Woman And Her Cat Have Been Sailing Around The World Together For Years

For ten years, surfer and environmentalist Liz Clark has been exploring the Pacific Ocean via a 40-foot boat named Swell. She first set sail from her California home base in 2006 to pursue a lifelong dream of extended sea travel, and she has since voyaged around Mexico, Central America, Kiribati, and Polynesia, covering over 18,000 aquatic miles.

h/t: mymodernmet, cosmopolitan

because above all else, it's feeling connection with others that really enriches our lives … especially with beings quite unlike ourselves… @patagonia_surf @mizulife @loveavasol @ecoflex_ @zealoptics #tropicat #weareone

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Mar 24, 2016 at 1:36pm PDT

On her website, she says she enjoys “indulging in the freedom of solitude and making choices based on weather and swell forecasts rather than itineraries,” and her solitary steering has inspired a sense of agency and personal development as expansive as the deep blue sea.

Tropicat has a reusuable shopping bag fettish… she refuses to get out!? #bringabag #refuseplasticbags #banthebag @patagonia_surf @mizulife @loveavasol @ecoflex_

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Mar 16, 2016 at 2:20pm PDT

Despite enjoying the freedom of solitude, she did welcome a furry, four-footed co-captain in 2013: a rescued cat she named Amelia in honor of Amelia Earhart, but fondly refers to as Tropicat. When Clark and Amelia first met (on land, of course), the feral feline was skinny and hungry, but seemed to have a “commanding lioness air and carefree bravado.” Clark immediately recognized the cat as a kindred spirit with a “similar thirst for adventure” and brought the new kitty crew member aboard.

#Ameliathetropicat tells all in her freshly released short film by my friend and fellow earth and animal lover @tevaperrone!! … link in my profile… #loveandfreedom #forallanimals #beaStevie

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Jan 12, 2016 at 11:09am PST

me and Tropi sending out all our infinite christmas love and positive vibes to you and yours!! ❤️??may all beings everywhere be happy and free….so stoked my family decided to give to each others favorite charities this year!! Miss you my dear Clark family, love you all so much!! and thank you to all my family across the world who have taken me in on holidays abroad. #weareAllonebigfamily #givingisgoodliving @leenbean11 @bkulinsk @jamesclark78 @captainmillie @dadmiral1 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Dec 25, 2015 at 12:46pm PST

#Ameliathetropicat giving me some sunday relaxation coaching… #listeningmeditation #slowdown #gowithinorgowithout @patagonia_surf @mizulife @loveavasol @ecoflex_ @zealoptics

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Dec 6, 2015 at 5:27pm PST

?? & a happy halloween from the Tropicat ?

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Oct 31, 2015 at 7:10pm PDT

the Tropicat and i just scored a sweet new low-impact ride…?@patagonia_surf @mizulife @loveavasol @ecoflex_ @zealoptics @b4bc #lessfuelmoremuscle #crazycatladystatus #vaahoe

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Oct 15, 2015 at 8:41pm PDT

#AmeliatheTropicat was dismayed by how much garbage we found in only a few hours…but we're stoked because there's a new recycling program here and more than half our collection was recycleable… ♻️ #ecokitty @patagonia_surf @mizulife @loveavasol @zealoptics @ecoflex_

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Sep 20, 2015 at 5:30pm PDT

Tropicat boldly going where no cat has gone before!!! #felinefirstascent @patagonia_surf @mizulife @loveavasol @zealoptics @b4bc

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Sep 4, 2015 at 3:55pm PDT

"You understand Teacher, don't you, that when you have a mother who's an angel and a father who is a cannibal king, and when you have sailed on the ocean all your whole life, then you don't know just how to behave in school with all the apples and ibexes." –Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking // Surf mission with #AmeliatheTropicat in her go-to @patagonia_surf StormfrontPack #WindinourHair #natureovermoney #rethinktherules @patagonia @zealoptics @loveavasol @mizulife @aquaticoddities @b4bc photo with @gopro!!

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Aug 14, 2015 at 3:18pm PDT

Tropicat hates Mondays… ? off to the forest office before i lose a finger! #shestheboss

A video posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Aug 10, 2015 at 1:14pm PDT

Wake up kitty it's Friday!! Sunrise from bed…wrapped up in our @nikacollective beach blanket: Nika products are made by women in Nicaragua brought together by Kori Rider's inspiring efforts to provide work for some of the poorest, most vulnerable women in the Nueva Vida community, in turn empowering them to feed and educate themselves and their children. Profits from products sold go back into the needs of the community. check out their beautiful handmade goods and the power of one woman's desire to lift others up at nikacollective.com!! ?❤️⬆️ and thank you to @loveavasol for supporting them and sending me this lovely gift!!

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Jul 10, 2015 at 2:29pm PDT

big moons stir our wild hearts! ? moonlit escapades with #AmeliatheTropicat ?

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Jun 30, 2015 at 11:35pm PDT

#AmeliatheTropicat reminding us to REACH for our desires!!!! #fishing

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Jun 10, 2015 at 5:25pm PDT

"FASTER i told you… FASTER!??" –#AmeliatheTropicat #weAllNeedFREEDOMtoRoam

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on May 13, 2015 at 3:55am PDT

I'd like to clarify the recent misleading headline in the UK's "Daily Mail" and other European publications about me "seeking a travel partner". They did a very comprehensive interview about my life and then pulled that headline from my response to one question, "Do you ever get lonely?" …my answer was "Yes, of course i feel lonely sometimes, and i eventually hope to find the right sailing partner…" i also talked about how traveling alone has helped me connect to Nature/God/Spirit and how in fact I always find nice, welcoming people everywhere i go! but the media must have thought that was the most exciting thing i said in the whole hour, so "Sailor Wanted:" became the rather misconstrued headline!?!! ? in fact i'm not seeking a 'travel partner' right now, although i appreciate all of your queries and wish i could share a slice of this life with all of you!? but what i meant was more that, like everyone, i'm trusting that a soulmate to share this life with will eventually appear as magically as a set wave rising from the sea! ❤️ #crazycatladyfornow

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on May 2, 2015 at 4:21pm PDT

#Tropicat was NOT enthused about the sea conditions the day we left to go find @kimi_swimmy & @simplevoyage…it was pretty rough out there. i was trying to ride the tail of an easterly moving front but i left about 8 hours too early and ended up fighting headwinds and sloppy mixed seas…We both puked. ??#joysofsailing #tentuamotusdays @patagonia @patagonia_surf

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Apr 3, 2015 at 12:55am PDT

#AmeliatheTropicat beaming you some fierce celebratory New Moon–Equinox–Eclipse–TreeHugging vibes as we fly through the galaxy with a forest view today…??????#ReunitedanditFeelsSOGood!!!!!! #newmoonintentions #galacticAppreciation @patagonia @mizulife @zealoptics @loveavasol @aquaticoddities

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Mar 20, 2015 at 4:42pm PDT

"A house is made with walls and beams. A home is made with love and dreams." Amelia's majestic homecoming… #tropicatisBack

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Mar 14, 2015 at 5:47pm PDT

Tropicat looks back at her island oasis as she (and an army of fleas) head home to Swell…she seemed ready to come home but i told her to think it over and i can bring her back if she'd like…? P.S. The pet psychic was right about everything…?www.animalhealings.com

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Mar 13, 2015 at 2:19pm PDT

#tbt kitty first mate scans the horizon, taking in the fresh sea breeze… #AmeliatheTropicat

A video posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Feb 12, 2015 at 8:45am PST

LOST KITTY ? Last seen on a paradise motu full of lizards and rats and crabs to chase…she fell off the canoe on the way there and then wandered off while i went surfing…???… searched everywhere 2 days, no sign of her…small islet with no cars or mean dogs and a super nice family living there who eat lots of ??? …hmmmm…#kittyfoundparadise??? ?? i Miss U #AmeliatheTropicat …

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:06am PST

Holidays away from family make me realize that all people are family, and Love and Unity know no boundary between blood, classes, colors, or countries. Thank you to my family for supporting my dreams and to everyone who has made my many Holidays abroad so magical! #weareOne #Ameliasboyfriend #loveUMami #makenewfriends @patagonia @mizulife @zealoptics @loveavasol @freewaters_footwear

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Dec 29, 2014 at 9:46pm PST

This whole nervous storm preparation really wore her out…we're all tucked in, anchor set…?⚓️??

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Dec 21, 2014 at 8:06pm PST

"Not all those who wander are lost." -Tolkien …Amelia the Tropicat, Swell, and me feeling quite at home in this oceanic wilderness!! #exploremore #soakupthevibes #mizulife #find_away #steerwithyourheart @patagonia @loveavasol @mizulife @zealoptics @freewaters_footwear @leathermansport

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Dec 18, 2014 at 12:33pm PST

What if our religion was each other? If our practice was our life? If prayer was our words? What if the Temple was the Earth? If forests were our church? If holy water-the rivers,lakes and the ocean? What if meditation was our relationship? If the Teacher was life? If wisdom was self-knowledge? If love was the center of our being? Good Questions to Consider by Ganga White ???

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Nov 24, 2014 at 8:22pm PST

Amelia and I are so disappointed. This bucket only lasted 4 months in the tropical sun and now it will sit at the island dump for the next eternity breaking into smaller and smaller pieces, infecting our food chain along with a zillion other plastic bottles, bags, toys, etc…WE NEED PLASTIC ALTERNATIVES!? It's up to us to demand them!! Anyone know where i can get a non-plastic bucket these days?? #ReduceReuseREFUSEsingleuseplastics #protectwhereweplay #bethechange @mizulife @zealoptics @patagonia @loveavasol @freewaters_footwear

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Nov 12, 2014 at 11:26am PST

kitty & me … LIGHT bound … ✨

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Oct 17, 2014 at 3:52pm PDT

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn…" Muir's words ringing in my ears on a high altitude kitty adventure!! #exploremore #soakupthevibes #changeyourperspective #mizulife #nourishwithnature @patagonia @mizulife @zealoptics @loveavasol @freewaters_footwear @leathermansport @proliteint

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Sep 7, 2014 at 2:45pm PDT

THANK YOU @loveavasol for the eco-deluxe organic sun/skin care package!!!! I am LOVING the #sunscreen, lip balm, everything balm, lotion, heat spray, throat spray, soap, and Especially the SUN STICKS–So stoked to find an organic replacement for Shiseido or Verta sticks for surfing!! I can feel the mindfulness and love in each of them right down to the details!!! ? Thank you for caring so much about the Earth and the future of life!!! #bestsunscreenEVER #liveorganic #reeffriendly #nochemicals #nourishwithnature #kittyisjealous #worshiptheSUN Check out avasol.com!! Comment here with your email if your interested and i'll send you an online discount code!!

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Aug 22, 2014 at 3:25pm PDT

here's to Liberty and Justice for All People everywhere!! ?✌️❤️ #happyfourth #gratitude #weareone #mizulife #soakupthevibes #exploremore @patagonia @mizulife @zealoptics @loveavasol @leathermansport @freewaters_footwear @proliteint

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Jul 4, 2014 at 3:04pm PDT

Sorry #kitty, you're right, its not funny, and i should not be taking pictures at a moment like this… #Ameliaoverboard #kittygoesswimming #boatlife #unhappy#catface #liveandlearn

A photo posted by Captain Lizzy (@captainlizclark) on Feb 18, 2014 at 11:29pm PST