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While at anchor in the South Pacific, I wrote a book about my voyage. From daunting weather to relationships sweet and sour, wild waves and boat repairs, this very personal memoir shares my many challenges, my search for harmony with nature, and how I come to feel the unity of all things. The team at Patagonia Books, along with illustrator Daniella Manini, bring my story to life with amazing art and four photo galleries. It’s a work of enormous love, with the intention to inspire others to follow their hearts, protect our planet, and live out their dreams. Ask for it in your local independent bookstore, order online, download as an e-book, or listen to me read it as an audiobook. While at anchor in the South Pacific, I wrote a book about my voyage. I’m excited to share the personal story of my voyage with the world. Book available now!
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…simply Grateful!!

Posted on Nov 29, 2010 | 10 Comments

MY HEART BEATS FOR TURQUOISE!!!!!!!!

…hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend!

I walked up into the mountains to celebrate my gratitude for all that is:

The air is still cool as I lock my bike and start up the trail. Ahhhh,  morning light glowing on the hillside! Lovely!! I wander along, still a bit sleepy…

The trees are standing so tall! I thank them and inhale some of their life-giving O2…it seems so green and lush in contrast to the Golden State?! The leaves are almost leaping out across the grassy trail, I can almost feel the chlorophyll working its photosynthetic magic! Life, what miracle…what mystery!…what gratitude I feel!?
My hunk of flesh and bones burns and perspires as I break into a quick sprint, just for fun…to feel my heart beat! My machine is working, I’m ALIVE!

…Ho! Wild horses! Not a bad gig they got up here…tranquille…munching at the plentiful foliage…two baby foals lie quietly in the grass, a grown horse rolls on its back in the sun…I bid them ‘tama’a maitai’ (bon apetite!) and carry on with my sprint until it hurts too much. I march slowly along again…some pigs and cows too, bumble in and out of the brush along the trail. Lizards dash on tree trunks and the wind gossips amongst the limbs overhead.

Almost there…

The top!! The belly of the lagoon shimmers in the morning sun—diamonds sparkling over turquoise! That turquoise…oh how that color really does it for me! Can’t ever seem to get enough of it…and petite tufts of puffy white trot across the vast ceiling of blue. The sea and sky are full of joy today, not a menacing cirrus or towering cumulonimbus, or jagged wind wave in sight. I can make out small lines pushing into the reef on the south coast…I know where I’ll be this afternoon…

I sit in the shade of the trees and contemplate gratitude…a notion with the ability to transform every moment. No matter what’s going on in my life, there’s always so much to be grateful for…I won’t think about the stuck throttle lever and the broken bilge pumps or the heap of musty laundry or the black mold all over Swell’s ceiling…no, no…and they aren’t all that bad anyway…look at this day!? I’m healthy and here to witness it!

Looking up, I see red in the tree above me…wild guavas!!?! They’re dripping off the trees all around!! And mangos too!…What a thanksgiving feast! I munch and munch and munch until I cannot eat another…and gather until my sacs are full. Thanksgiving harvest!! Gratitude! Gratitude! Plenty for my friends…and why not try to make some jam!?

Thanksgiving harvest–wild strawbery guavas!

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10 Comments

  1. Said
    November 30, 2010

    Good vibes! :)

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  2. Sara Salo
    December 1, 2010

    Liz – well said. The joy of fresh, handpicked food is an amazing experience. Giving thanks for our ability to experience such things! I’ll be setting off on an adventure of my own soon – a bike tour across the US to advocate for healthier school meals. The goal is to engage students and encourage community involvement in developing healthy and sustainable environments for youth. Visits to local farms will be highlights of my trip as well. I would love to chat sometime and learn more about your experiences in organizing extensive travel, soliciting sponsorship and effective blogging. Get in touch if you have time!

    Keep up the fabulous travels and thanks for your ever-insightful thoughts.

    Cheers,
    Sara

    p.s. Gorgeous photo!

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    • lizzy
      December 5, 2010

      Hi Sara, sounds like a fantastic adventure!!! I’m so excited for you! I’ll get back to you more thoroughly asap!! :) best, Liz

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  3. Ryan Tremearne
    December 2, 2010

    Liz,

    Your blog inspires me to live the way it should be lived. Keep up all the good work. Maybe one day our boats shall cross paths.
    Cheers,
    Ryan

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  4. Alan
    December 2, 2010

    Hey Liz, great site. I just wanted to let you know I added you to my Links page and November blog. Alan :) See you out there.

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    • lizzy
      December 5, 2010

      Thanks Alan!!!! your site looks great too!! :) Liz

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  5. Brande Thorpe
    December 3, 2010

    mmmmmmm Guavas!!!!

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  6. Lavonne Trevino
    December 23, 2010

    Good vibes! :)

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  7. لپ تاپ
    February 25, 2012

    great job Lizzy

    “Looking up, I see red in the tree above me…wild guavas!!?! They’re dripping off the trees all around!! And mangos too!…What a thanksgiving feast! I munch and munch and munch until I cannot eat another…and gather until my sacs are full. Thanksgiving harvest!! Gratitude! Gratitude! Plenty for my friends…and why not try to make some jam!?” i loved this part, it shows you love you friends very much!!!

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    • lizzy
      February 29, 2012

      Very true…I LOVE my friends so much! Always thinking of them!! :) capt liz

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