Archive for December, 2006
Posted by derrick on
December 31, 2006
Like the wallpaper sticks to the wall
Like the seashore clings to the sea
Like you’ll never get rid of your shadow
you’ll never get rid of me
- Dave Dreyer - Al Jolson - Billy Rose
Well, here’s the first entry on the new “Chasing the Ana” blog. Proof that things are changing all the time and we’re still some 8 plus months away. I realized I didn’t want to task everyone on the Quixotica blog with every little detail of the trip. Especially when there are so many other things going on. So from this point forward THIS is the place for my trip musings and Quxiotica will continue to be the place where I exercise my paddling demons. 
Posted by derrick on
December 31, 2006
Trying to turn
against the flow
I’m the ocean
I’m the giant undertow
- neil young
So I came sliding up to shore and a young man came running up to me. “Hey, Mr. I lost my football. Would you find it?”. “Ah”, I said” putting down the earphones for my Ipod, “Where is it?”. “I can’t see it now but it’s out near the middle of the lake”. he told me. I asked, “How did it get there?” more a curiosity, than something that really mattered. “We were walking along the trail over there and it went in the lake”. he told me. I thought, “Yeah, must have just jumped right out of his hand. Inanimate objects tend to go “animate” when you least expect it. So like the nice kind kayaker type person I am, I pushed my little Romany back out into the cold water and slipped off into the fog to look for a needle . . no wait a football in the middle of a big lake. . . .
Posted by derrick on
December 30, 2006
Posted by derrick on
December 30, 2006
Hey Anna here’s your song
The one that i promise baby, promise you all along
I knew all the time that id find the rhyme
Never have a fear, here it is my dear
- marvin gaye
So I had a thought. What happens when I want to write about preparations for my trip while at the same time there is all this great news out there from all the “real” kayakers?? Well, the obvious answer was to flip-flop. Apparently I’m shooting for a life in politics! Well be that as it may, from now on the place to go to find out about all the preparations is to the new
“CHASING THE ANA” Blog. So if you want to follow along you can, and if not you’re more than welcome to hang out here as well. But just imagine what you’ll miss!! There I’ll be rambling on about how I’m racking up a phone bill calling strangers in San Juan or why I think I should take up traditional Puerto Rican dance. Who knows were it all will lead!? I’ve started the “official” (not to be officious mind you) blog with a bit of a diatribe on the difficulties of finding a partner and why a dart board may come in handy. I’m certainly not going to post over there every day, but I will keep you up to date with the trials and tribulations of the preparation. And as soon as she can come out to play my partner on the trip will be posting as well. I’m sure she’d like to tell you what a tyrant I’ve become. Hopefully I’ll fair better than others. . .
Posted by derrick on
December 29, 2006
Do you see them coming through fields of snow?
Do you see them riding through fields of snow?
One rides for a woman who has no name
One rides for a king
And one just rides and rides and rides and rides
For the girl in the swing
-waterboys
Posted by derrick on
December 28, 2006
They come from miles around to dance the jukebox down
And dig the good time sounds they all play
And all across the harbour
Night lights shinin’ in
It looks just like stars on the water
Just like stars on the water
Feels like stars on the water, let it rain
- jimmy buffett
Posted by derrick on
December 28, 2006
These seconds when I’m shaking
leave me shuddering for days
- counting crows
Why? Funny question that. One inevitable question we are all asked as we begin a new adventure is, “Why?”. Why do kayakers dream of heading off to unknown lands? Why do they choose to leave the safety of land with nothing but their kayak, a bit of gear, and their wits? Be it a mile or a thousand someone will always ask why. Well, I don’t know. You were looking for wisdom weren’t you!?? Sorry, I have so little. It seems each person has there own goal, their own reasons to head off into the distance. Maybe, “Why” is a question that can’t quite be answered. Often I think we go for the easy response or something quick that makes a good quote. Maybe “why” is just too complicated.
