A gift from a talented writer and sailor... Rick Ellis

Just reading this article by Rick Ellis brought peace to my heart and mind. My breathing slowed and I was instantly transported to my own experiences at sea: on dark nights surrounded by the best star show the heavens could provide and on warm sunny mornings with just the gentle swish created by the bow moving slowly through the passive sea.  There is nothing, for me, more peaceful than what the open ocean on a calm day can provide.  I hope you enjoy Rick's words and 'feel' the peace.  Take a moment, close your eyes and just breathe.

Slow Sailing

Rick Ellis

Welcome Passage

Truant 33

November 18th, 2025

The Idea

The practice of Shinrin-yoku — forest bathing — was first developed in Japan and has spread widely. It invites people to walk slowly and mindfully in a forest (preferably an older, intact ecosystem), engaging the senses, connecting to nature and quieting the mind. This has been shown to lower blood pressure, relieve stress and depression and consequently improve well-being. Slow sailing, when approached in the same spirit, can be equally profound.

This article is based on extrapolation of "blue space" research studies on the benefits of being near water and personal experience / experimentation. I encourage you to give it a try. Have you already experienced this? Let us know in the comments.

Slow sailing in the Salish Sea, in quiet conditions, offers great potential for benefits similar to forest bathing. This is best practiced on an open stretch of water where there is less chance of hitting something or encountering other boats.

The Practice

Slow sailing begins with no hurry, no compulsion to arrive. Engine off, silence on. Raise sail with attention, trim lightly, and let the boat move at a gentle pace on an easy course. Become attuned to the subtle rhythms of the boat, wind and ocean: the tension in the halyards, the pull on the sheets, the pressure on the helm, the gurgle-tickle-slap of water on the hull, the air on your face, the call of the birds, the smell of the ocean, the ripple of light across the water and the song of the wind.

Allow each sensory detail to become a doorway to greater presence. Sometimes closing the eyes helps bring hearing, smell and touch into greater awareness. Unwind, entrain with nature and become immersed in the experience. Allow breathing to deepen, boundaries between body, boat, wind and sea to begin to blur. Becoming fluid, intertwined. Mind chatter subsides, awareness expands.

The benefits unfold naturally: heart rate and breathing slows, stress hormones drop, and the mind clears. Emotionally, slow sailing cultivates calm, ease, relaxation and humility — the recognition that we are part of a much larger story. Spiritually, it invites awe: the same quiet reverence that one feels among tall trees, now mirrored in wind and water.

Slow sailing becomes a form of mindfulness, a meditation, being and remembering that all the world is alive, and we are woven into its flow.

Go slowly
Wind paced
Feel the ancient heartbeat of the ocean
Feel the air breathe around you – through you
Feel the sky – beyond blue
Every sense extended
The magical rhythm of wind and ocean
Return to stillness and wholeness

• 
  

Thank you Rick Ellis; for reminding me of what's really important,  CJ

www.cjdaley.ca 

www.svshannon.blogspot.com 

 

Nothing like a Sunday morning walk…

to bring peace to your day.

May we never forget... Kleenex may be required

My grandfather, Morley Dee Witt Jones served in both World Wars; I and II (Army).  My father Ted (E.W.) Daley served in World War II (Navy).  Both were lucky enough to come home. Two friends, unknown to each other, sent me a link to a very moving memorial. I encourage you to watch it (with your volume 'on') and share it as you deem appropriate. As stated above, Kleenex may be required... and for good reason.  

https://youtu.be/iLk2BvUOWYc

I just love living…

in Maple Bay. Growing up in Vancouver in the '50's and 60's was pretty good too but Maple Bay takes the cake.  This morning, gazing out my kitchen window, I was greeted by 2 hummingbirds at the feeder and, as I was watching them, a large, beautiful rabbit (the first I've seen here) hopped gracefully down the driveway. Now I know what you're going to say or think.  Crazy lady...  you should have scared him off...I didn't because he (or she) really was quite beautiful. He'd come from the neighbours yard and hopefully he hasn't moved in as there's all kinds of greenery for him all up and down our street. I'm pretty sure our gardens are safe :-) Don't forget... I re-built that big, secure fence all around the back yard.. and the front yard...well... the deer usually graze a bit there in the winter.. but, again, I'm not too upset about that either.  It is thrilling to live in a neighbourhood still frequented by deer. Well that's my 'good morning' for now. Life continues at a frenzied pace as the Christmas season looms in the not too distant future.  Hope all is well with each of you, your rabbits are friendly and your gardens safe for the winter.  TTFN  CJ

Maple Bay Morning.

Maple Bay Morning



Angels and air tags…


You may recall my story about the three fifty dollar bills I accidentally left behind at the bank machine and a kind stranger turned in. Well, sit tight because I seem to have an angel still riding on my shoulder.

This is today's alarming, but funny in the end, story. yesterday we were on our way to Penticton for the 50th anniversary of recruit classes 1,2 and 3. They all started in 1975 which was the year Canada levelled the playing field for men and women in the work force. I was in class 2. After getting up at 0400, we caught the 0745 Duke Point ferry to the mainland and then did the drive to Mission where we had the pleasure of meeting up with my niece and her husband for lunch at the Mission White Spot. After a wonderful visit it was time to hit the road.. we had places to go and people to see. I headed out to our car, followed by niece and hubby while Kathy paid the bill 😀.

Approaching our car, I used the keys to unlock it (with the usual chirp, chirp) and then turned around for a final chat with my niece. We three had a great chat and then off they went. I turned back to the direction I'd heard the chirps and opened the back door of the car to look for the paper with the address for where we were going. The back seat was a jumble and when I checked my briefcase, not only were the papers I was looking for not there, but there were a few things missing too. I kept searching and tossed the clothes around looking for that damn paper. I made quite a mess. I was getting pretty concerned about these facts and even a little confused as things just didn't feel right. Then I stopped and actually focused as I searched through my consternation for an explanation… that was when I noticed our hanging clothes were missing too. AND, JUST BEFORE I LOST MY TEMPER, I CAME TO MY SOMEWHAT SHAKEY SENSES….and realized that…OH MY GOD!!! This was not our car!! I was in some one else's car, causing a catastrophic mess , and likely about to be arrested for attempted theft from auto…if the owners caught me. I backed out of there in a great big hurry, moved next door to our actual car (which was also unlocked) and resumed my search for the papers.

At that point Kathy came back to the car and I explained my horrible mistake. In my defence, the car I ransacked had the same shape and design as Kathy's Subaru and it had been unlocked, presumably by Kathy's key fob. We decided it was time to leave before someone reported me so off we went and headed to Harrison Hot springs. We finally arrived at our destination and started unpacking the car into 'The Nest' (which is lovely) and towards the end of the unpacking, I started looking for my purse. It s a smallish leather hip pack which can often be overlooked due to its size and colour…. And I couldn't find it anywhere. NOW THAT WAS CAUSE FOR PANIC!!!! Which I did. Hyperventilated… the whole nine yards ! after thinking about where it could be… we finally arrived at the conclusion that it had fallen into the other car and then been buried by the mess I made with the clothes in the back seat… there could be no other explanation.

We phoned the White Spot..but it was not there . Then Kathy remembered the air tag she had put into my bag and she checked it s location. it was east bound on a road not far from the White Spot! So we called the RCMP and explained our situation and the fact we were tracking the car. They were really good and/but while Kathy was speaking to them she saw the car had stopped and she gave the officer the address where it was. HERE'S THE GOOD PART. HE INFORMED US THAT WAS THE ADDRESS OF THE MISSION RCMP and, in fact the folks were in the process of turning in my bag, having found it inside their car. There was nothing for it but that we had to drive back to Mission to the RCMP offices and claim the bag. An hour later, having retraced our journey, we arrived at their office and then waited about 45 minutes for the mother and daughter to return to the office so that we could confirm how my fob had unlocked their vehicle. Turns out it hadn't. Mom had forgotten to lock the one back door that didn't lock automatically. FINAL CHAPTER: after almost tearful thank you's and hugs all around, mom and daughter headed home, I got to thank and then congratulate a young RCMP woman who had been 'on the job' for a whole three months… and tell her the story about why 1975 was such an important year for women in the work force… and reclaim my bag. And then we drove all the way back to Harrison Hot springs where we are stayed for the night. We did take time to have a nice dinner at the Greek Restaurant. I really must have an angel looking after me… AND I shall be encouraging everyone I know…to put an AirTag inside their purses, suitcases, etc. As I get older I will probably wear one around my neck on a chain 😀 All is good and we are fine thanks to my guardian angel and an air tag. Onward and upward we go.

Test truck and trailer.

TICK. Done and time to head home with our TUDU list. 😃. Hope you are having good days always. CJ