Cabo Roho on the south west corner of Puerto Rico was symbolic of what it is to face fears. Every fisherman we spoke with in the days leading up to the corner had warned us about this monster. The wild seas would not let you hide on the inside, the harsh winds would not let you take the outside. “Even single engine boats have been pushed backwards!”. Yeah, well that gets your attention. Everyone we spoke too agreed; This was a passage you could only take at dawn. Before 10am for sure and even then it was a risk.

It’s always that anticipation that gets you. The unknown. Especially when you hear stories of how dangerous it can be. It’s hard to sort honest evaluations from big seaman’s yarns. You are left to look into the eyes of strangers and try to evaluate the source.

In the end you always have to option to turn back or proceed with caution or. . wild abandon if you choose. Hell, we have that choice every morning when we get out of bed!

Yesterday we spent the morning filming at Devil’s lake State Park near my home. Of course I was never quite sure what we were filming, but I was invited along and of course any chance to be on the water. Above Nancy Saulsbury, head of Rutabaga Outdoor Programs, is getting ready to explain one way to get into your kayak.

Alrighty then! I have to rush out the door this morning to address what can only be called the business end of kayaking. So much so that I can’t wear black!! Man! LOL! Oh well, the important thing is being on the water. . or in the water . . . or under the water. . .

New Zealand is another one of those legendary sea kayaking destinations. The South Island specifically. Of course it is, big seas, tall mountains, deep sounds. (I’m not suggesting of course that everyone on the South Island is a baritone!) Most of you who’ve followed the sport have read Chris Duff’s “Southern Exposure” and saw that wonderful picture of his busted up kayak and read of way too many upside-down surf landings! The first person to circumnavigate the South Island was of course Paul Caffyn who did it in 1978.

So it looks like we are going to be paying a lot of attention to New Zealand again as a few well known expedition paddlers have set their sites. For the moment I can share of course that Freya Hoffmeister will be making a solo attempt very soon. (slated for October) Freya has moved on amazingly from her start as a traditional roller. But we know Freya, if it’s a challenge she’s there! In addition to Freya there is another attempt coming not long after hers. One I don’t think I can mention yet. Opps, just did.. . Damn! I even heard rumor of a third attempt, but that one I can’t confirm yet. So. . sound your Puukaaea, we’re heading south!

Yikes, I gotta run!!

Cha know what I’m sick of? LOL! That bit in people where they think that everyone always has ulterior motives. PuLeeeeeeeze! Sometimes people are just well. . . nice. Funny too that it still bothers me. I’ve had some intense exposure to ulterior motives in the last year. Still though I know those self interested behaviors are not “the norm”. Just a few very strange, very self interested individuals.

In a non-related but somewhat related story. . . I regularly get submissions from other websites that would like to be linked on Quix. Shops, learning, etc., I look at each and every one too. Sometimes I add them. As a business person myself I certainly understand wanting exposure. But there are lines. I got one site submission recently that was presented as a website for beginners. Thing was, it was really about selling a book and sending everyone to an Amazon affiliate store. Well, I know people need an income. . and I’m not against talking about good products. . But sending someone off to an Amazon affiliate to buy a rec boat is akin to shopping at “Dicks”. Just sending someone with no idea what they are getting into out on the water. As an instructor and with a bit of experience behind me, I will not do that. . .

Which brings me to another recent submission. A website with “experts” talking about various sports, answering questions and such. Well, the kayak expert in an article about getting into the sport made a suggestion that if you are just planning on going out on lakes or rivers you don’t really need instruction. Yikes! Ok, well we all know what stupid things we did when we started. I know lots of us started out by just jumping in. Yet, on the other hand telling people that suggests there is no risk. Well, there is risk. Besides who’s defining what a “river or lake” is exactly? Well, the reader. They may think that river with the hefty current in their back yard is what you are talking about. What size lake are we talking about? Lake Ontario? Thing is, I know what the author meant, but you have to be a bit less cavalier when talking to new folks. Last thing you want to to is belittle the risk and have their life on your hands. Listen, we don’t want to scare anyone, or over react to the risk. Yet, it’s a good idea to talk a bit about it and let those folks coming into the sport that it’s a good idea to learn a bit before they go out. They may not listen (like I did’nt!), but at least you are not part of the problem.

Ok, now that I have that off my chest. . tomorrow let’s talk about New Zealand. . . .

Do you remember that line from the Beatles, "The love you take is equal to the love you make." Well, here is an example of what good people can be. The picture above is from yesterday in Saint Isabel in Puerto Rico.

Yesterday, Yvonne  went back to visit the guys at the Santa Isabel Nautical Center in southern Puerto Rico and thanked them for their hospitality during the Chasing the Ana tour. Something I’d hoped to do but had not had time. When I first paddled up to their little marina and spoke with the owner from the cockpit of my Rockpool, Miss Daisy (far left), was quite nervous and was eager to move me along. "no place to stay here.", she said. Of course then Taino came around the corner, and being a homeboy, quickly relieved their worries and we were welcomed in, even though they all thought we were a bit crazy. Great! We were tired and starving! Suddenly as if fate had stepped in, the woman seated to the right in the green shirt was opening their kitchen and offering to fix us food. They had closed and cleaned up for the day, so you understand what kindness she was really offering. She was an true angel and a reminder that there are great people everywhere. It wasn’t until later in the evening when I learned her name was "Ana".

Emy was a godsend. She for the sake of her friend Yvonne, drove all over to bring us supplies, pick us up and drop us off, and carry kayaks on her pretty white truck with no racks. She showed such kindness and asked nothing in return.

Oh, and I should probably not overlook the guys in the back! LOL! Those Boricua girls can steal your attention! LOL! You know, a couple kayakers can seem very odd to hard working men. The idea of just taking off in kayaks can seem really strange and to them, just plain stupid. And yet, they were kind, helpful and a joy to be around. I’m quite sure I took some heat in spanish cuz I could’nt understand the lingo. . On the other hand I do know what "Loco" means! Like almost all the men who worked on the ocean they offered us tips and advice on our next leg of the journey. We were indebted to them for their good will.

For so many of the people on our journey, we did very little in return for their kindness and hospitality. We were often tired, unfocused and just looking for any place to sleep. They always understood, and treated us as honored guests. They asked nothing but of course were anxious to hear the stories of our little adventure. Taking time to share those stories is a gift. No matter how many times it’s told or how tired you are. Sharing experiences is a way to say thank you. Giving your time, sharing your adventure is a way to honor others. Something I think we’ve lost respect for in our modern age. That moment around the fire when the stories of the day are shared with your community. In those stories we bond and connect with one another. We find understanding and appreciation for each other. We learn. We find places where we can all relate. Stories strengthen our community, even if our community is separated by thousands of miles. Sometimes others cannot or don’t want to "paddle their own boat" as was mentioned recently. Yet they love listening to the tale. For all they did for us, it had better be a good tale!! These days we still share our stories. But our community is so big, so far flung. So we blog, video, print, discuss on bulletin boards, and use all the tools of our modern world. Yet in many ways, we’re just gathering round a new fire. So with that in mind I have to get back to writing this article for Ocean Paddler. My first real chance to tell you guys the tale in depth.

Thank you to everyone at SI Nautical Center. Not just for the food and the place to put our tent, but for affirming that there are good people everywhere. It was truly and honor to meet you all.

In Puerto Rico I had 3 video options. My 3CCD for high quality stuff, my handycam with dive case for on the water, and of course my now dead Optio for little on water video notes or “Vblogs” as they say these days. This is one of those Optio clips. So on this particular day we started out clean but soon enough the wind and waves began to build. We took a nice break after this clip where I ended up taking a nice beating trying to get off the beach to continue the day. Of course that was followed by the most memorable landing of the trip near Isabella. “Camuy” that I mention in the clip is actually inland quite a ways from where we actually were, but was the easiest identifier on the chart I was using at the time. Actually we were somewhere more west of Quebradillas.

One thing that stood out to me real fast on this trip, you can be working all day on the water, be as tired as a dog, and you still have that big landing waiting for you. You can choose your beach and see the trees and think, “another day done”. but the truth is, “It ain’t over till it’s over!”.

I was still pronouncing Taino’s name wrong LOL, it’s pronouced “tIEEno” not “tAono” as I say here. Sorry dude! Anyway here’s just a moment in time during the CTA trip in Puero Rico, on the Atlantic side.