At least that’s what Rudi that banana pancake master used to say in West End here on Roatan. These days the only day that’s truly laid back any more is indeed Sunday…even though the Sun usually shines everyday.Today was no exception…it’s a family day here. I visited with friends and bumping down the island roads for an hour to visit my Uncle Chic, Auntie Andrea and their grandkids Trevor and Audrey was worth every pothole. You drive through the back barrios to get there, where the road is pretty much just an alley because everyone gets to their houses by water…which is the real road here. Past lines of girls in white dresses walking to church with their round cheeks, big smiles and café con leche skin. So, I’ve rattled past the AIDS clinic, past some rock heads, past numerous powerless houses on stilts over the water and squatters shacks to the end of the road to Chic’s house on the side of hill on Fiddler’s Bight…just in time to see and hear 13 year old Audrey her Hannah Montana impression and a darn respectable job on a couple of Taylor Swift tunes. Turns older brother Trev’s got a Les Paul in the closet and manages well with a couple of Clapton riffs…hey, you never know what you’ll find at the end of these roads. For me, its family and I’m thankful for another Sunday afternoon with them.
Up steep hills and hairpin curves the road flashes serpentine green. Muted sunlight from dense cloud cover filters through a verdant rainbow of leaves from Mango, Cecropia, tropical Oak and the living fences of Gumbalimba. I carefully dodge a nursing Brahma calf in the middle of the road as I pass a paintless shack selling gallons of gasoline from plastic jugs. I no longer even register the walking men with machetes…they’re simply going to work clearing back the jungle in places where they had cleared just a few months before. Without machetes there would be no views, no roads, no thatch roofs and no coconut lunch. Business finished, my return trip bounces me from one collectivo ride to a corner where I buy a bag of mandarines for about a dollar from George Hamilton…and yes, he was very tan. Another collectivo hailed and further east I go with a sidetrip through the iguana farm to land at the improbably named “Roymart”, a kwikeemart owned by popular ex-presidente Roy Maduro. I enjoyed his daughter’s wedding. Welcomed with affectionate licks from a spotted dog name Capitan, I walk the last half mile up and over hills, past numerous other barkers and the neurotic Rocky, who gets in bloody fights when he’s nervous…with his own tail. Having dispensed the dozen mandarines to various children along the way, I pocket the empty bag as I pass three different houses all containing residents named Wendy. Peter Pan-land on a Saturday afternoon to arrive home to a PB and J on bread from the Jewish bakery that doubles as an Italian Bistro on Thursday nights, but only to those who know and only if they like you.
Re-entry to Island life
Arrived safely the easy way this year thanks to TACA airlines. My first day here was full of typical adjustments…learning to walk slower, chill a bit. Accept a beer anytime its offered. Left the house my first morning her with a typical list of 10 things to do in hopes of getting half accomplished and ended up creating more. So…example…stopped for lunch and while watching hummingbirds over the top of my sandwich I met a guy from Glasgow swimming with a 3 year old in the pool next to the counter who could unlock my Iphone, re-chip it with local service and reconfigure it to get email w/ local service…and then my salad came. It’s a Roatan thing; you wouldn’t understand. Buying an iced coffee for the woman who worked the rentacar counter saved me $75 on a 3 day rental. Being nice works here.
Looking for a few teammates for the remaining slots in our Prince of Wales Island, Alaska kayak tour. Skills should be 3 star/level 3 and up with interest in Natural History, Whales and wild edibles. Great crew so far… Check it out at www.uncommonadv.com.
Our local Benzie county community has a really sweet tradition of passing a piscatorial driftwood sculpture onto those who have turned this historical corner. Since the 50 fish has come home to roost at casakayak for bit, I’ve had a chance to read through the journal. I feel deeply honored to be inducted this very esteemed crowd by the Greater Benzie Hippie Community (GBHC). It seems only fitting that the fish was sculpted by nature and compiled by fellow paddler Doug Chapman. Thank you…paddle on.
And Jimmy sang,”I gotta fly to St Somewhere, I gotta go where it’s warm!”
Caribbean Reef Paddling…those three little words that mean so much
Think 80 degree turquoise waters, living coral reef, comfy cabins, direct flights, great seafood, good gear, good God almighty which way do I steer?
http://www.uncommonadv.com/kayaking/tropical/
I have a hybrid program going on March 17-27 with the description to follow. It started out as a custom trip and grew a bit into a 10 day multi-sport program that is a really good value. It starts with a Rainforest exploration for two nights, then shifts to a 55 ft sloop-rigged sailboat to you use as a mothership to explore the Cayo Cochinos marine preserve, then shifts for the remainder back our island based reef paddling program. Cost is $2695. Its takes place from March 17-27 (convenient Direct flights from Houston). Flight prices just dropped, so its a good time to act.
Here’s a rundown on what’s available for Coral Reef paddling lodge weeks. Coming up next: we have the following weeks available for our small-group, ultra-personalized trips: Feb 20-27, March 6-13 and March 20-27. We are served by direct flights from Atlanta (Delta), Houston (Continental) and a really inexpensive redeye flight through Washington DC on TACA (good service). Follow this direct link to our home-website and complete itineraries, frequently asked questions and packing lists. We can accommodate special diets, and handle everything from the time you arrive at our airport.
Here’s the basic trip overview:http://www.uncommonadv.com/kayaking/tropical/ (scroll down for sailing extension description) which has a good gear list: http://www.uncommonadv.com/kayaking/tropical/equipment.html and a good frequently asked questions page: http://www.uncommonadv.com/kayaking/tropical/faq.html
Cheers,
Miguel
No matter what holiday tradition you follow it seems that this time of year, a wave of messages to acquire more “stuff”, bombards most of us. It always makes me ponder the question of ownership. It seems to me that ultimately, one of the few things that any of us really own is our relationships. Whether with our families, our family of friends or a higher power taking stock of those relationships and celebrating them is what I urge you to do through these holidays. That is what I’ll be trying to do.
As icicles begin their gravity driven drool from my eves I ponder all the wonders that water has brought me. Riding on its back down the Middle Fork of the Salmon, tongues effervescent with Cutthroat trout and hot spring minerals, foggy mornings on Superior, an audience of otters to dance excitedly at the site of two foot long dancing Rainbows on the Yellowstone, Dahl porpoises surfing the wake of our shuttle in Alaska, Orcas chasing seals under my kayak, trolling up 4 ft Cuda’s in Belize, Bonito in Honduras, Tarakihi in Doubtful sound, catching a ride on a stingray in the flats of the Everglades, the crack of sea ice under my feet on Leimfjord in Denmark and the amber goodness of Homer brew on 10,000 year old glacial ice…..it’s a waterful world and I’ve only scratched the surface for a heartbeat in time.
Fellow paddle explorers,
Last month I had the pleasure of flying to Alaska to fish with a buddy of mine from Talkeetna. On the way up we overflew Prince of Wales Island and the pilot was explaining how it was seldom visited, yet the 3rd largest island in North America. I could see long passes of sheltered waterways, a lumpy landscape and noted that is was just north of the Queen Charlottes, but still in Alaska waters….got me to thinking, you know? My paddle glands started to water. Since then, I’ve done lots of homework and a new trip was born that you are cordially invited to be a part of. I’m only going to take 6, so if you are interested, jump on it. No one has done a trip like this on Prince of Wales island, so you will be pioneers to a new trip, yet we are being co-led by a local guide who knows her backyard very well and is looking forward to this as much as we are! Spread the word amongst paddlers that you know…we’re trying to build an awesome group that’ll have a blast paddling together. More to come….
check out www.uncommonadv.com/kayaking/alaska/prince_of_wales.html for more….
Alaska