After my plans to sail to Greenland this summer fell thru due to lockdowns, I decided to do more work on the boat while it was conveniently ashore. One thing led to another, and by the time I launched, it was the end of August. But it was great to be back at sea!

Rover is the name of the plant in the picture. My grandmother had this plant, which she gave to my aunt. I was given three leaves from this plant, in a ziploc bag, with instructions to keep it moist and plant it in some soil.

I knew nothing about plants--this was the first plant that I'd ever had, and I was determined to not kill it. So I asked lots of people what kind of plant it was (I didn't know), and how to look after it. I was given soil and fertilizer to feed it, and lots of instructions. I was so determined to look after it that I'd take it on deck whenever it was sunny, and bring it below at night or when it was cold. Seeing how I looked after the plant, Sarah (who did the artwork on the plant box) started calling it Rover, as she said I was walking the plant like I'd walk a dog.

So, Rover has traveled thousands of miles on Issuma, as well as on buses, cars and planes, and is still growing (slowly).

Now that I'm sailing again (more about that later), Rover also has returned to sea.