Sometimes in life, you get to step briefly outside of time.
Standing on the front gallery on St. Croix, looking across the channel toward distant islands, it's impossible not to wonder what lies beyond those small shapes on the horizon. On clear days, Tortola and the scattered islands of the British Virgin Islands appear like pearls tossed across the sea - close enough to imagine, far enough to dream about.
That curiosity turned into reality when friends Dan and Julie welcomed us aboard their catamaran Kindred Spirit, sailing twice from St. Croix into the British Virgin Islands. We moved from anchorage to anchorage, watching sunrises and sunsets, snorkeling quiet coves, exploring empty beaches, and letting the rhythm of the sea replace the noise of everyday life.
This book is not a long read - and it isn't meant to be.
Instead, it is a visual and poetic travel memoir, pairing photographs with short haiku poems that capture what it feels like to be there in the moment. Each haiku is brief, intentional, and designed to describe what the eye sees and the heart notices - small impressions that gently transport you to another place and time.
These are not lengthy poems or detailed narratives. They are snapshots with a back story revealed- quiet pauses that invite reflection, calm, and escape from reality.
Whether you dream of sailing the Virgin Islands yourself, enjoy armchair travel, or simply want a peaceful mental getaway without committing to a long book, this collection offers exactly that.
Open to any page. Linger for a moment. Then drift back - refreshed, grounded, and reminded that the world is still wide and beautiful.
And when travel isn't possible, this book lets you return to the sea anytime you need to - no packing, no planning, no screens required.