Carolyn is leaving to go back to Portland on Monday.The ring has been consigned back to it's box. Enough said ! Being on a boat with someone for a long period of time can reveal a lot for both parties.I have come to know myself in ways I cannot even comprehend. Looks like I'm doing the return alone which isn't so bad considering it's all downhill back East.!

I have found the most interesting part regarding traveling to be the people that I have met.Take Frank for instance. I first noticed Frank at one of the local breakfast restaurants one morning sipping a yellow drink.Based on the grin on his face and his gait I assumed he was drinking Screwdrivers at 9:00 in the morning.Well each to his own, but I certainly believe that that approach is not best for the mind or the body.I would often see him walking on the road talking to himself and laughing.He seemed happy and would often carry on complex conversations with himself. As I observed Frank I began to make conclusions in my mind regarding his life and state of being.

Just this morning I saw Frank on the road with drink in hand and started talking to him expecting to find a bumbling idiot.Instead I discovered that Frank is a multimillionaire that somehow took a side turn in the road. We had a very interesting conversation about pragmatism(whatever that is) and parted ways. For some reason this left quite an impression on me."Maybe", I thought "the way to wealth is thru early morning screwdrivers!." I dismissed this thinking as bordering on ridiculous and continued walking down the road/.

Next week I plan on taking a journey somewhere though I'm not exactly sure where.Right now it's a toss up between Calebra or Bonaire or both.I don't know ! .Maybe I'll just flip and coin . Bonaire appeals to me because I heard the diving is good there and it is an easy reach from here.So who know's. Either way it's time to move on. There's something about sailing that tends to clear my brain of cobwebs and other assorted dust. Not everybody understands the magic of being on a sail boat and moving with the wind.Either you Love it or you don't.Those that love it spend ridiculous amounts of money and time feeding the habit and it can often have life and relationship altering effects.

Maybe it is symbol of freedom or independence,though I prefer to think of it as a way of dancing with the elements.As a modern society we have often drited away from our desire and ability to commune with the natural elements. So much of our time is spent on trying to create more rather than connecting with the forces that are already present. The wind,the sun,the earth,the stars,these things are all within reach though more often than not the VCR provides the entertainment.Not that there is anything wrong with VCR's .It's just that the wonder and beauty of the earth is all around us and is waiting for our love and attention.On a boat the natural elements are all about and you can't help but marvel at them. Well enough philosophizing.To quote Frank "It is better to try to do something and get the wrong result than not to have tried at all". Or was that Shakespeare ? .

"Tis better to have loved and lost then not to have loved at all" Hello and Love to all !!!

Return to Paradise __________________

With Carolyn gone back to Maine and our engagement essentially over I spent a few days lamenting my fate walking on the beach and wandering aimlessly thru town. Eventually I came upon an article in a magazine about a young child who was burned at a young age and did not lose her spirit so I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and went out to meet people. I also purchased an African Drum and began playing with the local drumming groups and musicians. Within a short period of time my social life began to evolve with musical or dinner engagements taking place almost every night which is highly usual for me and eventually exhausing.

I then met was a young lady named Diana who was in the process of going around the world on sail boats and we decided to spend some time together on Sixpence. The first place that we went to visit was back to Yost Von Dyke to seek out a fella whose name was Fred who was playing Jimmy Buffet music at the camp ground there. It turned out that Fred is a Hillbilly type turned RostaFarian that looked the part of Moses. When I finally met Fred it was well worth the trip because we immediately became great friends Many a night were spent playing music with Fred on the beach for the tourists and we decided to place a hat in front of ourselves hoping that it would be filled up with money but to no avail.Giving up on music as a new profession I decided to try chartering.

It transpired that Fred and his wife Marty were leaving to go to Puerto Rico to stay at the El Conquistador hotel which is the fanciest hotel in the Carribean.I volunteered to sail them there and in return I am currently staying (for free) at a 800.00 /day resort with pool,view,food and all the trappings.My greatest joy so far has been lying in a bath tub for 1 hour in FRESH WATER. After the salt which had been accumulating on my skin for 8 months washed off I felt about 3 pounds lighter.

All things must change,which is true with life in general.Today is my last day here and Fred,Marty,myself and Diana are all going in separate directions. Fred and Marty are returning to Tennesee so that Fred can dismantle his building houses business to become a dive instructor,Diana is proceeding on her world cruise and I am going back to Culebra to become reunited with Sixpence whom I left there. From Culebra I am proceeding back to St.Thomas to meet another friend to experience a little more of island life before my trip back.

So much has happened since I left Maine back in October that I'm not sure who the person was that originally left Maine.This is probably a good thing in the long run though at times when I look into the mirror at the person with the deep tan,15 lbs.lighter and a pirate bandanna on his head,I have to look twice to remind myself that I am looking at me. I have spent many an hour reading books on sailing adventures from the comfort of my home in a soft chair wondering what it would be like to enter the book and become the writer. I have had the opportunity to live out a fantasy and as a result it has opened up new worlds to me. I know I will never be the same again though at this time what that means is a mystery.

Next:Return to Maine -----------------------------