The Tole Mour

I did not go to Colorado to become a bread baker like I was planning. Instead I am now working aboard a Ship. The Tole Mour, and I could not be happier with the outcome. The Tole Mour is an education experience where we take kids sailing to the channel islands (mainly Catalina), teach them about marine biology, snorkel, sing sea chanties and just have plain old fun (like rope swinging off the ship into the water). The kids love it, but I think I love it even more. The staff is composed of 13 stupendous people (that includes everyone, even the cook and engineer). I am learning so much, and I am so grateful for this experience! Here is a peek at what I have been up to this season. 

This is the ship, she has 15 sails, but none are up now... I don't have any pictures with her sails up because frankly when they are up we are sailing and I am not about to jump off the boat for a picture. But if you want to see her in all her glory just google a picture of her.   

this is the best I can do in my position to get you a look at her canvas

these are the jibs, they are at the front of the boat

this is my favorite place to be on the whole boat, if you lay down in the net, it is like a giant hammock. (the sails are the same as the ones in the previous picture) 

The sails go up, and the sails come down

As the sails come down we furl them, or fold them in good condition

When we are at the dock we put this bad boy out. I made it! After drawing and burning the letters, I got to learn how to varnish and how to put an eye splice in a line (rope) for the first time!

We are very safe on-board and have crew members trained in SCBA gear in case there is a fire

We also have life rings all around the boat, not to mention life jackets and life rafts. (those ropes are to tie down the sails once they are furled). 

These are the people I am stuck with on the boat all the time singing some songs of the sea, luckily they are a pretty great bunch. 

The water can be mesmerizing to look at sometimes

The life in and around the water is pretty great too! This is a picture of a Blue Shark, that hung out during a sail one day. I have already seen so much life while on the Tole Mour from Mola Molas (the largest spiny fish in the ocean) to sharks, whales and dolphins and my personal favorite Sea Lions! I do not always have my camera ready but I will always remember them. Recently while sailing at night, I was on look out with three students and not more than 5 feet in front of the boat a fin whale surface for some air. It was so close and loud that all the kids jumped back, It was truly awesome! 

We see dolphins quite often, My favorite of all the species are the common dolphins, because they are the most playful, and almost always jump out of the water. 

Of all the wildlife we have encountered the Minke whale experience was certainly the most impressive. These small whales, which are notorious for being shy, swam right up to the tole mour and hung out for at least ten minutes, probably longer. Three of them swam back and fourth under the boat so kids on all sides could get a view of them. I had the opportunity to go out in the head rig (the place in the front of the boat that I mentioned earlier is my favorite place to be) and watch them swim right below me. I am not kidding if i jumped in I would have landed on one. 

Oh yeah then a week later, while everyone was still stoked on the first experience, they came back and hung out again!

On a day we happened to anchor where there were a lot of flies, which was really annoying, but on the bright side it attracted a few hitchhikers 

This one (I believe it is a Townsend Warbler) stayed on board for the entire transit from Catalina to Santa Barbara Island and ate flies the whole way. We called him Fly Slayer (although I was more fond of Catcher of the Fly) 

There is so much to see below the surface, so lets snorkel!

Life underwater is breathtaking (although that could just be because we can't breath underwater... get it haha) I have seen various types of plankton, tons of fish, crabs, lobster, rays, octopus, sharks and so on. 

dinner for the whole crew! Just kidding, saw these in a no-take zone.

Dear Mr. Bat Ray it was very cool swimming with you, and I mean that literally and figuratively 

This is how happy I am all the time 

Well that's all for now

Boston

Boston, the last stop of my post-graduation-north-east-solo-trip. What a great way to end a trip as well. I couchsurfed at the 'Den, a small co-op, self declared this year. Immediately upon entry everyone was so welcoming and we shared wine, cheese and stories the rest of the night. Small scale intentional communities seems to be a trend in Boston right now, groups are getting together moving in together and living cooperatively. I had the opportunity to spend time in another nearby co-op that runs itself differently than 'Den and had a great time. While in the area I walked around and saw some of the tourist attractions like a famous cannoli place in little Italy (where I ate a mint and chip cannoli) and Harvard and MIT. But really the best time I had was Hanging out with the 'Den. I got to experience the filming process of a movie (as there house was used as a set for a film Major at BU whilst I was there), I got to experience the local student bar scene, I got to check out local thrift stores, cafes and even accompanied a housemate to Planned Parenthood in the rain. Oh and of course I got to see a play for free thanks to them! I had a great time and left in a rush after sharing a great meal and throwing my shoes over the phone lines. I left with just enough time to get to the bus that takes me to the airport, however I was not expecting there to be a detour in the road. So I got to the bus terminal late, but lucky for me Greyhound double booked my bus. Greyhound Canada sold tickets for a bus they weren't supposed to sell tickets for causing enough drama to delay my bus long enough for me to get on.

I climbed a lot of stairs for this picture!

 These pictures are from the Boston Commons, the Central park of Boston. Don't let the pictures fool you, it was freeezing!

  The Boston Harbor! I almost threw a tea bag in just to be patriotic

 This was the Mapparium, a giant stained-glass globe you can walk inside. Unfortunately pictures were not allowed to be taken so this is all I could sneak

 The city with a Bridge's point of view

 MIT has the coolest architecture

This is a thrift store, they sell cloths a dolor a pound

Burlington... not the coat factory

To greet me back to America after being in Canada there was the cute little town of Burlington. I went to the waterfront and walked down Church Street (that is the downtown area full of small local stores). The best part of my stay was really the time I spent with my couchsurfers (One of which was a one-legged athlete... very inspiring) They were so welcoming and absolutely hilarious. We cooked, watched cold steel youtube videos, and they taught me to play Catan. 

Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass

And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen

He likes to keep his fire engine clean

It's a clean machine

This is the food coop in Burlington, it was huge 

Thee House... Don't mind if I do

A mural at a local Artist Coop

The most beautiful part of Burlington, The Colorful Houses.. Oh the many colorful houses