She’s back, and this time with kids!

When I first started sailing with Bill many many moons ago, I read a book that absolutley captivated me. It was Maiden Voyage, by Tania Aebi.

I have since read her second book and was thinking “Man, after sailing solo around the globe, how could she return to everyday life and not want to….you know….. be out there experiencing life like that again? WHERE ARE YOU TANIA? I need my armchair fix!”

Well, she is back at the helm for a long cruise, and this time she is bringing her 2 sons.

I devoured her logs this weekend and am anxiously awaiting her post tomorrrow.

If you have not read her first book, you really need to.

Bill and I sat outside talking about it this weekend, and I brought up the fact that her speaking engagements are sponsored by the same group that sponsors Lance Armstrong. I told him how much she charges, and that unlike Lance, she asks to fly coach. Lance asks for first class for 4 or a private jet. My husband reponded “Well, she is no Lance Armstrong. What he did no one else has ever done before”. I got a bit really pissy and said, “Right, she didn’t have cancer. She didn’t ride her bicycle through the French country side. She also didn’t piss on everyone as she went up the ladder of success. She only single handed a sailboat around the globe at the age of 18, Bill. So what if Lance won a kazillion Tour de France bike races. Maybe he should get his butt out on the Atlantic BY HIMSELF and see if he can manage not to piss himself when the first quall with 30 foot waves comes his way. I know I would. What she did was incredible, and she was just a teenager. What I want to know is why humble Lance needs a private jet or first class airfare for himself and 4 other people when he flies????? I mean, the arrogance!! Do you know how many people endure the hell that is cancer, and go on to do wonderful things with their lives with NO recognition? Or how about the people who endure the pain and hell that incurable cancer brings upon them in their final days. The agony. Those people are my heroes. Sheesh.”

Having said that, I will say that I do find what Lance is doing for cancer research incredible. The millions he is raising for the cure? That is what humbles me about him. But you know what, it really irks me that he requires a private jet or first class for 4 to fly to speaking engagements to talk about his cancer and motivate other cancer survivors to Livestrong. There is some hypocrisy in that, you know, and that is all I have to say about it.

Whoops, where was I?

Oh yes, Shangra-La……go get hooked on Tania’s travel log. I think whe will be posting twice each month, on the 1st and 15th.

She is doing what I hope to do one day with our kids.

**edit to add another link…written by a 9yo Olivia Collins who cruised with her parents for 2 years. I quote her:

“When I was four and five, my mother had breast cancer. I was so scared for her, but she survived. That left my family with an important morale: Live while you can, and make the best of it, because you never know what will happen next. So we made a decision; we would get a sailboat and go cruising for a while.”

Exactly why we are where we are today.