Lady Bear Family

The truly amazing story here is.....

Lorenzo at the Pontine Islands
What would this experience be like if you couldn't see
How does a totally blind, autistic boy cope sailing and living on a boat?
He misses the sights, the breath taking sunsets, the crystal clear waters . The glorious blue sky's. The magnificent views.
As my heart aches with the huge disappointment on what he misses, and when he can't run up and down the beaches with his brother.
But what can he see? ( in the sense of the word) Is he happy?
Am I pushing my perspective, ideals and thought on him in this visual world.

So on our trip to the Pontine Islands, with the boat engine started it rumbles us up river until we are out into the gentle waves of the tryanien sea. Then the sails are out, the engine turned off, and we lean to Port (left).
We cuddled in the cockpit listening to the slap of the water on the bows. music is played and we rock gently . The warm breeze touches our face.
The evening cools the air, dinner is eaten and bed is cozy.
The morning brings a warm silence. The engine is turned on again and the anchor clangs its way out the front of the boat. we have reached the islands.
Only seven days we spent on the islands. We enter caves on the dingy and the sound booms ,echos and bounces around the rocks. we dangle our feet from the dingy into warm waters. We explore pebbles on the beach, Play jumping over waves. Eat delicious ice cream. Lay on deck in the sun.
Listen to stories, Go for walks, talk with new friends. Laugh and have fun at the restaurant, while we eat pizza. Have a fun day on the beach playing on our beach toys. We hear the screeching of seagulls around the cliffs in our calm anchorage on the last night.

A true Treasure Island

Ventotene
A true gem!
We arrived here after 7 hours sail from Ponza Island. Great winds got us here doing 4/5 kmots. Beautiful day. We laughed when we approached the island as it look like just a small rock, how can any one live here? Nick our friend we met in Tecnomar who is anchored now out side Ponza says he comes from here and to say that we know Nick when we arrive, but we didn't know his last name, how will they know which Nick. Was it possible we thought!
Close to the harbour, the harbour master came out and to ask us to come in for 30 euro a night, I said we can anchor then he said 20 euros we thought it would be good to be able to walk off boat easily so we said yes. Dave asked him if he knew Nick . 'Of course' Now we pay 10 euros a night.

As we entered we followed him in to what?! I thought, where are we going it just looks like a rock. The smallest little tiny harbour amazing once a Rome port. you could see most the port was still Roman.

full story of our journey when we get back to Tecnomar Rome next week.

Leaving Rome

We are off for the start of our summer sailing

This afternoon we leave Tecnomar in Rome to head south to the Pontine Islands. Just 63 nms . Near Naple.
Boat is almost ready we are having lunch with friends and hope to set sail 3/4 pm taking 24 hours to reach the islands by tomorrow afternoon.
So keep posted for our return blog with details and photos.
Keep in touch