Author Archives: PompanoDan

In reflection, that’s some ambitious title for this post—let’s hope the subsequent writing can deliver on the promise. I’m over 90 days straight of living on the boat and, given our lockdown, approaching 30 days at anchor in one place so I’ve certainly got the time to do it right. Here goes nothing… You’ve gotContinue reading “Zeitgeist, Collective Grief and The First-Mile Problem”

After that blog post that was a slow-song, tearjerker, I think we’re all in the mood for a dance number. Several weeks ago when I was in Gorda Sound on the Island of Virgin Gorda, BVI, I had a beautiful and photogenic beach walk on Prickly Pear Island. I find that when I get toContinue reading “Prickly Pear Island”

One foot in and one foot back, It don’t pay to live like that.So I cut the ties and jump the tracks,For never to return…. Three words that became hard to say,I and love and you. —The Avett Brothers, I And Love And You I played bass in a rock and pop band for aContinue reading “Mysteries, Sea Glass and Irrational Fears”

When I get to heaven, I’m gonna shake God’s hand,Thank him for more blessings than one man can stand.Then I’m gonna get a guitar and start a rock-n-roll band,Check into a swell hotel; ain’t the afterlife grand? And then I’m gonna get a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale,Yeah, I’m gonna smoke a cigarette that’s nineContinue reading “IrMaria”

A wonderful bird is the pelican,His bill will hold more than his belican,He can take in his beak,Enough food for a week,But I’m damned if I see how the helican!—Dixon Lanier Merritt Editor’s Note: As this terrible pandemic rages, I’ve heard of some particularly tone-deaf billionaires escaping to their luxury yachts and then flaunting theirContinue reading “Fauna”

OK my digital stowaways—all hands on deck, batten down the hatches and shorten sail ’cause this next tale is a lulu… For me, the story starts several weeks ago; for the heroes of the story, it starts several years ago. On March 11th, I entered the British Virgin Islands (BVI) at Spanish Town on theContinue reading “Go & Lan”

Let me ride on the wall of death one more time,Let me ride on the wall of death one more time.You can waste your time on the other rides,This is the nearest to being alive.Oh let me take my chances on the wall of death.—Richard Thompson, Wall of Death (added to hjsailing playlist) Some quickContinue reading “Space Mountain (from the passage)”

Is there ever enough, space between usTo keep us both honest and true?Why is it so hard, just to sit in the yardAnd stare at the sky so blue? —John Prine, You Got Gold (added to hjsailing playlist) Between celestial navigation and grief, our recent posts have been rather heavy. Given the news of theContinue reading “Diversionary Tactics”

I can taste the ocean on your skin,Because that is where it all began.We all go back to where we belong,We all go back to where we belong.—REM, We All Go Back to Where We Belong As I began to formulate this plan to sail to the Virgin Islands, another idea came to me. It’sContinue reading “We All Go Back to Where We Belong (from the passage)”

My middle and high school friend Paul and I reconnected recently, partially due to this blog which is neat. He recently added a kind comment to the blog that it’s such a welcome diversion from all the Coronovirus craziness. I hope others find the same. A couple of related items in light of the currentContinue reading “A Sense of Where You Are, Part 3”