Flowers of the Desert :: Cholla Cactus

How does every good story start?  Well, if you ask me it starts with a trip into the wilderness to go to the bathroom.  Truly, it's how I've begun some grand adventures.

Road trips are rife with bathroom emergency situations (especially if your name is Megan the Nautie Mermate).

Driving along I had to poo.  Like baaaad.  All of a sudden we see signs for Joshua Tree National Park.  I basically did a hard left turn of I-10 because well:  A NATIONAL PARK MUST HAVE A RESTROOM, RIGHT?!

We find ourselves on a long windy road quite a ways from the visitor center.  I screetch over to the side of the road frantically take off my slippers and put on sneakers and trek into the sand to find a place to poo amongst the cacti.  I didn't think I could make it to the visitor center...

My Mom is all, 'don't worry, no one will see you...'.  I'm like...this is a road!  There are no trees!  Cacti!  I can't squat!  Aaaaaaah!!!!!!

So I ran back to the car jumped in the drivers seat and burned rubber for the visitor center (while my Mom chortled in the passenger seat).

Long story short.  I made it.  

Where the heck am I going with this?  Well....during my trek into the sand I saw some really pretty flowers.

On our way out of the park I stopped to photograph some Cacti.  That one stop led to many stops and now I've got a collection of some photos I love!

Poop Expedition turned Photo Safari.  Of course.

Let me introduce you to the Cholla Cactus.  The first of a few Desert Flowers I'll be sharing with you!

I think whats great about the Cholla Cactus is how phenomenally complex their skeletons are.  They're equally gorgeous once they've passed on.

To be fair these Cholla Cacti don't have flowers on them right this second...but you can see some examples here.

What I didn't realize is that there are quite a few different types of Cholla.  The ones I've photographed are Silver Cholla (I think).

Click through to see a few more images.

Who knew that one of my favorite parts of the trip would be spawned by a poo emergency?!

The only bummer here is that I've always wanted to go to Joshua Tree National Park however; we entered from the Southern entrance it was a long drive to get to the heart of the park where you can really see 'the good stuff'.  We didn't have enough gas to make it there.  So I basically paid 15 dollars to go poop and then missed the park.

The good news?  Flowers of the Desert.

Poti, Georgia :: An Abandoned Church

I reminisced about Poti, Georgia the other day while musing on the goings on in Sochi.  It made me rustle up some of the photos I took when I was there.

I was so timid while in Poti.  I literally told myself, 'go outside for thirty minutes and then you can go back to your hotel room'.  I ended up on a photo safari.  I took photos of house, churches, beaches, shells, bon fire remnants.  I snapped away.  

I happened upon an abandoned church and tromped all around it taking photo after photo.  I wondered how old it was, why it was no longer in use, who mowed the lawn...

This church was gorgeous.  It was stately.  It looked a little lonely.  It looked like it was a keeper of memories.  It looked like it hadn't been forgotten.

There are many, many photos of this old beauty.

Click through at your leisure.....

Sochi Deserves Compassion

About two years ago I got off my ship in Poti, Georgia and, it was an experience that changed how I viewed the world around me.  More importantly, it changed how I see things when I travel.  Sure, it's easy to look around my apartment and think, 'gosh, I'm really lucky to be surrounded by all this cool shit...' it's another thing to look around someone else's apartment and think, 'I've never met a human with a more giving spirit'.  

I tried to blog about my time in Poti but, ultimately I never wrote about my experience there.  I wrote about day one and then kept the rest of the experience and pictures to myself.  Because, Georgia seared itself to my traveling spirit.

Here's what I now know to be true.  

Travel isn't about the place.  It's about the people.

I spent three days in Georgia and I was really nervous.  I felt like a fish out of water.  I was nervous to get outside and take pictures.  I thought about staying in my hotel all day.  I didn't know if I should eat at the hotel or try to venture out.  Luckily, I was given a 'keeper' for that time - he was an employee of the shipping agency - I've never been given more consideration during a transit between ship and airport.  He truly changed my experience in Georgia.

This gentleman lived in a studio apartment with seven family members.  His wife was a teacher who made 200 dollars a month.  On our way to Batumi where I'd be flying out of he took me the 'scenic route' over the mountains through the snow.  He stopped on the side of the road and bought me a bag of oranges.  

Here I was.  Sitting in a car with two men who barely spoke english.  I had a pocketful of cash.  They were driving through ravaged streets proudly pointing out scenic points.  Spending money they could definitely have used to buy me some oranges because it was orange season.

It's about the people.  Because, people will surprise you - if you let them.

I've been watching the tweets coming out of Sochi and quite frankly, they break my heart.  I just can't help but feel that Sochi is being unjustly portrayed on social media.

Here's the tweet that initially got my attention:

People have asked me what surprised me the most here in Sochi. It's this. Without question ... it's ... THIS. pic.twitter.com/1jj05FNdCP

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 4, 2014

Travel can be exhausting, it can be daunting, it can be invigorating.  It requires an open mind!  

Any seasoned traveller knows that paying for toilet paper and putting it in a bucket next to the John is not a big deal - consider it normal in many, many, many regions in the world.  Let me be clear - if you've got a john you're lucky - I grew up peeing outside and can squat like it's nobody's business - which has served me well in many, many, many regions of the world.

There is only one way to survive a new, albeit foreign, experience.  You absolutely have to keep an open mind.  That barbecued eel in South Korea that looks like a very, very bad idea?  It deserves to have one bite taken.  Just open your mind and give it a try you might be pleasantly surprised - and if you aren't - remember your manners!

Water restored, sorta. On the bright side, I now know what very dangerous face water looks like. #Sochi #unfiltered pic.twitter.com/sQWM0vYtyz

— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) February 4, 2014

Friends, you are currently in a region of the world who has been through a lot.  Politics aside you're currently shoulder to shoulder with community members, families, and children who have seen and survived more than most of us can imagine.

While I agree that Sochi wasn't 100% prepared for the population influx that the Olympics would bring I'll remind you that Vancouver's Olympic Village struggled to be completed on time and that there were lasting consequences to hosting such a large scale event.

Every now and then in my home town of Hilo, Hawaii I play tour guide to out of town guests.  I take them to my favorite dining locations, beaches, shops, parks, etc.  Do they leave thinking, 'how can she love it here?  all that peeling paint...termite infested buildings...no jobs....lots of homeless...'.  Maybe.  Hopefully though, they leave thinking, 'I never would have seen all that if I hadn't met Megan!'.  People are proud of where they're from - no matter what the surface looks like.  They want you to meet their friends, their favorite shop owners, the town kook - they love those people and want you to also.

There are people in Sochi who live in houses that are less posh than some of our chicken coops here in the States - and while I wish I was just being snide, I'm not.  Regardless, I put money on the fact that they're proud to be hosting the Olympics.  I put money on the fact that they want you to enjoy yourself while you're there. 

If you want to get the most out of your time in Sochi, chat up some locals.  Ask them where they like to eat - if they say at home ask them if you can join them - and offer them a trade!

Have some compassion for Sochi.  It wasn't easy to get where they are today - I get it they weren't prepared - have some compassion anyway.  Be humble, be gracious, be open.

Tweet about the people you meet.  Tweet about the beer / vodka you enjoyed.  Tweet about snow and sun.  Tweet about how hard the locals are working to pull this off.  Tweet about the athletes and how privileged they feel to be there incomplete housing and all.  Tweet about the good.  Tweet about the school aged kids and how they'll remember this for the rest of their lives.  Tweet about how lucky you are to be there live tweeting the freakin' olympics!

Poti, Georgia - Roadside Orange Stand

Roadside oranges in Poti, Georgia changed me.  I bet despite broken lights, door handles, off colored water, Sochi will welcome you with open arms if you let them.  It's about the people.

Nautie Mermate Adventures :: Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city I don't visit often enough.  It's eclectic.  It's got great food.  It values green space.  I love it when I'm there.

The best part of my Portland experience was the weather!  I've managed to plan this trip in the middle of a cold snap that has brought sunshine and blue skies.

I felt so lucky to be wandering around bundled up sipping delicious coffee!

In the land of Megan, sunshine, coffee, and a camera are great day essentials.  I felt like I won the Portland game before it began!

If you asked me what kind of touristy attractions there are in Portland I wouldn't be able to give you a single activity.  When I'm in the city (which isn't very often at all) I just wander around.  That's my favorite thing to do.  I wander around and, I try to do it slowly.

With good weather and good coffee you can wander around this city for hours but, when I'm here I always wander in one direction.  Towards Powell's.  Always.  I don't think I've ever missed Powell's on a trip to Portland.  In fact, if I know I'm heading to Portland I think of random obscure books that I'd love to find.  Last time I was there I found Salt-Water Poems and Ballads by John Masefield.  Winning.

I cruised around for a bit - one city block of book wandering folks - and then I sat down in the cafe to catch up on life.  I needed to send some thank you notes, my dogs were barkin' and, I wanted to play with my phone (obviously).

I ended up plopping down next to this dude who was making these killer paper flowers.  I was mesmerized.  I stared and stared until he was finally uncomfortable enough to look my way.....and then I blurted, 'canitakeyourpicture?!'.  He just shrugged his shoulders so I took his picture and then he said, 'do you have somewhere you could take one of these flowers to keep it safe?' and I felt so, so, so sad that I had to say, 'no I don't but I really, really wish I did.'  Then he said, 'if you think these are pretty you can see some really nice photos of them at world-paper-flowers-dot-com.' so I scribbled it down to check out later.

Portland's got a great vibe but, as I walked around I kept thinking to myself, 'is this real life?'.  That thought would quickly be followed up with, '....so  maybe the show Portlandia isn't that far off the mark....put a bird on it?'.  Portland in my opinion is almost surreal.  The homeless man aggressively panhandling while dressed head to toe in carhartt with his dog who's wearing a jacket.  The sweater bombed beaver statue.  The hipsters.  It just makes me wonder, 'is Portland like this every day?!'.    

Friends, Portland is worth a visit.  If for no other reason to look around and think, 'people seem pretty happy here'.  People ride bikes.  People read books.  People view coffee as a sacred art form.  People listen to street musicians.  People (as in everyone) say 'thank you' and 'have a nice day' to the bus driver when they exit at their stop.  People buy things if there's a bird on it.  Plus, Portland isn't as gritty as Seattle.  It's a little softer around the edges.  Its buses are clean.  It's downtown is compact and walkable.  There's no sales tax.  These things are heavily weighted pros.  (you know, in case you were making a list...)  

I've decided I like Portland because indeed its carhartt-y bums, bearded hipsters, sweater bombing ninjas, and kick butt coffee (ahem, stumptown) is indeed an everyday phenomena.  Plus, Portland is home of stripperaoke.  Sign.me.up.  

Ohayo!

Hello from Okinawa! My life long dream of making it to Japan has come true! This is a BIG day in Nautie Mermate Land!

Today a little truck pulled up to the ship and the bed of the truck was full of bentos.

I felt so incredibly at home.

I must say, Okinawa is the furthest from home while feeling at home that I've ever been. (Did that even make sense?!)

The Panama Canal :: Sailor Friends Are The Bestest

I woke up on Panama Canal Day (yes, thats what I had been calling the day we were to arrive in Panama) with a tweet waiting for me.  It said:

You see, when I was a Midshipmen at Maine Maritime Academy I wasn't the only tropical transplant.  I had a classmate from Panama.  We called him Panama.  Seriously.  (and for the most part he called me Hawaii...)  So of course, knowing that he still lived in Panama and worked on Tugs I sent him a tweet.  Hello, 2013!  The age where sailors can tweet eachother from sea!

(okay fine, that's a highly edited photo of our anchorage.  but doesn't it look cool?!)

Sure enough - there was an email waiting for me.  Full of detailed information about what to expect for the day - detailed information - like, what anchorage we would be at, what our pilot boarding time would be, and what an admeasurement survey consisted of.

Unfortunately, we knew just due to the timing of our arrival - and his work schedule that he wouldn't be able to come aboard for the transit however; being the crafty sailors we are we had a plan!

Things went exactly according to his email.

The admeasurer boarded the vessel and began his task.  When a vessel makes its frist trip through the canal The Panama Canal Authority sends a representative to the vessel to literally measure the ship ensuring that the tonnage and beam of the vessel is accurate.  The admeasurer calculates the vessels 'extreme beam'.  The extreme beam of the vessel normally doesn't vary much from the beam listed on the ships particulars but, will include the width of shell plating and, any fenders or gear that may protrude from the ship which may interfere with their ability to enter the locks.

This Gentlemen measured everything.  Even the diameter of our Rudder Angle Indicators. Trust me:  everything was measured.

Once the admeasurement was done I took a quick nap.  I knew it would be a long night..

Before I knew it I was up on the bow heaving the anchor and shaping up to enter the Panama Canal.

Let me just interrupt things to say:

I'VE BEEN WAITING TO GO THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL FOREVER.  I WAS BEYOND EXCITED TO TRANSIT THIS CANAL!!!!!!!!!

Where were we?  Okay, so we're shaping up for the canal.  It feels like a jungle.  I'm literally drenched in sweat.  The humidity must have been 150%.  The sides of the channel were lush and green and there was that weird tropical mist lingering above the trees.  I have this picture in my head of The Heart of Darkness - like I'm on an old steamer and it may be awhile before I see civilization for awhile.

Very close to the Western Canal entrance is the first set of locks called Gatun.  Now listen, I could go on and on about how cool the locks are.  I'm going to save you from this and instead, just show you lots of pictures.

Basically there are these incredibly powerful trolleys (also called Mules) that give you wires and assist you in and out of the canal.  There are four wires in total - two on the bow and two on the stern - which are crossed from port to starboard and vice versa.  An efficient team of line handlers boards your vessel during your approach to the locks and handles everything for you.  Basically, you need one crew member to operate the winch for the line handling team.  Did I mention this team is efficient?  Efficient!

Due to the variance in water levels sometimes the trolleys are on very steep inclines.  Did I mention they're powerful?  Powerful!

Admittedly, as soon as we passed through this lock I went straight to bed - to wait for tweets from my friend letting me know we were passing through his area.

Sure enough the tweet arrived and I ran up to the bridge and there, right near my stern was The Little Tugboat Who Could!

I ran inside, grabbed a flashlight and ran back out so I could start waving my arms around like crazy and swirling my flashlight around in circles.

Knowing that my friend got his crew together to come over and say hello was a moment for me.  One of those moments where I realize that attending Maine Maritime Academy changed my life - for the better.  The fact that I have friends who are going to come say hello in the Panama Canal on a Tug Boat while I'm on a Heavy Lift Ship is EPIC.  Being a sailor is a strange mix of being lonely and being surrounded by people.  It's hard to maintain friendships when you're at sea but the flip side is that Sailor Friends are friends for life.  Panama (the person) you're the bestest - thanks for the lights and the tweets and the warm Panamanian welcome.

Clearly, I needed to tweet Panama.  The amount of tweets exchanged in one day was pretty amazing.  Two Ships Passing In The Night!

Following my Panamanian driveby I took one more quick nap before my last set of locks.

By this time I wasn't taking nearly as many photos.  I was mostly enjoying the scenery and making sure my family could find me on the PanCanal Webcam's.

The grand finale?  Passing under a pretty bridge!  Don't ask me it's name...no clue....

Nautie Friends, this post has taken me forever to write and I feel like I've really rushed it.  There is more to say!  More photos to post!  More to dissect!

It's going to have suffice for now and hopefully I can post a Panama Canal Dos soon.  Please excuse all the grainy iPhone photos!