Prospero Ano Nuevo!
Published December 22, 2006 | 
Gonna be proud of me
And many before me
Who’ve been called by the sea
To be up in the crow’s nest
Singin’ my say
Shiver me Timbers
‘Cause I’m a-sailin’ away
-tom waites
————————————
It’s so fun to just sit and write about yourself in the 3rd person isn’t?? Well. Let’s start this out a little less formal shall we? 
I’d been thinking about a trip for quite some time. Think back to that chat I had with Simon Osborne last summer. Thing was I really wanted to go somewhere that was not on the “expedition” radar so to speak and yet, I wanted to have a fairly reasonable learning experience. It would be stupid of me to try to run off to the artic (Too bloody cold anyway)! Especially being a novice when it comes to expeditions. I’ve never planned or paddled 20 or more days straight. I’ve never worried about finding a decent landing site, shipping boats, long open water crossings or any of the rest. So I also needed a place that I could perceive as just a bit “friendly” a bit of a proving ground if you will. Puerto Rico seemed the perfect choice.
Sure I’d like to see Cuba. That had been a conversation at one time. But getting in could be a nightmare. And something about it wouldn’t feel right for me. I wouldn’t paddle around Haiti & the Dominican Republic either. There are more important concerns there. Sure you could possibly bring more attention to the islands and their political and social needs but do I really take my voice that seriously!?? No, Bono should go to Haiti. The neurotic kid from Wisconsin should go to Puerto Rico!
Over the coming weeks I will share all the little details of planning this first trip. I want to give everyone an opportunity to see my successes and mistakes along the way. Hopefully I’ll get your help and show others that following your dreams (as Wendy K often talks about) is possible. It’s just got to start with that first step. Lord knows there’s nothing I can do that YOU can’t do better!! Who knows what will happen along the way. But the first step is just to announce the trip.
Already I must thank, Nydia Kien for all her help. I’m going to owe her bigtime! Also, Mary, JB, Silbs, Meg, Justine, Freya, Keith, Alex, Jeff & Simon for their encouragment that has carried me from a passing fancy to a dream to a goal. Oh and of course my masked partner who thinks spending a month with me and my neurosis might be a lark! Even though she’s not ready to admit it publicly yet!! I can’t blame her! LOL! We’ll talk about finding a partner after the holidays. . .
And with that,
feliz navidad, Prospero Ano Nuevo!
Photo Provided by Peter Johnson – Thank you!
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13 Responses to Prospero Ano Nuevo!
What do you mean the arctic’s too cold? It’s tailor-made for paddling with a female partner!
However, in a world full of difficult choices, Puerto Rico sounds like a great place to paddle, no matter who you paddle with.
Yikes Michael! I remember one time camping in a cold freezing rain. The water slipped under the tent and created a nice slushy puddle. Female companionship didn’t help in the slightest! LOL!!
Finally, I no longer have to keep a secret!
The Arctic, is too cold, we get enough cold water/weather paddling around here that I’d opt for the warm waters and climate too. Although, the clip of the South Georgia paddling you provided the other day was magnificant! Reminded me a bit of the paddle we had here on Lake Michigan a couple of years ago!
But August??? Why go to a warm weather place in the middle of summer here? Not to mention that you’re going in the middle of the hurricane season (I know you’ll hoping for some rough water
)
And the book recently purchased “Spanish for Dummies” is really going to get you through? There are some good langauge tape programs that you might be able to load onto that PINK iPod of yours. (Hmmmm. . .I should look into one of those too–Spanish language program, not a pink iPod.)
I standby to offer any assistance and/or encouragement you need and look forward to your writings of the experience.
ahhh, you don’t give me enough credit dear sir!! I actually plan on taking a Spanish class at the UW. The “dummies” book is to get my mind floating in the concepts, which by the way, it’s quite good at.
Why in Summer? Well the main reason is to cut down on tourism traffic. Certainly there is a possibility of weather, but to an extent thats a concern no matter when or where you go. Winter also produces a much higher risk of rough water on the north coast. Which could be an issue. In the summer the Atlantic tends to be less turbulent (baring hurricanes of course). I’m sure I’ll be bugging you for tips. Navigation etc. (keep the island to the left. . .)
and it’s nice of you to keep the secret while I gained a bit of confidence to stick to it.
No problemo amigo!
Dos cervaza!!!
Derrick when me told me about puerto rico and hurricanes some time ago i tought you were joking ,when you said i should warn you on hurricanes now i see you weren’t , so you can count on me giving you early warnings and other weather info
Karel,
We would be honored to have you watching our backs!!! (and our skies) We’ll talk about that as we get closer to the date! Thank you!!
I had considered this kind of trip, but had been told that PR and many Carribean Islands suffer from crimes against tent camping tourists.
If you have a safe place to put your stuff at night, you’ll be fine, but don’t just pitch a tent near a deserted beach.
This advise came from friends from PR.
stevie
thanks stevie – I’ve heard some of that two. but it’s ok, instead of food we’re packing the boats small arms, and long sticks.
Sweet, I’m glad you’re finally getting started planning this trip. I thought something fishy was going on when you wrote about buying that Spanish book. It should be a great trip although I keep thinking about the talk from WMCKA regarding salt sores…
Are a few people going?
I know in some areas people do expeditions with a dog as they scare away bears. I’d bet they would help scaring away primates as well:-)
Sounds like a blast!!
stevie
look forward to hearing all about it.
many blessings for christmas and the coming new year.
Fantastic! It will be very interesting reading about all your preparations as well as the actual expedition. Of course we all expect that you’ll blog every day while on the water.
Merry Christmas!