The road less traveled?

I got the following Instant message yesterday and it got me thinking:

“First and foremost I want to say “this is your life and dream you are living”. I think the reason you get some negative feedback is we are living vicariously through you; you are cutting our trip around the world short. Myself I was interested in your travels after you leave the south pacific. If this boat idea works we will just have to wait, and that is okay I hope I am in a position to help you in the future with it. For myself I am married and have 6 children, I have started over at a new job and struggle to make the house payment. I have tried to simplify my life but with seven other people tied to mine I can only do so much. My wife is not hot on selling the house, taking the equity; buying a boat and taking off so for now I live threw you and your adventure. The most compelling video of your trip is when you are at sea under sail alone. I think that says a lot of how I feel. Anyways, I hope the best with you and look forward to daily to your log. I don’t always agree with some of the things you say but I understand and respect your perspective and it really hurts to hear that some other people are so rude. My family jokes with me when I relay something you say, they say I talk about you like you’re a friend and I feel you are. Best wishes”.

I know my trip isn’t just about me anymore, and it’s hard sometimes, and I know I have a responsibility to my readers. I’m really torn over the new boat idea and I struggle with it every day.

Believe it or not I find Tahiti a bit cool for my taste. I don’t like needing to use a sheet in the night and have to put on a t-shirt when I get up. Tahiti is at 17 degrees South, I Like being within 10 degrees of the equator.

My biggest stress these days is how to get out of the pending Cyclone season. Everyone is missing the South Pacific due to this problem. One needs to leave Tonga or Fiji by early November for New Zealand or Australia, which means needing to race across all of this Paradise to get there, it seems like a waste to me.

Everyone is going to the “Coconut milk run” (Tahiti, Southern Cooks, Tonga, and New Zealand). Even though I have a lot of friends in the “pack” I’ve routed a more interesting course, far removed from the path of cruisers. What an adventure it would be.

I think it would be interesting to sail 1,200 miles NNW to the Line islands and Kiribati back into the Northern hemisphere. They are just over the equator and safe from Cyclones. Once there I could take my time and travel as I wish once again. It would be easy to visit the Phoenix island group to the west, then the Gilbert group. There is very little civilization in this area but I think it would make for a really interesting adventure and writings. Anyway, just a thought. I like to study charts when I feel lost.

Here is another video of my Pacific crossing, enjoy.

http://neo.projectbluesphere.com/video/F 28dtg.wmv

Peace, Love, and Vision.

– Alex