Another winner from the creator of Enviro Bear!

Here is another fun, non-violent game from the amazing mind of my son, Justin: Realistic, Summer Sport Simulator. Just in time for Christmas - a gift for all your friends - only 99c - cheaper than a Christmas card.

Cool video games for Iphone and IPod touch - do what you love.

My son Justin wrote this game last year, won a contest and now it's available for your IPhone and IPod touch. It's the funniest thing you ever saw - a bear driving a car one handed through a forest. Fish fall into the car and he has to eat them before winter comes. Badgers fall into the car and wreck havoc as well. The game is called Enviro Bear and here is the review of it and an interview with Justin. You can watch the game on YouTube there.

Justin's Enviro-Bear 2000; Operation: Hibernation Video Game

My younger son, Justin writes video games for a living and he just entered one of his games in a contest for a short, fun game which needs to have a vehicle cockpit in it. Here is the link for it:

http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=4964.0

For those of you who aren't experienced with video games, you have to download the game first, unzip it and then play it. To get a full screen, press Alt, Enter. To get out of the game, press Esc. To operate the controls, use your mouse's left click button. The game has received a lot of praise on the internet, and I am also very proud of Justin. I think he'll win the contest. Best of luck, Justin!

Catch up time

Some of you may know that in the past year or so, I lost my keyboard (beer got spilled on it), and then my hard drive. If that was not enough, I also had lots of spam going to my email address. I now have a new keyboard, new hard drive and hopefully have fixed all the loopholes through which the spammers got in, (wishfull thinking). I have also streamlined my blogs and combined several of them into one, which means I may now actually be able to keep up with the updates. 

Work while cruising

Ok, we all know how to work from a land or live-aboard base. This list is for money making ideas that travel with us as we make our way around the world. These projects can be undertaken while making an ocean crossing, at anchor in some South Pacific hideaway, or in a foreign country where our visa won't allow us to work at a "real" job. Difficult proposition? Perhaps, but nevertheless possible since I have just thought of one or two. Send me an email or a comment if you have any others.

1. Taping books for the blind.
2. Writing
Many cruisers at least attempt to write and publish, but some like David make enough to feed the cruising kitty. I also met a woman who published a cookbook for cruisers full of recipes submitted by other cruisers.
3. Making something (arts or crafts)
Pat sailed around the world and supported herself by painting water colours and selling them along the way.
4. Playing an instrument
Eileen is a musician who sings and plays a guitar. She also records her own CDs and sells them to people along the way and through her website.
5. Website development and e-commerce.
Working Nomad supports himself with his website.
6. Boat work
Many cruisers do boat work. Varnishing, engine repairs, even crewing on mega yachts. Lin and Larry started out that way.
7. Mobile services
Jonathan runs a weather service using a satelite phone. John does number crunching for a doctor. He downloads the data on Monday and emails the report on Friday.
Jerry is on a retainer from a watermaker company. He supplies parts and provides installation and maintenance services for other cruisers.
Here is a book that deals with the subject for land travelers:
Work Your Way Around the World by Susan Griffith
More ideas coming...

Flying again - some of my favourite photos

Isla de Culebro, Puerto Rico

Cadaques, Costa Brava, Spain

Leaving Port de Soller, Mallorca, Spain

I'll be flying to Poland next week, so might not have steady access to the Internet, but will try to catch up when I can.

And any writers are more than welcome to come sailing on Eidos. Let's do a writer's retreat next winter in Greece.

Public presentation

I put on a slide presentation for a local Yacht Club in British Columbia, Canada this past week and had very good response. If you would like to organize one for your club or organization, please contact me and I'll be happy to give you more information. March third, I return to Barcelona and will be getting the boat ready for another season. See you on the water!