#athena14085

[coconutseaways]

Very impressive bull statue in Angra do Heroismo and my bull: Mike haha. #coconutseaways #athena14085 #terceira #azores

#terceira #athena14085 #coconutseaways #azores

[coconutseaways]

Selfie with our painting! #selfie #horta #athena14085 #transatlantic #hortamarina #sailorpainting #azores #coconutseaways #islands #sailing #sailboat #sailorslife

#sailorpainting #coconutseaways #selfie #islands #sailorslife #transatlantic #horta #athena14085 #azores #sailing #sailboat #hortamarina

[coconutseaways]

The white is done...tomorrow, the rest of the design! #painting #paintthewall #horta #hortamarina #hortapaintings #coconutseaways #athena14085

#athena14085 #hortapaintings #coconutseaways #horta #painting #paintthewall #hortamarina

[coconutseaways]

July 16-2017 - I love my job!

July 16-2017 Hey guys! We are obviously still having a great time here in the Azores and our Airbnb's have just been amazing. July 10, we came back to Horta to prepare for the Belgian family that was coming aboard. We set anchor and I let them know we were here and ready for them tomorrow morning. They invited us to the beach but we were tired from sailing and had just arrived so we politely declined and told them we would see them tomorrow. A little bit later in the evening I got a message from them saying they could see the boat in the harbour and were excited for the next day. Early in the morning on July 11, we went and tied up to the concrete pier in front of the port authority. This is where you can get gas and water. We filled up our water tank and put some gas in, in case the wind dies and we have to motor. While we were tied up an English couple came and tied up beside us. We started chatting, and they were getting ready to sail home to England after a 2 year voyage. Lionel was the guy's name but I didn't catch the girls name. They had a border collie named Buddy who loved eating fish. Mike caught one while we were tied up and fed it to Buddy who gobbled it right up haha. They were in the Caribbean for a while and now here in the Azores. They had planned on leaving a week earlier but had some rigging damage that needed repairs first. It worked out in our favour because while talking with them, we told them our plan of sailing down to the Caribbean and they gave us two great sailing guide books of the islands down there. Best places to anchor, restaurants, beaches and all kinds of insider knowledge to help us. They had gotten the books from another guy down there so they were passing it on. It was very nice of them and it just shows how friendly most sailors are. Everyone is always willing to lend a hand or a book. So now we are totally set for when we head down to the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. I already learned something new from one of the books and that is that hot lime juice dissolves sea urchin spikes. Sea urchins are everywhere and if you get poked it will hurt like a mother. Once we were loaded with fresh water and fuel, our guests arrived. They only brought 2 suitcases and 2 backpacks which was awesome for us! They left a couple bags at their other Airbnb because they knew of the lack of storage space. Kris, Ingrid, Lobke and Flo make up the Mast family. The three girls and I went for a walk to the grocery store while Kris and Mike stayed on the boat. We bought ingredients to make kebabs on the BBQ for supper that night but forgot the skewers haha. So we ended cooking up the veggies and meat separately. It tasted delicious either way and besides, you take all the food off the skewer to eat it anyways. Kris and Ingrid spoke English very well, Lobke could understand most of what we were saying but wasn't sure of speaking it and Flo needed most of the conversation translated back to Dutch. It worked out well though and Mike had the girls laughing with his Mr. Bean impressions which don't require translation lol. It was great though because Mike can speak Afrikaans which is a mix of Dutch, German, French and Hottentot. He was able to recognize a lot of words they were saying and also speak to them and they were able to understand. It was a fun time learning new words and doing translations. We set off and with the wind coming from the North, we headed south to start our way around Pico. We sailed for about 3 hours and unfortunately the girls were feeling a little green. So we stopped in Sao Caetano, a little niche about half way to Lajes Do Pico where the marina is. Mike dropped anchor and we got in the water and did some snorkelling. The water was so clear here and we had literally thousands of fish under us. Check out Instagram for some awesome pics. I got in with my go pro and I was in the middle of the school. It was amazing. After about an hour we continued on to Lajes. We arrived in the early evening and tied up to a dock for the night. We had our stickless kebabs and then went for ice cream. They had Bounty ice cream which was divine! The others got crepes or waffles but I was so content with just my coconut and chocolate ice cream. Lajes is a lovely protected lagoon so we knew there would be no wave action coming in as we didn't want the girls to feel ill since they were now feeling better. The boat was very still until we laid down to go to sleep. Then the tide came in and because the full moon had just passed, the tide had a little more energy in it then usual. The dock made a terrible knocking and screeching sound as it lifted with the water and unfortunately all of us didn't have a great sleep. But everyone was still in good spirits the next day. Before we left we found a Moray eel hanging out in the rock wall beside the boat. I got a nice clip of him coming out of his hole. Our guests booked one night with us on 11th and then another night on the 14th. In between they had an Airbnb on Pico. So we parted way with them for the day, we kept their luggage because they were going to scooter from Lajes to the eastern tip of Pico where their Airbnb was. Mike and I sailed to the tip and met up with them again to give them their luggage. Then we continued around the island. We had planned to meet them in Sao Roque on the northern side, since sailing all the way from the top back to Horta would most likely be too far for the girls and might make them dislike sailing, which is the opposite of what we want. It was getting later and we were feeling tired, the wind was not cooperating so we decided to beam reach over to Calheta on Sao Jorge island which was only 7 miles away, instead of Sao Roque do Pico which was 11 miles away. We got there in the early evening and set anchor in the small harbour. We walked around a little and saw they were setting up for a party for the next day. Luckily, we were a day early and we could get a good rest because the stage was right by the boat and the way these Portuguese party, they go until 4 or 5 in the morning haha. It was another rocking boat night but we managed to get some zzz's. We did some fishing and I saw the brightest red starfish so far. Mike also found a huge sea snail and a small octopus. I held the octopus and it is the coolest feeling. Little suction cups all over. Very very cool. The next day we sailed over to Sao Roque, which is where we were meeting the Mast family. We got there with a day to spare so we could do a little tidying up and also get groceries and a little fuel. While we were in Sao Roque, a large navy ship came in - a frigate. It was cool to see. We went for a pizza at the cafe which was delicious, but they don't put pizza sauce on it so it's not quite like home but still very yummy. I will make pizza sauce and dough and we will make our own pizza. Our guests came to the harbour around 11 AM and we did some more snorkelling and walking around the rocks. Kris LOVED being on the boat. You could tell he was just in pure heaven. We did lots of fishing and I think everyone had a really great time. We hung around Sao Roque until about 3 PM and then we set sail for Madalena. It was a nice short 2 hour sail there which I think Flo was happy about. We got into harbour, dropped anchor and headed to the grocery store for meat, beer and wine. Mike made his famous spaghetti bolognese for us and I prepped a salad and some delicious garlic bread. After, we went for ice cream again and by the time we were done and back on the boat we were all ready for bed. That night we all slept very well, and I was out like a light. The harbour was very calm and I was clearly very tired. The next morning, Kris was making the most out of his last day and out fishing early in the morning. He took a line and went out with a snorkel. He came back with a good size fish and we netted it to bring on board. We left Madalena around 12 and got to Horta at 1. I checked us in and we got them ready to depart. Their flight was at 530 but they had to get a cab to take them to their first Airbnb so they could get their other bags, and then get to the airport a couple hours in advance. We had a nice large beer together and said our goodbyes. Lots of hugs and handshakes between new friends as we said farewell. It is always sad when our guests leave because we have made new friends and it's like a piece of us is leaving. Kris and his family had an amazing time and I could tell by the look in his eye that he truly had the time of his life. Kris said "I truly hope we get to meet again" and I'm sure we will in the future. It is such a nice feeling to know that we are able to give people such an amazing experience that they will never forget. After they left I felt a little buzzed from the beer, so we walked around town for a bit. We came back to the boat after a couple hours and Mike and I fell asleep so fast. We were spent. We woke up around 10 and had some left over spaghetti and then we went back to sleep. Oh man were we tired. This morning, July 16, Mike rowed the dinghy to the concrete pier where the container ships and big fishing ships go. They have blocked this pier off from pedestrians but that is where Mike painted his original painting when he was here in '84. He tried to spot his old painting but sadly, the wall has been wrecked from pipes being added in and he couldn't see it. It is really too bad that they allowed the wall to be ruined because it is a magnificent piece of history, of the boats that came here and left a mark for all to see. We will put our own new painting on one of the other walls closer to the harbour before we leave. Now we have 10 days before our next guests, so Mike and I have decided to head to Graciosa Island which is north of Sao Jorge. Another island for the list. We will head out tomorrow or the next day and spend a few days there before coming back to Horta for another Airbnb. We are doing great, we are making it work and I love my job. I miss you guys! I miss home, the family and friends. But man, this is the dream and I don't want to wake up! Keep following us on Instagram #coconut_seaways and Facebook Page: Coconut Seaways for pics, videos and updates. Share our page with your friends and our Airbnb page with anyone you know with a travel itch. I promise we will give an experience that they will never forget! Lots of love from the Azores!!

#sailing #sailboat #azores #portugal #coconutseaways #athena14085 #Airbnb #boatlife #island #islandlife #snorkel #dive #swim #fish #marine #underwater #beautiful

[coconutseaways]

Literally thousands of fish under us! #fish #school #azores #athena14085 #coconutseaways #justkeepswimming #pico #saoceatano #blue #bluewater #underwater #ocean #atlantic #comevacationwithus #notyouraverageairbnb #airbnb #comesailing

#notyouraverageairbnb #fish #comesailing #school #justkeepswimming #azores #airbnb #atlantic #comevacationwithus #bluewater #underwater #coconutseaways #ocean #saoceatano #athena14085 #blue #pico

[coconutseaways]

Athena sitting pretty in Velas harbour. #coconutseaways #athena14085 #sailboat #sail #boatlife #anchor

#boatlife #coconutseaways #athena14085 #anchor #sailboat #sail

[coconutseaways]

Our first official Coconut 🌴 on #coconutseaways #athena14085 look at that smile!! Haha. #fruitoftheisland #coconut #coconutcrazy #heswatchingyou #wilson #sailing #ocean #islands #sunshine

#fruitoftheisland #heswatchingyou #wilson #athena14085 #coconut #ocean #sailing #sunshine #coconutseaways #coconutcrazy #islands

[coconutseaways]

April 5 - One Month In

So, I have officially been unemployed (self-employed?) for a whole month now (plus a day or two). It is the strangest feeling but also the most rejuvenating. The daily stress of going to work 5 days a week really builds up and I don’t think most people even realize how bad it is. That’s not to say that what I’m doing now doesn’t have stress involved, but it’s a much different feeling when it’s all under your control. Coconut Seaways is Mike and mine’s start at a very exciting new life and new business. There’s lots of work involved and there’s always something to be doing, but to not have the corporate ladder sitting on your shoulders is amazing. 

I have been working since I was 12. Yes 12. I started working the summers in the warehouse at my mom’s work, picking candy orders. It was only a couple days a week but it was a job. The next summer was the same thing. The summer after that, it was every day. As soon as I was 15, I got a job at McDonalds. And from there, I always had a job. The longest I went without work was a couple months when I was in university and I just couldn’t get anything. I applied at a ton of places but no one was calling me back. Finally the Home Depot set me up in the paint department. Job after job. Always had to have a job. I had a car, and a cell phone and a student loan plus all the extras, I had to have money somehow. And that was fine. That mindset was set, that’s how I have always thought. I didn’t quit a job until I had another one. Even when I got laid off from the city for a few weeks in between “terms” I still went and got a terrible telemarketing job for 3 weeks just to keep the flow coming in. In the last 5 years (maybe even longer), I’ve always had 2 jobs, even 3. At one point I was working overnight security at the airport, a full time day job at the lab and still doing my job with the kids as a program coordinator. Thankfully that didn’t last too long and I was back down to 2 jobs (ditched the airport for sure). This last job that I left, was definitely the best job I’ve ever had. The work was good, the people are awesome and the pay was really good; most I’ve ever made. The drive was hard, it was long and Manitoba winter’s are hell to drive through in the city, let alone down the highway for 25 minutes. But overall, it was a great job. And then I quit, with nothing to replace it (kinda)

Mike and I talked and talked about how we should do it, how I could do it. It’s not possible. That’s what I kept telling myself. I can’t quit my job. I will have no money, no income. I have bills and debt and just regular expenses that I like to spend my money on. How can I possibly quit my great paying job? But the alternative was too great to pass up. Let’s go sailing across the ocean. To the Azores, the Caribbean, up to Greece. Wherever, whenever (minding hurricane season of course lol). And then we talked about charter sailing, about Coconut Seaways. If we are going to do this, we are going to make this work. We will make money doing this, enough to keep us going, maybe more, but enough to keep us going. A month in of my “new job” and I’m loving it. I live on my boat, I work on my boat. We are up to 10 bookings on AirBnB and we haven’t even put the boat in the water yet (if it would ever stop snowing in Chester!). That’s 10 different families coming to stay on the boat plus half of them have booked extensive sailing trips with us. We are doing it! We are living the dream. I can’t wait until we actually get to the Azores and then we can take more people sailing. Walk the beaches and say, “Hey, that’s our boat... we can take you sailing, swimming, snorkeling, whale watching, fishing, kayaking, diving. Like the list goes on and on. And it truly costs us nothing. We have the boat. It’s just food. And really food is not that expensive. Not for two people.

The moral of the story is that, you can’t let the fear of the unknown hold you back. There are too many amazing, wondrous things out there, that people just let slip by for one reason or the other. And I get it, it’s stressful. I feel it, I still feel it. Every booking we get gives me a sense of relief of “Oh another pay cheque” but truly, I wouldn’t pass this opportunity up for anything. Mike and I are going to spend our time together travelling the world on our sailboat and I couldn’t be happier about the situation. We are making it...now we just have to make it there (physically).

#coconutseaways #fear #dontholdback #liveyourdreams #weonlygotonelife #sailing #travellingistheonlywaytogo #travel #travelbug #athena14085 #everydayisaholiday #everydayisaworkday

[coconutseaways]

Gorgeous old buildings to check out in Horta! Come sailing with us and then spend the days exploring the hidden jewels of the Atlantic Ocean. Amazing! #coconutseaways #athena14085 #sail #sailing #tourism #explore #exploreazores #azores #portugal #wow #amazingplace #instadaily #oldbuildings #beautiful #travel #comesailingwithus

#azores #instadaily #wow #sailing #exploreazores #tourism #explore #amazingplace #coconutseaways #sail #travel #portugal #oldbuildings #beautiful #athena14085 #comesailingwithus

[coconutseaways]

Athena's Wisdom is onthe boat now! #athena #athena14085 #coconutseaways #souvenir #greece

#athena #athena14085 #coconutseaways #souvenir #greece

[coconutseaways]

Athena in all her glory! #coconutseaways #athena14085

#athena14085 #coconutseaways

[coconutseaways]

Come kite flying with us! #coconutseaways #athena14085 #kiteflying #sailing #soaring #bluewater

#soaring #kiteflying #coconutseaways #athena14085 #sailing #bluewater

[coconutseaways]

Flying in the sunset #coconutseaways #athena14085 #sailboat #anchored #goodtimes #crazyguy

#anchored #coconutseaways #sailboat #athena14085 #goodtimes #crazyguy

[coconutseaways]

So happy to see this woman!!! So glad my mom could come visit us in Barbados 🇧🇧 #coconutseaways #athena14085 #barbados #imissedmymommy #welcometobarbados #vacation #holiday #island #islandtime

#athena14085 #island #barbados #holiday #islandtime #imissedmymommy #vacation #coconutseaways #welcometobarbados

[coconutseaways]

Fresh caught dinner #fish #fishdinner #panfried #italianseasoning #lemonjuice #saltandpepper #cestmagnifique #coconutseaways #chefmike #delicious #freshfish #anchorlife #athena14085

#chefmike #saltandpepper #fish #cestmagnifique #coconutseaways #anchorlife #athena14085 #fishdinner #delicious #italianseasoning #lemonjuice #freshfish #panfried

[coconutseaways]

Moonlight sailing to Terceira. #moon #moonlight #sailing #moonlightsail #sailboat #midnightsailing #almostfullmoon #beautiful #coconutseaways #athena14085 #terceira #azores

#terceira #sailboat #athena14085 #moon #beautiful #moonlight #moonlightsail #sailing #coconutseaways #almostfullmoon #midnightsailing #azores