Adventure is more than miles and places, storms and calms. Adventure is a state of mind that finds excitement and purpose in living moment by moment on this beautiful planet that is so accommodating to life. Everywhere I’ve looked there was life busy living. For the past four months, I’ve been very busy living and sharing what I’ve seen and felt by being the central character in my own dream. You have given me a part of your life by taking time to come along. You’ve offered me encouragement when I needed it most. When loneliness overtook me or the going got tough, I would reread your e-mails and comments and resolve to make one more mile. You ask questions that made me think deeply about the reality of making a dream come true. Everyone who visited the site contributed whether leaving a comment or not. Your encouragement has sharpened my desire to move through my doubts and fears to take the adventure farther next year.
Because you were there, I have always felt a sense of obligation to not take risk, or be fool hearty or caviler about the dangers of solo sailing. I weighed the risk against the reward and moved forward. I’ve never tried to do the impossible but rather show by example that fun things can be done safely and has this ever been fun! (Even in spite of the one or two times it wasn’t “fun”.)
My hope is to somehow encourage you to step out and make a dream come true. If you can think to yourself something like “If that old guy can go that far, at his age, in that boat, then I can…” (You fill in the blank). That’s what Captain Lem and others have done for me.
I can see clearly it’s going to be a wonderful winter collecting my lessons learned and planning ahead. There are yet great things to see and do. I will keep you posted. In the end our time will be well spent on this Arctic Solo Sail.
Your sailor pal,
Tommy
One more storm picture
Tommy,
I have been following your adventures for some months now. Your attitude, your style of writing and attention to detail has made me feel as if I was along with you for the ride.
I was somewhat disappointed when I read you were going to store the Cap’n Lem for a year. I will miss your updates and stories from the high seas! However, I will continue to check your blog as I am most interested in how you plan and prepare to continue the voyage next year.
I’m sure you will be anxious to get the Cap’n Lem back in the water next year and I can’t wait to sail along with you on your adventures!
I’m not a sailor, but I am an “adventurer,” and I want to thank you for taking all of your readers along with you on this voyage of discovery.
Godspeed,
Rick K (Virginia, USA)
Thank you Captain. It has been part of my regular routine since early June to check in and see what you are up to. It is an enviable adventure and I want to thank you for sharing it. Looking forward to charting your progress in the spring.
Tommy, this is Dennis, the other old guy with the ponytail. We met at George & Pete’s. Good call on your trip. Remember that the adventure is not the destination ….. It is the Journey. We’ve found it’s far better to smell the roses along the way than to actually get there.
After we met we encountered a tour bus full of folks our age who all had smiles on as they were exiting the bus. I said to Maura, “compare their smiles to Tommy Cook’s smile. They are different. Theirs are polite, somehow maybe required, maybe superficial. Tommy’s was real, genuine, backed by something very alive. You inspired us both agreat deal and we thank you for that. We wish you all the best and will stay tuned.
I’ll email you the photo we took together in front of our Land Rover when we get home next week.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”. -Henry David Thoreau
Your Friends
Dennis & Maura
from DrivetheGlobe
Captain Tommy,
I will miss checking in on you every day and ahing and ooing over your gorgeous photographs. I clicked on your navigation links and explored the coast line of North America through Google Maps and loved every minute. We were so looking forward to following you around the top of the world.
I know it would be pretty much impossible with all of us loyal followers, but is there some way to let us know when you start up again? I don’t want to miss a second!
Thanks for the adventure - even if it was from my own armchair.
Deb & Ginger
Thanks for the ride, Cap’n Tommy! I have followed you since day one and looked forward to your blogs daily. You really caught my attention with your fascination of Huron Island in Lake Superior. I was one of the USCG guys that automated it in 1973 and share your appreciation for it. I ‘m a sailor too, and dream of following your tracks out the seaway someday (soon, I hope). Glad you knew when to say when and look for to the second phase of the adventure in 2010.
Godspeed,
Gordy Anderson (Minnesota)
Tommy,
Thank you for taking the time and effort to let us sail along with you. When I cruised with my wife, we always took each voyage one anchorage at a time. That is the best way for us. Glad you took the time to enjoy the moments, because that is all we really have in the end. Moments. The biggest mistake we ever made while cruising was moving too fast and missing great things along the way.
On another subject, we’ve sailed Corsairs from the beginning, and that is one really sweet hard dodger. Down the road, if you could post any more photos of your dodger, and tell the design story, I would be interested in hearing about it.
Also, what were the pros and cons of cruising on your F-31 UC. Did she sail and workout like you expected.
Good sailing,
Rod
Will you put the boat under cover, or leave it out in the open? I can’t imagine that magnatude of cold.
It’s been great following your adventure. Thank you for having us aboard. Us old armchair seamen really enjoied it and I’ll be looking forward to next year.
Now if you get a chance come on down here to Fla and warm your bones.
Be well and I look forward to hearing from you again.
The CAP’N LEM will be stored inside. The next few days will be getting her ready.
When I get back I’ll have more time to go into details. I’ll take some close up photos of the dodger It wasn’t hard to build.
I love the boat but it’s fast speed scared me a couple of times being by my self. I try t always start out the day with a reef in the main. Only when I’m sure the wind will not encrease do I take it to the top. She has been a wonderful little “home” for the past 4 months.
The fireplace made a world of difference in the comfort.
Hello:
I had the opportunity and yes pleasure to sail around your boat in my (Kerie/Feeling) at the Basin often also referred to as the Otter Creek (Otter is the name sake of the airplane type that share the water way with us boaters). I was hoping to see you around there but on both occasions when I sailed by it appeared that you were on shore, I certainly didn’t wish to get too close. If I can be of help to you in finding a place to stroe your boat for the winter drop me a note. If you need a Vehicle or tools I am sure we can help. Labradorians are a kind group who wish to help. Cheers!!
Tommy,
So sorry that the trip is ending for this year. I had become accustomed to joining in your adventure each evening and will really miss it. I do hope you will let Donna or I know when you begin again next summer so we can join in. Hope you can post a picture of the “Cap’n Lem” when she is stored. Have a safe trip home and rest up for next year. Till next time…
Toni
Captain Tommy,
I can only echo what my fellow adventurers have posted except to leave you my email address: DELETED. Perhaps you could create a list (I don’t really know how blogs work) and let us all know when you cast off next spring (or summer).
Rest up, stay healthy.
Jim
Well done Cap’n. I figured this post was about to arrive when I read the Alaska newspapers the other day where they reported that the NW passage was closed because of the ice!
I read a lot of papers online, it’s a great facility.
Anyway, like everyone else following this blog I look forward to more. Just because you’re not on the water doesn’t mean the adventure stops. God only knows where you may find the next turn on the path. Next year will show us a very different world and I hope we’re all here in one piece.
As for filling in the blanks, I’m working on that, no fear.
p.s. I just noticed that I had forgotten to update my e-mail address in the previous post, had to change as the server I was using seems to have had a heart attack!
Hi Tommy, Woody from Marquette, MI. Sorry to see this year’s trip come to an end. Have really enjoyed being along for the ride. When you begin anew I hope there is some whay to find out. Will you keep the “blog” going and update with new plans as they develop? Already looking forward to next season with you.
Woody, Gracie and Ted
Hi Tommy,
I’ve been following your adventure, and enjoying it very much ever since you passed by us in Lake Erie at the start of June. Now in Halifax, and heading for Newfoundland. We’ll turn around and head south after that. It’s great to explore the great northern waters! I’ve appreciated your writing skills and all your stories, and have been oft reminded of the way of things, by your simple straightforward perspectives. I’ll be looking for your updates, and especially for the continuation of the adventure next year.
Best Wishes & Keep Blogging,
Lauren
Hi Captain Tommy!
Although I haven’t been an avid commenter, ever since you started your adventure I’ve followed it and shared it with my friends.
Most of them don’t sail and can’t understand the solo sailing fascination, but I think it makes them start dreaming their own dreams.
I’m sorry to hear you’re stopping for now, but maybe next year when you resume it I’ll be that extra mile closer to one day doing something like this.
That’s always on my mind everytime I take my sailboat out.
All the best,
Tiago
PS: if you’re ever in Portugal please don’t hesitate to contact me, I’d love to chat with you and go out for a nice sailing!
Hi Tommy-
Good to know you are able to arrange your storage and you are well. I’ve really enjoyed folowing your progress, pictures, and using Google Earth to view your various anchors. Will keep checking here thru the winter and after for updates and when you resume.
I noticed that both Fiona and Silent sound are unable to continue due to the ice conditions-you made a good decision! Please (if you can) include some pics of Goose Bay/Happy Valley and the storage facility. Hope you locate a suitable truck and all goes well.
Where are you wintering?
Hi Tommy
What a fantastic website you have here. I’m glad I got to see your sailboat, even if it was out of the water. I’m not much of a sailor even though I grew up surrounded by water in Newfoundland and now in Labrador as well. I commend your passion for sailing.
What an adventure you are on, it’s too bad you hit a snag and have to cut your trip short this year but there’s always next year. I look forward to seeing updates once you begin again.