreaming of all of those fantastic photos and videos I will be able to shoot when we get to different surfers paradises around the world *drooling of the pure thought*. (Just need to get in touch with GoPro for some video camera inquiries but it seem to be a mission impossible to find a proper contact at that company. Any help to get in touch with someone over there are very welcome Thanks.)

Other good news: Finally we have found a new charger for our Canon 5D. In a small modest camera boutique in Toulouse it was waiting for us. Thank God we went in to ask. We've been calling all over Spain, Sweden and France to get a hold on one but everywhere they informed us of at least 2 weeks of delivery time. I'm having so much video ideas for this blog that I can't wait to get back home to the boat to start the production. /Taru

More from Morocco

Can you tell that food and eating was our main occupation during our stay in the country of contrasts. Besides of having a couple of electronic devices destroyed due to the power surge in the Rabat marina (even if we had a surge protector) and some uncomfortable days and night while waiting out the gale in a very underdeveloped marina in Agadir, it was a great three weeks stay overall. We're glad we had the time and opportunity to see so much of that interesting country. Highlights were definitely one night in Casablanca and the very inspiring first night in the colorful and busy medina. /Taru

Here's more of our pics and stories from Morocco, for new readers.