At some point, many of us have dreamed of escaping from society, but one former teacher has taken this idea to new heights.
Luke, once a music teacher in a school, has traded the confines of a classroom for the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. He is on a solo sailing adventure, having been at sea for 31 days and sharing his experiences on TikTok under the name ‘sailing_songbird’.
One of his most popular videos, which has garnered 4.7 million likes, shows Luke alone in the ocean with a paddleboard, his sailboat visible in the background.
“It is month one, day 31 of sailing across the Pacific Ocean alone,” he declares in the video.
He further explains: “I’m in the doldroms, I’m stuck here in the doldrums and there is no wind.
“For reference, I am right about as far away from land you can be on the planet.”
While the situation might be alarming for most people, Luke finds value in the experience.
He mentioned: “It is incredibly disorientating to be out on a paddleboard with absolutely nothing on the horizon except like a super cool sunset.
“I am well over 1,000 miles away from any piece of land, and it is so quiet. This definitely feels like one of the more incredible things I’m privileged enough to experience.”
Social media users were divided; some admired the unique adventure, while others were anxious at the thought.
“Nothing is creepier than an open body of water. I can’t,” one user commented.
“That’s crazy because if you look closely, you can see the HELL and the NAH,” another joked.
“This is quite literally my biggest fear,” added a third.
“Are there people out there with zero fear or anxiety?!? Is that a thing? Is it supposed to be that way? I need a study,” someone else wondered.
While some were overwhelmed by the idea of sailing alone, others were fascinated by his ability to stay connected.
“Man’s uploading from the Pacific Ocean, and I’m losing network in my bathroom,” one person noted.
Another joked: “Damn the pacific got Wi-Fi?”
Luke has equipped his boat with a dish to maintain a phone signal.
No matter how one feels about his journey, it’s clear that Luke will have an unmatched travel story ready to tell upon his return home.