The other night, we watched a PBS special about the naturalist John Muir. In my 20’s, while hiking and back country skiing the Sierras, I loved reading Muir’s writings about experiencing nature in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Muir was inspired by what he saw and he was a knowledgeable naturalist.

Rain, sunshine, fog, or even in the black of night, this nautical world aboard Mahdee is full of awe-inspiring moments in which I realize we really know pitifully few facts about the natural world that surrounds us.

It’s the same conversation at sea, at anchor, or at the dock…
Did you see that bird? What is it?
There’s that seal again. Was it a harbor seal?
Look at the sunshine glistening on the water. I think that’s a whale.
I think that one is a great white shark. It’s white. It’s a shark. Therefore…?
That sea otter looks comfy in that bed of kelp, doesn’t he? What’s he eating?
Look at the moon glow on the water. Um, that reminds me…what’s a neap tide?
Those thunderheads are magnificent. I hope there’s no lightening.
Those tidal swirls are really pretty, aren’t they?
It’s so calm—the water is like a mirror.
Those waves are amazing. When did we last check the weather?
Come look at this hawk soaring. That IS a hawk, right?
That one must be a great white heron—do they come in white?
See the little fish hiding under the keel? We must need to clean the bottom again.
The fog is peaceful today.

A few things only happen attached to land…
Look! there’s a humming bird buzzing the cut flowers in the cockpit vase!

And a few only at sea…
It’s so black—there’s only the sound of wind, canvas, and water.

No, I don’t know much, technically, about what’s happening all around me—but I am really enjoying it.