January 3rd 2003
Did a little shopping yesterday then spent the afternoon writing and reading. Contacted some local pilots and arranged to meet in Alamagordo today to try for a flight. We’ll see what happens. A good objective anyway, be interesting anyway. Bye!
January 1st 2003
We went hiking just over the border. New Years
Day in New Mexico, how about that! We hiked up the east side of the Organ
Mountains overlooking the White Sands base on the desert below. There was snow
up there, about eighteen inches so we were pretty exhausted by the time we had
done the three miles of road and four and a half on the trail. Neither of us
wanted to turn back just because of cold wet feet. Had a great steak dinner on
the way back. Good food round here!
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December 31st 2002
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Had a fine Mexican breakfast down the road. Then hiked up the mountain behind Maude's house to work it off. A lovely view from up there on such a clear day. The far mountains are Mexico. Did a bit of shopping and lazed around. |
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December 30th 2002
Well, guess where I am! Yep, you guessed it, I'm in El Paso! Couldn't stand it any longer so Maude booked the ticket online at about midnight on Friday and at 0730 on Saturday I was on the way to the airport having secured Tiempo and Rocinante for me to be away for a week. I called Pat and told her what I was doing. She's great, she said, "You gotta do it!" Thanks Pat! So I jumped in a taxi and flew to El Paso via San Juan and Dallas, arriving at about 2030. A beaming Maude met me at the airport and whisked me home in her car. For some reason "Texas" by Chris Rea keeps going through my head.
Maude is a nurse practitioner student and is studying and working hard on twelve hour shifts so though she has managed to get some time off I am left to my own devices quite a bit - nice to have time to be online and do all this updating since I was in the UK. Her two cats keep me company with their antics. She has tomorrow and the day after off so we'll have time for me to see a little of the area.
It snowed this morning! Now it's bright and sunny. I just came back from lunch at a bar a few blocks away. It's basically dry scrubby desert round here though there are some 1200 foot mountains behind the city and a lot more just over the border in Mexico. I brought my paraglider with me and may fly somewhere but for some reason my energy has gone elsewhere. I found the local flying club, Rio Grande Soaring Club online.
Maude's life is not quite as simple as I would like and Lord only knows what the heck I'm doing but it is rather fun don't you think? Fancy ending up in Texas for New Years .......
December 16th to 28th 2002
The festive season got into full swing with parties and things to do every night. Bands at the boatyard, drinks at friend's homes. Xmas day I spent at Mark and Jen's with Pat and several of their friends out visiting from the UK. Thanks everybody, for your wonderful hospitality!
Most Sundays we get together on Calabash beach to do some skurfing. Skurfing is great fun, it's like water skiing but on a surf board. You don't need such a big boat and engine as skiing, we can use the yacht tender, a 9 foot Caribe with a 15hp outboard. You get up and stand on the board and carve around and have a blast and a damn good workout. Helps work off the beer we drink the rest of the week.
Derek and Niza (not sure how to spell that) are at the core of that skurfing group. Niza works at the med school and Derek has a shop called the Big Bamboo, selling beach wear, surfing gear and kitesurfers. Derek has been trying to get kitesurfing going in Grenada but more people are needed to get the momentum going. I suggested he give me a deal on a kite so I could get into it too. I was holding back on the idea as my main sport is paragliding and I didn't think I could really afford another sport and all the gear it entails. But I'm going for it, Derek has ordered me a 9 square metre kite from Ocean Rodeo in Victoria, BC - right where I have done a whole lot of paragliding with my Vancouver Island flying buddies and have met some of the guys that make them. Small world. Derek and Niza are in Canada for Xmas and will bring it back for me in the new year. I'm really excited to be getting into the sport, I need something more active to get addicted to. I must get my board fixed up with foot straps and some major repairs. I can imagine Tiempo anchored in the Tobago Cays and Pat happily entertained by my antics as I learn the sport. The Cays or the windward side of Carriacou will be perfect. Good winds, sheltered by the reefs and will great sandy beaches to start from . Actually, while flying that cliff site at Dallas road, Victoria, I bought a training kite thinking I would get into it eventually - anyway it was fun to fly the little controllable kite while the wind was too strong to paraglide there.
Meanwhile, looking at my call timer on the
cell phone I can see that in the ten days since Maude left we have spent about
fifteen hours on the phone. Oh my!
December 4th to 16th 2002
I was hanging out in the Tiki bar at happy hour one Wednesday evening, with a few friends when another friend turned up with a very attractive lady in snakeskin cowboy boots and a snakeskin pattern figure hugging dress. Will her companion that evening ever forgive me - really, there was little I could do ... Oh my! Flirtation ensued until she left for dinner. Oh my!
For some reason I found myself on the beach
several times the next day, by coincidence, right where Maude was staying. Finally
in the evening I found who I was looking for, lying on a lounger minus the
boots and the dress but in a rather pleasant bikini. She fetched me a cold beer
with a slice of lime and we watched the sunset as we chatted in that easy
manner when you know you like each other. Oh my!
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The next couple weeks are a bit of a blur I would be the first to admit. Maude was with her parents and her son, so she had not all the time in the world to spend with me but whenever she could she slipped away and came over to Tiempo at the boatyard dock. She came over for morning coffee and every day after our evening on the beach. Then at lunchtime, then after putting her son to bed with his story. I took the whole family out sailing one day, round to Hog Island, and another day out to Glovers island where there is a mooring in the lee and the water is clear and beautiful. I took them up to meet Pat for tea and a swim in the pool. I wished I had had my camera as we all sat on Pat's lovely terrace overlooking the sea in the most amazing evening light. |
One of the drawbacks with living on a tropical island is that people come and people go. All too soon I took them to the airport and was left feeling a little blue I have to say. But she called me from San Jaun and she called me from Dallas and she called me when she got home to El Paso. Oh my!
November 2002
I got back from the UK on the last day or so of October. Got a ride out to Hog Island and found Rocinante tucked into the mangroves just as I had left her.
I settled back on and after a day or two I moved back to my mooring in Prickly Bay and we launched Tiempo a few days later. As you may remember I am starting my role of skipper for Pat Hadley who lives on the island.
Pat had some friends visiting so we went on a little cruise up to Carriacou for a few days. A good way to see what's broken on the boat at the start of the season. Went pretty well and on our return we put her at the dock in the boatyard at Prickly Bay so I can get her fixed up for a six week cruise up the island chain towards Guadaloupe and the Saints in the middle of January.
Life is pretty darn good. A boat to work on and get up to speed. A really lovely boat owner and friend who is very understanding and lets me run the boat in my own way. Rocinante looking gorgeous on a mooring out in the bay. A cell phone to be in easy reach with Pat, my family and all my friends on the island. My car in the parking lot to get around in. The Tiki bar in the yard with lots of people to hang out with and a happy hour everyday from 1730 to 1900 and a big party with a rock band every friday night.
Rocinante is enjoying her new role as weekend party boat, I have been making a habit of loading her up with friends at the weekend and heading out to some beautiful spot for the day.
Bye for now,
Pete in Prickly Bay
October 28th 2002
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Sure enough, I got itchy feet again and ended up in Turkey, paragliding for a week off Babadag mountain in Oludeniz. Met up with Amir, a friend from BC. I have written a whole story about that but I don't have it here to load up so watch this space and I'll add it soon, right here. |
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October 8th 2002
After getting back from Carriacou in mid August I went back to work at Ocean Marine Rigging and worked for a few weeks. However I really couldn't get the enthusiasm for the work and when Jon got a good young local apprentice employed I was happy to quit rigging and take a couple months off before starting skippering for Pat Hadley in early November. Besides I was totally distracted by lots of guitar playing with Dave on Epicurus, I was over there every day and learning a lot of new stuff. I wasn't really interested in anything else.
Before long we both moved our boats over to Hog Island and hung out there, playing music, cooking good food and relaxing. I was anchored in my usual spot behind my old friend Ian on S/Y Manxcat with whom I have regular visits and ball games in the water in the afternoon. I did some snorkeling and even some paragliding on a slope I cleared. Least I didn't end up in the cactus and make poor Ian pull thorns out with pliers like last time!
After a week or two I began to thinking about a trip away before starting the skippering. I decided to go back to Spain to visit Debbie for a month or so. Ian agreed to keep an eye on my boat so I booked a ticket, tucked Rocinante into the mangroves with two lines ashore and two anchors out astern and flew off to London.
After a long flight, a bus from Gatwick to Bristol, another bus to Weston-Super-Mare, another to Banwell and a walk up the hill, I arrived at my folks with my paraglider, guitar and knapsack, much to the surprise of my parents. I spent a lovely six days with them, the weather was superb. I went for walks with mum, I'm afraid dad is to frail to walk far these days. I even got a quick flight off Brent Knoll, not far from the folks.
The following week I jetted off to Faro in Portugal where Debbie picked me up at the airport and drove us back over the border to Sanlucar on the Guardiana River in Spain. Debbie had a dreadful cold and was pretty miserable so I spent the first days hiking up a nearby hill and flying off the top. Got a couple 45 minute flights and several shorter ones before I got the cold, and didn't feel up to it. After a few days it was clear that we weren't getting along; I wanted to leave but didn't want to give the cold to anybody else so I stayed there until I felt the cold was past the infectious stage then flew back to Bristol where mum picked me up at the airport.
So here I am at the folk's, helping out with jobs around the house and enjoying the good weather. Mum and I have had lots more walks. England is such a beautiful countryside. I'm enjoying the local pubs and good beer, went out on Friday night to the local and enjoyed some good live music and friendly people.
Talking on the phone to my brother Graham on Vancouver Island his family are well and my little cabin on my land next door is just fine, looks like I just left yesterday instead of a year ago. Another call to my friends Chris and Tina across the road found them well and happy and that they aren't bothered that my VW van will be in their garage for eighteen months instead of six! Thanks Chris and Tina - and Thanks Graham for everything!
I might jet off somewhere else before heading back to Grenada, on October 31st, but really I am enjoying being with mum and dad and not in any great rush to do anything.
Bye for Now,
Pete
August 19th 2002
Just got back to Grenada after a couple of weeks in Carriacou. Better get back to work I suppose.
August 13th
More flying in Cariacou, with various friends
walking up with me and helping me launch.
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Dave on Epicurus came up with me and took these photos. He did some yoga while I flew. |
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The air was so smooth and tons of lift. I pulled ears to get down to visit Dave on launch. |
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August sometime 2002
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Here's Angelus who has lived with his parents on their steel ketch since 1988. He's eight-teen. Bought a wing, couple months ago, for $400 and flew off a cliff in Martinique with no training at all. Flew for eight hours with no food or drink then crashed into a palm tree and ripped his wing in two. Stuck it together with sticky tape and survived to fly with me here. Don't have photos of that yet. Does not seem to really realize his risk. Wing is so rotten I ripped it easily with my fingers. More tape! He flies OK by now. Hope he survives. |
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August 3rd 2002
Tyrell Bay. Friends Sam and Teresa hiked up the
hill with me to see me fly. They helped me setup and sat on launch as I
swooped, whooped and soared until the wind died down and I landed.
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August 2nd 2002
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Next day was the round the island race and the wind was light. I headed up the hill quite early and launched my paraglider off the usual spot on the ridge. Lots of lift so I climbed a couple hundred feet to get a view of the yachts rounding the island. They don't show up very well in the photo but it was lovely to see the boats from up there. |
August 1st 2002
Sailed up toCarriacou, an island belonging to Grenada that lies just 20 miles north, to join the festivities of the Carriacou Summer Reggata. Already decided not to race because I know the wind is likely to be light and good for paragliding. I had a very pleasant trip up on Rocinante on my own. It was pretty windless so I motorsailed the whole way and had the GPS talking to the autopilot and correcting for current so I made a real beeline to my waypoint. Pretty funny watching all that technology at work, all controlled by the laptop. Don't worry, I won't rely on it! While the boat was expertly skippered by the laptop I lazed around playing guitar, drinking tea and reading.
Tyrell Bay, the main hangout for yachties, was pretty full when I pitched up and anchored in my usual spot up in the top right corner near the Turtle Dove Pizzaria; I dropped the hook next to my friends on Leto, just behind a lovely little gaff cutter called "Wood Rose" that I had not seen before. I spotted many other familiar boats around the bay. It felt good to be back, it's always so relaxing in Tyrell Bay.
June 27th 2002
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OK, OK, I'm trying to catch up!! Skippered up the islands on Tiempo in April. Job with Ocean Marine Rigging started in May. Bought a car. UK visit in May, visit to Spain via Portugal. Job starting in the fall skippering Tiempo six months each year. Rocinante for Sale!! New adventures the other half of the year ..... |
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It's only writing all this stuff down that I realize that my life is really not dull. It's seems that I stop, and after a couple weeks I turn into a vegetable until I manage to snap out of it and come up with some new adventure to make me feel more alive again. During that two weeks I get quite down sometimes and feel quite blue a lot of the time. Stable? Not really!
June 14th to June 19th
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Flew out to visit Debbie in Spain. We met at Hog Island about four years ago. She sold her boat and bought property in Sanlucar, a lovely place on the Guardiana River bordering Spain and Portugal. Debbie has set up a walking tours company. I really liked it there and could imagine living in Spain. There's a really great bunch of ex-cruiser types that have settled there along the Guardiana. They made me feel very welcome and we had great fun together. I can't wait to go back! With my paraglider!! |
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May 30th 2002
As my brother Graham was going to the UK from
Canada to visit family, I decided to meet them all there for a three week visit
. I arrived in the UK a few days before Graham and was whisked off to a motor
bike rally with my sister and her family. We camped in a field near reading
with a zillion other bikers and drank a lot of ale and talked a load of dribble
all weekend. It was great fun! Robin, can you send me some more pictures of
that weekend? And Graham can you send me of your visit any?
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Here's me and Tiger having a little music session. Met a bunch of really great people, had a real laugh. |
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March/April 2002 The racing continued with the Bequia Easter Regatta, Jeff sailed Lexi up and I sailed Rocinante, stopping for a night in Carriacou. Bequia was fun, as usual, we don't often place well in Lexi but what the hell, we have a great time. I sailed Rocci in the single handed round the island race on the sunday and came 7th ....... out of ten! |
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Had a smashing sail back down to Carriacou in the company of my friends Peter and Cathy on Leto. I ended up stopping in Carriacou for a couple weeks to do some paragliding as the wind dropped low enough for me to do so. This was the first time I had flown in the islands, except for an attempt at Hog island which dragged me through a cactus. Here's the account I wrote about flying in Carriacou. |
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February 2002
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After Sasza left I did a delivery up to Tortola on a big american yacht. Brought my friend Trevor into the deal and had a fine sail direct from Grenada on Integrity, a lovely Little Harbour 58. Trevor sailed on with them all the way to Miami but I couldn't get a US visa thing so I flew back from Tortola via Puerto Rico. It was fun and I earned a little beer money. When I got back, the Grenada Sailing Festival was starting up so I raced with my friend Jeff Fisher and others on Lexi, his 24 foot race boat. Lots of fun and lots of beer. Then it was the Round the Island race so we did that too, in about seven hours something. |
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January 2002 |
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The day after they left, Sasza arrived from Canada. She came for a month which was excellent though the first couple weeks were very rainy so we hung out at Hog Island, my favoritespot on the southeast coast of Grenada. Once the rain had abated we made our way up the islands once more. Had another great cruise; Sasza went home brown as a berry. |
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