Steve Cox

The first known review of my book!

‘Sailing Intermezzo’: From Petaluma to Long Island and beyond Penngrove author delivers memoir capturing adventures of sailing and love

My book 𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘻𝘻𝘰 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘨𝘦 is now available on Amazon! You can pre-order the paperback edition which will be released on September 15th (free shipping for Prime members). The Kindle edition is available now.
Self-publishing isn't easy. On one hand, I want to be humble and let the book stand on its own, sell or not sell. On the other, I want lots of people to read my book and hopefully enjoy it. It's not a money thing (I'm donating all profits). Maybe an ego thing. I like to believe it is something fundamental to why writers write; to be read.

Sailing Intermezzo: The Voyage This is a book about my sailing voyage from San Francisco, California to Long Island, New York via the Panama Canal, "The Voyage". The journey was chronicled in the my Sailing Intermezzo blog as it progressed from its beginning in October 2015 to its end in August 2019. The blog was written as a ...

I'm pleased to announce that more affordable softcover and eBook editions of my book Sailing Intermezzo - The Voyage are now on sale at my publisher's online bookstore. The "deluxe" hardcover edition with color photos remains available for purchase there also. Scroll to my previous blog post for a description of and inspiration for the book. Readers of this blog can apply the following coupon codes to receive discounts off the list prices:...

Sailing Intermezzo Book - Softcover and eBook Editions Now Available I’m pleased to announce that more affordable softcover and eBook editions of my book Sailing Intermezzo – The Voyage are now on sale at my publisher’s online bookstore. The “deluxe” hardcover edition with color photos remains available for purchase there also. Scroll to my previous blog po...

I'm pleased to announce that more affordable softcover and eBook editions of my book Sailing Intermezzo - The Voyage are now on sale at my publisher's online bookstore. The "deluxe" hardcover edition with color photos remains available for purchase there also.

The book combines my blog posts and writings from my personal journal to weave together the story of a sailing voyage from San Francisco to New York with a story of my struggles with love.

Sailing Intermezzo This is a book about my sailing voyage from San Francisco, California to Long Island, New York via the Panama Canal, "The Voyage". The journey was chronicled in the my Sailing Intermezzo blog as it progressed from its beginning in October 2015 to its end in August 2019. The blog was written as a tra...

I'm Back In La Paz, Intermezzo Is On the Way I arrived in La Paz, Baja California Sur (Mexico) on Saturday afternoon and have been enjoying getting reacquainted with this lovely small c...

Maine, Continued I haven't posted for over a week. Not sure why, a combination of factors I suppose including limited connectivity, sailing solo and distract...

Lovin' Maine I'm loving Maine. I'm loving the natural beauty, the lightly populated towns and small cities, the historic architecture, the many lighthous...

Quahog Bay After sorting out my debacle with the mooring ball on Tuesday (August 18), we motored partway, sailed partway to Quahog Bay, a narrow inlet...

S**o River and The Mooring Ball (Note: I'm catching up on blog posts as we didn't have sufficient cell service for the past couple of days.) We arrived at the mouth of th...

Isles of Shoals We waited out a northeast blow on Saturday at a mooring in Gosport Harbor nestled among the desolate Isle of Shoals. It was windy, overcast ...

Gloucester I enjoyed our stay in Gloucester (pronounced locally as “glosta”), a famous, slightly down-and-out fishing town with good beer and deliciou...

Provincetown I don't have much to write about Provincetown. It's a lively town surrounded by nice beaches. We biked up the hill to the Pilgrim Monument ...

Passage to Provincetown, Cape Cod Our passage from Nantucket north to Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod was one of the most enjoyable sails I’ve experienced. We raised the ...

Nantucket We're anchored in Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod, but I thought I would wrap up our time on Nantucket before writing about our passage ...

Tropical storm Isaias was a disappointment, cycling on Martha's Vineyard was great and now Intermezzo is anchored in Nantucket Harbor

Not Much of a Storm, Cycling, Then Nantucket Tropical storm Isaias didn't amount to much as we lay at anchor in Lagoon Pond on Martha's Vineyard on Tuesday. It blew a steady 20-25 knots...

Anchored in Lagoon Pond on Martha's Vineyard, waiting for the storm...

Newport, Martha's Vineyard and the Coming Storm Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard I'm catching up on the past week's sailing as tropical storm Isaias approaches us while at anchor in Lagoo...

Enjoying Block Island, celebrity boat in the harbor and knocking a couple things of the to-do list...

Block Island Block Island, RI Intermezzo is anchored in the Great Salt Pond of Block Island. The scenery is beautiful, the weather variable and the clams...

Wrapping up our exploration of eastern Long Island, heading to Block Island soon...

Coecles, Sag and Three Mile Harbors We wound up our time exploring Shelter Island at Coecles Harbor on the west side of the island. It is a large, sheltered harbor and we ancho...

Here's the prequel to yesterday's blog post...

Beginning of a New Voyage (Prequel) This post is a chronicle of what it took to get Intermezzo underway on a new voyage after launching on June 27 . The first thing on the list...

Resuming regular posts to my sailing blog as a new voyage begins...

Beginning of a New Voyage Greenport, NY Yesterday afternoon I said goodbye to Strong's Yacht Center and Mattituck Inlet and we set sail to round Orient Point, enter G...

So far, I covered how I presently see the COVID-19 pandemic and how I see it unfolding over the next year or two. Now I’m going to share what I’m doing about it as an individual. I’m taking reasonable precautions. I’m doing what’s recommended to protect myself from COVID-19; washing my hands, avoiding close contact, wearing a mask when around others, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. [ 946 more words ]
https://therealstevecox.com/covid-19-what-im-doing-about-it-personally/

COVID-19: What I'm Doing About It, Personally - Steve's Words So far, I covered how I presently see the COVID-19 pandemic and how I see it unfolding over the next year or two. Now I’m going to share what I’m doing about it as an individual. I’m taking reasonable precautions. I’m doing what’s recommended to protect myself from COVID-19; washing my han...

COVID-19: How I See Things Unfolding - Steve's Words My previous blog post summarized how I presently see the COVID-19 pandemic situation. This one is my attempt to portray how I see this situation unfolding over the next couple of years. Again, my view is a general, big picture one of a curious, informed layperson who recognizes the great deal of unc...

The difference between actual deaths and normally expected deaths is a statistic that is hard to get wrong or fudge. It captures not only deaths that may be attributed directly to COVID-19, but also deaths that may be indirectly related to the pandemic such as those resulting from people not getting treatment for other illnesses due to lack of hospital capacity or fear of going to hospitals.

Important to watch to understand what’s happening.

Where is covid-19’s death toll higher than official counts suggest? Our international covid-19 excess-mortality tracker

I know I’m not alone in wondering and worrying about where the COVID-19 pandemic is taking us. Our current circumstances are highly uncertain, variable and complex and are in constant change. We seem to have little control over them. However, if approached from a high enough level, I don’t find it too difficult to form a general, big-picture understanding of what is happening. [ 1,598 more word ]
https://therealstevecox.com/covid-19-how-i-presently-see-things/

COVID-19: How I Presently See Things - Steve's Words I know I’m not alone in wondering and worrying about where the COVID-19 pandemic is taking us. Our current circumstances are highly uncertain, variable and complex and are in constant change. We seem to have little control over them. However, if approached from a high enough level, I don’t find ...

I ended my trip to Colombia with a short flight from Medellín to Bogotá, an overnight stay in an airport hotel and then my flight back to the U.S. early the next morning. I had spent three weeks and covered a fair amount of ground, a good introduction to the country. This is the wrap up of my impressions from my trip. [ 301 more words ]
https://therealstevecox.com/colombia-wrap-up/

Colombia Wrap-up and Slideshow - Steve's Words I ended my trip to Colombia with a short flight from Medellín to Bogotá, an overnight stay in an airport hotel and then my flight back to the U.S. early the next morning. I had spent three weeks and covered a fair amount of ground, a good introduction to the country. This is the wrap up of my impr...

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources Health and government officials are working together to maintain the safety, security, and health of the American people. Small businesses are encouraged to do their part to keep their employees, customers, and themselves healthy.

I took the bus from Guachaca to Cartagena via Santa Marta, about a five-hour trip along a two-lane coastal highway. The bus wasn’t comfortable and the scenery wasn’t great, so I was glad when I arrived in Cartagena. I took a taxi from the bus terminal to my small hotel within the walls of the old city. Cartagena’s old city consists of the inner historical districts of El Centro and San Diego and an outer walled town, Getsemaní. [ 637 more words ]
https://therealstevecox.com/cartagena-colombia/

Cartagena, Colombia - Steve's Words I took the bus from Guachaca to Cartagena via Santa Marta, about a five-hour trip along a two-lane coastal highway. The bus wasn’t comfortable and the scenery wasn’t great, so I was glad when I arrived in Cartagena. I took a taxi from the bus terminal to my small hotel within the walls of the ol...

After my time in the mountain jungle around Minca, I headed to the beach. I chose a relatively deserted stretch of beach between Santa Marta and Palimino, just outside the Tayrona Parque Nacional and near the village of Guachaca. I stayed at the Blue Mango Hotel, on the advice of a couple I met in Bogotá. It was a good choice. [ 476 more words ]
https://therealstevecox.com/guachaca-colombia/

Guachaca, Colombia - Steve's Words After my time in the mountain jungle around Minca, I headed to the beach. I chose a relatively deserted stretch of beach between Santa Marta and Palimino, just outside the Tayrona Parque Nacional and near the village of Guachaca. I stayed at the Blue Mango Hotel, on the advice of a couple I met in B...

The village of Minca is located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated mountain range less than 30 miles (50 km) from the coast. The village is a popular destination for backpacker tourists, the surrounding area a biosphere reserve with great hiking and natural scenery. I caught a bus at Santa Marta’s municipal market for the 30-minute uphill ride on the winding road to Minca. [ 691 more words ]
https://therealstevecox.com/minca-colombia/

Minca, Colombia - Steve's Words The village of Minca is located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated mountain range less than 30 miles (50 km) from the coast. The village is a popular destination for backpacker tourists, the surrounding area a biosphere reserve with great hiking and natural scenery. I caught a bus at S...

Santa Marta isn't my favorite city in Colombia...

Santa Marta, Colombia - Steve's Words I only stayed in Santa Marta because I had a long day of traveling from Villa de Leyva and didn’t think I could make it to Minca up in the Sierra Nevada mountains before dark. Now that I know how to get to Minca, I would advise going straight there because I found Santa Marta to be kind of gritty ...

After spending a few days in Bogatá, I took the bus to Villa de Leyva which sits in a mountain valley about three and a half hours to the northeast. I really enjoyed my time there, a great combination of walking around a pretty colonial town surrounded by natural beauty, relaxing at my quiet hostal in the foothills, and a bike ride to a waterfall along country roads. [ 1,117 more word ]
https://therealstevecox.com/villa-de-leyva/

Villa de Leyva - Steve's Words After spending a few days in Bogatá, I took the bus to Villa de Leyva which sits in a mountain valley about three and a half hours to the northeast. I really enjoyed my time there, a great combination of walking around a pretty colonial town surrounded by natural beauty, relaxing at my quiet hostal...

Switching from politics to food and travel.

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Bogotá, Colombia - Steve's Words I’m on a three week tour of Colombia. I flew into Bogotá about a week ago, the city at the beginning and end of my circuit through the country that includes Villa de Leyvia, Santa Marta, Minca, Guachaca, Cartagena and Medellín. Bogotá sits on a Andean plateau at 8,660 ft altitude, surrounded by...

Klobuchar and Buttigieg endorse Biden.

How about this deal?

Amy as Biden’s running mate.
Biden spends first term repairing Trump damage and healing.
Biden does not run for second term.
Pete in 2024, Amy forcing him to fight for it.

Not great. But good enough?

What Pete Buttigieg Understood The presidential candidate tapped into the deep longings of an exhausted country.

RIP, doctor-hero. You tried.

Li Wenliang died on February 7th The doctor who was one of the first to warn of a new coronavirus was 33

Fifteen minutes worth watching.
An authentic, principled human being.

BREAKING: Pete Buttigieg Drops Out of Democratic Presidential Race | Full Remarks Pete Buttigieg is dropping his presidential bid after a disappointing showing in South Carolina, ending a meteoric rise that saw the once-obscure former mayo...

(Continued from Part 2) I’m writing this just after learning that Mayor Pete has suspended his presidential campaign. That’s sad news for me, but understandable after recent results from the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday polls. I like to think that Pete decided to do this in part so as to not split moderate voters with Biden. I hope Amy Klobuchar does the same. [ 492 more words ]
https://therealstevecox.com/driving-for-pete-part-3/

Driving for Pete (Part 3) (Continued from Part 2) I’m writing this just after learning that Mayor Pete has suspended his presidential campaign. That’s sad news for me, but understandable after recent results from the South …

Read about my encounter with Bernie Sanders...

Driving for Pete (Part 2) (Continued from Part 1) After my near-miss bump into Joe Biden at The Paris, I headed back to my motel, The Downtowner, located in an old part of Las Vegas that is various stages of decay and redev…

(Continued from Part 1) After my near-miss bump into Joe Biden at The Paris, I headed back to my motel, The Downtowner, located in an old part of Las Vegas that is various stages of decay and redevelopment. I enjoyed staying in this part of the city, away from the bright lights and artificial architecture of The Strip, easy walking distance from good restaurants, many of the buildings decorated with street art murals. [ 1,343 more word ]
https://therealstevecox.com/driving-for-pete-part-2/

Driving for Pete (Part 2) (Continued from Part 1) After my near-miss bump into Joe Biden at The Paris, I headed back to my motel, The Downtowner, located in an old part of Las Vegas that is various stages of decay and redev…