Peace, Love and warm weather!

Wally
Ross Island, Antarctica.

Sorry to hear about your sister. I lost my Mom to cancer when I was 20, she was 42.

I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of nothing, there is plenty to fear, The Rio just isin’t one of them :)

I’d concider being afraid of “not living “a fear?

– alex

Peace, love and bulletts.

Before I sailed to Colombia for the first time I was getting the same thing from PBS.com. “Oh my God no, not Colombia, it’s sooooo dangerous”. It was funny; when I got to Club Nautico there were 5 or 6 international cruising families and some of the warmest hospitality I’ve ever received. I joked at the time and asked a buddy of mine at the bar, ‘what is this Romper room?’ Not to mention Colombia is a beautiful country. Granted, there are places in Colombia I would not go and travel. I’d also like to say that I would not be caught anchoring off of downtown Detroit or LA either. There are bad areas everywhere. One bad geographic area doesn’t mean an entire country is dangerous. It’s like comparing Colone, Panama (A real pit) to the San Blas, or downtown LA to Malibu. I wonder if they have the “Swine Flu” & “Killer Bees” as well. One thing is for sure, I won’t have to worry about terrorist’s attacks, or car jacking.

You know guys, it’s like the sea. So many of us are afraid to go cruising because of movies, books and stories. The reality of it is, yes, I’ve been in storms and heavy seas but that’s it, uncomfortable conditions. And if you balance the boat properly, heave to, or use a sea anchor, you can still go take a nap or cook dinner. I have no desire to sail the North Sea or even 50 degrees off of the equator for that matter. The world is not a dangerous horrible place filled with inherently bad people. If you ever lived in an indigenous culture like the San Blas where people are not policed one might understand this. They do just fine with no police, politicians, or courts.

Remember Napoleon’s theory of control, “Keep the people separated and fearful”. I don’t think he knew about debt at the time, it works really well too.

I don’t know about you guys but I’m going sailing. If you want to be afraid of the sea, Guatemala, Colombia, Pirates or the swine flu, be my guest, It’s just not my bag.

Life is too beautiful and short to sit in the slip huddled in front of a television fearing the world around us.

– Alex

I’ll forward you emails to you from friends who know the Rio and from some who are there now. Most people get a slip for inland travel, and the slips are about $150 a month. Chris also reminded me that we can stay in Southern Belize and head for the Rio if a storm is approaching. The islands in Souther Belize are only 35 miles away from the Rio with good reefs and spear fishing.

– Alex