I am South African. I grew up in Kwazulu Natal, in a village called Estcourt – famous for its bacon factory. Dad worked at the bacon factory, he was the general manager. I did too, from the age of 14, during all my school holidays. I watched pigs and cattle being slaughtered.
I attended Estcourt high school (it was whites only back then). I was average. On completing school; instead of joining the army I went to sea. I joined a cargo ship bound for Hong Kong on the 13th January 1986.
In 1987 I met Christine. In 1998 she died – her funeral was on my 31st birthday (it seemed unreal). The clock stopped at five-to-three, the minute she died. We had bought the clock on honeymoon in Europe, it was a Villroy & Boch.
I stepped out of the race for six years – too many seemingly unreal things threatened to shatter my paradigm. I settled in the Rocky Mountains and allowed my world to tumble down. My second marriage was to a Canadian in a medicine wheel. I became disillusioned when that ended and stopped cutting my hair, grew my beard long – I became a brain tanner of animal skins in Grand Forks, BC.
In 2003 I realized this: it is not what a person wants, but what a person can give, that shapes their destiny. I wanted to live in the woods, but I had twelve years of experience at sea – I could captain a ship.
I returned to sea in 2003, with Greenpeace.
Tommy Hemmingsson said,
August 27, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Hi Mike.
. I am going to Robertson in November, and it has become a tradition to visit McGregor and Green Gable for a cold beer. Have you done any improvements on your house ? Maybe there are no needs for improvement ?
Hi Mike
Your house in McGregor is somthing special. One could could call it unbreakable
Best regards.
Tommy Hemmingsson
SafariLodges.com is my Skype name.
Syb the Siren aka Iona said,
September 14, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Kia Ora Mike Its very good to be getting news of the Warrior and her valiant crew. I’m so enjoying knowing where you are and what you’re doing. It gives all of us who care a chance to lend our energy solidly to the cause.I’m certain I’ll be aboard in years to come though I know there are plenty also keen.I’m patient.
Right now our family are in Saloniki, newly arrived from Bulgaria,heading for Samothrace tomorrow. Looking to escape Sunday”s election madness and enjoy some beach rest before the next arduous volunteer session, fig picking, ooh life’s tough!
Glad my siren joke did’nt backfire. Doesn,t pay to be superstitious and all good ships have at least one witch aboard!
I’m sorry to hear of your loss of a soulmate. I have too and certainly know it takes will and joy away for some years.Anniversaries are always the hardest but the passing years do ease the pain, it’s true.Good to remember the gift of the union, even when fate cuts it cruelly short. I believe there’s so much we cannot understand, to accept is the best we can aim for and maybe that’s all that’s needed.
I,ll shut up now .Im being dragged away for a late night icecream.
Please accept and extend sincere thanks to all of you onbord for your essential efforts. My thoughts are with you, Iona
Dhananjaya said,
October 2, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Hi Mr. Mike
Nice to know you. Hope you remember me. I met you in Sri Lanka during your ” Rainbow Worrior” Exhaout line repairs. I respect your precious ideas about Our beloved enviorenment
I wish you all the success
Dhananjay Munasinghe
Marine Engineer
amrit said,
October 27, 2007 at 1:28 pm
captain my captain
this is amrit here. im still waiting for my recommendation
and very riverlike writing i must say. it flows even when u re not watching.
jaleh said,
January 31, 2008 at 1:25 am
hey mike,
thanks for sharing your beautiful experience and world vision with the world. it’s inspiring and renews my sense of hope that there are really good people out there, doing really good things.
jaleh
tomakint (Tope Akintola) said,
April 3, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hi Mike,
Great to always read from you, I will always be grateful to the grand design of nature for bringing you to me face to face.Your warm smile, and the way you smile at any difficult situation will forever linger on in my memory (remember my visa wrangling with the British authorites, thank God you gave me the needed succour). Never mind great friend, I still believe we will still see eyeball to eyeball again, this time around in a cool and quiet place where would share minds and views together. I love to read your constant, concise updates on your sojourn in my email box jeep up the good work Matey!
tomakint (Tope Akintola) said,
April 3, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Hi Mike,
Great to always read from you, I will always be grateful to the grand design of nature for bringing you to me face to face.Your warm smile, and the way you smile at any difficult situation will forever linger on in my memory (remember my visa wrangling with the British authorites, thank God you gave me the needed succour). Never mind great friend, I still believe we will still see eyeball to eyeball again, this time around in a cool and quiet place where we would share minds and views together. I love to read your constant, concise updates on your sojourn in my email box keep up the good work Matey!
Dean Morgan said,
April 9, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Mike – ya old school buddy. I’ve been churning out real environmental work for the past 20 years – not hugging bunnies like you! My life started off in the Natal Parks Board…..a while back now – I have spent half of my career as a marine biologist too looking after some interesting projects. Touch base and write if you get the time! Take care – Dean Morgan
Dean Morgan said,
April 9, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Get some weight on you! That sea breeze’ll blow you away! hahaha
joan said,
August 20, 2008 at 10:41 am
Kapitan Mike!
This is Joan, Mark’s shadow during the Quit Coal tour. I’m back in the Philippines and i might say after 3 months of following Rainbow Warrior during her journey, hearing of stories of the warriors that will save mother earth, conversing with magnificent crew members and volunteers and experiencing life on-board… this experience will be etched in my memory forever.
thank you for including me in the list of people who can read your life-stories. i feel honored to be part of your circle in this never-ending tale of endings and beginnings.
i miss you.
peace and love,
joan meris
Joshua Lipana said,
October 12, 2008 at 7:34 pm
You are so cool.