Rewinding slightly….Day 5 … on my way to Tonga.

This I wrote while on passage….First off, I have made some changes to my itinerary. My intention was to stop in Niue for four days or so before catching the wind to Tonga. What I have discovered is that a storm is brewing and is expected to arrive next week on Thursday. Therefore, my window to make it to Tonga is getting smaller. So, I decided to skip Niue, perhaps catch it after my time in Italy for my daughter’s wedding. The wind and waves have been so lovely that another five days on the ocean on my own will be welcomed. In fact, this crossing on my own has been just wonderful.

Sometimes I wonder if I truly understand the concept of being out here all by myself. Sometimes I stand on my back-rest, at the helm, and look forward, as far as I can see and yell “YES”!. I see Sarantium slicing through the dark blue waves and nothing else matters. I cannot see another boat nor can I see any birds or sea creatures. It’s just me and the beautiful deep blue ocean! Wave after wave. The feeling is pure solitude. Solitude is always something I have valued and reached for. Until now I have never truly experienced it. I believe solitude is extremely difficult to find, especially in a culture that values production, ownership and performance. I valued those things not too long ago. Although, my life was always rich, filled with fun activities and friends to share the moments with, this feeling I have now is new and powerful. The newness of caring much about the small things in life… but not get hung up on the small mistakes or imperfections. I have left a life behind that kept me stuck in certain societal expectations. I now feel free, in so many ways. And I feel connected to myself more now than ever before.

When I am not sleeping or napping, I have been busy with journaling, meditation and reading. I have a couple of people I check in with daily, on my Garmin InReach. I send them my location and a quick hello. I also turn Starlink on every morning and post a photo on social media and post on my blog. I am off-grid 23 hours a day.

I opened my Kindle three days ago and noticed that I had four books started so I decided to finish reading them. I noticed a theme, all books describes the adventurous lives of women who, similar to me, decided to leave and explore the world alone. I really do not know where or what this journey will bring me, and it does not seem important either. Perhaps I will never be able to explain it. All I know is that everyday will bring me a small realization about life. One day at a time. One nautical mile at a time.

Somewhere in the middle of the South Pacific. 500nmiles to go, before I see the land of the Kingdom of Tonga!