Lookalikes

I trust you all got into the new year just the right way? Me too, but the weather in 2014 is way too grey and wet. I simply had to go looking for some sunshine. Naturally, I found it on the net.

Sunshine and blue water

I gazed at it for a few seconds and peace came to mind. Then a thought popped up in my head: Hey! I kinda know that place. Not that I had been there for real, but after a few minutes of teleporting, I found the virtual lookalike. It's the dreamscape edition of Coconut Island.

Virtual sunshine and blue water

Not bad, huh! There's the distant roar of waves breaking onto a reef. There are dolphins playing in the currents. There's birds singing, people in bikinis having cold drinks, but best of all: You can sail around the island. What a dream. Too bad my computer wanted me to quit dreaming because of some idiotic update. RL kicks in at the most inconvenient times, hehe.

Friday, photocontest

There is a grid-wide photo contest running over at slboatporn.tumblr.com. It's called Shooting the Breeze, and the theme is virtual sailing. I sent a couple of pics in that direction. They are kinda friday-ish in that magic and relaxed sailaway-kinda way.

Sailing into the sunrise

The first one is me and Dutch sailing into the sunrise somewhere in this virtual world. Writing this post I realize I don't have a lot of posts in this category: Scenery. I looked them over, and my favourite is probably this one ... The second picture I sent shows a truly magical spot I found by accident.

Island Life

So, if you are a virtual sailor... do join the competition. Otherwise just enjoy it. Here's a direct link to the entries so far... SLSailing Photocontest: Shooting the Breeze. Go there and maybe drop a few votes here and there by liking or reblogging, and in any case... have a great weekend!

Sunset

There's nothing like a great sunset by the sea. It is quiet and calming, and yet it is a magnificent and heartfilling experience. Of course the real thing can't be beaten, but this virtual sunset here...

Virtual sunset

... It's not too bad. The colours are great; The seashore is well made, but check the sea and the sea foam. It's truly amazing. And then there's the sounds on top of it. I almost miss the virtual sunset, teehee... Warm and fair winds to all summer cruisers out there... real and unreal...

PS: After weeks of easy summer cruising I also begin to miss some racing action.

Coconut Island

So someone emailed me about islands in the virtual world. Probably because of my last post with palms and stuff. There's a few really nice ones, and I probably don't know them all. This shot here is one of my favourites. I took those beachy images here. There is also a great hammock hanging from a palm over the ocean...

Coconut Island

What do you think? Pretty huh! Sadly, waters aren't always sailable in this virtual world. Some places allow boats. Some do not. Too bad. Mooring here in my RM20 would be sooooo nice. Of course I'd have a windsurfer lying on deck. I wonder if the RM20 has room for scuba gear...

By the way, - this could have been the island I gazed at in this post here, but it is not. This one is way more remote...

I like flowers

It's probably no surprise: Girls like flowers! Virtual flowers are good too. True, they aren't excactly the real thing, and they do share a problem with virtual marinas and virtual oceans. There's no scent. However, they sure look nice, and since I promised a few shots of flowers here they are...

Lotsa flowers

That automatic watering system is hidden somewhere in the grass. I saw it work. In fact I was within range once, when it started. At first I didn't really understand what was going on. Rain on a perfectly sunny day? I guess I won the wet t-shirt contest, - being the only one around.

More flowers

Here's a closer viev. You can barely see a hidden path leading out through those tall orangy flowers to a secluded sandy beach. Want more flowers?

Flowers with a view

Flowers, beach, ocean view... in the distance there is a parasol. Someone is probably sitting there sipping a cool corona or someting. Hey! A strawberry margarita maybe. But right now it is about flowers. Close eyes, take deep breath and feel the scent of a million flowers with the ocean waves roaring the back...

More flowers with a view

Oh yes, I like this place. It has it all. Flowers, birds, butterflies, palms, sandy beach and soo much piece and quiet. All that's missing is a tiny pier for me and my boat; This is what virtual sailing is also about. Mooring and exploring. Finding these secret spots around the Blake Sea and the North Sea. Slowly cruising around under a heavy sun.

PS: That beach just might look kinda like this...

A quiet morning

Ahh... Nothing like a quiet morning before a hectic day. The virtual world is a great way to relax. I may sound a bit silly, but this...

Imagine the sound of waves breaking out there

It is a mood-job... whatever mood you are in, it will make you think good thoughts, calm thoughts, creative thoughts. It will make you breathe slowly and think clearly...

Add seagulls and a few cikadas

Hmm. Not entirely sure I am ready to start working. Seems my head was all quiet and peaceful, soaking up the view and the sounds...

So relaxing

Let's have some more of that, and then off into the real world. Have a truly great day.

Oh, these images are from the north end of that island I moored at. I file stuff like this under views; Perhaps I should have a category called relaxing and soothing views.

I protest !!

The ice is gone. Last week we had over (plus) 12 degrees Celcius. Clear blue sky, birds began to sing, and I felt that strong urge to get out there. For real.

I protest !!

Today, I woke up to a snow covered landscape. I was like: WTF? What's happening? Gimme back my spring! I protest !! 

Please Mr. Weatherman, - no more ice. Give us spring. Give us flowers. Give us strawberries.

Seconds before I crash in a puff

Give us blue skies and water with bearable temperatures. No more winter. Give us a sailing season. Give us this...

Let's go for a swim

... and more of it...

PS: Copenhagen waters are now at -2 degrees Celcius. Brrrr.

@ the beach

I met this guy. Nice guy. Sailor. We talked boats and stuff. Eventually he said: I kinda like your blog. It's very boatly, but how come you never take pics like Alex and Taru, you know... swimsuits and stuff. I told him it is a boat blog, not a skin blog. It got me thinking. There is a lot of beauty in SL sailing. This here is just  me at the beach...

That's it. Hope you like it. I am sure someone with photo skills can do much better, so please bear with me. It's only a test... and no, - I won't go more naked than this. I did take a couple of skin shots, but the thought of posting them kinda makes me feel uncomfortable. The Alex and Taru post that caused it all, - it is here. Thanx for the inspiration and have a great weekend.

PS: Want more swimming shots? Here's me skinny dipping at sea.

Relax!

Sometimes virtual life is about cruising, sometimes it's about racing, and sometimes it is about relaxing, getting a break from a stressed workday. Yesterday, I visited Samlara in Eden, and after that I explored a bit and found this place:

The North Sea

It's the North Sea out there. Nice view huh? After a while a couple came out on deck of that boat. They danced for a few minutes. Couldn't hear the music. Then they sailed off in a cloud of smoke and pure peace and harmony was restored.

Relaxation

Ahh... Maximize the picture to get the full Zen-effect. Can you feel it? The island whispering come, explore. The lighthouse out there saying "come see what's beyond!"... Have a great weekend.

More spectacular views from the North Sea.

Sharp-tooth isle

This is really just a post to share an amazing view. There's no story behind it. So here it is: The view from "Sharp-tooth isle". That's what my grand-grand-grand-grand...very-much-more grand parents called it. More on that in another post. Look it up, if you are too curious to wait. Again, the view:

Me on Sharp-tooth isle

Don't look at me. Click the image, and see what's behind me. Ok, maybe there is a little story in this post after all. But it aint much. As usual I logged in to get my sailing kicks at Tradewinds, and what do I see? A beautiful ship at Tradewinds YC. That's not unusual, but wait... it is a ship I know. I have seen it in RL. I have even seen it sailing in RL. Many times.

Me enjoying the view over Blake

I wrote the builder right away, and he responded by giving me the opportunity to actually sail the boat, and that's how I ended up here on this piece of rock in the middle of the Blake Sea. You see, - the boat crashed. No! Not me crashing the boat by running aground here. I took the inshore navigation class. Another kind of crash, that rarely happens in RL. Sometimes virtual sailing suffers from computer related problems.

Is this sunset for real?

I won't blame the boatbuilder, and that's not what this post is about anyway. It is about the view. By sheer accident I happened to be in this spot, when that ship passed. Yes, it is a digital world. Yes, in many ways it cannot compete with the real thing, but seeing that ship out there, simply took my breath away. It is pretty, don't you think? Oh, and Sharp-tooth isle? Be my guest, - guess!

So many pretty views and sceneries. I ought to do a series just on that. Check the night swim, and here's a few shots from Fruit Islands. Definately also worth a visit.