I need to get going

I went to the post office yesterday. I have been waiting for a package from my friend Kirk who I met on a week charter in the Las Perlas this year. He sent me a box of Ghirardelli chocolate and flattened dried bananas (my favorite) from Trader Joes. The package was totally crushed and water damaged. The Bananas made it no problem but the chocolate looks a bit off. I was happy to read the letter inside along with a late Christmas card.

As I was standing in line a car pulled into a parking space outside and hit a passing bird. The bird fell to the ground twitching and was obviously about to die. Its mate flew down to investigate. The mate grabbed its wing with its beak and tried to pull it along. It pecked and nudged and tried to help. I thought to myself that I should put the poor thing out of it misery but decided that the grieving process was a normal part of nature and that I should not interfere. An older well dressed woman crushed the healthy bird with her foot. She stepped on it four times killing it in front of its dying partner and her 5 year old daughter. I was shocked “What the hell did she do that for”! I could hear her screaming at the bird “you shouldn’t eat other birds”! They came and stood behind me in line. The little girl had blank and swelling eyes, she was horrified. She looked up at me for an answer. All I could do was give her a smile and a wink as her mother impatiently waited behind me.

Ignorance and misunderstanding can be a dangerous duo. Why do we as humans believe that we can interfere with the natural order of life? What gives us the right to judge nature or other people for that matter? I don’t know why but that incident really got me a bit down and stayed with me all day. It made me miss living with the Kuna Indians in the San Blas. They were so in tune with nature, they lived within it and didn’t try to control it. I think that is why I love living in the islands so much. I hunt for my food, pick fruit, and live a cleaner life. Living like that makes me feel like a better man.

My final days in Panama are getting more difficult. I am impatient to get going. Pacific hurricane season is over in March. The Galapagos are close enough to the equator not to be effected by hurricanes, however I hear they are very expensive. You are not allowed to fish with a line or a spear. And one may not use their own dingy to make landfall. You must take a ponga to and from your boat for a buck each way. Food is expensive, and I hear you can’t even see a turtle without paying for it. I’m excited to see the Galapagos however I will try and limit my time there.

I’ll find out shortly if my 1-year visa will be approved for French Polynesia. I don’t know if I will want to stay for a year but it would be nice to have the option.

I got another email from Cass, her and her dad are doing well. You can read her log at please visit http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sora/

Peace, Love, and the Pacific!

– Alex