foto: Almestica y los niños de la isla Borinquen. ”When I grow up I wanna be a kayaker!”

Puerto Real, Puerto Rico
August 10, 2007
6 pm
Team Post – Day Ten

Quick check in at http://www.kayakscuba.com/ by Taino. Problems on the water, but the men are at Puerto Real. Carrie will be checking in with Taino in one hour to find out what the difficulty was. The men are doing well. Special thanks to Mary Mayoleth (Wisconsin USA) and Kumiko Niimi (Ney York USA), the packages have been delivered to the shop and will be delivered to the men Saturday morning.

At aprox 3pm today, August 10, Chasing the Ana Kayakers Derrick Mayleth and Taino Almestica reported having bullets coming at them and their kayaks just off shore in the Mona Passage.

Both men are ok, and http://www.kayakscuba.com/ owner Carrie Medina has contacted the US Coast Guard in Puerto Rico. Officer Balcac has forwarded an email to let the Coast Guard know that the men can be tracked by map at www.kayakscuba.com/blog

http://www.kayakscuba.com/ is investigating other possible locations of private firing ranges to avoid any further incidents. Both local police and the Navigation Comisioner will also be contacted Monday morning.

foto: Almestica in his IMPEX kayak

San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
August 9, 2007
1 pm
Team Post – Day Nine
This is Carrie from http://www.kayakscuba.com/ checking in. I met up with Almestica and Mayoleth late last night at Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla. Mayoleth says his bruised ribs from a fall down the staircase made paddling difficult, but the miles they paddled were impressive enough. The men hope to paddle to Rincon in the morning then on to Mayagüez by the afternoon. I am heading out to that side of the island with Almestica’s recharged communications gear. The good time they are making on the west end will be needed time, as the south side of the island, heading east, is anticipated to be a bigger challenge.

While out on the beach we met up with ”Roberto” who promises to email us. 2 years ago Roberto circumnavigated Puerto Rico on a long board. The 3 man expedition took a year and a half to complete.
UPDATE: MAYOLETH EMAILED, THEY HAVE MADE IT TO RINCON AND WILL LAND IN MAYAGüEZ BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

Marine forcast from: http://www.wunderground.com/
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY
Carib Waters From Punta Viento To Punta Melones And The Waters
Outside 12 Nm From Punta Melones To Punta Cadena W To 68w And
S To 17n-
This Afternoon
East winds 16 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
Tonight
East southeast winds 16 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Scattered showers.
Friday
East southeast winds 14 to 19 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet. Scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Friday Night
East southeast winds 14 to 19 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening…then isolated showers after midnight.
Saturday
East southeast winds 16 to 21 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
Saturday Night
East winds 16 to 21 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
Sunday
East northeast winds 16 to 21 knots. Seas 2 to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
Monday
East winds 14 to 19 knots. Seas 2 to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
Carib Waters From Punta Viento To Cabo San Juan S To 17n And E To
64w Including The Carib Waters Of Culebra Vieques And The U.S.
Virgin Islands-
This Afternoon
East winds 16 to 19 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
Tonight
East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet. Scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms after midnight.
Friday
East southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning. Scattered showers.
Friday Night
East southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms after midnight.
Saturday
East southeast winds 16 to 21 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning. Scattered showers.
Saturday Night
East winds 14 to 19 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet. Scattered showers.
Sunday
East northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 5 feet. Scattered showers…then isolated showers.
Monday
East winds 13 to 18 knots. Seas 2 to 6 feet. Isolated showers…then scattered showers.

Certainly we are being challenged. Of course at times like today we were lucky enough to land at the ultra posh Rincon Beach Resort in Anasco just south of Rincon. We have been welcomed in by these guys and enjoy a nice outdoor bar, swimming pools, and or course Wifi in a modern Spanish style open air plaza. Yeah, I could never afford a place like this in real life!

My ribs have been more than a bit of a problem. I can tell I bruised them pretty well, but of course I don’t have an opportunity to rest. After an hour or so on the water the pain eases away (the 3 tylenol help) and I’m good for paddling for the day. However pulling my kayak up the steep beaches can at times be almost unbearable. Sleeping is not comfortable. Luckily I think I’m building up my left side to compensate. Of course what I need is rest, but we have miles to go. I’m looking forward to a 3 day stop on the south coast and hope to spend much of that time healing before the last leg of the trip.

My hard rock landing a couple days ago bent two clips on my Rockpools tail section. At first this looked like a major disaster until I realized I could swap them out with on top clip on the fore and aft sections. Mike had told me the tops only needed on clip, but luckily I asked for the older 2 clip tops. So with that taken care of and the help of a friendly octopus fisherman we were able to seal launch off the rocks and get out through the surf. The north coast of PR is NOT for the weak of heart.

This is a good time to note that my second Optio has now died. Yeah, I can’t say much good about the camera at the moment. Especially when after talking to Pentax and explaining our situation they refused to do anything to replace it in a timely manor. They basically just wanted us to buy a new one that they would ship from the Philippines in 7 or more days. Their customer service was, frankly, rude. Not for their camera, but for their rude customer service, I will never buy another Pentax or recommend on to you.

Yesterday we rounded the western tip where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean ocean. There the sky is moody and the water was dark. I walked the ruins of an old Spanish style building. Only the two story walls were left standing. While walking out again through the grand doorway a boarder patrol truck passed. He waved. We are now in an area under constant guard against people coming in from the Dominican Republic looking for a gateway the US.

The West Coast although beautiful is full-on hot. Through the intense heat and thick humidity we paddle south in what often seems like thick green syrup. Of course it’s not the water, but the heat making my arms feel weak with each stroke. I stop on occasion to scoop salty water just slightly cooler than the air with my hat to pour over my body. It helps, but only for a moment. Then I look back out into the green/blue sea and slip my paddle again into the water and slide forward a few more feet. In many ways I miss the stormy Atlantic. She my be rough, but I know her moods. This hot Caribbean is new to me. So far she seems to want to lull you into a deep desert dream, where the mirage is land in the distance where you imagine a cold pina colada to be waiting. Thank God, on occasion. . . It is.

My super buddy Yvonne Le Guillou, has been kind enough to post some more pictures from my camera here. More to come. Notice Maria doing her headstand in the Alaw Bach without a paddle to stabilize!

foto: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Almestica called http://www.kayakscuba.com/ at aprox 1:30pm, they have reached Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla. What a fast paddle that must have been! Carrie Medina and Nydia Kein are on their way to meet them. Carrie will post tonight.

Marine forcast :

Carib Waters From Punta Viento To Punta Melones And The Waters
Outside 12 Nm From Punta Melones To Punta Cadena W To 68w And
S To 17n-
This Afternoon
Southeast winds 16 to 21 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
Tonight
East southeast winds 16 to 21 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
Thursday
East winds 16 to 21 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
Friday
East southeast winds 11 to 16 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning. Scattered showers.
Friday Night
East southeast winds 14 to 19 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. Isolated showers.

foto: Map of Puerto Rico, with points by www.kayakscuba.com

Isabela, Puerto Rico
August 7, 2007
9 pm
Team Post – Day Seven

An exciting day on the water as Mayoleth and Almestica paddled from Arecibo to Isabela on the north end of the island. The ground crew waited anxiously as Almestica checked in at 5:05 pm with a message that all was well. The men hope to make good time launching early tomorrow morning in an attempt to round the northwest side in one day.

Thanks to everyone who send messages and post comments. The men are keeping up with the blog and appreciate the support.

Mayoleth writes…”We are just a mile out of isabella on a beach with no landing…We both saw rock at the last minute and dumped our boats and came in behind them. Is was not pretty.I got my but kicked at the original stopping point. We decided to go on and had to brake out of the surf. First I helped Taino, then I had to do it solo. 4 trys and 3 nasty beach rolls later I finally got out!…So I lost 1 pair son glasses, my hat from Nydia and my chart and mapcase! No idea how to launch tomarrow but will try.Weather raqdio won’t work here. So no ides about the weather, D

www.kayakscuba.com has sent back a msg with the 3 day marine forcast.

Arecibo, Puerto Rico
August 6, 2007
11pm
Team Post – Day Six

The men are back on the water! The short break due to weather has ended, and the down time was used to rest, shop and resupply the men. The men are camping tonight (Monday) at a beach in Arecibo, but have plans to paddle hard to Isabela by late morning/early afternoon Tuesday.
Forcast for the day;
87 °F / 30.6 °C
Tuesday-East southeast winds 12 to 17 knots…becoming east northeast along the coast by afternoon. Seas 3 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night-East southeast winds 13 to 18 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
Wednesday-East winds 13 to 18 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Isolated thunderstorms in the morning. Scattered showers.
Humedad:81%
Punto de Rocío: 74 °F / 23 °C
Viento:from the ESE
Ráfagas de viento: 3.0 mph / 4 km/h
Presión: 29.93 pul / 1013.4 HPA (Presión Estable)
Visibilidad: 10.0 Millas / 16.1 Kilómetros
UV:0 out of 16
Nubes: Nubes Dispersas 4000 ft / 1219 m

At this point of the expedition we are a half day behind, but Mayoleth and Almestica believe they will more than make up for it after rounding the northwest rocky cliffs and shore, where the west end of the island should be easy enough to paddle at rapid pace. From Rincon to Combate beach the paddlers hope to make the best time before rounding the southwest side and heading east.