the blog

It’s hard to see a chapter of life close. Actually close is the wrong word, I will now forever be a sailor, a man who is with the sea. Our time aboard the Velella was meaningful, deep and full of reflection, the type of time that doesn’t happen often in today’s world, the type of time we often search for in any number of outdoor pursuits. The thing I found so refreshing at sea was that we came to a time when I didn’t feel the need to seek that feeling of “now-ness”; rather it was just how we were. I’m trying to keep that with me.

Do you think being on social media helps you?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Northwest and all the people and places that I care about there that are currently being effected by these fires. It’s hard to be away at a time like this, and even though I realize that I can’t be on the front lines of the fight to control the wildfires, being disconnected from it seems to make it feel even worse. Be back soon PNW.

P E R S P E C T I V E

From this vantage point, it’s hard to believe that space was the entire space that @sonofaboat and I occupied for 25 days straight (and technically the two months before in preparation), sailing from Seattle, Washington to Hilo, Hawaii. In reality, it was plenty of space, in fact it was the only type of space that I’ve been a part of in my recent past that has allowed me the opportunity to really reflect, to grow, to look outward as far as the eye can see and in doing so see inward as deep as the mind can go. It was a beautiful symphony of air and space, simple and meaningful.

Thinking of mountains, cold rock, and colorful flags fluttering in the wind.

More and more the term exploration doesn’t need to mean the act of accessing of places that no human has ever been before, rather it is searching for the inner examination that happens when traveling and seeing places that are new to you.

First things first when we made landfall in Hilo: wash ourselves, wash the boat, prepare for a hurricane, not necessarily in that order.
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Find more in my stories 🤙🏼

Is it too late to start my climbing season? I realized the other day while putting together some images for the @americanalpine club that I have only had a handful of days on rock or snow this year… Looking forward to changing that this fall.

“There is something extremely gratifying about doing things that are a little harder…“ ~ Jesse Kamm

It’s national dog day, and while I haven’t been able to have a dog for a few years now, I’ve been able to be a pup uncle to many. Here’s to pups all over and taking them sailing.

I think the stars are just a little better with a VW… Maui has been such an epic location to explore with this little rig named Rocky, and I’m getting better acquainted with the Westy life. I wouldn’t trade my tin top for one just yet, but standing room has its advantages!

“Willie Woodward is an accomplished adventurer and story teller. He just wrapped a 3,000 mile sail from the PNW all the way to Hawaii, and we caught him between waves and margaritas to hear about the trip and where he may be going next.”
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Listen in to the podcast now, link in bio. I want to thank @wts.podcast and @hunter.harlow for having me, the laughs and good conversation.

S E N D

Lately I’ve been thinking more about “home” and what that means for me. It’s been many years of go go go travel, a lifestyle that has brought countless amazing experiences and even more friends that have become family along the way; but it does seem lately that I’ve been drawn to perhaps something different. What that is, I’ve yet to find. In due time I hope that it feels simple, meaningful, open to those who have been open to me.

More often than not it feels like I’m getting things figured out, less so for some others. For now, I’ll just keep moving forward.

I’ve been asked a lot what the biggest thing that I learned about myself during the sailing trip. As I reflect on the time at sea, the thing I remember the most and thing that I appreciate having the opportunity to experience was that of presence. It’s something that I have been trying to practice in meditation and throughout each day, but there is nothing like being 1000 miles out at sea to put perspective on the joy of being exactly where you are in the world, aware and alive, able to share joys and sorrows, able to laugh, able to love. I’ll never forget that feeling, and I will try to bring it with me where ever I go. #film #35mm

such a long way from home
we’ve seen so much along this winding road
unsure of where this will lead
but still we go; we’ll keep on
till one day
something unexpected comes at the wrong time
we may not be ready
and we can never be sure
but life is now
leap, run, step, reach, just move

I find myself somewhere between an eviro-conscious vegan and a omnivorous hunter-gatherer. I wonder why we so often try to define food as a part of who we are, putting names on how we eat. What I know is that I’ll continue to try and reduce the distance from my food to my table, and do it in a way that allows me to make choices to minimize my environmental impact while doing so.