One of the first rules you learn about driving in sand is that when you are in a hole, stop digging.
When I started driving in dunes, I frequently got stuck in patches of soft sand.
As a novice, when I bogged down, I spun my tires which made me sink progressively deeper until the chassis rested solidly on the ground. Only then did my Defender stop sinking.
Eventually I discovered that if you don't spin your wheels when you first get stuck, you don't sink down nearly as far. It's much easier to recover a bogged vehicle when it's not buried all the way up to the chassis.
We developed a damage control rule for everyone who drove with us in the sand. When the forward motion of the vehicle ceases, you immediately stop spinning your tires so that vehicle recovery will be easier.
When we did it that way, we could usually go in reverse and back out of the sand trap if a couple of people got out and gave the vehicle a push with their hands. Only occasionally was it necessary to use sand ladders, winches, or snatch straps.
This rule is applicable to life in general.
When you find your self stuck, when forward motion ceases, it's time to stop digging.
If you continue to spin your mental wheels, you will only sink deeper into the muck and mire. Whatever it was that you were doing before you got into trouble, you must immediately cease and desist.
If you don't stop, you will only sink deeper making it more difficult to get your life back on track.
You might want to write that rule on paper and look at it several times a day when you are having problems.
If you stop digging and start doing something constructive, it won't be long before you are back to living your dreams.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
