We left Alghero with a send-off at the dock of about 6 mariachi singers with instruments singing the “Tequila” song. We realized that they were not really singing for us but for the drunk German neighbor boat, who by the way kept us up every night with their carousing (maybe we are just jealous that they didn’t invite us). Everyone was dancing around and paid them with cans of beer. Really though, it was great fun!!!!



We had a peaceful and gently passage all the way to Spain and the island of Menorca. It’s about 200 nautical miles and took us 26 hours. We wish for each and every soul to experience the timelessness of gliding along under a blanket of stars with nothing but ocean all around you as the sliver of the crescent moon turns golden, dropping peacefully into the ocean.

The “puppies of the ocean”, (dolphins) came to play with us and swim gracefully along our bow just as we entered the waters off of Spain. YEAH!!!!!

It was such an easeful passage, especially after all of our challenges last year in Greece. And yet we still find it interesting how our minds like to mess with us. Shouldn’t there be more of a challenge, if it is really worthy? Is it really as good as we think it is if it is so damn easy? How messed up our old conditioning is and how surprised we are that it still shows up for us, as we really do believe that “Life is supposed to be easeful”. How would our lives change if we didn’t struggle and always try to sail into the wind. Still so much to “let go of” as old habitual patterns of thought that no longer serve us still like to appear.

We enjoyed the port of Mahon for a few nights and met some interesting Aussie sailors who were great fun. In fact, their kangaroo jumped ship and decided to play aboard EcstaSea for a night but alas, we gave her back before we sailed away.

We are anchoring in some of our favorite coves from the time we spent here 3 years ago. The familiarity is comforting and we also look forward to the discovery of new and beautiful spots to drop anchor.

We are off to the island of Mallorca to find a secluded and special cove to experience Full Moon on Wed. June 15th. Enjoy your “fullness of light” wherever you may be……

2011 Beginning Again

We left our Tucson home two weeks ago today and here we are again at our ocean home on EcstaSea. She wintered here in Alghero, Sardinia (an Italian island) and she is now ready to sail free to wherever we head her. As always, it took a few days to get over our jet-lag as there is an 8 hour time difference. But within just a few days EcstaSea was put in the water and we began the work of getting her ready to sail. Lots of good hard work as we rigged the sails, cleaned her up and provisioned.
Willow’s courage was challenged but she triumphed as Richard hauled her up to the top of the mast for some needed repairs. What a view!!! Yeah, that little speck at the top really is Willow.


We have re-acquainted ourselves with this sweet little town and eaten lasagne, pasta, great wine and lots of gelato at our favorite restaurants. While the food is wonderful we notice that there is not the variety that we are accustomed to -- it is still all Italian food. So, once in a while we really, really, really need to visit McDonalds!!!!

We hear the old gypsy couple as she plays the tambourine and he plays the same 10 notes of “It’s now or never” on his saxophone (all day long). We would love to to pay them to stop but don’t know how to communicate that in Italiano.


We took a few days outside of Alghero and anchored out in a little cove just to get our sea legs back. Once again we are aware of the great contrast between living on land where nothing under your feet moves to living on a fluid, constantly changing ocean of waves. Everything moving and changing which is really what life is all about, isn’t it?

It’s still spring like here with a chill in the air and we realize we left Tucson summer and are enjoying a change of seasons, in reverse.

We enjoy the sound of the boisterous and demonstrative Italian language all around us, but are struck with the silence within our own minds since we can’t understand what they are saying. No eavesdropping or intrusion into our own thoughts since we have no comprehension of the multitude of conversations around us. It is quite refreshing and oh so quiet in the midst of so much noise….

And yes, we do know enough Italian to get by when we need to and that is just enough for us.

The sunsets have been spectacular as we watch the sun go down with a glass of wine on the deck of EcstaSea and notice the statue of Mary overlooking the harbor. We love this old walled city with it's cobblestone streets and are proud to call it "ours", well, at least for now.



Once again our time on EcstaSea is “timeless” and that is the gift we give ourselves with this lifestyle that we have chosen. Timeless, peaceful, quiet and full of awareness and beauty. For this we are ever thankful…..

Snowy Buddha

The Buddha always graces our back wall but very seldom does it have the backdrop of magnificent white snowy mountains.
Awesome!!!!!

Year End Blessings

Just a little catch up about life as we are living it on Terra Firma....
After a long resting time we were ready to play again and spent a few days in the beginning of December in Las Vegas. It was a fulfillment of a "want" to see Leonard Cohen (poet, singer-songwriter) live in concert, and ohhhhh what a concert it was!!!! And of course, Las Vegas was as curious, wild and fun as ever !!!!!

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Then we felt the pull on our heart strings to spend time once again with our long time teacher, Ram Dass. The retreat "Open Your Heart in Paradise" was aptly named as it was on the island of Maui- which of course, is about as close as you can get to paradise in physicality and form. We spent 5 days with him in total bliss as at 79 and still stroked he is truly in his prime and completely present in love. We got to spend several hours each evening in kirtan with Krishna Das and daily meditation teachings with Sharon Salzberg and also yoga.





















Now, we are still in Maui for the Christmas holiday and will actually spend Christmas in a "treehouse" on the back side of the island in Hana. If you want a picture and view of our Treehouse check out this website and click on the "Tree Tops" (http://hanalani.maui.net).

The gift of Christ was and is his unconditional love and in that spirit we celebrate. Our gift to each of you is our love and our wish for your ever expanding peace, love and joy......

Namaste' (the spirit of love within us recognizes and honors the spirit of love in you),
Willow and Richard

Tucson Home

Well here we are back in our Tucson home in the desert and far away from our EcstaSea home at sea. What extreme contrast we have created in our lives. And we truly love all of it.

If you have read our last blog you will understand why we are a wee bit tired and why we are taking our time with re-entry into the social, civilized world. We are just getting our "land legs" under us and acclimating to life without movement and moisture. All is well.........

Living in such a timeless state on the boat we truly are surprised and amazed that it is already November. And we know that time is a mystery for each of you as well. So let's just relax in the mystery and enjoy the unfolding of whatever is........

Wild Rides

We had the sweetest passage from Greece to Syracusa, Sicily. Gentle breezes and calm seas and the oceanic experience of moon rising, sunrise, moon set and sunset all into the vastness of nothing but water. This has got to be one of the purest, timeless experiences that we wish you all could personally experience for yourselves.

Richard has become the master of calling forth dolphins to come play with us, and they did many times on this journey. They are the playful puppies of the ocean and truly seem to thrive on our attention and they love to interact with us. They swim and leap at the bow, rolling over and looking right up at us as we whoop and holler and laugh like children. What a gift of joyful consciousness they give to us.

After a few days in Syracusa it was time to move on to the island of Sardinia where we will leave EcstaSea for the winter. And just as sweet as the last passage was, this passage couldn't have been more punishing. It was 2 days and nights of what can only be described as the scariest carnival ride that you could ever imagine---and you can't get off of it. Or imagine being tossed and turned in a giant washing machine.
And once again our old friend and teacher "fear" had a chance to visit with us, challenge us, and bring us truth. The opportunity to meet fear face to face, and then the invitation to breathe into that spacious place of peace deep within. And yes, it is there in all of us if we are willing to be still and allow it to reveal itself as our true nature.

We landed a bit beat up but safe on the east coast of Sardinia in the little port of Arbatax. After sleeping for 14 hours upon arrival the seas were still unsafe and so we rested for a few more days waiting for the rain to let up and the seas to calm down. Then we slowly made our way up the east coast and around to the north coast of Sardinia before having to find shelter again from the gale force winds. Then once again on our way, we took on a 20ft. wave as we were going through the narrow and shallow Fornelli Passage. And that truly got our attention!!! And again we were so thankful that we have such a strong and powerful boat.
FINALLY we arrived at our destination port of Alghero on the west coast where EcstaSea will spend the winter. What a journey and what a relief to finally arrive safe and sound, although exhausted and wet.

We have a truly blessed life-- truly blessed and we are thankful for every moment of it. But this time on the boat is not our vacation- it is our life and a life that we have chosen as our path to self inquiry and truth. Often it is pure ecstasy and other times it is pure hell but within each experience we acknowledge the gift it gives us to dig a little deeper. And fear this year has been a huge blessing taking us deeper and quicker to the place of letting go of even the smallest fears that no longer serve us. The challenges have also given us the knowing that we can truly trust, depend on, and love one another in an even deeper way. And that together in our love we can rise to meet any challenge or fear.

This beautiful vessel called "EcstaSea" is the vehicle that we are currently using as our path for self discovery just as each of you have your own vehicle whether it be work, children, relationships, health, etc. We encourage you to use your vehicle well. Allow it to take you to that deepest truth of who you really are as magnificent beings of the universe. Dive into that exquisite endless ocean of "You"!!!!

Sooo, this summer was not what we had envisioned or even wanted at times-- but it was just what we needed and it was perfect. Life continues to expand and grow us.........

Thank you Greece

A few pictures of our time in Greece as it comes to a close........



This is the island of Skorpios- the private island of Aristotle Onassis and the little beach house that Jackie Onassis loved. Of course, it is a totally private island and one can only sail around it. It is beautiful.



















Who says we don't cook or eat really, really well on board EcstaSea?????









End of Season Photos as the Captain gets ready to swim and snorkel and the First Mate (and Only mate) enjoys a sail around the islands...........

It is time to sail on and make our way to Syracusa, Sicily. How thankful we are for our time this year in Greece with it's treasure of valuable lessons for us. It has given us the chance to meet fear face to face (real or imagined) and choose what we do with it. We often ask ourselves "What would love do?" and since we believe that fear is the opposite of love we can also ask ourselves "What would fear do?". And with both of those questions there is an answer and a choosing. Not a one time choice but a moment by moment choice. Of course for all of us there is always a choice in everything whether we do it consciously or not. Our seeing and meeting of fear this year has born a commitment to be aware of it in all areas of our lives (big or small), to meet it and not hide and then to consciously choose again. To choose love........