Wildful Travel & Lifestyle💫Create a way of life in tune with nature 🏕️Thruhike ⛵Sailing 🚐VanLife 👩🎓+17yr Fulltime Adventurer 🌍 Eco & Adventure Style
What the wild adventures taught me ⛵⛰️⛺ Sail, Trail & Tea Talk
Published 22 days ago • 4 min read
Ocean Explorer Reunion!
Brought to you to inspire, excite and support on cultivating a conscious, slow adventure travel lifestyle in tune with nature. And a little bit of sunshine ☀️.
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
A decade ago (yes, I talk in decades now 😅) I was walking the docks, trying my luck to get a sailboat ride to the Caribbean.
The dream: sail the world. The next logical step (what was I thinking): sail the Atlantic Ocean!
I found a boat. Left that boat. Best decision ever to date. Story for another time. Found another one.
That boat and captain went on to sail around the world over the next decade. And so did I, but in a different way. Last week, we crossed seas again! Same port. Las Palmas. Full circle moment! Literally.
My first Atlantic crossing was happy, safe, and unforgettable. It tasted for more.
Since then, I’ve crossed the Atlantic 5 times, logged around 50,000 nautical miles, and sailed on more than fifty different boats, in every continent.
Here’s what it taught me:
1) Simple things are everything Water. Power. Fresh fruit. Sleep. A cup of tea that doesn’t fall over. Becoming super aware of the preciousness of resources, rewires your gratitude forever. Equalling happiness. And health!
2) The world is wildly beautiful. And polluted. Dolphins mid-Atlantic. Whales. Pristine reefs, flight free night skies, and remote coastlines.
Mid Atlantic Night Sky
And plastic in the most isolated places. Fishing fleets. Dead zones. Seeing this with my own eyes turned me into an ocean advocate for life.
Remote Beach
3) Belief and confidence is built through experience I realised I can actually do this! Live this. It’s a skillset build over time. Thanks to putting myself out there. I dreamt it, did it, and even became a qualified captain.
It wasn’t only sailing that taught me this.
Thru-hiking did too. Different terrain. Similar lessons. And growth.
Carry what you need. Move slowly. Listen to weather and feelings. Lose track of the days. Life gets clearer when you simplify and move with nature. And confidence grows.
07.00 AM. Woke up at 2400m. Ready for another day hiking 850km across the Pyrenees. Solo.
I was lucky to have a strong mentor in hiking and wildcamping. My partner Jonatan, who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail, pulled me into that wild world (Our first date was a long-distance hike LOL).
With sailing, I learned mostly through trial and error. And spending many years jumping between boats. Learning in a rather rough and tough way.
If there’s one thing I wish I’d had earlier, it’s guidance and a value sharing network to safely live these wild (ocean) adventures, with positive impact, and community.
I couldn't find it. So I created it with Ocean Nomads. Ocean Nomads is not just me anymore. It's by and for those living differently, with nature.
A few times per year we organize wild adventures! Life changing for many who joined us. These are not just trips. It's an entry point + acceleration zone into a nature-led lifestyle.
This year. Not a decade from now.
The next expedition is this March, sailing and hiking in the wilder Canary Islands: Ocean sailing, island exploration, learn by doing, sailing skills (from our seasoned instructor/expedition vessel owner Thomas), workshopping, hiking (get mentored by Jonatan), citizen science, and networking with others determined to live life large, with impact and community. With a big dose of fun & guidance, so you don’t have to learn everything the hard way.
A powerful shortcut + acceleration zone into a wilder way of living.
My new favourite hiking shoes: Topo's! (3 sizes too big for 0 pain) Tested now for +300km. Zero pain. + little blister trick: put some wool if it hurts somewhere, pain gone!
Today's Cup of Tea with Suzy 🫖 (I'm literally zipping it right now)
Ginger Spice Tea
When the days are colder, we can use an extra boost and some warmth.
In Ayurveda, winter is a Vata season. Cold, dry, windy, and often a little unsettled. When we’re moving a lot, traveling, or living nomad-style, those qualities tend to increase even more.
This tea brings balance: Ginger + cinnamon + clove, all warming spices. How to make it? Slice 3 to 5 slices of fresh ginger, add 1 small cinnamon stick or a pinch of ground cinnamon, and 1 clove. Let it simmer for 5-10 minutes and drink it slow. It warms you, helps with circulation and settles you. Also great if you have a little cold creeping up. Relax and rest!
Thank you for joining this newsletter! 🥰 Brought to you from the seaside in Fuerteventura. This is my anchorage tonight. Surf is ON tomorrow morning to start the day super powered.
I’m super excited to tell more stories through video this year. If the YouTube videos resonate with you and you’d like to support their creation, Patreon is where that happens. Your support makes it possible for me to prioritize this, and keep making and improving these videos, to connect people to a life with nature, & free to watch. Thank you! 🙏
Along the way, I share small extras there too: raw moments, footage, insights, and reflections from the trail, the van, and the sea. Too raw to put it out in public, Too priceless not to share. ❤️