Satya Robinson
10/23/2009, Oriental City North Carolina

We arrived in the most magical place called Oriental City, North Carolina, anchored in quiet bay in front of the busiest gathering of local elders with hearts so big, we just bathed in its wonder for 2 days.
After a great sleep, an early morning fishing expedition with Bryn and Dylan that fetched a 14 and 17 inch speckled trout, which Phil later filleted and we had for dinner, we returned to find that Phil had moved the boat to a 48 hour free dock and we were front and centre of the heart of Oriental City and all the love it offered.
We were greeted and served up abundant offerings including rides(to grocery stores) by people( Dick, Terry and Pappi) either at the Tiki Bar, just stopping in their cars or walking by. Four fishing pros(Fred, Bill, John and a friendly man that worked at the fishery next to us that saw the children on a floating dock attempting to master "The Pancake Throw")offered lessons on how to throw (wow it is really an art)a newly acquired bait net and dinner for all at the Tiki Bar.
By late afternoon , I surrendered to any attempts of leaving the dock and exploring with Chantelle as originally planned. We sat on the dock and listened to fellow sailors life stories from musicians , teachers, retired oil employees, lifelong livers on the water to entrepreneurs and more.

Dylan was in his element at the bar diving into the spirits of all the diverse and adventurous souls, capturing their hearts with is genuine curiousity about life. Cheryl, a high school English teacher, gave him her facebook address , commenting that she does not even allow her students on her FB, and wanted to be friends with him.

Chantelle enjoyed a girly manicure at a local spa, practiced bait net throwing and mastered a ring toss (at the Tiki Bar) wrapping a ring around a hook on a tree with the help of the secret tip from a local veteran .
Phil visited marinas, consignment shops and hardware stores for various goodies and I took a quiet bike ride along the waterfront and breathed in spirit of the land, creatures, trees and community.
While biking , I came to a sudden stop, where a pair of Bluejays (my totem for many years) were frolicking and feasting on the red ripe berries of a 20 foot Holly tree in a garden laden with garden fairies. It was like stepping into another world like the magical places in Alice and Wonderland or Mary Poppins. The air around the plants and trees seemed blurry, alive and pulsing with my breath. A lady emerged from the home saying "May I help you?" ,curious as to nature of my bewildered gaze upon her home. I explained my experience and she shared her love for gardening, her conversations with the plants, trees and creatures(rabbits, snakes and spiders) . Mmm... what a treat it was to experience such a dimensional step into a wonderland created by another humans imagination. When she told me her name was Kathryn, my heart swelled as I thought of my dear friend and sister soul back home, Kathryn MacDuffee. Big smiles lead to sharing the story of our special connection and how I miss her dearly .
Fred pulled his car up to our boat, a Confederate flower in one hand and a bucket full of fresh picked(from his backyard)pecans in the other.

We jumped at a hot tip that the shrimp boat was arriving early the next morning and got a first hand look at the offloading, scanning, deheading, sorting and boxing process. All had their eyes keen on the scanning belt as a variety of sea life including squid, mini lobster, crayfish and small shiner fish rolled by and Dylan picked, examined and saved for precious lure bait.

October 22nd we set out after hugs and waves to all our new found friends and headed out to do a 23 mile motor to Beaufort, NC . I could feel the moist warmth of the sea air on my lungs and the smell of tropical trees and plants landing me fully aware of distance that we were away from the crisp and colder air back home.
We anchored in Beaufort on mirror water, slept soundly and are now on route at Mile 225 on the ICW. It is a balmy 78 F, with a view of our first dolphins dancing in front of our boat , sandbars and beaches on either side of the boat and the smell of the ocean 1/2mile away on the other side of the Intercoastal Waterway. I am signing off to take the helm, sending a wave of gratitude for this moment and to all the dear souls in our lives that keep us in their thoughts and prayers. Sending 12 footer wave of LOVE back to you all!

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Satya Robinson
10/20/2009, Dismal Swamp Canal

We departed Norfolk October 17, 2009, 905am bound for warmer weather after having 3 days of damp, rainy and cold Northwest wind weather(12C). Yes I know many of you have it much colder, but somehow for me it is worse to have the damp cold than dry colder temperatures. Our new found friends chose to take the Virginia Cut route and we headed , sounds exciting, The Dismal Swamp Canal route." "Dismal "was the word given by an explorer, Colonel William Byrd II of Virginia in 1728, He had just returned from making a survey of the Virginia-North Carolina border for the English Crown. During the expedition, he and his party had to struggle through the dense undergrowth and forests of the great swamp. Byrd, finding the place repulsive, is said to be responsible for the addition of "Dismal" to the name. A narrow canal , about 50 feet wide with tall trees, provided a beautiful pathway yet minute to minute surveillance to mast(the vertical pole that holds the mainsail) dodging of overhanging tall branches of trees to dodging stumps and logs floating of which many were unseen and only a loud thud on the hull of the boat was indicator that there were many treasures below.
We arrived safely in Elizebeth City , completing another 50 miles of our journey. Luxury, luxury was our gift , yes a free dock and a first sound sleep in 2 weeks compliments of The City of Elizebeth. I had forgotten how deeply and peacefully a sleep I could have knowing that we were attached to a wall that was not moving ... mmm ... bliss had arrived. We briefly met another family with two young boys, 9 and 11 from Montreal and had Phil and Chantelle's BLT (hold the lettuce, add cucumber) dinner . With my last mouthful , I leapt into bed , a deep breath and I was off to dream world for the night.

October 18 . Mmm... dilemma; stay for another yummy deep nights sleep or head south to try to move to warmer dryer country... well the cold and damp morning nudged us up and out by 8am and off we went down Alligator River(no alligators sighted) , which turned out to be more like a long lake splattered with crab pots and that yielded gusting winds of up to 17knots , waves 5 feet and building. Music had me dancing at the helm and receiving strange looks from Karl and a request to stop, not... I shared with them, as they already knew my love to dance and some quick new helm steps. We enjoyed a great 4 -hour sail with the jib reaching speeds of up to 8 knots , catching up with a catamaran and heading into the very tricking navigational waters of Little Alligator River. I was at the helm and unknowingly decided to do some shoal surfing as I took a sharp starboard(right) turn at a red marker to avoid a 5 foot shoal on the portside(leftside) , following the charts carefully and dodging crab pots placed right at this one spot in the river that is the most difficult to navigate. Thud , a spin of the wheel , bang and yes we hit another shoal which showed further starboard then I was, but very close.
All panic broke loose, as the shoulds and shouldn't were a mass of mosquitoes on attack for feeding time.. Motor power did not bring us off. Blessed with the gift of a favouring wind and good size waves ,we gently rolled and drifted to deeper water. I had followed the charts, but realized after that I may have been able to detect the discrepancy by noticing the change in colour of the water indicating shallower water. Another lesson learnt for me.
A hot, hearty potato, onion, carrot and celery soup created by Dylan and Bryn, warmed our bellies and hands. Below in the cabin rock and roll music , stirred my dancing feet into action as I was told that I was not "dancing " and was quickly supported by Bryn's dictionary definition that in fact movement to a music, however it may look, is indeed dancing. I promised them that by the end of the holiday I would have them all dancing .
It was windy and cold and we looked forward to the shelter of the canal 10 miles away. As we entered the canal , my body instantly breathed in the gentleness of the water and the tall grass waving to me in the breeze.
It was 3pm and we were uncertain of our options to anchor by dusk (6pm) We passed a few boats that had found protection for the night but we forged ahead to an anchorage suggested in our Skipper Bob book and were disappointed to find nothing . We continued as the light of day began to dim early under overcast rainy skies. Although the notes on the canal said that the maximum depths ran close to shore for anchorage, one attempt landed us aground going sharply shallow from 11-6-4 feet depth within seconds. We pulled ourselves off the ground and continued nervously and uncertain now of any approach to the sides of the canal. I was at the helm commented that within a half hour we would have darkness and suggested anchoring in the channel, slightly to one side. This would then allow us swing into the centre through the night. Phil concerned about floating in the centre of the channel insisted that we continue ahead and try to make a bridge 45 minutes away and out into a wider section of the river to anchor(except it would take us back into 10-15 knots strong Northwest winds).
Well , as you can tell, we definitely did not agree. Normally we agree on most things, but I really felt the urgency of anchoring before dark. There are no city lights, no moon light and total darkness was 15 minutes away. We were out in the middle of nowhere. We came to a private dock with a light. I insisted that we had to drop anchor immediately and do night watch to address Phil's concern about being in the channel. After debate, panic to find spotlights , as darkness had arrived, we attempted to anchor on the northside , swung into shore running us aground AGAIN!
Once we freed ourselves, we dropped anchor on the other side in desperation , knowing that with the winds we would be swung centre all night. So... here I sit on at 1202am in the cockpit on a 3 hour watch, to the stern(back of boat) a private light and green flashing marker and to my bow two red and two green markers at a distance , bobbing in the middle of a 100ft canal in the darkness of night. We are all lit up with all possible lights on and the quiet of the night Is broken by the sound of laughing coyotes, or wolves just a minute ago and some ducks as I type. Well I am off to check battery power as it looks like the lights to the bow have gone very dim.
I am back and all is ok, I just heard an owl wooting wisdom whistles our way. I shall listen carefully to the messages of the land and its creatures. Now is a time for me to drop into the silence of the land and water and commune for a short while before the next shift of Karl and Dylan begin , followed by Bryn and Chantelle and the anchor of Phil from 5am to sunrise and then off we go again.
Adventures continue!

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Satya Robinson
10/15/2009

October 14 was a day of showering, laundry, food shopping, a trip to Portsmouth Lightship which was amazing and a short walk of the historic section of Portsmouth, Virginia. Our dinghy motor decided to take a break and was not interested in working. While waiting (we thought they had forgotten us) for the three boys to pick us up at the dinghy dock after shopping, I walked over to a docked sailboat with kids and asked for a ride back to our anchorage.

They are a family from Calgary with 2 boys, 10 and 12 yrs old; Mike, Loraine, Evan and Sam. They have a 47ft Catalina and bought their boat in TO last year. Mike and Sam drove to Toronto in early summer to prepare the boat and Loraine, who had never sailed arrived with Evan in August as they began their adventure bound for the Caribbean. Our kids were excited to have other kids to chat and play with. They came over for drinks and had numerous anchoring adventures to tell.

Mike had to fly into Nassau to renew a visa that would expire the next day, so we all dinghied across the river to Norfolk and spent an great day at Nauticus, a navy museum that had lots of interactive activities, of which the ball bath was the favourite for all 6 to jump and have ball fights. They built Seabots with motorized propellers, and pipes, played many various simulator games, watched movies about the medicine from various venomous creatures of the sea, sharks of the water and wild weather. It was a full day from 9-5pm . We came home (towed by Sam) in our dinghy and the kids visited Sam and Evan's boat for the evening .
We returned to the boat , Phil did troubleshooting on the motor and I researched marinas to service the motor. We enjoyed a quiet dinner and for the first time since we left in September had an hour of conversation about how we were feeling in our experience so far.

For me, I am really enjoying being with family, in each others company, conversations, and music and resolving issues democratically. It has been special to see the world from the water as we went to places that are not accessible by car. I am enjoying all the creative cooking of Chantelle and Bryn's Hearty Chicken Soup, Bryn's Apple Crisp Surprise for breakfast today, Dylan and Karl's pancake muffins, Phil's Mince Curry mmm...

I miss doing the Awakening the Dreamer work , communication with the ATD family and the intimate dances with close friends. I feel disconnected from some of the forms of intimacy that have in the past fuelled my passion for life. I am aware that a shift in consciousness would allow me to dissolve into deeper and more intimate dances with nature, sea, earth, wind, fire, air, and community (family) .
Surrendering into this awareness is my mantra now. It is hard to have so much passionate energy moving in one direction through all of my involvement in the Awakening the Dreamer initiative and then to suddenly stop completely, I feel somewhat lost as to how to direct this intense energy. Trust, seems to come up, that this energy will find its pathway and reveal its direction to me if I surrender.
Two days ago, we got an email from a man that we met in NYC, Malik, who lives on his boat 79th Street. I had a great chat with him, gave him the ATD website and asked him to email us to stay in contact.
He described how some whale/dolphin researchers were looking for cruisers to billet them to go out for a few days to a week do research and asked if we were interested or knew any other cruisers that might be interested. We responded with interest and expect to hear from the researchers soon. Malik also commented that it would be nice to see this become a contribution that cruisers could make to researchers and maybe have a database of cruisers offering their boats for this purpose made available to researchers.
(I am tired writing this late at night, so forgive any grammar or spelling)

This has caught my attention. Find a way to communicate with cruisers, create a database and then once we are in the Bahamas, and staying somewhere for a period of time, offer the ATD symposium and then this database as one of the options of how they can contribute.
Anyway, just thoughts and ideas, but I do feel some energy behind it. I have no idea how to set up a database or how I might communicate with cruisers, so if anyone would like to help me, have any ideas and or comments, please share.

A dear friend said to me before I left that I am to use my voice, using the vibration of the heart to connect with the ocean and that the ocean needs our help. I have also had extra time have been doing distance healing and would like to help out whenever needed. So let me know via email about prayer requests or specific requests . I do have the unique opportunity of time and connection with the healing power of the elements and would like to contribute where I can.


Anyway today it is rain, rain , rain, and Bryn and Karl are online all day doing school work, Chantelle is sleeping , Phil is working on getting the motor fixed, Dylan did a blog entry, and I finished my book, The Universe is a Green Dragon by Briane Swimme. Amazing book, I highly recommend it!

It is 1149pm , we got the motor fixed and are on our way tomorrow.


Love you all and sending lots of hugs.
Namaste All!

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Dylan Robinson
10/15/2009

Hi, this is Dylan and we are in Virgina, Norfolk and we went to a museum called Nautius museum and it is well none for there battle ship (USS Wisconsin) and we went on the deck. The guns on the ship are massive and we saw a bullet proof shield that was like 40cm thick. One of the guns off the ship shot rite through it like stabbing 3 pieces of paper with a pencil, it was amazing. We saw shark, stingrays, fish, hurricanes, movies of animals and many more. Fore lunch we went to a mall and hade hamburgers and onion rings and Dr.Pepper. It was good. Then we wanted to go to a massive arcade but we were all to tired to go so we won't to go today but it is raining so we mite go tomorrow.





Hope to here from you soon.(: ): (:

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Satya Robinson
10/12/2009, Cape May to Norfolk Dance

October 11, 2009

Addition to the 24 hour sail from NYC to Cape May October 8th to 9th
Something that came up for me was the mood change as we did our 24 hour sail and waves increased in size from2-4-6-8-10-12 feet. The cockpit was quiet as we all found our way to process the extremes of the pounding waves crashing over our boat. I was at the helm and remembered something that Brian Swimme talked about in a book that I am reading called The Universe is a Green Dragon. He refers to the power of the sea as our way to experience the universe through sensitivity, using the senses to completely embody the sea, its presence and all its particles. So I started to breathe the ocean into my being and dissolve the perceived barrier between me at the helm and the ocean. It was amazing , as big and as powerful as the waves presented, each breath I felt us flowing with the ocean as one, and this state of mergence, was conforting . I spoke to the water, called on Angels of the four directions and Reiki as peak waves at 12 plus feet sent us crashing down and that seemed to help too. We were soon seeing this as one of the best rollercoaster rides ever, waiting for the next to arrive. Fun!
October 10th After being saved by a very nice man, Benny, and pulled into deeper water , we were blessed with some more firsts, anchoring. We had never anchored with this boat and only 2 times in Thousand Islands with our CS 27. We opened up a bottle of champayne and celebrated our firsts as a family. We all had words to describe our day including intense, rolling, exhausting, crazy, adventurous.
After setting the anchor and getting ready for bed , Bryn and I sat out in the cockpit not quite certain of the security of our home. Within minutes we had a bright spot light on us and a sailboat , Bonsai, calling us on the radio, concerned that we were over his anchor. Terrified, we jumped into action, starting the motor and in high winds struggled to pull the boat forward to avoid a collision. My body shaking with fear and uncertainty of safety had adrenaline rushing through me. We were certain that this was the turbo speed anchor setting practical exam in full action. Dylan was on deck shouting orders back from the bow and Bryn and Phil at the bow working the anchor.
Wow, I need to interrupt this to tell you about what just happened .
I am sitting in the cockpit at 1230am on night watch with Bryn, as we motor from Cape May bound for Norfolk ETA 900am . I have 2 vessels that I have been monitoring and one in particular that seems to be converging with us. As I turned my head to check on the port aft (which I just checked 4minutes ago) a huge deep red object appeared on the horizon. I had no idea what it was and it was moving upward slowly. Bryn and I watched as an incredible sliver of the moon revealed its silent majesty to us amidst the star filled night sky. Bryn was unable to take a pic, so we sat together in silence to enjoy the magical moment. As it rose into the sky it turned a golden orange colour. That was another first.

Ok back to Cape May adventures. We struggled , coming close to other vessel as unsuccessful anchorage attempts left us uncertain and helpless. We all felt the worry, yet held together in support of one another and discussion of our next step as the wind blew strong pushing the boat. A 4th attempt with a different anchor was successful, and I took watch for 3 hour til 7am October 10th to ensure that low tide was not below 5 ft. We were at 6 ft at low tide , 7am , all were asleep and I realized I was still shaking. I had not eaten well and found a banana , plum and conscious breathing settled me for the moment. We still needed to move, to get away from an area that was being dredged and were thrilled to find a great spot nearby , settled and spent the day sleeping and recovering and had a great night of sleep.

October 11, 1000am after deciding that we would skip the Annapolis boat show and a trip to Washington, we chose to take advantage of a weather window and go for it , yes , another 24 hour sail. Having mastered our nav. Software, triple checked the weather, secured our boat, we were ready for the seas again. We left the Cape May harbor which was teaming with Sunday fishing boats and other sailboats that had the same idea as us and headed out to enjoy clear skies, sunny , warm weather and a great sail with winds from the north, north east for about 3 hours. We then lost a lot of wind and started the motor up, had a yummy lunch of homemade bean soup, crackers and fresh baked chocolate chip oatmeal muffins. I found serenity at the bow , enjoying breathing the ocean , the sky , meditation, yoga and sungazing for an hour as the sun dropped into the horizon to close another day of adventure . My yoga mat, the original one that I started yoga with 14 years ago leapt into the waters of the Atlantic as we put the gib sail up and the boat heeled. I spent moments, feeling gratitude for the support that this mat has provided in the opening of self and to love in the past years.
The rest of the the clan got into a long session of cards, snacks(hot popcorn with chili lemon dip), and yes more Harry Potter. Dylan set up a quiet dinner for Phil and I in the cockpit with wine, candlelight and served us a delicious salad with Vodka tomato cream pasta prepared by him and Bryn. We were somewhat alerted by a possible change in weather forecast, and after listening to the weather several times were reassured that we were safe to continue.
I have had pangs of missing so many people, connections and passions that have been my life and do find some struggle to adapt and redirect my connection with the universe in community with nature and family. As you all know I am a passionate, creature that truly loves to gaze into the eyes of the divine in all your eyes and marvel at its magificance and miss that dearly. Love you all so much ...
It is 2 am now and I have one more hour of watch and Bryn is off to bed with Dylan getting up for 3 hours. I will find comfort with the pillow at 3 am when Phil relieves me.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! We are all so thankful to have so many blessed Beings in our lives and to be supported by nature amidst the experience of its incredible power and wholeness.


Hope to get pics sorted and posted soon!

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Bryn, Chantelle, Satya
10/09/2009, In the Pot

October 9, 2009

October 8 we set off from NYC to see the Statue of Liberty, took many pics, went under the Verrazano Bridge and prepared to stow all items for a 20 hour overnight rollercoaster, intense and exhausting adventure.
Winds from the Southwest treated us to a wonderful sail until 1200 midnight when the wind shifted to the south , on the nose, and left us with no choice but to motor sail the night and next day. Winds increased to 20 knots and so did the waves to a womping 12 feet . So much for a 10 knot , calm first sail introduction to the Atlantic Ocean. Dylan stole Bryn's pillow in the dark of the night , went airborne in our bow bed landing four feet horizontal and flew into the wall landing with a thud on the floor. Chantelle slept in bed a lot, slept some more, felt sick and cut her foot on the glass of the broken spot light and was hit by Dylan AGAIN in the first five seconds of her waking moments. Karl slept, slept and gazed out the cockpit , trying to prevent a spontaneous fish feed session. Bryn sat quietly, going into a deep state of concentration also avoiding a fish feeding session to entertain our journey. MMM... just remembered the amazing chicken soup that Chantelle and Bryn stirred up after arriving and anchoring in Cape May Harbour.
Exhausted and overwhelmed by many firsts, yet another first could not wait to be revealed. After anchoring in the harbour , Phil calmly shared that the depth was 4'8 " and within 5 minutes,amidst yummy Chicken soup made by Bryn and Chantelle, a rush for computers phones and an instant freeze in body position(so as not to tip the boat over in less that 5 feet) heralded Towboat US to pull us from a 4'6" depth . Thank you to Bryn for the brilliant suggestion to buy Towboat US for $100 versus $742 without insurance. Damage report included a hole in the kayak from the cleat that it was tied to, leaks in 2 bow windows and a broken spot light.
Thank you to Benny for saving our life, the wind for carrying us safely here, the Statue of Liberty for its gift of tallness, bigness and shininess. Thank you to the angels that held us on their wings in safety and love. Thank you to the Dodger and Bimini for keeping us dry as waves crashed over the boat and pounded the bow .
We plan to enjoy a good nights sleep tonight, having a new respect for sailors everywhere, and check out the quaint town of Cape May tomorrow. We would like to cross the Deleware Bay, rent a car and visit the Annapolis Boat Show this weekend, stay with a friend in Washington for a day and then assess continuation of our voyage, as determined by the weather, our master of the moment.
For those of you that are curious about the Super Yummy Thick and Hearty Chicken Cheese Soup, here is the recipe that Chantelle would like to share.
Ingredients

1 cup Carrots shredded ¼ all purpose flour 1 can Kirkland chunk breast of chicken
¼ onions chopped 2 cups milk 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
3 tbsp butter or margarine 1 can(250ml) chicken broth ½ tsp Worstershire sauce
1/8 tsp black pepper
In a medium saucepan, cook carrots, onions in hot butter or margarine about 10 min or until tender , but not browned. Stir in flour. Slowly add milk , worstershire, black pepper and chicken broth. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Stir in chicken and cheese. Cook and stir on low heat until cheese melts. Serve Hot with a healthy serving of LOVE!
Serve 8.

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