Unfortunately I haven't been reading your Substack lately or any of the blogs I usually follow. I barely look at Facebook. Our lives have been thrown way off kilter. Hopefully soon I will share on my blog what has been going on with us these last 5 months.
But when I saw the headline to the post, I wondered if it was about our meeting. I scanned the post, found our names, and told Greg. I finally got a chance to read this today.
I'm so glad that you stopped at our campsite! Not everyone driving down a forest service road would see a guy playing the Accor and think that was a good place to stay for the night.
Here is one of my favorite story about being helped by a stranger.
Greg and I were aboard Blue Wing in the Bahamas anchored off Lee Stocking Island in the Exumas. There was an abandoned research center there that we wanted to explore. As we rowed our little plastic butter tub of a dinghy, Fever, to shore through the tiny anchorage we were greeted and had small chats with a few other cruisers as we passed their boats.
The next day we decided to explore another nearby island, Norman's Pond Cay. This was a much longer trip in our rowboat but is was a beautiful day and we loved tooling around in Fever. We ended up on the other side of the island a good distance and out of sight from the anchorage and went ashore for a hike. About the time we decided to go back our beautiful day started looking nasty. We hurried to Fever and set off back to Blue Wing. The wind picked up, rain spit down on us, and waves tossed us and Fever around. Greg rowed and I bailed.
As we rounded the southern corner of the island, the anchorage was in sight but still a good ways in the distance. It was slow going but we knew we'd make it eventually. Then, much to our surprise we saw a fellow sailor in an inflatable dinghy with an outboard motor coming towards us. Apparently, this sailor, one of the people who we had met in the anchorage the previous day had seen us row towards Norman's Pond that morning and had noticed when the weather had turned that we hadn't come back yet. He called around to the other boats and hailed us on the VHF, but no one had any idea where we were and apparently we hadn't thought to turn our radio on.
As the dinghy approached our neighbor from the anchorage asked us we needed help. Greg was ready to tell him we had it all under control (we did in a way but it was very unpleasant) when I said, "Yes!" I climbed into the inflatable and our rescuer towed Fever and Greg back to the anchorage.
Duwan! I was wondering since I hadn't seen a blog of late. I'm going to hit you up offline so we can catch up.
I LOVE your stories from Blue Wing. Despite living nomadically in a handful of different modes, the boat life seems exotic and dreamy and sort of out of reach, I guess is how I'd say it. Hearing about your adventures with the boat and the dinghy is a wonderful way to live it vicariously.
Your stories also remind me of how much we are like souls, you and me, which is why I think we bonded so quickly. I cackled at "apparently we hadn't thought to turn our radio on." And that a neighbor noticed your absence is no surprise. You guys are a delight to share space with.
adventures galore! . . . regarding safety . . . bear spray . . . as the motto says "spray 'em, don't slay 'em" . . . that stuff stops grizzlies and polar bears dead in their tracks . . . untoward humans are a piece of cake.
Adventures indeed! Thank you for reading and commenting, David.
I do often carry bear spray in bear country. Have never had occasion to think about using it--even on the few occasions I’ve had close-ish encounters with bears.
Holly, it's a pleasure to read about your journey as I'm one of those homebodies who is happily planted in my beautiful New England and absolutely zero desire to leave! Variety is the spice of life so keep seasoning us!
You know, very recently we made a new friend suffering from Parkinson's - it really wasn't very long after meeting him that we realized he was in need of help for things like dog walks/sitting, a steady shoulder to help him navigate shopping, and other little favors that were so simple for us, but a huge help for him. He's become a good friend, and we realized how sometimes very little things can become enormous challenges for folks with disabilities. 🖖
What a captivating and serendipitous journey you've shared! Sometimes the most unexpected detours lead us to the most enriching experiences. I appreciate you letting us glimpse into this chapter of your travels, filled with the challenges of the road, the generosity of strangers, and the joy of shared moments.
Truth. I have been, many many times, grateful for the generosity of strangers. And on occasion for the joy of being that generous stranger. Thank you, Winston.
I mean Nomadland was good. And I met Bob Wells, the guy who started Rubber Tramp Rendezvous and features for a bit. Frances McDormand's acting and the scenery were beautiful. And I have seen some vanlife/roadlife that resembled that portrayed in the film. So there was an inkling of familiarity there.
AND it doesn't represent the vanlifing/roaming I and most the folx who've become my road fam were doing. We humans are a categorizing bunch, and I suppose that's what i'm about to do. But I'm guessing people in general might think of one of two extremes when they think of vanlife--either that in Nomadland, an imposition of economic and societal forces beyond the individual's control that may yet still bring a sort of freedom or the Sprinter van luxury, life on-the-go variety. My roaming has been in between the two. Ruby, as anyone who's following surely has no doubt, is no Sprinter. But life and travels in her was not an imposition of circumstance. Struggles interior and exterior, no doubt, abounded. But ... I think i'm just trying to say it captured one of many, many ways of vanlifing. Maybe I should write an essay on this!
Wait, Just realized you said Nomad. Are we talking about different movies? Hahaha.
I would have been a van guy back in the day... but instead would up as a homeless person... with no van... or car or anything lol.
Of course there is a scale as with anything...
Homeless - then living in a Car.... then really broke van life like in the movie...
then more wealthy van... then I guess the super rich RV people.
Closest to van life I got was renovating a rotted out old 1984 5th wheel that I forced my family to live in for 6 months on a farm I was building.
I like to think Im a student of society and how the individual functions and rises and falls within it. Which is why I liked that movie.
Ive been fully staving and homeless, and Ive lived for months in 500 USD a night giant castle hotels ...
Ive been the hustling immigrant, and I love moving to communes for a while and existing as they do....
Once I was living on a farm in the Out back Of Australia and mostly living on what I could hunt. I was offered a good job in the city and I chose not to take it.
The guy who offered it to me was very wealthy and wise.
I asked him If he though I was stupid for not taking the job. He said
"Everyone has their method of survival. Whos to say that the tribal life is wrong or even being broke living on kangaroo meat on a farm is wrong, or working non stop in a factory in china is wrong"
"If you feel you are surviving then thats all that matters. Its your life. "
Its likely in this society we will all live to over 80. So make yourself happy first.
-
And so I never got that got and keep living in the bush and it was amazing.
If things go full Mad Max I will be fine, due to those years.
I dig the breadth of experience your life has brought you and the perspective it's honed. Your writing takes me to wherever you are, and I'm glad I found your work and you mine and that we're here discussing these things. Yeah, scale is an inevitable part of it all.
Wise words about the individual method of survival. Again, broad spectrum comes to mind. There are so many ways to be, to thrive. Such a rich fabric of possibilities.
Thank you for your work and your comments. And I could TOTALLY see you as a van guy back in the sand and a Mad Max survivor. :) I think I'd do fairly well. Maybe. Haha.
When’s a time you’ve helped or been helped by a stranger?
Unfortunately I haven't been reading your Substack lately or any of the blogs I usually follow. I barely look at Facebook. Our lives have been thrown way off kilter. Hopefully soon I will share on my blog what has been going on with us these last 5 months.
But when I saw the headline to the post, I wondered if it was about our meeting. I scanned the post, found our names, and told Greg. I finally got a chance to read this today.
I'm so glad that you stopped at our campsite! Not everyone driving down a forest service road would see a guy playing the Accor and think that was a good place to stay for the night.
Here is one of my favorite story about being helped by a stranger.
Greg and I were aboard Blue Wing in the Bahamas anchored off Lee Stocking Island in the Exumas. There was an abandoned research center there that we wanted to explore. As we rowed our little plastic butter tub of a dinghy, Fever, to shore through the tiny anchorage we were greeted and had small chats with a few other cruisers as we passed their boats.
The next day we decided to explore another nearby island, Norman's Pond Cay. This was a much longer trip in our rowboat but is was a beautiful day and we loved tooling around in Fever. We ended up on the other side of the island a good distance and out of sight from the anchorage and went ashore for a hike. About the time we decided to go back our beautiful day started looking nasty. We hurried to Fever and set off back to Blue Wing. The wind picked up, rain spit down on us, and waves tossed us and Fever around. Greg rowed and I bailed.
As we rounded the southern corner of the island, the anchorage was in sight but still a good ways in the distance. It was slow going but we knew we'd make it eventually. Then, much to our surprise we saw a fellow sailor in an inflatable dinghy with an outboard motor coming towards us. Apparently, this sailor, one of the people who we had met in the anchorage the previous day had seen us row towards Norman's Pond that morning and had noticed when the weather had turned that we hadn't come back yet. He called around to the other boats and hailed us on the VHF, but no one had any idea where we were and apparently we hadn't thought to turn our radio on.
As the dinghy approached our neighbor from the anchorage asked us we needed help. Greg was ready to tell him we had it all under control (we did in a way but it was very unpleasant) when I said, "Yes!" I climbed into the inflatable and our rescuer towed Fever and Greg back to the anchorage.
Duwan! I was wondering since I hadn't seen a blog of late. I'm going to hit you up offline so we can catch up.
I LOVE your stories from Blue Wing. Despite living nomadically in a handful of different modes, the boat life seems exotic and dreamy and sort of out of reach, I guess is how I'd say it. Hearing about your adventures with the boat and the dinghy is a wonderful way to live it vicariously.
Your stories also remind me of how much we are like souls, you and me, which is why I think we bonded so quickly. I cackled at "apparently we hadn't thought to turn our radio on." And that a neighbor noticed your absence is no surprise. You guys are a delight to share space with.
Talk soon. And thank you for sharing here.
It is so lovely that people come along to help just when we need it most, it almost makes it feel like is somehow orchestrated. :)
Two ladies helped me push my car, up a hill, once, as I’d run out of petrol just shy of the petrol station.
Great piece, Holly. Below are two lines, I really enjoyed :)
“Now, the sun’s looking at me tilt-wise, too lazy even to blind me as I turn west...”
“Soon, we’re watch the sun have its way with sky, cold lagers in hand.”
adventures galore! . . . regarding safety . . . bear spray . . . as the motto says "spray 'em, don't slay 'em" . . . that stuff stops grizzlies and polar bears dead in their tracks . . . untoward humans are a piece of cake.
Adventures indeed! Thank you for reading and commenting, David.
I do often carry bear spray in bear country. Have never had occasion to think about using it--even on the few occasions I’ve had close-ish encounters with bears.
Holly, it's a pleasure to read about your journey as I'm one of those homebodies who is happily planted in my beautiful New England and absolutely zero desire to leave! Variety is the spice of life so keep seasoning us!
Thanks, David. New England is gorgeous indeed.
You know, very recently we made a new friend suffering from Parkinson's - it really wasn't very long after meeting him that we realized he was in need of help for things like dog walks/sitting, a steady shoulder to help him navigate shopping, and other little favors that were so simple for us, but a huge help for him. He's become a good friend, and we realized how sometimes very little things can become enormous challenges for folks with disabilities. 🖖
Troy, this is wonderful! I don’t know how I missed this comment earlier. Glad someone else commented so I came back to this section.
I think the more we learn to connect in these simple ways, the more abundance we create for ourselves and in the world.
What a captivating and serendipitous journey you've shared! Sometimes the most unexpected detours lead us to the most enriching experiences. I appreciate you letting us glimpse into this chapter of your travels, filled with the challenges of the road, the generosity of strangers, and the joy of shared moments.
Truth. I have been, many many times, grateful for the generosity of strangers. And on occasion for the joy of being that generous stranger. Thank you, Winston.
Great stuff!
What did you think about that movie Nomad?
I mean Nomadland was good. And I met Bob Wells, the guy who started Rubber Tramp Rendezvous and features for a bit. Frances McDormand's acting and the scenery were beautiful. And I have seen some vanlife/roadlife that resembled that portrayed in the film. So there was an inkling of familiarity there.
AND it doesn't represent the vanlifing/roaming I and most the folx who've become my road fam were doing. We humans are a categorizing bunch, and I suppose that's what i'm about to do. But I'm guessing people in general might think of one of two extremes when they think of vanlife--either that in Nomadland, an imposition of economic and societal forces beyond the individual's control that may yet still bring a sort of freedom or the Sprinter van luxury, life on-the-go variety. My roaming has been in between the two. Ruby, as anyone who's following surely has no doubt, is no Sprinter. But life and travels in her was not an imposition of circumstance. Struggles interior and exterior, no doubt, abounded. But ... I think i'm just trying to say it captured one of many, many ways of vanlifing. Maybe I should write an essay on this!
Wait, Just realized you said Nomad. Are we talking about different movies? Hahaha.
Whatever the case, thanks!!
Yes thats what I meant Nomadland...
I would have been a van guy back in the day... but instead would up as a homeless person... with no van... or car or anything lol.
Of course there is a scale as with anything...
Homeless - then living in a Car.... then really broke van life like in the movie...
then more wealthy van... then I guess the super rich RV people.
Closest to van life I got was renovating a rotted out old 1984 5th wheel that I forced my family to live in for 6 months on a farm I was building.
I like to think Im a student of society and how the individual functions and rises and falls within it. Which is why I liked that movie.
Ive been fully staving and homeless, and Ive lived for months in 500 USD a night giant castle hotels ...
Ive been the hustling immigrant, and I love moving to communes for a while and existing as they do....
Once I was living on a farm in the Out back Of Australia and mostly living on what I could hunt. I was offered a good job in the city and I chose not to take it.
The guy who offered it to me was very wealthy and wise.
I asked him If he though I was stupid for not taking the job. He said
"Everyone has their method of survival. Whos to say that the tribal life is wrong or even being broke living on kangaroo meat on a farm is wrong, or working non stop in a factory in china is wrong"
"If you feel you are surviving then thats all that matters. Its your life. "
Its likely in this society we will all live to over 80. So make yourself happy first.
-
And so I never got that got and keep living in the bush and it was amazing.
If things go full Mad Max I will be fine, due to those years.
I dig the breadth of experience your life has brought you and the perspective it's honed. Your writing takes me to wherever you are, and I'm glad I found your work and you mine and that we're here discussing these things. Yeah, scale is an inevitable part of it all.
Wise words about the individual method of survival. Again, broad spectrum comes to mind. There are so many ways to be, to thrive. Such a rich fabric of possibilities.
Thank you for your work and your comments. And I could TOTALLY see you as a van guy back in the sand and a Mad Max survivor. :) I think I'd do fairly well. Maybe. Haha.
Thank YOU :) Heres another aspect of me that you may want to send on to people it may help :)
https://substack.com/@helpforgals
Thanks! Looking forward to checking it out.
I love your stories, Holly, but I do worry about you.
Just go on about your business and never mind me. Just hovering here... 💕😏