July 2007 Archives

Good Byes

It was now T+ 1 Day and 18 hours from our scheduled departure (we were late).  The activity around Calpurnia was at an increased pace.  The neighbors must have thought we were serious this time about leaving, although none of them could understand why we were leaving this paradise, hot as it might be.

All had warned us of the perils of heading south this time of year.  Hurricane season was just whipping into shape with the fourth tropical depression forming off the Mexican coast.

Our friends from "A Dock," Carolyn and David on S/V Aztec and Janet on S/V Aquarius dropped by with a parting gift.  They brought a Mazatlan sailing T-shirt which they all signed and added art work for Robert to remember them by.

Nothing fancy here today, for we are off. For all of you who guessed Tuesday at 5:30pm, then you are winners.

First stop Isla Isabela and then onto Purerto Vallarta, all in all about 220 miles.

We are leaving a very nice place here and have made many good friends. But this is not the adventours life to stay put in one place. So we are off to see what is around the next corner.

Courage

Courage is the price which life exacts for granting peace.
The soul that knows it not, knows no release
From little things;

Knows not the livid loneliness of fear
Nor mountain heights, where bitter joy you can hear
The sound of wings.

How can life grant us boon of living, compensate,
For dull gray ugliness and pregnant hate
Unless we dare

The soul's dominion? Each time we make a choice we pay
With courage to behold resistless day
And count it fair.

-Amelia Earhart

Shortly after her engagement to Sam Chapman ended, Amelia composed the above poem:

 In 2000 Tom Hanks released a movie called "Castaway".  For much of the movie, the only supporting character other than Tom Hanks, was his friend "Wilson".  Stranded on a deserted island, out of boredom Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) creates an imaginary friend from one of the few items to survive his airplane crash.  One of those items was a Wilson brand volleyball.

At first, Chuck knew that it was just a volleyball, he had a bit of fun and made a face on it with some mud.  As the movie progresses, Chuck begins to speak out loud to his only companion "Wilson".  Wilson grows to be an integral participant in the every day happenings of what Chuck does with his time. 

Every where that Chuck goes, Wilson goes.  At the end of every day, Chuck tells Wilson of all that went on.  Every meal, every nap, every adventure is shared with Wilson.  Wilson becomes Chuck's best friend and support system.