We decided that we needed to get out and do something. We’ve been hyper responsible the last several months and haven’t been some of those complaining about quarantine closures either. We wanted to really get out and do something. The search didn’t take to long for us to decide that going snorkeling was probably one of the safest routes.  Amanda and I could spend most of the time in the water and keep our distance from others. The boat to the key was a little more crowded than we’d like but was manageable considering it was open to the air and we were zipping through the water. The 15 mile trip from Gulf Port to Fort DeSoto National Park with dolphins playing in the wake of the boat was pleasant but a bit

noisy considering the large 500 horsepower engines of the tour boat. We were there for the chance to get in the water and do a little exploring and that was what was important. The water was warm and only about 60% as clear as the Caribbean so you had to look more carefully to see the wildlife. The fish in that area of the gulf aren’t nearly as brightly colored as coral swimming fish either. The fish tend to be brown or sand-colored and blend in easily with the grasses and bottom. The chance for us to spend some time swimming and exploring was nice anyway. We even took a little time to walk the shoreline in search of plastic and other trash that had washed up. The trip was about 5 hours total and was only a 110 dollars for the two of us, tip included.

I had the opportunity to sit in on a webinar with  Behan and Jamie from the Sailing Totem blog.  The topic was on the places they think should be on your travel list if you have the chance to go cruising. The term cruising in this sense in referring to sailing a yacht or other sailing vessel for an extended period of time. Behan and Jamie started sailing with their young family, and we mean young considering their children were ages 4, 6, and 9 at the time on August 21, 2008 and haven’t looked back. The family has become very popular YouTubers as well as running a sail making business. A unique service they offer is that of lifestyle coaching. The couple takes on clients and helps advise them on how to achieve a cruising way of life. A couple of examples are planing, boat shopping, planning for departure, helping you clear hurdles after you set sail, like finding who to talk to when you are caught at sea during a pandemic and aren’t allowed to enter a port.

You know how Amanda and I love to be on the water and we’ve been looking for a good boat to take us away from the madness and a service like theirs is something we’re really considering.

I’m writing about them today because after that webinar because they are definitely worth following online and on youtube.

If you are interested in the cruising lifestyle just click the link below.

Sailing Totem

 

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Wednesday night racing canceled? No problem, @cruisingworldmag has you covered! We’re kicking off their weekly “Cocktails with Cruising World” series, Wednesday nights at 5 p.m. EST – starting next week on June 17th. . Grab your beverage of choice, pull up a screen, and hang out while we talk with Cruising World editors Herb McCormick and Mark Pillsbury. In the weeks ahead: Wendy Mitman Clarke, and Cap’n Fatty & Carolyn Goodlander. Link from bio to register! . . . . . #dreamworthytoseaworthy #cruisinglife #cruisingworld #cocktailswithCruisingWorld #sailinstagram #homeiswheretheboatis #boatlife #liveaboard #sailboat #sailingtotem #sailing #stevens47 #hylasyachts #travelfamily #womenwhosail #travelblogger #bajacaliforniasur #seaofcortez #gulfodecalifornia #zoommeetup

A post shared by Sailing Totem (@sailingtotem) on Jun 11, 2020 at 2:42pm PDT

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A well-managed crisis equals normalcy returns quickly. We’ve been in awe recently of New Zealand and how fast they’ve handled crises. I was in awe of how fast an entire country can act when it determines something is a priority.  A month after 50 people were killed in 2019 by a white nationalist opened fire at a mosque the country enacted an assault weapons ban. I was very impressed and so was Amanda.  We now have coronavirus. The world is shut down and despite the number of people pretending that it is business as usual, we still don’t have sports back in a stadium filled with fans here in the US. The sports leagues have attempted to get back by playing without fans, not only in the US, but in Japan, Korea, and Europe. We as fans know its not the same. I personally can’t imagine watching a hockey game without the sound of the fans in the stands. I feel we are in this fix because of a lot of reasons but most of all mismanagement by our government in their response. You can’t say there was no way to prevent this predicament because once again New Zealand has proved that a nationwide response to this epidemic is possible.  Yesterday, Rugby returned to New Zealand and had a packed stadium filled with 20,000 fans as the Otago Highlanders and the Waikato Chiefs. We attribute all of that to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s leadership. I wasn’t a big fan of her at first either. I’ve become a huge fan. I know it will take great leadership and actual sacrifice for many of us, but we too in the United States, can have a true return to normalcy one day.

A new street appeared near the White House. The section of the street used to be called 16th Street NW where it ended in front of Laffeyett Park and can be seen from the White House is now called Black Lives Matter Plaza. We hope you enjoy the announcement and the video.

The section of 16th street in front of the White House is now officially “Black Lives Matter Plaza”. pic.twitter.com/bbJgAYE35b

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) June 5, 2020

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We were scrolling twitter the other day and came across this most clever take on the Covid-19 Quarantine life. The people behind the Frommers guide books, books we recommend as a solid choice for planning a trip to just about anywhere, pushed this parody of themselves to Twitter. You’ve got to feel for anyone in the travel industry right now given the idea is “STAY SAFE, STAY AT HOME”. We know it will pick up again, eventually.  You all stay safe.

I recommend clicking on the link below to get a good look at these great mock-ups of Frommer’s covers. If you love travel books you will get a kick of it it.

Courtesy Frommer’s Travel

Click Here For Frommer’s Self Parody