Inspired Insanity

September 2nd

Donna — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 13:37:31 GMT

A recent letter to the local, Rhode Island family...passin it on...

Hello all "For the Love of Oceans".
It is just about time for a new schedule of events and an update on all going on "For the Love of Oceans"..

It has been a dynamic time since the amazing 4th of July Parade. I can't extend enough thanks to all who made the Parade such a blast and fantastic success, sharing our 'love of the oceans' with all enjoying the parade.

Life is a incredible: a weekend in a Maryland for a Benefit Sailing Event for the Paralympic Sailing Team, Sailing for Life The opportunity to do offshore sailing on the Historic 12M America's Cup Yacht "Onawa' with amazing Captain Barry Bourdon, my friend around the world and host to the welcome in New Zealand I received. A fantastic experience singing for many concerned for the ocean preservation issues in Bristol at the Save Bristol Harbor Benefit at Ira and Suzanne Magaziner's home. Putting my hands again to baking the amazing original recipes of the Cavallero family and serving the best coffee at the Beehive Caf Finally getting down to business on the refit on sv_Inspired Insanity, sanding the bottom, rewiring the windgenerator, disassembled for the parade and stripping the mast of the fittings needing repair, Bristol Marina has graciously offered to help me get this classic yacht back on the water..the engine is once again on the ground outside the boat as they diagnose the issues with the fuel injector pump. Decisions to be made..

Some great opportunities to share my journey are planned in the next few weeks. All different venues sharing all different aspects of my journey, music, allowing me to once again enjoy the JAM session when many join in together I am blessed:

Upcoming Events

Barrington Public Library, September 5th. (from the library website)

Thursday, September 6th- Stella Blues Restaurant - Just Music: starting after dinner, 9 ish-Joined by Derek Escher on Mandolin and guitar, plus special guest appearances and jam by Hughy, Chris Martin and John Forrest often heard at Aidan's Pub in Bristol hosting Sunday afternoon's irish session. It will be a fantastic night of original and classic songs with a BAND Heaven for me and should be great fun other musicians will be encouraged to join Spontaneous Combustion. I love it.
Wednesday, September 12th- Warren Public Library!! -6:30pm, a family night program featuring stories, photos, music and more interactive for the kids. The infamous artwork of Davison Bolster in the form of Whales and Dolphins, Turtles and fish will also be featured a conch shell horn blow off. And more.
Friday September 14th - Coffee Depot Open Mic!!- Cathy and Manny needed a week off and offered me to do a featured artist night so we have combined the night I'll bring my gear and have a great night of musicians playing music.
Saturday September 15th is International Coastal Cleanup Day sponsored by Ocean Conservancy I hope to join either a group in Bristol or to create a group for Little Gould Island or Dyer Island on the Sakonnet river.. Please contact me if you would like to be part of this both effective clean up but also a survey of the kind of the conditions now present in these coastal areas.
Friday, and Saturday, September 21 and 22. International Day of Peace www.peaceflagproject.org project There is a gathering in Providence, please see the upcoming events section in my website for the details.

Next gig:
Saturday, September 29th - Stone Church Coffeehouse in Bristol- starting at 7:30pm, doors open at 6:45pm.. Music, stories, Whales. Derek Escher will be joining me on mandolin and guitar facilitating my playing the steel pan. Fantastic
and maybe my last gig for the season as start to look for a window to sail Inspired Insanity south for her winter season drying out in the sun
I have hopes of planning a gig in NY for the wonderful friends near my home town of Burnt Hills New York..
"For the Love of Oceans" is going forward as Light and myself take over, with guidance, the amazing website work of Neil Vangundy and work with Personal News Network to develop the critical thinking tool web tools through "Youth4Oceans.pnn.com and Fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com. I still look forward to getting a regular column written for Latitudes and Attitudes Magazine This winter will be time for the book Lots on my Writers Palette. By next spring I hope to have a program to introduce to ocean preservation organizations, marine educational programs and public summer reading programs to develop grassroots advocacy writing regardless of the cause. Lets get thinking and writing!!!!!

My very best to all as the autumn breezes start to blow. It has been breathtakingly beautiful here in Coastal Rhode Island only more beauty to come as the leaves turn their shades of red and orange. It has been many years since I have enjoyed this refreshing, contemplative season as we wind into the winter. I have to say though, I am a bit relieved that I will be spending the cold months in the warm I haven't had one "all over tan" opportunity all summer!!!

I look forward to seeing many of you at these upcoming events. Feel free to give me a ring as I have gotten a cell phone 401 323 1484 if you have any questions at all or just to say hi.
Biggest Hugs xoxoxoxoxo d

"Keepin On Keepin On Keepin On Caring.... keepin the Jam happenin... great momentum of energies creating waves of peace and cammaradarie to effect the world consciousness"

August 28

Donna — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 01:50:20 GMT

August 28, 2007 Tuesday blue day hugs!

SAiling for LIfe Paralympic Sailing team competes in the Clagget Regatta in Newport!!

Gorgeous day in RI!! Hard core working on INspired Insanity.

I fell off to sleep last night under a clear nearly full moon beaming across Newport Harbor on a lovely 43 OYster belonging to Al Towle. He is an amazing supporter of the US Paralympic Team of Karen Mitchel and JP. He has totally given himself and his resources to help them to place well in the World Cup coming up and to make the team in the Paralypmic team trials coming up soon in Newport. I had the privilege of joining the support boat this morn as in a light breeze of 5kn NE, the boats took off from the start line.. Karen and JP had a rough first race. I look forward to catching up with them about how the rest of the day went.....I just did!!! They came in 1st and 2nd in the next 2 races of the day!! congratulations! GReat job.. I am hoping to be there for some of hte races on Thursday as well... Good luck Karen, Jp and all the competitors and huge thanks to you Al...

I spent the rest of the day under the sander, preparing the bottom of Inspired Insanity for new bottom paint, pulling the mast apart so the riggers can get working on it.. Will Barbeau, rescues me again, with a rebuild on the "new Starter" that managed to ceize up in such a short time since I am on land and not using the engine.. Now Cody and Peter and continue to diagnose the issues with the engine and we can decide how to proceed. All good. Tomorrow morn, I want to get the wind generator up and running again. I have to repair a chaff area in the wire and then put her back on her tall stand... wire her up to the regulator, hope for a good breeze and some voltage . the batteries are pretty depleted from some minimal use and lack of charging..

Good progress.. good sailing Karen and JP.. Good friends as I ran into Joe Brito, Steve Robinson, Al Silvan and was joined by Davison at the yacht club.. New friends met and lovely chats. Davison treated me to a gourmet pizza for dinner. off to sleep. I got something in my eye this eve and i am ready to lay down and rest it...all good.

I also had a nice chat with Stu and he is looking forward to sailing this winter...UNfortunately, he has not regained vision in his eye but is adjusting to the change in his vision and recovering from the process.. He is amazing... yes,wonderful..
life is grande!!!

Biggest hugs to all, loves to ZEB and JAEL. I got to chat with them both for a bit this morn!!! getting big. New babe due in December... Ptarmi is doing great. Big thanks again to all on ONAWA.. Barry and Willem for such a great time in Nantucket and on return. A great Crew!

Do Keep Roz Savage in your heart too, as she is working to get back on her "Kayak" and continue to forge across the Pacific ocean. www.rozsavage.com

big hugs xoxoxoox d

August 25

Donna — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:44:21 GMT

August 25, 2007 Saturday Hugs!! Belated Happy Birthday (yesterday)to my Big brother Jeffery!! big loves

And Happy Birthday to me! 46years old today..

a letter I wrote to my brother: a good update.

Happy Birthday Jeffery!!!!! big loves to you!! I hope you had a fantastic party as I suspect you did..I am 46 today, incase you lost track.

LIfe is GRAnde.. busy... had an incredible 10 days on the 12M vintage race boat Onawa with Barry... wow!! Came back determined to get my boat back in the water... but realizing that she is in worse shape than i thought. found more issues with the rigging. actually, it was scary to realize that the starboard spreader is absolutely loose, the anchoring bolt washer broke allowing the bolt to actually fit through the hole in the fitting. Luckily the stresses that had been on the spreader were holding it to the mast. Shouldn't be hard to fix, but man, it is scary seeing it like that. I have questions. use of galvanized washers?.. aluminum fittings that broke?.. should have been stainless. anyway. I made it. I have to have it all fixed though. Will Barbeau has worked out a trade with Andy Tyska at Bristol Marine to do the work in turn for his publicity help. amazing..Inpsired Insanity is looking so bad right now. she always does out of the water. I spent yesterday pulling the seacocks apart. They are pretty worn but not brittle. May leak but won't sink me. We'll see if Andy is considering replacing them... if so, i'll go with new ones. but i hate to give up the old ones. they are so simple. 2 pieces. easily seviced.. and i am sure that it would be expensive to replace these with new bronze ones. I may be able to find replacement cores at the local consighnment shop. they carry bronze seacocks.. the refit part search begins. I am settling into a bit of normalcy i hope these next few weeks. work at the cafe, gigs, and work on the boat. Being a part of the community. I can have the boat back in the water soon if I just stay on the tasks. Today, I am going to get more boxes and get more stuff off the boat. All the books and such are so moldy smelling.. I slept on the boat last night and woke up feeling like my lungs are inflamed.. coughing and irritated. So.. today and tomorrow, I'll clean.. Monday, meet with Andy and get a plan underway for the repairs. all good. This next week I don't have any gigs or other distractions so I hope to make headway. but come september, i have quite a few gigs, though mostly evenings.
Well, biggest hugs big brother, Happy Birthday to you... xoxoxoxoxo little sis

NOtable Days coming up:

INternational Day of Peace

September 21

In RI, at noon, all the church bells are to toll!! On September 23rd, 3-5pm Program at the DAvey Lopes Rec Center Park in Providence.
www.peaceflagproject.org.

On Thursday Night, I joined the Sierra Club membership in Newport or a talk on Peace Flags. It was amazing because of the people there, it had turned out that Ihad met several before whether in peace rally's, protests or even at the sustainability seminar I had gone to. Little did I know about the very 'Tibetian Peace Flags" I have on my boat given to me by Stu and Sherry Kahn before I left on my journey. Ginny Fox and Jane Maguire did a lovely talk about hte origins of the peace flags in Tibet which gave so much more meaning to them. I will now not worry when i fly them when the threads seem to come apart. It is part of the process of the prayers going out to nature. Ginny and Jane had blank red, blue, green, white and yellow flags there for us all to make our own peace flags with. The blue representing prayers to the god of sky, white being to the clouds, red to fire, green to the earth, yellow the water...A lovely project we all shared together. I asked them if I can incorporate this kind of project into my programs with children which they were happy to have me do. Soon I will take out my prayer flags on my boat and fly them often.. Thanks Ginny and Jane for your program, STu and Sherry for my own peace flags..
biggest hugs xoxoxoxo d

"keepin on, keepin on, keepin on caring...lifting our dreams and wishes before us as mantras of probability... if we can dream and see peace, we can attain it".

www.donnalange.pnn.com
www.youth4oceans.pnn.com
www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com
www.yoloadventure.com
www.ushuaialogistics.com
www.xaxero.com
www.gmn-usa.com
www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz
www.sail-world.com
www.internationalmarinebrokers.co.nz
www.mtiadventurewear.com
www.caphorn.com
www.savebristolharbor.org
CABRAL'S cHICKEN,best roast chicken in the world, BRistol RI
5 SECOND RULE,www.fivesecondrule.com, the best band in NE.
Topside Tavern, home sweet home.Bristol RI
Newport Nautical, consignment and marine store in one.
Brewer's Sakonnet Marina
Bristol Marina
Bermuda Yacht SErvices
ST George's Dinghy and Sport Club

August 23

Donna — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:43:56 GMT

August 23,2007 Thursday happiness!!

Delivering Onawa Home to Newport! On the sea.

It is remarkable to me that even amidst the nearly deafening roar of the diesel engine, the sickening smell of the fumes creeping even below as we motor downwind, I am mentally freed rolling to and fro, far from human energy. Well, far enough, I guess. Barry is content driving the 'ole girl'under power, a task I tolerate only as a necessity. I am tucked below out of the worst of the fumes. Once the early morning dampness burns off a bit more, hopefully I can at least hang on the foredeck.. ONawa has such a vast foredeck compared to Inspired Insanity that I can truly be at leisure up there and out of fumes way.

What amazes me is how quickly my thoughts become freed up to consider, ingest, digest life's stimuli once offshore a bit. A few days ago I was pleasantly surprised when some treasured books that had been misplaced since NZ revealed their hiding in the front pocket of my classical Fender guitar case. Memory returned. I had leant Chris Bone the books to read during a delivery he had in the pacific and when I went to visit the farm he returned them. I tucked the books away in the guitar case of the guitar I had brought with me to accompany evenings. A true smile reached across my face as a realization of the importance of their re-enterance into my life came to me. Lo and behold, it was Andrew De Mello's "The way of Love" that I opened as I lay here in the rumble and sway. The book was out because I had offered it to Willem, the mate of ONawa, a very bright, open minded young man with tremendous potential. It had been a gift to me from Ron Holland in Ireland. I have given it away and bought new copies many times.
Happiness. What is it? How do we get it? Or do we have it already? What prevents the experience of happiness or the ability to live life in a happy state? The mind... Where do our thoughts and ideas originate? OUr they our own or those of others? Truth? Do the ideas programmed into our internal computers allow us to experience happiness? What are we programmed to think? What is the purpose of the programming? Questions....Simple truth.. The basics... STart from the beginning. all are created valuable, useful, powerful, gifted, needed, loving and loveable....able to fullfill the potential within if the purpose of life is to do so... Or we become puppets of an entity that has chosen for us what purpose we should have and then programmed our beliefs to accomplish their purpose with our life... Happiness..Beauty..love, loving and being loved. Appreciation, Gratitude.. experiencing the energy of life, connectedness, belonging, perfection, integration with health, the development of our potential, our skills, strength, investing and accomplishing, maturing, excellence, prosperity of life and process, knowing and coming to know, enlightenment, joy. pleasure. Energy!! flowing energy. Intoxicating energy. Light. Peace, Oneness, celebration. Giving of all we are to the benefit of all we (collectively) are. To increase the energy flow for all to be increased in health and ability.. All these considerations are the basis for Youth4Oceans and For the LOve of Oceans grassroots advocacy critical thinking projects.

My first reading of the book "The WAy to Love" occured sailing south along the west coast of Africa after leaving Ireland and was a beginning in my process to living in a happy state. AS I read it again now it is opening my eyes in my present to see how far from happiness I exist at times, but also how happiness has become the basis of my true self.. I am happy. Yes.. Integrating my happy self with this world is a challenge. I lose my experience as I try to help others experience happiness. My methods of helping others and forging a landbased life are falling short of maintaining my principles of happiness. I can best help others by maintaining my own personal state of happiness..(p.6 The Way of Love) The world is pressing me every moment to join into its' programming of living in fear, anxiety, worry, tension, insecurity... I am being pressed.. It is stealing my presence in happiness. My mind is cluttered with noise. a million needs and sadnesses, struggles, pains, abuses, discouragments...yet others happy.. yes, many are happy. How do I keep my center in Happiness? By exercising my thoughts in happiness in personal times alone with nature and peaceful input. By examining my thoughts and feelings for their origin and then considering those thoughts in relation to the basic truths of happiness. Why am I feeling insecure, afraid, sad, anxious, tense? I can accept those feelings as revealing my state inwardly and then draw near to my own essence, then make decisions about what is true and make changes in my world or invest in issues to be reconsidered...going fromt he premise of knowing that I am valuable, able, caring, loving, desiring the most beneficial outcome for my self and others around me.. no guilt. I can let go of shame from decisions that may have produced undesirable outcomes and learn from them. I can accept my humanness but not walk away from the process of growing and coming to know. Choice... I can stop the whirling energy of emotions that are undefined and driving my responses.. Consider..

I strongly recommend this little book to all.. I am looking forward to this reread and many more..More time on the sea. I am ready to start the refit on Inspired Insanity.. choices.

Upon arriving in Newport, I look forward to meeting up with new friends from Maryland, members of the paralympic sailing team I met there as well as continue to be involved with conservation projects moving forward. Days are full, but even more the reason to spend time centering... in happiness..

biggest hugs to all... Thanks so much Neil V and Light for getting the log update page back up and running...Do keep eyes also on the other websites, www.donna.pnn.com, www.youth4oceans.pnn.com, www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com. The www.donnalange.org site will also start to become a collective focal point for all the various projects I am involved with including charitable works and a blog format for keeping better in touch with you all.

big hugs xoxoxoxo d

"Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring.... to keep life centered in happiness, not straying into trends of insecurity, fear, tensions, anxiety, worry"

August 20

Donna — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:43:23 GMT

August 20, 2007 Monday Hugs xoxoxo

Benefit success!!! Back in Nantucket!

Miracles never cease. I was able to make all the connections and arrive in New Bedford in plenty of time. DAvison and I were able to grab my gear and set up the sound system for hte program in plenty of time. There was a resounding response to the causes of SAve Bristol Harbor including management of the development of the waterfront, limiting the effects of new marinas on the harbor, heading off the use of the Narragansett bay for dangerous transport of LNG to Providence... and many other issues effecting the harbor, bay, and community of Bristol. There was a tremendous turnout including many political figures involved in the concerns of the area, mayors of Fall River and Providence, representatives. The distinquished hosts, Ira and Suzanne Magaziner were lovely, their home a fantastic setting for such an occasion. I had originally called Mary Kay Right, the coordinator, asking if I could be of any help in the program or with music. she responded very enthusiastically to my request and interest in the Cause. They already had music scheduled but she graciously invited us to be a guest for the day. It turned out that my sound system came in handy for the days presenters. Amazing day. a privilege to attend and to see a communtiy truly taking advantage of their rights to participate and influence the outcomes in the issues that effect the well being of their community... My hats off to the entire committee and wishing them the very best in their endeavors. It was a grand pleasure to share my songs of care for the sea, for man, with a group of people who truly appreciated them...

I was able to book a flight back to Nantucket which enabled me to be there for the morning charter. Barry was glad to see me coming up the dock as his replacement had canceled that morning and they indeed needed me for the charter.. All good. Luckily this is a paying crew job... Thanks Barry, Willem who have been great to work with. We had a lovely morn with a family charter. WE have one more charter tomorrow and will head back to Newport early wednesday morn. We should be in well before dark and settled back into Newport. I will certainly miss sy_Onawa upon my return but will be available for future needs. Unfortunately, the daily crew pay is quite limited and less appealing otherwise I would be enticed to stay on...

all good. Back to focus soon...a visit from Al Towle, websites(www.youth4oceans.pnn.com, www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com), upcoming gigs, presentations and forward motion for potential future endeavors, racing, the book, youth initiative groups.I have dropped the ball on some options which I need to move forward with.. hoping to catch up with the Ladies at Serendipity again soon. I am due for a visit to see my grandchildren, daughters and sometime this fall before sailing south, I look forward to getting out to see my sons whom I haven't seen for over a year now... very long....Plans with Stu are still moving forward.

Big hugs to all xoxoxxoox d

"Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring... day to day to day, keeping the fires burning, heart warm, passions enticed, friends near in love....the sea close at hand"

August 19

Donna — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:41:10 GMT

August 19, 2007 Sunday Hugs Mom and Ernie!!!

Days of travel! Benefit: Save Bristol Harbor 2-6pm today!

I am sitting in the airport in Nantucket. Somehow, though I was up early this morn, I managed to miss the ferry to Hyannis Massachusetts from Nantucket... I watched it pull out as I was dashing down the dock.... heart in my throat.. I had researched all the ferries and bus connections.. This was the only one I knew of that would get me back to Bristol on time and it was going to be close.. a 3 hour bus ride. I have to say I was upset.. at myself.. where is my head.. The woman at the counter at the Ferry was terrific and seeing my obvious need to make some kind of connection, she started to check around. She knew, which I didn't, that there was very good small airplane services between Nantucket and the mainland. Also to Martha's vineyard which has a ferry that goes to New Bedford, much closer than Hyannis to RI.. Sure enough, after a couple of phone calls, we realized that I had a shot at better connections through the airline.. it was on the way to the airport talking to the cab driver, that I wondered about he flight service to Martha's vineyard.. some plans came to light. The flight service is very good. though the flight direcdt to providence was booked full, as was the flight to New Bedford, there is a flight to MV which will allow me to connect with the 1145 ferry to New Bedford, only 30min from Bristol... So sigh's beginning to come, I booked that flight to the vineyard, not too expensive..and I am on standby for a flight direct to new bedford.. so all is well. I will arrive in RI in time to get to the benefit.. full on. Really, everyone here is great and beyond helpful.. They really were self initiating to try to help me find a way to get back...I can't say how I appreciate that.
Barry has been great.. Davison patient as a saint as I have to change plans..Tomorrow morn I head back to Nantucket.. a bit more sailing..I will be missing the Opera House Regatta Today though..Wishing the team on board ONawa the very best of luck... good luck Roy and the Barry and Will....

Big hugs xoxoxoxo
Thanks to LIght, LUis and Neil, we are up and running with a log. Global Marine Network sp0onsored me with a .org site back when my site went down in Ushuaia and I haven't had the chance to develope the site, but it has been carrying the log updates and been a great backup.. in time it will be the site to carry all the non for profit ventures and sponsors, friends as well as other blogs for my internet family for us to get to know each other better and interact...
big hugs xoxoxo d

Keepin on Keepin ON Keepin ON CAring... networking with love and purpose...I am blessed"

August 8th

Donna — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:40:28 GMT

August 8th, 2007 Wednesday HUgs!!!
I Miss you all!!!
August 9 @ 6:30pm. Barrington Library Family Night sharing!!!

Sorry to be so long away and long winded....

I have just been realizing the true nature of the very intimate relationship I have had with you all over these past nearly 9months in these email logs, enduring all that has been a part of this second half of the world journey. My transition back to 'society' or into closer human energy bombardment has been no less a journey or challenge, yet as challenges are, it has revealed more and more and been a brilliant opportunity. Somehow, I have drawn away.. or just become so consumed with dealing with the present world in my physical space that I have not yet set aside the time to 'keep in touch'. I miss you all. I had a wonderful skype call with Chris Bone, founder of OceansWatch and Jane Pares, the wonderful writer of so many of the articles on the site and those published in Sail-World. They both know me so very well. my very heart. They are able to read me like a 'barometer' and know right where my pressure lies. I feel like everytime we talk, I am low and needing encouragement... it is always the same,.. I am tired, low energy, have a cold, voice is so hoarse. the answer always the same, 'Donna, you need to let your body heal. You need to take better care for yourself '. Light, Will too try to calm my tendency to drive myself.

As I felt the capacity this morn and began to write, I realized that I have been so transparent on this log all these months, that "all of you" know me so genuinely. We are all very close and have shared this incredible journey together. As I am still forging new territory, new challenges, the same challenges that you face each day, I dare say, that there is no reason to stop sharing this path together. You too, have the same desires, losses, tremendous magical encounters, successes, days of just doing what needs to be done, finding a way to make it through a situation.. but now we have a richer faith of knowing the great potential capacity we all have to accomplish these tasks, dreams, passions,adventures and great fun experiences. We can all live more full-on by faith, giving of all we are, not attaching anything to the reality of our intrinsic happiness in being alive and so full of life. Talking with Jane so recentered me.. We need each other.

So... what have I been up to?

Integrating all that has been surrounding me physically, in society, and inwardly... Energy wise, I am missing the continual effects of all of your focus of energy toward me and I must be more aware of keeping energized. Truth is, I just don't have as much energy to work with. I am a bit tender. Now that I have gotten a cold, totally lost my voice, I am finding that I am very susceptible to decompensating and actually, my ability to have my voice, and especially sing becomes a barometer for me of my energy or stress level and overall feeling of health. This week, instead of getting well, I have gotten a bit worse. so I am looking at all the factors and I need to concentrate on healing.

But all around me, Magic is still scattering fairy dust before me.

Oooooooh!! a Bit of news. A million and million millions of thanks to Neil Vangundy who has orchestrated all that has had to do with this incredibly heartfelt, demanding, effective website these past 4 years. He has asked for a sebatical... He is going SAILING!! Yahoo! Miracles, Light has come on board to do my website!!! She now has access and is getting a handle on how to work with the site and all. I am getting access too so I can slowly get up to web speed... Praise be the powers of love....Feel free to email with ideas and imput. stories...yes, we all want to hear more from all of you...I wouldn't publish past emails as they weren't sent with the intention of being published, but please feel free to give me your permission to publish your letter you send on to me. I want the help site to share our journeys.

I have come to a lovely community of really honest, careful and enlightened people who have looked beyond all the mainstream facade or highly biased information rivers, to seek out real data and make real decisions about what is going on in our country, our world, our communities.. It has been a journey in itself. I have to purpose to keep calm and become part of the solutions while not letting the intensity of the system totally consume my being.. I am a flower in a powerful field of Duster Grass ( an overtaking, bully tall marsh grass imported in, looking like Cat Tails but offering little or none of the ecosystem benefits of the Cat Tail. They have absolutely destroyed the waterfront marsh ecosystem along the river from Bristol to Warren along the bikepath). Maybe we all feel like one of the habitants of this marsh; the egret, the bumblebees, insects, butterflies, rabbits and endless birds and creatures that have no where to go and not be choked out by a dominating system. Anyone who does not earn 100,000$ a year, is feeling this incredible pressure, stress, fear... What has happened to the day when we all gathered in barns for a local barn dance every saturday night, lifting our feet to live instruments, sharing the food grown in our family garden and the peace of knowing that we 'have enough'? Throughout history, it has been much rarer the moment when natural disaster has starved us out. It has been the overseer who has made our existence a tenament farmer's, never owning our land, always oweing the keeper....

Enough... this is what happens when I go so long without writing...

Davison has become a wonderful personal support in my world as well as continues to offer his talents and expertise in graphics, design, plus all the hands on help of being a 'roady'... tough one.

A million thanks.....to all who have welcomed me to this community, the library staffs, neighbors, pubs, rallies, picnics, and into their hearts.

Will is still a huge presence and savior....

Bristol Marina coming to my rescue.

I have a job!! A bit of a finance base to hang on to until Stu is ready to sail.. helping bake amazing original recipes and serving the 'best' coffee in RI at The Beehive Cafe on Franklin St in Bristol RI.

The projects:
OceansWatch is growing wonderfully. The works are forging ahead as Chris Bone has been so focused with his energy as to bring so many amazing people to join the efforts. During his deliveries in the Pacific Islands he has been able to personally meet and become a vital resource to several islands as a developer of sustainable economic progress and humanitarian work. so much of the humanitarian work is based in an erroding economic system.. The reefs are inadvertently used as the communities struggle to survive. Each time Chris goes back to the islands, he has more team members, more hands on ways to effectively help. The need for the OceansWatch Wharram 65 is growing as the process goes from information research and resource development, to hands on research, surveying, restructuring, reef restoration or humanitarian projects. Julia has been focused on finalizing all the foundational structures; Jane is on the go getting the word out to the sailing community (www.sail-world.com) of how we can all get involved as well as home team; the brains of the biological, sociological work, Peter and David; Lilly the web guru and communication developer, home team... the team is growing with more professionals, biologists, caring , giving commarades.

"For the LOve of Oceans" and "YOuth 4 Oceans" are in the developmental stage of building the actual websites, solidifying the actual nuts and bolts of the implimentation of the writing programs. Promo material has to be developed so that we can actually present a "Critical Thinking Writing Program" to all the potential youth, advocacy, conservation, marine education and yacht community organizations. Personal News Network's, Lauren Elliot and his team is working with me. It is hard to get as much done as we would like by internet. Skype has been a bit difficult. but we are moving forward...

I have many directions I can go with my own writing.... I have to say that I need more mental energy and concentrated hours of time, space in order to move more in this direction. Interestingly, though it is probably the most important direction for me to go for my own journey and for effectiveness, but it requires I be the most rested, focused and free energy wise.. It is a rare moment, though I have them, when I am writing...like this morning....
I have many open doors though.......... thanks to so many who have taken the time to journey with me and have shown me such amazing interest in my writing...

Tomorrow night is my first library talk. I put the sched on the last log. maybe I will copy it at the end of every other log or so until we get a place for the sched on the home page or another page.

Got to scoot. I will try to keep in touch more often, not so long winded....
loves and hugs xoxoxoxoxo truly xoxoxo d

"keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On, Caring...with all your heart, yet allowing faith and personal happiness to calm the impulses to want to know the future, to impact it, to see results now...allowing that it is the whole earth that is creating all we see. We will all come along together..eventually. I just need to keep on keepin on"

Schedule:

Most Thursday afternoons, Warren Farmer's Market, music and steel pan, with guests 4:00-8:00pm
Thursday,August 9th, Family Night at the Barrington Library starting at 6:30pm, storytelling and music,slides
Friday, August 17th Open Mic Featured Artist at the Coffee Depot, starts at 7:30pm, just music and a great open mic to follow
Sunday, August 19th Summer Barbeque to Benefit SAVE BRISTOL HARBOR, 2-6pm, a few songs and steel pan for the kids
Wednesday, Sept 5th Summer Travel Log Barrington Library, 7:30pm, travel log around the world, mixed with music
Thursday, Sept 6th Summer Night Out at Stella Blues Restaurant in Warren on corner of Water St and Miller St., 9:00pm All Music, with guests
Wednesday, Sept 12th Family Night at the Warren Library starting at 6:30pm, storytelling and music, slides
Saturday, Sept 29th Donna Lange and guest at Stone Church Coffeehouse, begins 8:00pm, Stories and Music, special guest

www.youth4oceans.pnn.com
www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com
www.donnalange.pnn.com
http://www.staynout.org/serendipity
www.oceanswatch.org; http://www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz/pacific%20guardian.htm :
phebejo1@yahoo.fr(Schools and orphanage needing desks and teacher salaries desperately)
www.womensheart.org (Education, funding for Women's Heart Foundation. the statistics regarding women dying of heart disease are staggering)
www.reddressracing.org (Women's Sailing racing organization supporting the WHF above)
www.coming-about.com (Women's sailing school focusing on alot more than sailing skills.)
www.women-without-borders.com (workshops and tremendous support for women worldwide in critical conditions to make a difference in their own countries)
www.casaamiga.com (a women's support program in a domestic violence torn Mexico)

Donna Sings

Donna — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:40:08 GMT

For the Love of Oceans!

Donna — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:40:06 GMT

Youth4Oceans

Donna — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 23:05:40 GMT

I'm on a path to get kids involved in the conservation movement. Check out Youth4Oceans!

End of the Journey

Donna — Mon, 21 May 2007 19:14:23 GMT

Donna, with only 7-years of sailing experience, joins the ranks of a very few elite sailors of the world. She single handedly circumnavigated the globe in a 28-foot sailboat named after her state of mind, Inspired Insanity.

Donna's story started with a tragic life-changing event in 1998. It so dismembered her existence that she distanced herself from all she knew. The sea was an escape. A place where she could search for answers. Repeatedly testing herself against extreme odds, her inner strength and physical stamina has overcome countless ocean battles in horrific conditions. Donna was tested by weather once again in April of 2007 requiring every ounce of her mental and physical endurance. She says her mind became clear and free after her boat nearly rolled over in the sea. It marked a new beginning. With that turning point, we have a new Donna Lange. With her comes a huge purpose and a huge responsibility.

Thank you Donna Lange for letting us watch you grow and sharing your inspiration and your music. You've seen things out there that we can barely imagine or comprehend. It's your time to share what you've learned about life and death and the world we live in.

May 17, Finished!

Donna — Mon, 21 May 2007 19:11:35 GMT

All loves to all. I am finished!!! Inspired Insanity is safely tied to a mooring in the mid of Bristol Harbor thanks to the kindness of Joseph Britto and Bristal Marina!!!!

Thank you Billy Black and Gretchen for the amazing help getting onto the mooring. But here is the rest of this story. The winds yesterday morn settled down, in fact they got light. Forecasts are so assuming but weather has it's own mind. It was perfect, just enough wind to get really cruising with full jib and a reefed main. I was making good headway, my eyes straining at the horizon to see land. At about 11:30am the tower on Pt Judith become visible.

I was only 6 miles or so from the cut into Narragansett bay. Maureen Roddy, Will and my lady in shining armor, had emailed that she had contacted Billy Black, an infamous, famous photographer of sailors in Newport. He was interested in shooting my enterance!!! An hour later, the coast of Rhode Island took form before me. I went by the first bouy along the shore. Always very exciting coming in. The Benton Reef Point (I thnk) beacon came to be visible in the still hazy horizon. The whole coast visible now.

Even the cut itself. I am just beginning to realize that I look a shambles; soon land, people. I always get so excited coming in that I forget all about getting ready to 'be' on shore; charts all over, radios out, sat phone handy, food sprawled, snacks as once I am that close, I can't go below for more than a minute at a time.

That moments notice, a boat is coming through the cut. A small cat motor boat, well not so small as it comes nearer and I realize that I am it's destination. It must be Moe and Billy. There are 4 people on board. Kitty, a writer from the magazing, Billy, Gretchen and Maureen. As they get close the hands all go up in the air. We are raising hands to a successful journey, a safe return. Only days before, 4 boats had been lost at sea in the storm off Florida. One crew is still missing... It is even more a wonder and joy for Maureen who has been involved in that situation, that I have arrived safely.

The huge sighs. She even had a bottle of champagne!!!! She also has a broken foot, so her persistence to desire to welcome me was even more amazing to me. We made all greetings and congrats were offered!!! A few questions and then I got back to sailing, hanging all my flags out for the photos, cleaning up the deck and sailing on.

There is a bit of a swell but not too bad. The cut was a great fast run. We tandemed along until it was time to pop the cork!! Champagne spurting into the air!! Yelps of joy and relief!! Hallelujah!! Maureen needed a lift back into Newport where she would grab her car and meet us in Bristol. Billy said he would come back out and follow me down as he is from Portsmouth, near to Bristol. He was even available to help me get to the dock or mooring. Wow!! More knights in shingin armor. I gave a call to Sean, the harbormaster. I had everyone coming to the town dock. Angie, Tina, Corky, Trisha (a writer and new email friend who would be there).

As I get Sean on the phone he is concerned. The forecast that had included potential thunderstorms maybe still would affect us. Though the skies were sunny, it was hazy. Now there was a tornado watch out for Providence, only a few miles north. The weather was threatening to get really ugly. Even as Sean and I spoke, the winds increased.

He would be available if I needed a faster ride in, but I would continue on for now. He was happy I had another lift available as well. I sailed on, now well under the Newport Bridge, coming up onto Prudence Island on the west, Little harbor on the right, following the bouys along. The winds were increasing..

The jib was too big to really use to manuever in any kind of gusty winds so I took the time then to get it down and stowed away. I cleaned up the lines on deck and we were making 5+KN on just a full reefed main. Current in our favor as the tide was coming in. I am getting close. Hog Island is appearing out of the coast landscape. My memory of the harbor layout coming back to me. I had to sail more north to the north harbor coast to avoid the shoal off Hog Island.

Lights come into view. The town of Bristol now coming to life, standing out from the boxes of all sizes against the green and rocks along the coast. I call in to Sean that I am near. He is going to be a while as he had thought I had a lift and so made arrangements to take care of somethings. Billy was not in sight. I called to Joe Britto as with the increase winds and potential horrendous thunderstorms predicted, my boat would do better on a mooring than on the dock.

Joe was wonderful, offering mooring and help but he doesn't have access to a boat that could come along side or tow me. I wasnt sure what to do. To sail onto a dock was the surest way for me to get secure, so that was my plan. There were several docks one after another. I took a scan of the waters around me and to my amazement, there was Billy and Gretchen. They had caught up with me. It was perfect. I made antother call around. Billy would put me on Joe's mooring. As we approached it, the launch from Bristol Marina came up on VHF. Joe had arranged to use one of their moorings instead. Great.

15 minutes later, Inspired Insanity was secure, that huge sigh!! big breath out! WE HAD DONE IT!! The World!! Pinching myself! The quiet peace, tears of gratitude. The fellows in the launch said that there were people waiting at the yacht club. I had told everyone on the town dock but they said that the harbormaster had brought over people. I didn't change, I just closed up Inspired Insanity, after emptying the bilge, climbed on the launch. As we were coming into the dock, I see a tall slender woman, running onto the end waving her arms. Her hair was light? YES It is Angie!!!!

I had been worried that she was waiting around and wouldn't find me, espeecailly when I wasn't able to get Tina on the phone, but there she was. Lilly was there. The launch didn't even come to a halt and I leapt off the boat, nearly slipped, silly me. It was the sweetest embrace. All the months of worry for Angie, who trusted but had really had to come to that deep place of faith after I left NZ, to have peace with my being so challenged. But she did. There she was.. all the way from NZ, via Germany and NYC. Joe Britto, Mr. Cabral the harbormaster, several other gentleman from the yacht club. All offering congratulations, and a reciprocative membership to the yacht club so that I would have all the facilities I need over the next few weeks to be there for the boatshow and parade. Hugs and more Hugs.

Billy and Gretchen came to the dock. We promoised each other a dinner and time together over the next time. Moe was once more the savior as her house in Newport was available for Angie, Lilly and I to stay there. WOW!! Lots of thanks and hugs.

They headed back to Bristol and I got a lift by launch to II to change and collect some things. Then met them at Goff's by the sea for drinks, dinner. As I went outside to use Moe's phone I turned to see a woman. As our eyes met, she said "Donna?". I realized that she was Trisha. She had found me. "Trisha?" . Big hugs and ther was her son, Max. What a sweety. We all enjoyed a nice meal and everyone met each other. It has been so wonderful to have so many wonderful people meeting each other. Moe was available to give us a lift out to Newport to her house but it meant leaving without finding the whole Bristol gang. I just didnt know what had happened with them. We made a stop at a local pub but Corky wasn't there. Moe's broken foot was beginning to be a concern. We needed to head off.

I just trust we will find everyone later today. Home!! A beautiful house right along the waterfront blocks of Newport. Sweet fresh beds, internet, all amazing. Angie and I caught up. I made a few phone calls, but sleep was calling me. It was midnight.
Such a peaceful sleep. My mind quiet as I had to silence the voices and visions trying to go into the future. Instead I would let the future find me with all the life I could not imagine. As I could never have imagined even the events of the past 24 hours which fell together with such amazing smooth perfectness. Life is grander than grand.

I will let the gratitude I feel rest in your imaginations as you know how I love you all. Our energies and love has brought us all so dearly together. I trust you know how the depth of my thanks. Biggest hugs. The logs will continue as I share how life is unfolding moment by moment. There are so many amazing projects, works, caring days living in this momentum of love as we all go forward together as a healthy, caring organism. What an incredible privilege life is. biggest hugs and loves xoxoxo d

Log May 16

Donna — Mon, 21 May 2007 19:05:28 GMT

ETA: around 6-7pm.

Forecast: continued 25kn winds with gusts to 30kn through day. Sunshine now. One forecast was for some thunderstorms but I haven't seen a cloud yet. There is a haze on the horizon and the coast is very low here, so I probably won't have a land sighting until right onto it. <10nm out. The night was amazing. Winds absolutely steady as can be.

I did a 20 minute horizon check through the night. One fishing boat spotted right around midnight. I got little real rest but I feel great. I am anxious to fly the regular jib and kick our speed up but as there are still forecasts of gusts to 30kn it is risky. Past experience suggests that the winds will lull around 8-10 am local given the type of gale, but again the forecasts suggest more gusting. Changing sails is time consuming and can waste as much time as I can save with a faster sail however, our ETA is based on my maintaining at least a 4 kn ave. so it may be tricky.

I hate to be pushing the rig at this point. Once into the harbor, my course will be a bit more downwind, a help. The swell has diminished a lot overnight though still a good 8' with occasional set of bigger swell. I haven't ever been around the cut into the harbor with a swell, but still more firsts ahead. Kayaking experience may come in handy again. Very exciting.

Moe Roddy has taken the bull by the horns and become Will Barbeau's lady in shining armor. She will be greeting me with camera in hand somewhere along the bay. Just an amazing woman, sailor, navigator, weather guru. She has been an amazing resource.

Again, Sean Sullivan the Bristol Harbormaster is on call to help me get into the dock with no engine working, and with the weather, would be interesting. Wow!!!! Angie and Lilly will be there along with many others. Hopefully the local gang. New friends. Bruce Burdett, from the East Bay News will be there or close by no doubt. It would be great to have a shot of my boat going under the Hope Bridge, west to east. Don't know if there will be time for that one.

I am getting very excited...I have to say that 'I got my wish" when I really started to focus on trusting and seeing what I really desired as an outcome happen. Winds at one time forecasted to be N and NW, were NE and SW as I had put out there as my desire. Of course I have a world of huge energy humanity backing any dream I dream at this point. The universe is only happy to agree. I have to say, Kevin Rose had a good handle on that from the outset. Thanks Kevin for some awesome weather information. And a kayak trip to be. So many I look forward to meeting face to face.

Trisha meyers, a writer and new email friend will be there today with her son. It will be a great party tonight. I am up for it for sure. The wind is starting to lull a bit, but could pick right back up. A bit of prudence may go a long way. As fantastic skipper and friend, Henry Greenwood would say: "Go have a cup of tea and then see what it looks like".

It is definitely that kind of a day. Hey my KIDS who have let me go!! Let me dream and supported me every moment with love and FAITH!!! It hasn't been easy to have a mom in the middle of the southern ocean, but they never let me know as they wished me only good energy on my journey. Wow!! Fletcher who has had faith in me since I was 16 years old and stood by me as I have journeyed with skillful hands and love.

My Brother, JEFF who has faithfully emailed, texted, and really held a torch in STT. To Scott, my little brother, huge hug and complete support. Brian, the prayer warrior. Jayne, holding me up every day. Mom and Ernie!!!! Abandoned to loving me.

TEAM USA: "Neil! Tom! STtu! Will on holiday!!Tina! MOM!! ERNIE!! WE did it... just a tad presumptuous... but WE DID IT!!! biggest loves to all of you.

TEAM VIRGIN ISLANDS: My home port where I began sailing. Michael, Morgan, Davis, Dan, Ron and Carol, Cindy and Mike, Cherl and Rick, my wonderful brother Jeff, so so many at the boatyards, so so many, Pat and Casey, Peter and Pat, Steve and June, Evelyn Nye, Scott Hotaling, Latitude 18, Molly Malones.

TEAM NZ!!: Jane Pares, Chris Bone, Suz Bailey, Richard Thorpe, Dion Rogers and Angie Diester, Danny Stevens, Uncle Don, Wolf and Doris and so many, forgive me.

TEAM XAXERO and GLOBAL MARINE NETWORK: Jonathan, Roxanna, Luis, Chris!!!! All in Ushuaia, ASyM(sp?) yacht club, Gustav, Laura, Maria Julia, and all the gang, Andy, Mick.

TEAM MTI; LIlly Colby!! The Whole new gang in Bristol!!: Halsey Herreshoff and all at the MUseum, The Town Council, MARINE Industry, Mike Martel, Ted Jones, Jack Walsh, Clark Ryder, Susan Daly, Andy Tyska, Tom Brownell, Sean Sullivan, The USCG, Maureen Roddy, Dan from Harken.The incredible Bruce Burdett and East Bay papers who have had the vision to cover me from my very first offshore sail from Bristol to Ireland. The wonderful Sailing Magazine World all over the World, from Sailing Magazine, Yachting world, to Cruising World, The fabulous Fatty Goodlander, Sailing magazines from countries all over, from Holland, Germany, Poland, and in all those languages. Scott Jones Moosemeals, the Caribbean Compass, which has covered me since the early days as well, All at Sea, Latitudes and Attitudes, latitude 38 electronic, Scuttlebutt and the forums. Internet Sail Magazine through Jane Pares. Gillian Stock who singlehandlely pulled a lifetime of strings to get my name out there and introduce me to amazing people.

The websites all across my logs.
WWW.Oceanswatch.com,'The next phase', giving back to the sea and the earth, humanity!!!! The Boatshow the first weekend in June. The July 4th Parade. This is just off the top of my head. God it is not meant to be inclusive. Jason, for SIMPLIFY. Tom Weathers for Inspired Insanity on my stern. Brewer's Marina's both for my boatyard experience refiting to leave and to Patrick Peck who found a starter on a shelf for me somewhere. The list is forever. There is Ken Barnes!! Cathy Chambers and their families. Wow Dayne Barnes who blessed me so by being at the Homecoming!!!! Ken and Cathy's support has been phenomenal from the moment we met, by email in the southern ocean. His amazing following of special people who have come to follow me as well hve been a huge huge support.

Ken Gourlay who is just finishing his record breaking solo sail around the world. Financial support has flocked in to help me keep the phone going, to get me home from Bermuda. The Bermuda Family. Bernard and Lily Oatley, Brian Oatley, Island Lure fishing boat who helped tow me in. The very Mayor of ST Georges and a fabulous nigth at the 'Bating of the Retreat', Francis and all at Bermuda Yacht Services, All at The ST George's Dinghy Club. From the Commodore Andrew to Jane, John, Jeff and Laura, Sheila, Mark and Victoria, To Tina Rose who's reputation held only the greatest regard and wonderful red carpet for me.

David Furtado and all at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, who also completely supported me and offered hosting and gave me such an open door.

Bear with me. We have all been in this together. The whole email family, Friends for life family, on and on and on, you all know I love you so so much and a million names will come as I ponder on. The Whole family in Ireland, Cape Verde, Musicians. Oh the musicians, my comarades. Cathy and Manny, Ron and Bonnie, Morgan, Paul, Phil, Davis, Channing, Dave. All over Ireland. Phil Robinson, Mick DeHoog, Tcheka and Joey, Pierre, The Tuesday Jam Gang in Greenhithe, Danny, Victor and the gang in Whangarei, Casey and David, of course Reva, Angel, the folk club, Peta, Rick and band at Allambra, my Irish poet, Gerry. Memories flood. What an incredible journey, and it is only just begun!! biggest hugs and ONLY GRATITUDE!!! to all.

The wind has really lulled. I better get more sail flying or I'll be late again. love you all, xoxoxoxo d

Log May 14

Donna — Mon, 14 May 2007 16:24:15 GMT

Forecast: Winds to lighten and then shift over the day to SW. A low is approaching and the SW will escalate to 40 kn on the Grib files which means it will be more by all recent experience. The direction is favorable but still not on a run as I have westing to do. Will be on the beam, difficult when seas increase.

So the westing I am doing now is very important.. The sea has truly blessed me with the northeasterlies and the westing I have been able to do. My point to the harbor has gone from 320 to 335 and we are still westing. So as long as I am westing I am improving my situation.

With the jury rig of loose lufting the small, but not a storm sail size, jib, I will not be able to fly sail with winds as high as is predicted. I do have a storm jib I have never used. It truly is a hanky. I will not be able to hold any point above the beam and will be needing to fall to a run, due north. So I will continue to push west to get to my landing west point of 7115W as soon as I can so that I can then fall off as needed. SW winds are forecast into thursday. As long as I can make the westing, I am good to go.

The sea has set me up. All is good, yet I cannot tell you how hard it is to maintain faith when the winds once again seem to be determined to hold me at sea. These winds ahead are frightening. I know what is ahead, and I don't have my wire rig or a furler. But I have the steering vane to keep me out of the weather, and the rig has been awesome. One of the blessings of being a small boat. All the forces are less and the halyards and inner forestay are doing it. Though I am scared and I can sit in a corner in tears at times as the winds shriek, the seas mount. I let go, put on good music, and visualize seeing me arriving safe and sound on the dock in Bristol. Happy and excited.

I don't say this for you to worry. We are good to go. But lets be real. I was so hoping to make this last leg in with reasonable conditions and this is not reasonable, what appears to be ahead.

I am well rested, eating well and feeling strong. I climbed into the rig yesterday afternoon during what appeared to be a diminishing lull. The spinnaker halyard block now holding huge forces carrying the jib, isn't swiveling as it should and chaffing the halyard badly. It would be great if I could change it out with the intensity of what is coming.

All sails down and the web ladder in place I started to climb, but just then the winds began to gust. I kept going but the winds escalated into what would be the gale of the afternoon and night. Before beginning to climb, I had set the boat to a broad reach with the steering vane doing fine but with the gusts, halfway up the mast head, I am suddening to beam to mounting seas. Only to 8' or so but when you are 30' in the air, the swaying was wild. I could not get the last 5' up the mast as I become very exposed with less to hold onto as the shrouds end and the swaying was just phenomenal.

I slowly made my way back down. I would possibly have another chance in between the NNE winds and the SW winds if the seas settle down which they seem to be doing quite nicely. I will be looking for that opportunity. But if I can't, I can keep a close eye on the halyard and if I back the jib against the rig I can get it down as often as needed to retie new line if it chaffes.

So, today to rest up. I haven't slept but a few hours in the last 2 days, the fog the night before and keeping careful watch to any changes and sudden escalations to guard the rig. It will be interesting to see if the whales appear if it really gets quiet for a bit. I have this sense they are staying with me. I can only imagine I must appear as a wayward child determined to go to NW because in NZ I repainted with black bottom paint and where the bottom paint has worn off it is the bright green coming through. It must look so like their own coloring.

Now, no staying up all night worrying about me. I'll do the staying up and sail us home. Knowing you are worrying is not helping me. Please, pray and go to sleep. Feed me that rest and peace through the night. Believe me, my children are trusting, my mom, so can you. It is all good. Trust, faith and no worries. I really believe that worry is counter productive energy.

During the big storm it was so very hard for me to have you all so worried. In fact the fear others had fed me fear, when I was confident. Even into this last leg. It took the first two days to focus and shake the negative worrying and dread. All is going perfect. I am making good westing, getting a good point and will be in good position to manage the high winds coming..

Biggest biggest hugs to all. Don't hold your breath, breathe!!!! I'm soon home. The miles will clock off quickly once the winds turn SW tonight. I'll be in Bristol soon.. I love you all so very much. xoxoxoxxo d

"Keepin On Keepin On Keepin On Caring....with all my thoughts and dreams as I energize all good things in my life".

Log May 13- Whales!

Donna — Mon, 14 May 2007 16:21:04 GMT

Stories: I can't go on without sharing the amazing events of yesterday and this morn.

Knowing that there was this turn of wind coming, I was believing strongly for all blessings to get across the gulf stream and I attracted just that. It is a miracle to me as in only 5-10kn of wind, later with only a small jib and main, on a nearly becalmed flat sea, the warmth of the stream creating a balmy effect, rain falling, as one squall line went to another. I was on deck all day, raising and lowering the main. About halfway across the stream, I was already blessed as the wind direction was holding to allow me to maintain a good angle to the stream to get the fastest, most efficient crossing.

I maintained a point which gave me a north course at maximum speed. But little could I have imagined that the speed would be 7-9kn even reaching 10 at times. Not 'with' the stream but cutting across. The years of kayaking came to my aid again. Keel and I had done a delivery where we ended up without engine crossing the stream into the chesapeake with no wind at all. We managed to ferry the stream perfectly, losing only a few miles to being swept along, but instead, slipping across the stream on her own energy.

Well, let me tell you. I was doing some fancy slipping yesterday. It was surreal as the boat felt like it was floating, but at 8kn!! At one point the winds did lull and my genny was flapping so that I was concerned it would tear, so I furled it in. The furling felt strange but she came in. There was resistance. As the wind came up again, I let the genny out. As I went to sheet it in, I realized something was wrong. The forestay had pulled out from the end fitting stay-lock.

With the trouble I had been having with the furler, which I thought I had worked around, I had at times been twisting the wire instead of the fitting turning which had gradually pulled the wires of the stay right out of the stay-lock holding it to the mast. I dashed to get the main down. I had the inner forestay attached and all was holding the mast fine, plus there was little wind. But the genny was flapping. It was a bit to let down the sail when the stay was coming with it but finally the sail was on the deck, the forestay laying in the water.

My first idea was to haul the stay back up with the fitting. It was a wrong concept. I hadn't tought it through that the fitting would just come off the top. But I didn't find out the hard way. Instead I was unable to haul it back up. I finally went to plan B and would use the jib halyard as the forestay and run the jib loose lufted, unattached to the stay.

Within 15 minutes the halyard was secure. I would run my smallest jib as I knew there was weather coming. I would purpose to keep the stress down. The sail was the heavy small jib I had rarely used. Wishing I had a staysail still, but all good. It was an hour before I had the genny stowed and the jib flying. we were back up to 7-9kn in no time. Miracles. And soon enough the water temperature and air temperature dropped, just after sunset.

Glory and huge sighs, we were through the stream, for the most part. The winds shifted and I needed to tack the jib which meant pulling it down as the spinnaker halyard used needs to be repositioned to tack too. Winds are light to near calm.

I am walking to the foredeck when I hear a huge 'blow'. It startles me in the dark as I can not see anything. Another 'blow and surfacing'. It was too much to be a dolphin I thought but assumed it to be. Or the pilot whales I had seen earlier. I strained to see them in the dark as they first blew on the port and then the starboard. As I finished my tasks and got us up and sailing, the occurance of sounds stopped. The night went well, holding some kind of point to keep progress happening.

The stream was still helping me along as it nudged my COG NNW even though I was pointing west or WSW. I was up and checking the sails all night. It was so foggy, I was wishing I could get the radar reflector up but lacked another halyard. The topping lift to the jib pole finally came to mind and I had the reflector hanging in no time. Now I could go below and rest.

At least I had some chance of being seen by radar in the fog. The dawn came. I ate my breakfast first off. There it was again, the ''blow and surfacing". I dashed to the companionway and through open the hatch. I was just in time to see this massive dark creature emerge from the sea along side, not 20' from my port rail. My god!!! I was just in awe.

My first reaction was fear as the tales of whales injury boats were in my memory, but I didn't even entertain it for a moment. It was the most amazing privilege to be so close to this magnificent animal so kindred in heart to me. I focused on sharing love, awe, marvel. I centered myself in peace as one after another whales surfaced, startling with the sudden 'blow' and then rolling up and down into the water.

Their white underside of their head began to become visible under the water to me and I could see the disturbances in the water as other whales swam just below the surface. One whale seemed to be smaller but most were as long as my boat. I was amidst a whole pod which were playing along side my bow like dolphins do, eccept so slowly and so huge. I never let a thought other than peace and honor fill me. I was on deck for hours as I could not leave them. It was the wind that beckoned me to work. It was nearly 1200UTC.

Sorry to be late with my log, but it was amazing!!! I have dreamed of such an encounter all my life. I can almost see the first storm as a way to stall my return until the whales could be here. I have to say though that I sang to the whales instead of playing my whistle, somehow the unknown of how they would repsond was enough to cause me to settle with singing. My voice is peaceful, it was so serene. I went to work as the wind had picked up.

I am just believing for a perfect balance with the sail I have flying and the winds. If the wind gets a bit much, I can hove -to, backing the jib. It will work fine. In fact I found that backing the jib was a great way to bring it to the deck when I need to bring it down as well. Always learning something new. Yes, the next few days are to be filled with plenty of wind, but I'll make progress or hove to and rest. By Wednesday eve I'll be in Bristol.

Forecast: I am trusting for NE winds through today turning West and then SW over Monday and Tuesday into Wednesday and home. I can see me now, arriving to a warm welcome from those who wish to be there. My daughter Kristy to greet me, Ptarmi, my mom, whoever can be there. It would be great to see Halsey Herreshoff and others from the town. My wonderful friend Angie and her lovely daughter Lilly, visiting from NZ, waiting with outstretched arms. Tina, Corky, Paul, the BRistol gang...Maybe Greg and Rosemary, Gary, musicians, Mike Martel, email acquaintences. I'll try to keep the site as updated as possible and come in after work hours, haha.

Conditions: Temp 60*, 68* below. The stove works great to keep it warm below. It is a marvel to be able to stay below once more and let the wind and rain rage above. My Anam Cara, the Cape Horn is back!!! Barometer is really quite steady at 1006. All good.

I have been practicing using only positive expressions revealing what I want instead of confessing any negativity or doubt. I was surprised to find out how often I use a double negative, even to express something 'kind of positive'. like 'No Fear". Just using the 'fear word' can inhibit the peace I seek. I even found that my use of 'Never Never Never Give up Caring' is a double negative 3 x's, plus confesses the idea of giving up, absurd! So I am going to revamp it. 'Biggest Hugs' and loves to all, your presence and encouragement is here with me in the 'blow' of the whales. xoxoxoxoxo d