In High School I was lucky enough to go aboard the Tole Mour as a student. I owe this opportunity to Kt and her dad for inviting me, and to my parents to financing my trip. The Tole Mour changed my life, I fell in love with every part of the Tole, the Ocean, the sailing, the fun and the learning. I never forgot my experience and always kept the thought of returning at the back of my mind. Luck was on my side again when I got to work on the ship that I fell in love with six years ago. The Tole, like myself, likes to move around. It gets to truly know a place and then it must move on to where the wind takes it. The Tole is saying goodbye to it's home in California and decided to end it's last trip on my birthday. The Tole Mour ran a sincerely kick-ass program that changed many lives (like my own). The Tole Mour has brought amazing people and experiences into my life and will always be a part of me. Thank you to everyone who made my experience a great one.
The ship in all her glory. All 15 sails up.
Remember that time when We towed the Fog Net and it decided to wander off and we had to go get it.
Remember that time there were large groups of krill under the surface, and a whole-lotta freeking birds above the surface.
It was like the set of Alfred Hitchcock's Birds. I only got pooped on 3 or 4 times that day. So much good luck!
Meanwhile on the land baby seagulls are waiting for their chance to poop on people.
Oystercatchers doing what they do
More sea lions. I can't help it I love them.
They know how to live. They play around in the water, eat only the freshest of fish, and chill in the California sun. Hakuna Matata.
Remember that time we went to Santa Barbara for 4th of July. Fireworks from the main mast? Yes please!
Remember the Countless dolphins we saw jumping out of the water.
Snorkeling is out of this world!
Orchid or Fin
Remember when we snorkeled while the kids hiked, and swam back to the boat.
Painted Cave, California's largest sea cave.
As Rocky would say...Just imagine how many alfalfa sprouts you could fit in that cave, more than any other sea cave in California.
"So many alfalfa sprouts"
"He is right, so many alfalfa sprouts"
Remember that photoshoot fun time I had with Mr. Buckets. No the picture above was not photo-shopped (aside from color), how is the ocean the sky?
Remember that one time I had my whole head of hair in tiny pony tails and by the end of the week, each one had its own wire that allowed me to style my hair quite creatively.
I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the skyyyy.
Ok that is the end of the photo-shoot.
Remember when we had to deep clean the ship and The Whales could sense my dislike for cleaning. Every time we started to clean some one would yell out "Whale". First we had at least 5 blue whales around the Tole, one even swam right under us. Look how hugeee they are. That is one whale.
Then there were the humpbacks. The momma would fluke, then the calf would fluke. Over and over. so adorable. At one point the mom even rolled over the calf to protect it from us. It was quite amazing.
Remember when we went to the Tall Ships' Festival...
...and they had no gangway for us, so we had to use the fender to get between land and ship. Low tide was always fun.
Remember when we raced down to San Diego and we were so far ahead of the other boats we had time to just chill up in the rigging.
Johnson boat plus whale.
Engine Room
Helm
The closest to heaven a sailor will ever get.
A kiss to Tole
Hiking on Santa Rosa
The sun has set on Tole's time in California. For now.
Fair Winds
and a little video
