the long road to the stars. . . .

to sleep, perchance to dream. . .

 Asleep in perfect blue buildings
Beside the green apple sea
Gonna get me a little oblivion, baby
Try to keep myself away from me
- counting crows

Paradise

About 7 hours of video sit in a bag waiting for attention. Another 30 minutes sits in my camera. Sitting here today I think of the story I want to tell. What was my original impression? What did I think I would see? What would the trip be like? Who would I meet along the way? What story would I want to tell?Today my thoughts are still floating out there in the aether. I know I’m bothered by many things I’ve seen and impressed and amazed by others. I know the seas and the people were nothing like what I had expected. Yet in both cases I should not have been surprised. The sea is the sea and people are people no matter where in the world you stand. We are always more the same than different. For both good and bad.

moving inland - CTA

For the last few days before my flight back to Wisconsin, I’ve been out filming the solid part of the island. From this point forward you can join our regularly scheduled program at my Quixotica Blog. Click Here!

You’ve Changed Man!

Don’t believe what you hear
Don’t believe what you see
If you just close your eyes
You can feel the enemy
When I first met you girl
You had fire in your soul
What happened your face
Of melting in snow
Now it looks like this

And you can swallow
Or you can spit
You can throw it up
Or choke on it
And you can dream
So dream out loud
You know that your time is coming ’round
So don’t let the bastards grind you down

No, nothing makes sense
Nothing seems to fit
I know you’d hit out
If you only knew who to hit
And I’d join the movement
If there was one I could believe in
Yeah I’d break bread and wine
If there was a church I could receive in
’cause I need it now

last day - CTA

The sea does not care about last days. It goes on living and breathing long after we have turned to dust. We are of no consequence. Our petty accomplishments mean nothing to the sea.

We launched for the very last day from under the shadows of condominiums and just north of an old cemetery that now seemed so oddly out of place in this tourist’s playground on the outskirts of San Juan. I paddled out and swept my paddle on top of a small wave to again turn west. I looked over at Taino, now with his canoe paddle perched on the deck of his orange impex kayak. I thought about how different we were as people and as men. This was in many ways a solo journey for both of us. One we paddled together. Our reasons, our experiences, even our paddle styles were very different. Yet we could share the joy accomplishing our goals, traveling the same roads for a time, even if we would get off at different exits.

From Taino - Wrap Up - CTA

18 days at sea, and yes I have completed the circumnavigation of my homeland Boriken (Puerto Rico). It was the trip that I had anticipated and much more. The north coast was a challenge with quartering swells and winds, the west was dead calm; no current, but intense heat, and gunfire! The south was headwinds and more head winds and the east was beam seas all the way back to the north which bought those nice North East winds and large swells again. I have seen the coast and know the waters of my beloved Boriken and with the pace of the Indio I can truly say I have accomplished my goals. Now enough of me I would like to thank the following Nydia Kein for her friendship and support. To the gang at KayakScuba.com Carrie Media and her Fiance José Quiñones who have gone well out of their way to take care of me and I didn’t have to ask. To their children; Jose, Maria, Francisco and Joaquin. Truly a loving and sharing family. A special message to mi gente my people on the island in the various locations that we meet you were all exceptional I am truly proud. Thank you also to Derrick & Yvonne and finally Wendy Killoran who picked me for this trip.
Adios and Bomatum
Who is afraid of the surf?
Taino Almestica
Hijo de Aibonito.