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Places I Remember with Lea Lane - She Sailed Solo In The Pacific: Adventures Of A Free-Spirited Woman

She Sailed Solo In The Pacific: Adventures Of A Free-Spirited Woman

03/15/22 • 22 min

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Places I Remember with Lea Lane

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At Places I Remember we love stories of memorable people and places, and this episode certainly offers that.
After a life of international travel; work including opera performer, chef and arts director; raising a family; divorcing and recovering from alcoholism, Sandra Smith was a ready for a sea change. Literally.
At 43, Sandra moved from Philadelphia to the California coast, bought a 35-foot sailboat, painted it pink, and taught herself to sail. Her travel adventures for the next seven years took her down the coast to Mexico and into the Pacific.
Navigating by the ancient mariners' system of dead-reckoning, she experienced storms, evaded drug dealers and pirates as she sailed over 4,000 miles alone and sometimes with her rebellious teenage daughter. Using just a compass, a chart and a prayer, the author embarks on this spiritual odyssey which brings self-discovery and healing.
Later Sandra enjoyed adventures in Guatemala, and winds up in Arizona, living a land-locked, but still fascinating life.
Sandra's spirit is unique. Her ability to live large in the moment and roll with the tide is remarkable and inspiring.
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Sandra C H Smith 's memoir, Out of the Fog, is available at Amazon in paperback and eBook. It's also available from the publisher, and online and in-store at Barnes&Noble:
Her website: https://SandraCHSmith.com
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Podcast host Lea Lane blogs at forbes.com, has traveled to over 100 countries, written nine books, including Places I Remember, and contributed to many guidebooks.
Contact Lea
@lealane on Twitter; PlacesIRememberLeaLane on Insta; on Facebook, it's Places I Remember with Lea Lane. Website: placesirememberlealane.com. New episodes drop every other week, on Tuesdays. Please follow, rate and review this award-winning travel podcast!\

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Send us a text

At Places I Remember we love stories of memorable people and places, and this episode certainly offers that.
After a life of international travel; work including opera performer, chef and arts director; raising a family; divorcing and recovering from alcoholism, Sandra Smith was a ready for a sea change. Literally.
At 43, Sandra moved from Philadelphia to the California coast, bought a 35-foot sailboat, painted it pink, and taught herself to sail. Her travel adventures for the next seven years took her down the coast to Mexico and into the Pacific.
Navigating by the ancient mariners' system of dead-reckoning, she experienced storms, evaded drug dealers and pirates as she sailed over 4,000 miles alone and sometimes with her rebellious teenage daughter. Using just a compass, a chart and a prayer, the author embarks on this spiritual odyssey which brings self-discovery and healing.
Later Sandra enjoyed adventures in Guatemala, and winds up in Arizona, living a land-locked, but still fascinating life.
Sandra's spirit is unique. Her ability to live large in the moment and roll with the tide is remarkable and inspiring.
_____
Sandra C H Smith 's memoir, Out of the Fog, is available at Amazon in paperback and eBook. It's also available from the publisher, and online and in-store at Barnes&Noble:
Her website: https://SandraCHSmith.com
_____
Podcast host Lea Lane blogs at forbes.com, has traveled to over 100 countries, written nine books, including Places I Remember, and contributed to many guidebooks.
Contact Lea
@lealane on Twitter; PlacesIRememberLeaLane on Insta; on Facebook, it's Places I Remember with Lea Lane. Website: placesirememberlealane.com. New episodes drop every other week, on Tuesdays. Please follow, rate and review this award-winning travel podcast!\

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undefined - 1st Anniversary Of Places I Remember! Lea's Sons Interview HER About Travel, Memories

1st Anniversary Of Places I Remember! Lea's Sons Interview HER About Travel, Memories

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Celebrating the First Anniversary of Places I Remember with Lea Lane calls for something special, and so the tables are turned as Lea's sons, Randall Lane and Cary Lane, interview her.
They first all share fun and funny tales of family travels together in London, Iceland, Italy and Scandinavia, skiing, and more. And then the guys ask Lea cool questions about travel, the podcast and personal thoughts on life.
By the end of this episode you will have shared laughs and interesting info, and you will get to know Lea better -- as a person and a mom as well as a traveler and podcast host.
Here's to another great year ahead for Places I Remember!
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Randall Lane is Chief Content Officer of Forbes Media. You can hear more about his travels in Episodes 14 and 15.
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Dr. Cary Lane is a professor and forensic artist. Cary curates exhibits at the Kupferberg Holocaust Center in Queens, NY. The current one, available virtually at the moment, is The Concentration Camps: Inside the Nazi System of Incarceration and Genocide. You can hear more about his travels in Episode 18.
___
Podcast host Lea Lane blogs at forbes.com, has traveled to over 100 countries, written nine books, including Places I Remember, and contributed to many guidebooks.
Contact Lea
@lealane on Twitter; PlacesIRememberLeaLane on Insta; on Facebook, it's Places I Remember with Lea Lane. Website: placesirememberlealane.com. New episodes drop every other week, on Tuesdays. Please follow, rate and review this award-winning travel podcast!

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undefined - Scotland: Highlands, Lowlands, Islands  -- And In-Between

Scotland: Highlands, Lowlands, Islands -- And In-Between

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Bruce McAlpine and his sister Rhona Paterson grew up near Edinburgh. They share their love of Scotland with Lea, and they cover cities, countryside, islands and all things Scottish.
After describing Scotland geographically, we start by talking of the Scottish character, and go on to the delights of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Scottish foods, Scotch whiskey, the Highlands (is there really a Loch Ness monster?). Also the 800 or so Scottish islands, focusing on The Isle of Skye.
We also discuss Scottish pleasures such as golf, bagpipes, and festivals.
To end the episode, Rhona and Bruce share special memories of Scotland. And Lea shares two of her memories as well: one involving Queen Elizabeth and an unexpected meeting; and the other, dealing with the question of what a Scotsman wears under his kilt. (Bruce gives a definitive answer!).
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Bruce McAlpine and Rhona Paterson grew up on a sheep farm in the Scottish Borders, near Edinburgh. From there, Bruce studied in Edinburgh before living and working in England, Africa, America and back to England. in finance positions. He currently lives in Oxford with his wife Erica and two children, Grant and May.
Rhona studied in Aberdeen and after a few years in England moved back to the Edinburgh area. She is an occupational therapist, and lives with her husband David and two children, William and Fia.

_____
Podcast host Lea Lane blogs at forbes.com, has traveled to over 100 countries, written nine books, including Places I Remember, and contributed to many guidebooks.
Contact Lea
@lealane on Twitter; PlacesIRememberLeaLane on Insta; on Facebook, it's Places I Remember with Lea Lane. Website: placesirememberlealane.com. New episodes drop every other week, on Tuesdays. Please tell your friends, family and colleagues about us, and follow, rate and review this award-winning travel podcast!

Places I Remember with Lea Lane - She Sailed Solo In The Pacific: Adventures Of A Free-Spirited Woman

Transcript

*Transcript edited for clarity.
Lea Lane 0:04
Hi, I'm Lea Lane, an award winning travel writer and author of Places I Remember: Tales, Truths, Delights from 100 Countries. On this podcast we share conversations with travelers about fascinating destinations and memorable experiences around the world.
At Places I Remember, we love travel and travel stories, and our guest today has a memorable one. Sandra Smith's memoir, Out of the Fog, describes how marital discord, alcoholis

She Sailed Solo In The Pacific: Adventures Of A Free-Spirited Woman Top Questions Answered

How did Sandra Smith end up getting lost at sea?

Sandra Smith got lost at sea while trying to sail to Costa Rica with a bad crew.

What happened to Sandra's boat during the trip?

They ended up without an engine and with a damaged sail.

What is the rumored hidden treasure on Cocos Island?

Cocos Island is known for its rumored hidden treasure.

How did Sandra lose weight during her sailing trip?

Sandra lost a lot of weight due to lack of food during the trip.

Where did Sandra eventually end up after changing her travel plans at the airport?

Sandra eventually ended up in Antigua, Guatemala, after changing her travel plans at the airport.

How long did Sandra spend exploring Guatemala?

Sandra spent six months exploring Guatemala, defying the US government's guidelines for travel there.

Where did Sandra settle down after her adventures?

Sandra settled down in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where she owned a B&B for 26 years.

Why did Sandra decide to sell her boat and move to Bisbee, Arizona?

Sandra faced another bad crew experience and decided to sell her boat and move to Bisbee, Arizona.

What does Sandra emphasize as important during her travels?

Sandra emphasizes the importance of meeting local people and cherishing the experiences and connections with them.

What is the title of Sandra's award-winning memoir?

Sandra's book is titled "Out of the Fog," which is an award-winning memoir of her adventures.

Show more Questions

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