Wind And Waves

Motorcycles are what they feel like (profoundly sensual – vroom, vroom – and perhaps a bit primordial) and also what they look like (fearsome, with a strange deep beauty).

Melissa Pierson, “Most Perfect Vehicle”

“This gift is perverse, yes, but true. Knowing life can vanish in a blur gives the most compelling reason to hang on tight. Knowing we can hang on tight gives us the prime reason to lean hard into the first turn we see.”

Melissa Pierson, “The Perfect Vehicle”

So, I decided to go home! It was a hard decision to make. But when I looked really closely at myself I think that is what I really wanted. Another big question…….where’s home? Colorado where I grew up and where my parents live….Moab, my favorite land in the whole wide world, San Diego where my moto is…..But I decided to buy a ticket to…….Colorado! Yeah. I would LOVE to breathe in the fresh,cool Colorado Mountain air and see my Mom and Dad and catch up with my good friend Julia! I could use some good quiet time in the mountains to reflect on all that I have experienced…..and figure out my next step in the big adventure called LIFE!

Rodrigo,Emily and Julio. I love these guys!

My new friend, Mark. He is taking an old shrimp boat down to Cartegena and fixing up as a floating “hostel” and putting it in a beautiful bay. Awesome project! Sounds like its hard and will take a lot of follow through. But it seems like he and his friend are the perfect pair for the project. Lots of patience,skill and experience!Jul

These guys are great…..I don’t even know where to begin with the stories :-).  Each one of them is Crazy in there own special way.  What is it about Sailors…..?

Julio encouraged me to let them cook up a bang up last night dinner for my last night (to celebrate me finally leaving Isla Mujeres, ha!) I was kinda nervous (I never like much attention to be on me)  Emily (bless her heart!) Jumped right in on the idea and made it happen.  We went to the store and got some chicken and Salad and rice and beans and brought it back to the Marina for Julio and Rodrigo to cook up.  AND to my absolute delight…….the guys had just returned after a VERY succesful fishing trip!  This was especially exciting because the fishing hadn’t been good for almost three weeks.  We had more than enough delicious Fresh fish for all and everyone was in great spirits.  Julio and Rodrigo are expert fish cookers. Yummy!  What a special fun night it was for me.  One I will never forget.  Julio, you are the best 🙂  Thanks for making it so special. Larry and crew, you guys rock.

So, why are my eyes open?  I can’t help but wonder, looking at the picture.  Probably because the cloud pattern looked cool :-).  I would never had been caught in this position but I had no idea Eric was there, taking the photo!  So….I’m trying to decide what the heck my next step is. My money is dwindling and I don’t have a plan!  There is plenty of opportunity for me to jump on a boat and head to Columbia, or back to Florida and finally get to see the Florida keys (my friend Bryan has talked so much about that place!)  But……for some reason, nothing was really exciting me.  Hmm.  I still have a STRONG desire to sail and if nothing else this adventure has only made me want to sail more.  [Read more →]

The Ferry back to Isla Mujeres is very zippy! Its nothing like sailing but it is a wonderful sensation, powering through the water, feeling the motions of the ocean and the wind on your face. The visual stimulation is amazing as well. The water is sooo pretty! Its a deep rich blue and then stripes of brilliant turquoise. It doesn’t seem real. I adjusted the photo below to illuminate the vividness of it…..but of course in real life its much more amazing.  To swim in this water………is dreamy! As I swim along, I keep looking at my tan skin and black bikini contrasted with the bright turquoise water……the color scheme is amazing. Maybe when I get the opportunity to decorate my next space I’ll paint it these colors. I’ll have an Isla Mujeres bathroom!

And, I captured the fellow painting the Welcome on the building. I took it as a sign….I’m meant to be here 🙂 In every way, I have felt so Welcomed…..and it feels good to be coming back. I’m excited to drink cheap freshly squeezed juice, bicycle all around,zoom around on golf-carts and mopeds, relax on the beach, eat fresh fish my friends caught, kayak, chill in a hammock and read, have conversations with fellow travelers at my favorite little breakfast spot, meet back up with my friends at marina Milagro and introduce Emily to them. And I’m Not excited about…….figuring out what my next move is. How do I want to carry out the next step of my “Big Dream Adventure”? All I know is I’ve got dwindling funds and a need for change. Perhaps my cup is full………?

Ah yes. The good life. One of these days, I will come back to this island with money and be able to afford one of the elegant,simple,soothing,sophisticated, yoga’ic like hotels on the beach. 🙂

I’ve been hearing all about Isla Holbox (Holbosch) so I thought I’d go check it out. Its a Ferry ride to the main land (Cancun) and 4 hour bus ride north and a half hour Ferry ride to Isla Holbox. Felt great to be traveling again after so many days on Isla Mujeres.

Here is my new friend Emily from London. We met on our way to the hostel on Isla Holbox (she lugging her huge heavy bag on the long walk and me, thrilled that I had packed light……and a little worried about traveling while the swine flu fear was in full swing) She reminds me SO much of my child hood best friend, its kinda weird. When I first saw her, I almost said “Rachel!?” But luckily, I kept my mouth shut.

This island is quiet and scenic. Its a total romantic get away kinda place. Makes me want to have a boyfriend. I recommend it to all you cute couples out there :-). You could actually get here pretty cheaply too and its the season for swimming with whale sharks(this place is famous for that)! Which means, just off the island, there are tons of Whale sharks migrating.

The shore line runs for miles and is covered with shells that haven’t been picked through. Its rare to see anyone! (maybe its just empty right now because of the “flu”?) Emily and I got up early one morning and walked (forever!) along the beach and then did yoga..then geared up to spend the day swimming and soaking up the wonderfully hot Mexican sunshine. Its a tough life I’m living. At 2’oclock we went for a strawberry smoothie and at 3’oclock we went on a boat ride around the island to two other islands. We got drenched! I actually was a little cold as we bounced along the water, wind in our faces. On our boat ride we stopped at an island that was a bird reserve (tons of boobie birds and frigates!) AND on another island, my favorite part…….we got to swim in a cenote (a freshwater deep pool)!

Some cute couples watching the sunset together.

“The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment, it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone.” — Orison Swett Marden    (thanks Ann!)

Wow. What a thing that has sweeped through world! I’m on Isla Holbox right now, (just off the coast of Yucaton) and the kids have school canceled until May 8th. Lucky kids! I haven’t seen any signs of the flu except everyone around me reading the papers and fellow travelers wondering about their future logistics. Is it going to get worse? Thats the big question.

This photo was taken by Andy……..a fellow I met at the marina who’s photography is awesome!  I went kayaking with him and his friend for a day and got a chance to see lots of boats and dolphins and even sharks!  What fun we had!