wild horses
Warwick Schiller Podcast: Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks
This spring, my wife Julia and I towed our sailboat Grit out of the barn, launched her and sailed her to Shackleford Banks, North Carolina, where we spent the next two weeks studying the wild horses that live there. We never imagined that ramble would land us on numerous podcasts, including Warwick Schiller’s Journey On podcast.
Shackleford Banks Wild Horses on Today’s Horsewoman Podcast
Earlier this spring, Julia and I spent two weeks anchored off Shackleford Banks (North Carolina) studying the wild horses that call the 9-mile uninhabited island home.
While we were at Shackleford, we appeared on Rose Cushing’s podcasts Today’s Horsewoman and Today’s Horseman.
Have a listen. You can just hear the crackling energy in our voices. We were alive to everything around us.… Continue reading
Farewell to the Wild Ponies of Shackleford Banks
After two weeks anchored off Shackleford Banks aboard Grit, we felt like an extension of the uninhabited island. We knew the dark blue part of the channel we needed to aim for if we didn’t want to run Grit aground as we entered the anchorage. We had seen Back Sound in a range of states, from galloping with white horse waves to reflecting the full moon’s glow. We had watched the lieutenant stallion long enough to know that when… Continue reading
Shackleford Banks: The Beach That Made Me Put the Camera Down
The first two days, my wife Julia and I had just focused on observing the wild ponies of Shackleford Banks and making sure our sailboat Grit didn’t drag anchor. The whole time, we heard a low thudding coming across the island — the sound of the Atlantic Ocean crashing on the beach a half mile from where we were anchored. The third day, we walked across the island to check out the beach.
White terns chattered overhead and plunged into… Continue reading
The Sacred Maritime Forest of Shackleford Banks
My wife Julia and I had spent the afternoon observing the wild ponies on the middle part of Shackleford Banks and were following a sandy beach back to Grit, which was anchored just off the beach.
The tide was high and we came to a tangle of trees that had fallen across the beach, making a barrier between land and water.… Continue reading
Wild Ponies of Shackleford Banks Have the Last Word
It was our last day observing the wild ponies of Shackleford Banks and my wife Julia and I went out to see what they were up to.
Wild Horses, Rough Seas and Lessons from Shackleford Banks
This week Julia and I joined Lynne Carnes on her Creative Spirits Unleashed podcast to talk about our time aboard Grit with the wild ponies of Shackleford Banks. Lynne interviewed us directly from the Grit‘s wood-lined cabin as were anchored 100 feet of a sandbar. You can hear the energy crackling in our voices.
Thanks, Lynne, for having us on!
Creative Spirits… Continue reading
How to Provision a Sailboat for Two Weeks: Why the Sausages Worked but the Wine Didn’t
The homemade cured sausages that survived Lucky and Diggity were a hit. The bottle of red wine that had a cork instead of a cap was a bust. Here is a list of the provisions that Julia and I took on our 2-week long trip aboard our sailboat Grit to study the wild ponies of Shackleford Banks. Here’s what worked, what didn’t and why every sailboat should carry a corkscrew.
Someone to Stand Watch: What the Wild Ponies of Shackleford Banks Still Know
My wife Julia and I had been anchored off Shackleford Banks on our sailboat Grit for nearly a week, studying the wild ponies that call the 8-mile-long uninhabited island home.
The goal was a slow, unhurried look at the bands — to really understand their social… Continue reading
Shackleford Banks: Six Nights at Anchor
Good morning from Grit off Shackleford Banks. We’re anchored two miles from the western end of Shackleford Banks where the island meets Beaufort Inlet. Calm weather today, so we’re making our way east to Cape Lookout. The plan is to anchor at the Bight for a few days and watch the wild ponies that call the eastern end home.
The two… Continue reading
A Calm Night at Anchor: Shackleford Banks After the Storm
Goodnight from Julia and me, anchored off Shackleford Banks aboard our sailboat Grit. Dead calm tonight. Low tide.
Two nights ago, right here, a little wind crawled into our open cabin doors and turned into a black, 40-knot gale. But not tonight.
Tonight, Julia and I are at peace and we hope you are, too.
Goodnight from Grit.
Bernie
Fairy Lights in a 40-Knot Gale: Anchored Out at Shackleford Banks
That morning, watching the breakers crash on the ocean side of Shackleford Banks, I had dictated this into my phone.
I’m standing on the ocean side of Shackleford Banks and I can feel it in my chest, inside my ribs — the power of this ocean, the thunder of the waves. There’s almost a sense of foreboding. We’re anchored over there in the sound, which is nice and quiet on Grit, but the sound is connected to the ocean. All… Continue reading
Balloon Releases Kill Sea Turtles: A Warning From Shackleford Banks
My wife Julia and I found the tangle of three balloons and white ribbons on the ocean side of Shackleford Banks. Half-buried in a sand dune. Mylar. Red metallic sheen dulled from however long they’d been out there.
I picked them up, shook off the sand, and dictated a voice memo into my phone.
Grim Short Story
Imagine how excited Cody was when she got these balloons for her birthday. Imagine how excited she was to do… Continue reading
Small Boat, Wild Island: Life Aboard a Sailboat off Shackleford Banks
My wife Julia and I are settling into life aboard our yawl Grit off Shackleford Banks, North Carolina. While Julia just posted about our second day on the island, I thought you’d enjoy some photos and videos of how we’re settling onto Grit, our Nimble 24.
Sailing to Shackleford: The Adventure Begins With a Sinking
The last thing my wife Julia said as I pushed our two kayaks into the water instead of loading them onto the deck of our Nimble 24 sailboat Grit was, “Are you sure you want to tow the kayaks behind the boat?” I assured her that, yes, I did.
