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Path of Three Hundred
The story is based on real events however, the characters in the story are fictional. As the story is being read by an individual, it is my hope that you will be able to feel the journey of challenges for your Self…make it your own.
For perhaps many or all of us…there have existed people in our lives who tell us what we “should” or “need” to do. Sometimes, we may feel in our inner Being what we think is right, yet we listen to others and sometimes let them make decisions for Us. This story is about a man who finally decides to take off on his own for a time…and listen to himself…his Inner Voice.
The journey in a physical sense is an open ocean solo sailing adventure. Yet, as the main character Petah experiences Life along the physical path he has chosen, he begins to understand a certain way of being which had always existed in his core…he just didn’t know how to maintain the way…it would drift away from time to time until he would see it again. As if the Universe says to us, “OK…let’s try this again, only this time you’re going to go through something even more intense…perhaps this time, you’ll get it.”
Leaps of Faith abound in this story…”walls” of Life to be faced by an individual. Chances at leaps of Faith appear to all of Us at particular points along all of our Paths. Next time one surfaces in your Life, perhaps take it…you never know what you may find. http://pathof300.com
For perhaps many or all of us…there have existed people in our lives who tell us what we “should” or “need” to do. Sometimes, we may feel in our inner Being what we think is right, yet we listen to others and sometimes let them make decisions for Us. This story is about a man who finally decides to take off on his own for a time…and listen to himself…his Inner Voice.
The journey in a physical sense is an open ocean solo sailing adventure. Yet, as the main character Petah experiences Life along the physical path he has chosen, he begins to understand a certain way of being which had always existed in his core…he just didn’t know how to maintain the way…it would drift away from time to time until he would see it again. As if the Universe says to us, “OK…let’s try this again, only this time you’re going to go through something even more intense…perhaps this time, you’ll get it.”
Leaps of Faith abound in this story…”walls” of Life to be faced by an individual. Chances at leaps of Faith appear to all of Us at particular points along all of our Paths. Next time one surfaces in your Life, perhaps take it…you never know what you may find. http://pathof300.com
180 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2012
2 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
About the author
Greg Frucci
3 books21 followersGreg Frucci is a published Author and Artist in multiple areas. A graduate with honors of Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Architecture, he started his Architecture career working for a firm in North Carolina, ran his own sole proprietorship for nine years and later moved to San Francisco, CA where he worked in large Architecture firms.
Upon my return from a solo sailing adventure of almost two thousand miles across open ocean where I single-handed a thirty foot sailboat from Wilmington, North Carolina to Bermuda and back, I began writing "Path of Three Hundred". If I had taken a direct route there and back, the trip would have been around fifteen hundred miles, but I took the long way home from Bermuda back to Wilmington sailing halfway to the Bahamas before turning west to Florida, then more north back to North Carolina due to weather conditions at sea.
I felt compelled to write the book because of the transformation of self while being at sea through the physical challenges I faced while alone. There is no place to "pull over" out there. There is no one to take the helm so that I could rest when tired or hungry. Eight days of sailing to get to Bermuda and nine days of sailing back to Wilmington. I experienced storms, the Bermuda Triangle and beautiful wonders of Nature unlike anything I can ever remember...and I want to go back...some day, I will again as I miss the sea even as I write these words.
As I wrote the book, I became a hermit. Going to work at my "normal job", coming home to my sailboat where I live with my dog, Lucky, walking him and writing. Waking up the next day to write and repeat the process...for six months. I began writing the story of the adventure in the first person, however something about the story was a bit dry. I had been reading Paulo Coehlo's books and love the storytelling way in which he writes, so I made a creative decision to write in the third person. I even changed most of the character names including my own. An interesting thing happened in the process. While I was writing what other people were saying about this man, Petah (me), I began to feel those others and become them. Specifically one chapter, "...day Three to the East..." where I was battling an intense Gale Storm, people were freaking out on land as they could see me sail into the middle of the storm...something I did not know at the time. As I wrote what I was told by those others, I could feel their anxiety as I felt the anxiety of the sailor at sea...wild.
I loved the process of writing "Path of Three Hundred" for so many reasons, but the one which sticks in my mind now is being able to keep fresh the images of sailing across the open ocean. The beauty of out there is quite special...a place which will always draw me into it's core.
Upon my return from a solo sailing adventure of almost two thousand miles across open ocean where I single-handed a thirty foot sailboat from Wilmington, North Carolina to Bermuda and back, I began writing "Path of Three Hundred". If I had taken a direct route there and back, the trip would have been around fifteen hundred miles, but I took the long way home from Bermuda back to Wilmington sailing halfway to the Bahamas before turning west to Florida, then more north back to North Carolina due to weather conditions at sea.
I felt compelled to write the book because of the transformation of self while being at sea through the physical challenges I faced while alone. There is no place to "pull over" out there. There is no one to take the helm so that I could rest when tired or hungry. Eight days of sailing to get to Bermuda and nine days of sailing back to Wilmington. I experienced storms, the Bermuda Triangle and beautiful wonders of Nature unlike anything I can ever remember...and I want to go back...some day, I will again as I miss the sea even as I write these words.
As I wrote the book, I became a hermit. Going to work at my "normal job", coming home to my sailboat where I live with my dog, Lucky, walking him and writing. Waking up the next day to write and repeat the process...for six months. I began writing the story of the adventure in the first person, however something about the story was a bit dry. I had been reading Paulo Coehlo's books and love the storytelling way in which he writes, so I made a creative decision to write in the third person. I even changed most of the character names including my own. An interesting thing happened in the process. While I was writing what other people were saying about this man, Petah (me), I began to feel those others and become them. Specifically one chapter, "...day Three to the East..." where I was battling an intense Gale Storm, people were freaking out on land as they could see me sail into the middle of the storm...something I did not know at the time. As I wrote what I was told by those others, I could feel their anxiety as I felt the anxiety of the sailor at sea...wild.
I loved the process of writing "Path of Three Hundred" for so many reasons, but the one which sticks in my mind now is being able to keep fresh the images of sailing across the open ocean. The beauty of out there is quite special...a place which will always draw me into it's core.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 29, 2012
This book is ideal for those who are considering major transformation in Life. Greg blends poetry with the courage and grace to go on an adventure of challenge to the point of potential no return. His willingness to invite others along for the ride through the portal of this book is both selfless and filled with Opportunity for anyone who cannot break away to process change, grief or heartbreak but really needs to. It holds unexpected depth of energy that is as vast as the sea he traveled. So many of us need to explore the spiritual landscape of the calling we feel deep within, Greg Frucci actually took the leap on our behalf, and survived to tell the tale for our benefit. Highly recommended for those who cannot escape the daily grind to go for a much needed adventure of the Soul.
December 10, 2012
I won this through GoodReads First Reads for my husband. He read it through in one sitting and was thoroughly immersed in the story and characters. He stated that it was inspiring and enthralling. He highly recommends it.
January 9, 2013
Path of Three Hundred:
Greg Frucci
Many people often wonder why they are here on earth and what is their purpose in life. Where are they right now? What do I need to focus on and where do I want to be five years from this moment? Who am I and do I really have an identity? Life and where you are going is not always defined or controlled by you unless you make it your own, make it your dream to not let the words and thoughts of others control your destiny or outlook in life. Petah needed to decide whether he was going to live his life with regrets, the fear of the unknown or use his energies to focus on the future and stop being distracted by the past. Living alone, having too much time to think, working in a hardware store and often sent on trips for a meeting planning contracting company called Orthodox, Incorporated. Not working as an architect anymore due to lack of responses to his resume and fewer jobs out there, Petah began to look long an hard at his life and where he wanted to go. Living alone in his house, time to contemplate and think he realized that his “fifty year struggle with Self had consumed his Soul.” He decided he needed to find his “Home” without the influence of others. Working on his portfolio containing 30 years of Art and condensing it into 99 pages in which he incorporated his Architecture and Film Industry he made one last effort to go back to the life he left. Muse is someone close to him and hopefully wanted to help him. Asking if he was ready to do head shots snapped him back to reality making him wonder where his path in life was and where he really wanted to go. So, when the Orthodox called and wanted to send him to Lisbon he did not have to think twice and jumped at the chance. But, although he loved every minute and the sights were amazing he knew when he came back that something in his life had to change. “Fear is the mind killer,” how true. “Fear is the think which keeps Us from living life,” fear is something that is not easy to overcome but if you really want to you can. Fear as the author states needs to be challenged everyday.
Throughout the book we hear the voice of the author expressed in the words of Petah as he sails the seas, searches for his Soul and true self and lives one day at a time trying to find his own inner peace. Would you take off and sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Lisbon to find yourself in a boat called The She that he bought from a close friend and film the entire journey creating a documentary and feature film? Rather than set sail he enlisted the help of several friends whose good intentions often created friction. Petah planned to take his boat The She from North Carolina to Bermuda.
So, needed to ask himself some questions before taking off as most should in this position: Who Am I: I need to define my natural talents and abilities. What Lessons do I want to Learn: What opportunities are out there? What is my purpose in life and how will I overcome the obstacles that I know I will encounter? How will I know when I achieve success?
When going out into the unknown and attempting to do what he was about to do is it to find his True Self or does he have a Death Wish? A friend who listened to his inner most thoughts and his final reflections allowed him to realize that nothing was going to stop him from attaining his goal. Even the negative words of a sailor who claimed his boat The She was not made for the voyage he were about to embark on would not hinder him.” Listen to others, but don’t lose your own Voice.” As he made the final preparations and spoke with the Captain he realized what needed to be done before setting off. Support comes from many different places but one thing rings true and constant is the voice of his friend Muse and their everlasting bond of friendship. Listening to someone and not judging them for actions and thoughts, just how many people can do that? As he sets sail and the images of his friends and land fade away Petah begins the most important journey of self-direction and self-realization of his life.
Throughout his journey he reflects and flashes back on many discussions instructional and informative with Captain Harker a man who was not only his friend and instructor to help him learn how to overcome the hurdle of waves, developing the proper fishing skills and much more. Not everything goes as planned and although Petah the roar of the storm contacted his team back in Masonboro that was descending upon him out yelled you might say the voices that were trying to help him. Remembering his father’s words: Improvise, adapt and overcome: stop being a weakling. He could hear the words coming out of his mouth as he battled the storm alone.
Sometimes when you think you are alone you are not. Allende Tennessee tried to contact Petah and could not. Realizing where his friend’s boat was he realized the gravity of the situation and would stop at nothing to help him. Hoping the Master Chief would have some ships or ship on his friend’s route. As the ship tossed and turned and Petah had to adjust you can hear his voice telling himself not to give up. The reader experiences the entire journey along with him weathering the storm. Just when he thought he was alone a voice comes through and help is on the other end of the radio. Remembering another lesson told to him by Captain Harker, “remember you’re a surfer,” handling the boat and the waves during a storm as if he was surfing. Determined, persistent and not giving up he weathers the storm and remembers these words: “ I have found Home Upon the Indigo Sea!
Life does not always hand Petah a great hand yet remembering the reasons he felt so despondent at the start, the woman who used him and abused their relationship, the storm and its rage but finally realizing the comfort of the Indigo Sea and the amazing bird that came to see him everyday. Almost like an angel watching over him bringing him to safety. One Longtail One flew over him and then contacting Captain Secumptual about the weather. Although alone on the sea he was really never alone except with his thoughts. To truly join him on his journey the reader needs to read Day Six to the East and Day Seven to the East as the Petah is now only 70 miles from Bermuda. Just as he arrives who are these three birds that have been hovering over him and why does he feel there is a message there?
Imagine arriving on the eighth day and describing what he sees but first contacting Bermuda Radio to guide him to where to dock and to customs. Meeting David and Bethany and having them join him on board his ship and learning that notice of his arrival preceded him was quite enlightening. The author then describes Bermuda, the sights, his journey and the people.
Then it’s all over and he decides to fly home and lands at the airport in Masonboro and is greeted by so many friends, interviewed and taken to dinner by others but Muse was not there. But, although he did something amazing, gratifying and definitely more than just courageous, others weighed in on blogs creating negative feedback, remarks and then nothing. But, he missed the Indigo Sea and would he let the words of others bring him down? With the support of the Captain would he consent to become his first mate? Then, he would go back to Bermuda and reclaim his ship and head back for home. Is the past really so distant from your present and why did he think about Muse, Jezebel and Judas on his trip to Bermuda? His days there are described in vivid detail and the end result were lessons learned from a book titled The Pilgrimage.
November 28, 2011 was ten years to the day his father passed at sea. Ready to go and wished the best he was off. The journey is so exciting and the sailing a challenge as the author tells of Petah’s daily journeys until he finally arrives home. Would you speak to the Moon? Would you speak to the sails of your ship? Would you be able to weather another storm? Would the Little She win the race or will the storm? “When challenged,” as he was, “ always sail to three hundred degrees… you will be save on that path.” Three hundred degrees as if in a progression of Souls, he and the Little She went on and just what happens and how the journey ends you need to read it for yourself to experience along with Petah.
Read the poem on page 125 and hear his final thoughts when arriving back home. But, the journeys were not over and he was going to sail to Lisbon but this time he would take his dog Lucky with him and hear his own voice letting him know that The Little She would surely make it.
As an added and inspirational bonus the author includes over 30 poems. One that is quite Memorable is taking the Important Things Slow. The author expresses his journey taking life carefully climbing the mast and then realizing the Peace within one’s soul is connected to our /his actions. Tiny Stars will make you feel as if you are part of the galaxy of stars above and my favorite: I Miss the Indigo Sea. Read it to find out why.
I Believe: “I believe in life, I believe in now, I believe in the future.” I believe that this is one of the most interesting, thought provoking and life changing books that I have had the honor of reviewing in a long time. With the illustrations of Katherine Gerardi the story comes to life in a special and unique way.
Let’s give this book: FIVE MORE GOLDEN SAILS FOR THE SHE ON THE INDIGO SEA
Greg Frucci
Many people often wonder why they are here on earth and what is their purpose in life. Where are they right now? What do I need to focus on and where do I want to be five years from this moment? Who am I and do I really have an identity? Life and where you are going is not always defined or controlled by you unless you make it your own, make it your dream to not let the words and thoughts of others control your destiny or outlook in life. Petah needed to decide whether he was going to live his life with regrets, the fear of the unknown or use his energies to focus on the future and stop being distracted by the past. Living alone, having too much time to think, working in a hardware store and often sent on trips for a meeting planning contracting company called Orthodox, Incorporated. Not working as an architect anymore due to lack of responses to his resume and fewer jobs out there, Petah began to look long an hard at his life and where he wanted to go. Living alone in his house, time to contemplate and think he realized that his “fifty year struggle with Self had consumed his Soul.” He decided he needed to find his “Home” without the influence of others. Working on his portfolio containing 30 years of Art and condensing it into 99 pages in which he incorporated his Architecture and Film Industry he made one last effort to go back to the life he left. Muse is someone close to him and hopefully wanted to help him. Asking if he was ready to do head shots snapped him back to reality making him wonder where his path in life was and where he really wanted to go. So, when the Orthodox called and wanted to send him to Lisbon he did not have to think twice and jumped at the chance. But, although he loved every minute and the sights were amazing he knew when he came back that something in his life had to change. “Fear is the mind killer,” how true. “Fear is the think which keeps Us from living life,” fear is something that is not easy to overcome but if you really want to you can. Fear as the author states needs to be challenged everyday.
Throughout the book we hear the voice of the author expressed in the words of Petah as he sails the seas, searches for his Soul and true self and lives one day at a time trying to find his own inner peace. Would you take off and sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Lisbon to find yourself in a boat called The She that he bought from a close friend and film the entire journey creating a documentary and feature film? Rather than set sail he enlisted the help of several friends whose good intentions often created friction. Petah planned to take his boat The She from North Carolina to Bermuda.
So, needed to ask himself some questions before taking off as most should in this position: Who Am I: I need to define my natural talents and abilities. What Lessons do I want to Learn: What opportunities are out there? What is my purpose in life and how will I overcome the obstacles that I know I will encounter? How will I know when I achieve success?
When going out into the unknown and attempting to do what he was about to do is it to find his True Self or does he have a Death Wish? A friend who listened to his inner most thoughts and his final reflections allowed him to realize that nothing was going to stop him from attaining his goal. Even the negative words of a sailor who claimed his boat The She was not made for the voyage he were about to embark on would not hinder him.” Listen to others, but don’t lose your own Voice.” As he made the final preparations and spoke with the Captain he realized what needed to be done before setting off. Support comes from many different places but one thing rings true and constant is the voice of his friend Muse and their everlasting bond of friendship. Listening to someone and not judging them for actions and thoughts, just how many people can do that? As he sets sail and the images of his friends and land fade away Petah begins the most important journey of self-direction and self-realization of his life.
Throughout his journey he reflects and flashes back on many discussions instructional and informative with Captain Harker a man who was not only his friend and instructor to help him learn how to overcome the hurdle of waves, developing the proper fishing skills and much more. Not everything goes as planned and although Petah the roar of the storm contacted his team back in Masonboro that was descending upon him out yelled you might say the voices that were trying to help him. Remembering his father’s words: Improvise, adapt and overcome: stop being a weakling. He could hear the words coming out of his mouth as he battled the storm alone.
Sometimes when you think you are alone you are not. Allende Tennessee tried to contact Petah and could not. Realizing where his friend’s boat was he realized the gravity of the situation and would stop at nothing to help him. Hoping the Master Chief would have some ships or ship on his friend’s route. As the ship tossed and turned and Petah had to adjust you can hear his voice telling himself not to give up. The reader experiences the entire journey along with him weathering the storm. Just when he thought he was alone a voice comes through and help is on the other end of the radio. Remembering another lesson told to him by Captain Harker, “remember you’re a surfer,” handling the boat and the waves during a storm as if he was surfing. Determined, persistent and not giving up he weathers the storm and remembers these words: “ I have found Home Upon the Indigo Sea!
Life does not always hand Petah a great hand yet remembering the reasons he felt so despondent at the start, the woman who used him and abused their relationship, the storm and its rage but finally realizing the comfort of the Indigo Sea and the amazing bird that came to see him everyday. Almost like an angel watching over him bringing him to safety. One Longtail One flew over him and then contacting Captain Secumptual about the weather. Although alone on the sea he was really never alone except with his thoughts. To truly join him on his journey the reader needs to read Day Six to the East and Day Seven to the East as the Petah is now only 70 miles from Bermuda. Just as he arrives who are these three birds that have been hovering over him and why does he feel there is a message there?
Imagine arriving on the eighth day and describing what he sees but first contacting Bermuda Radio to guide him to where to dock and to customs. Meeting David and Bethany and having them join him on board his ship and learning that notice of his arrival preceded him was quite enlightening. The author then describes Bermuda, the sights, his journey and the people.
Then it’s all over and he decides to fly home and lands at the airport in Masonboro and is greeted by so many friends, interviewed and taken to dinner by others but Muse was not there. But, although he did something amazing, gratifying and definitely more than just courageous, others weighed in on blogs creating negative feedback, remarks and then nothing. But, he missed the Indigo Sea and would he let the words of others bring him down? With the support of the Captain would he consent to become his first mate? Then, he would go back to Bermuda and reclaim his ship and head back for home. Is the past really so distant from your present and why did he think about Muse, Jezebel and Judas on his trip to Bermuda? His days there are described in vivid detail and the end result were lessons learned from a book titled The Pilgrimage.
November 28, 2011 was ten years to the day his father passed at sea. Ready to go and wished the best he was off. The journey is so exciting and the sailing a challenge as the author tells of Petah’s daily journeys until he finally arrives home. Would you speak to the Moon? Would you speak to the sails of your ship? Would you be able to weather another storm? Would the Little She win the race or will the storm? “When challenged,” as he was, “ always sail to three hundred degrees… you will be save on that path.” Three hundred degrees as if in a progression of Souls, he and the Little She went on and just what happens and how the journey ends you need to read it for yourself to experience along with Petah.
Read the poem on page 125 and hear his final thoughts when arriving back home. But, the journeys were not over and he was going to sail to Lisbon but this time he would take his dog Lucky with him and hear his own voice letting him know that The Little She would surely make it.
As an added and inspirational bonus the author includes over 30 poems. One that is quite Memorable is taking the Important Things Slow. The author expresses his journey taking life carefully climbing the mast and then realizing the Peace within one’s soul is connected to our /his actions. Tiny Stars will make you feel as if you are part of the galaxy of stars above and my favorite: I Miss the Indigo Sea. Read it to find out why.
I Believe: “I believe in life, I believe in now, I believe in the future.” I believe that this is one of the most interesting, thought provoking and life changing books that I have had the honor of reviewing in a long time. With the illustrations of Katherine Gerardi the story comes to life in a special and unique way.
Let’s give this book: FIVE MORE GOLDEN SAILS FOR THE SHE ON THE INDIGO SEA
October 19, 2012
INSPIRING NOVEL:
It has been few days since I finished the book, so the best and most fresh impressions are fading but I have to admit I got "caught" into your novel from beginning to end!
If it is quiet common, to actually read a book, for me it was a 10 years lethargy time, and couldn't finish one single book! either already knowing what was going to tell me and loosing interest or not interested in hearing the same old.. this tells you Something about YOUR book.
maybe it was just curiosity (having received the book thought a facebook friend's suggestion), or the fact that was a REAL story that intrigued me to go see "the mind" of the author, but the book has definitely "woke me" from this intellectual 10 year "coma".
it was refreshing and inspiring, it reminded me of Hemingway's passionate but simple and direct style (with addition of poetry).
well done!
and thank you:now I think can read another book (before 10 years!!)
:-)
It has been few days since I finished the book, so the best and most fresh impressions are fading but I have to admit I got "caught" into your novel from beginning to end!
If it is quiet common, to actually read a book, for me it was a 10 years lethargy time, and couldn't finish one single book! either already knowing what was going to tell me and loosing interest or not interested in hearing the same old.. this tells you Something about YOUR book.
maybe it was just curiosity (having received the book thought a facebook friend's suggestion), or the fact that was a REAL story that intrigued me to go see "the mind" of the author, but the book has definitely "woke me" from this intellectual 10 year "coma".
it was refreshing and inspiring, it reminded me of Hemingway's passionate but simple and direct style (with addition of poetry).
well done!
and thank you:now I think can read another book (before 10 years!!)
:-)
January 30, 2013
A curious sailboat adventure where a man finds himself in a non-religious yet spiritual way.
December 13, 2014
I won it in a giveaway, and I was pretty excited to read it, but... sorry Greg Frucci, I just didn't like, at all.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews