Introduction

Flicka Voyages and Adventures is about travel, places, people, stories and my opinions. Opinions are only opinions. Just words and hot air, my hot air. I throw in subjects of interest to me as well; sailing, wildlife, ecology, science, natural history, and howling.

Yes howling; the art and science of gathering breath, throwing one’s head back, and howling like a magnificent wolf. In these uncertain times, when we physically distance from one another because of the horrid coronovirus, it becomes important to find ways to safely socialize. 

We do that in our neighborhood in Staunton, my fair city, my fair neighborhood, with howling. Every evening folks come out onto the street, dig deep for that inner wolf, and let her rip; howling for love, lost love, first responders, health care providers, policemen, meat packers, grocery store workers, the sick and in-firmed, for folks working and living in nursing homes, and for oppressed people. For birthdays, anniversaries, new beginnings, and heroes, living and dead. For friends, colleagues, children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nephews, brothers, sisters and cousins. For humanity, our solar system, the Milky Way, the Universe, and for God herself.  Howling makes a joyous noise. It is good for the soul. And it is free. Does not cost a nickel. 

Howling, silly some say, but important to so many.

To see people let their hair down and howl is a sight to behold. Wolves howl to let other wolves in the pack know where they are. We howl to the horrid COVID 9 virus to say loud and clear that we are here, our pack is here, we are one, we are not going away, we are strong and will prevail if we stick together and listen to the doctors and scientists.

We named our intrepid Allied Seawind ketch, Flicka, which means “beautiful young girl”.  Flicka carried us safely over the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway for years. Our “land boats,” modest trailer campers of the same name, served us well on adventures throughout the United States and Canada. Flicka, “beautiful young girl”, says it all, land or water.

I hope you enjoy Flicka Voyages and Adventures. Use the Topic bar to navigate around the site. Do not hesitate to comment. Offer your opinions. Offer your hot air.