| A
Circumnavigation of the World by Sailboat |
Previous
Log |
| Date:
20 April 2009 |
|
| Central
America > Panama > Caribbean> Kuna Yala |
Log
Menu |
View
Larger Map
I have disturbed the lives of one million
flying fish;
I have witnessed - and often instigated - the wanton destruction
of sailboat parts;
I have eaten badly and accumulated so many stomach bugs
that they cancel eachother out;
But now, I am drinking champagne and toasting these sins
because
I have sailed around the world!
There.
I said it. After 360 degrees of longitude and 25,000 nautical
miles of ocean, I can finally abuse that last line as often
as I like until it seems a mere cliché! But I promise
not to; this accomplishment is not something to wear on
my sleeve, rather to carry in my back pocket for those days
when the challenges of life seem insurmountable.
As stated in my previous entry, I want to thank everyone
who has followed along through the blog and sent encouraging
e-mails over the last 16 months. I would like to dedicate
the completion of this adventure in particular to my parents;
to my mother for her lasting and loving support, and to
my father, who I sense dreamed of sailing across oceans
and around distant capes.
Since the adventure was made possible by the support of
family and friends, here are a couple of thoughts from the
nightwatch:
Our
parents give us so much of their lives so that we may accomplish
our dreams. Will we provide our own children with enough
tools and confidence to follow their own path in life?
Our friends hold the power to strengthen or damage us,
and they are equally at our whim. Will we use this power
to dominate our peers? Will we overcome our natural instincts
of insecurity and jealousy to encourage one another to succeed
or just be themselves?
I have been incredibly lucky to have supportive family
and positive friends, particularily during a time in my
life when I can't easily return the favour. Thanks for responding
to e-mails (even though it's easier not to), listening to
my latest calamities, saying nice things out of the blue
(I don't do that 
enough
myself) or just writing to say, "hey, I was walking
home in the snow and thought about you - where in the world
are you now and when will you be home?" Current answer
is "Panama Canal, and then Toronto in a week".
Anyway, now time for the bad news.. another adventure lies
ahead! Remember how you said I should visit sometime? I
might hold you to your promise of a couch to crash on and
bowl of oatmeal for breakfast! More news on that coming
this summer..
See you soon,
Busco Gusto!
Clive
Photos c/o yours truly and Sandrine I.
