Peace Rider in Prince William Sound

For those of you who may be checking in from time-to-time and not given up on my peregrinations and quest for the next scent in this multi-act drama called life, here is my general route of travel to this point which is the Cordova local library in eastern PWS.

I launched from Seward on a Sunday 1 June with the help of long time friend Fran Mauer who drove my truck back from the launch ramp.  My thought was to make it to Juneau but small boats have a way of taking a toll on older carcasses.  In short you get bounced around a lot.  It was raining that day but sailed nearly two thirds of the way to Resurrection Point.  Next day the weather broke and I had four more days of fair weather motoring and sailing.  I was also a bit "dizzy" for several days until I got my sea legs back.

The second day with only easy swells out on the Gulf I motored all the way across and threw the hook down in Auk Bay.  Dall porpoises joined me briefly cavorting under and in front of the boat.  From there the next day crossed into Earlington Passage, past Chenega didn't stop and made it to an Anchorage on Green Island - another long day of sailing and motoring.  Two nights on Green Island.  Anchored out and was able to hike and have a look around.  There is a Forest Service Cabin there but I preferred the fabric roof overhead in my 20 foot sailing dory.  Besides it was occupied the first night and I had not made advance reservations.

The weather was going down again when I crossed over to Montague the to have a look at Stockdale Harbor.  My hat blew off in the wind and landed in the water during the crossing..  I immediately tried to get the motor going rather than sail to it.  Lesson, learn how to sail and not rely on a motor.  Old habits die hard. Lost it in the waves.  Found a nice hidey hole place in Stockdale but still got blasted by williwas when the worst of the weather hit overnight.  Sea otters and I floated in to a secure anchorage on the incoming tide.  Nearby was Constantine Harbor and spent two night there amist the commercial salmon seining fleet just beginning their season.  Invited to a dinner of fresh copper river red salmon on Tom Lopez's boat out of Valdez.  Boy was that a treat.   This is a hatchery supported run of dog salmon with fry released into net pens.  George Vancouver first arrived here many moons ago.  A good place to careen ships with extensive tidal flats at low tide..

I motored out of there but was able to sail most of the way to Montague Point on the east end of the island.  In fair skies with wind blowing about 20 I decided to cross over to Bear Cape on the west end of Hitchenbrook..  Saw two minke whales up close and humpback whales blowing in the distance.  My little boat is very seaworthy  but you have to pay attention so I was bounched around and had to remain standing for most of the way across.  An oil tanker drove by escorted by two sea going tugs, this arrangement mandated by the '89 Exxon Valdez oil spill.  Arrived Constantine harbor beat and lowered the hook very close to Nuchek Spirit Camp.  Lots of sea otters at first but they cleared out after I showed up.

English Bay across from Camp was where Captain Cook first landed which ultimately launched the harvest of sea otters leading ultimately to their near extinction from over hunting.

Later Leonard Lange the Aleut caretaker came over and invited me to the camp which I did the following day.  Ended up staying there from 9 to 14 June.  He fired up the sauna or bano as he called it and we both got a bit clearner.  I also met Chewbacka a big loveable mixed breed, golden lab, shepard mix according to Leonard.  He'd follow me down to the dock and belonged to the place.   I needed that soothing much appreciated heat for tired bones and muscles.  After another storm passed I rounded Bear Cape north bound over long swells but light winds

Made it to Velper Cove and camped there on an outgoing tide.  Had to move early in the morning to avoid being stranded on mud flats.  Four Sitka blacktail deer showed up and crossed the cove and a bit later two more.  I was sitting unseen watching through a window in the tent shelter over my boat.

Next day poked into Canoe Passage Marine Park and then decided to try and make it to near Cordova ahead of a stronger storm front. 

Lots of memorable characters here in this fishing community of roughly 2500.  Some live on boats because its affordable.  There is only ferry and air connections out of here if  you don't have a boat. 

From here will retrace some of my route back through Orca Inlet then look for an anchorage in Port Gravina depending on when I get out of here tomorrow.

Thought this would be short instead of an epistle.  Wonderful place PWS,,a gem of a water world supporting a host of marine life. 

Take a few days to reach Valdez.  Like to see a bit more of the Sound before hauling out there and heading back to Fairbanks.

Onward,

Peace Rider

On the Water Next 5/30/14

Summer is a busy time in Alaska thus the dirth of blogging from me.  But it has been a good time also to take stock and see what may be around the next corner for Peace Rider.

Tomorrow I'm headed south with a friend and my 20' homemade sailboat, Wave Dancer, to continue a journey I started in 2009 from Homer to Seward.  This one will begin in Seward and take me on to Cordova and possibly further south to Juneau depending on weather and how I feel at that point.

For me traveling into the wilderness and having some time of solitude away from the madding crowd

has given me moments to reflect and see where spirit would have me go next. 

Unfortunately, I won't be able to take you all along on this one.  I had a Spot device but not the right one to give a position report as I move along.  If you know of anyone with an old Spot Messenger I can use let me know?  As it is I may not catch up with email until Cordova so this may not work out either.  If I don't go further will head for Valdez and hitch a ride to recover my truck and trailer in Fairbanks.  So will see, another adventure in the offing and will report at least from Cordova. 

Sunday in Seward and launch.

Onward,

Peace Rider

On the Road in Virginia 4/4/2014

A note since leaving Cuba 29 March.  I again spent a very enjoyable few days with my friends the Warrens in south Miami.   I met them on a previous peace ride and passed through the area every year since it seems.  Yesterday I flew to the Washington, DC area.     

When I called Tammy to find out if they would be home and a visit possible here I learned she and her instructor were hosting an Introduction to Integrative Energetic Medicine this weekend in Winchester not far from where she and husband Steve live.  It's a subject I became interested in several years ago through her when we first met at her father's home in Panama.  The timing and opportunity seemed tailor made.  I will be attending the workshop this weekend. The beginning of next week I'll be visiting several other friends in the area.  On Wednesday I fly back to Fairbanks, winter and cold but with a lot more daylight.

Peace Rider

A Final Posting on the Road from Holquin, Cuba written 3/23/2014

CREATING A NEW EARTH

Thirteen Things You Need to Know

The Maya consider the number 13 sacred meaning Love
Not written in order of priority 

Suggestions

• Come to these with and open mind and heart.

• Test them in you own experience to the extent you are able before you dismiss or discard them.

1.  Everything is connected to everything else energetically - everything.  All of life is sacred for this reason.  Nothing is inherently separate from any other part at this level.  Separation is a created illusion.

2.  All thought energy  (arising from emotions and experiences ) is creative of your experience(s) individually and collectively.

3.  What you focus on grows because thoughts drive energy; if to fear the result will be experiences of violence, wars and anger,  if to love, compassion and kindness the result will be experiences of peace, joy and fulfillment.

4.  Love, compassion, kindness and similar emotions are high frequency positive energies (vibrations) of unity and balance.  They have the inherent power to drive out or transform lower frequency energies.  None are more powerful, nothing can overcome them.  They are sacrificial by their nature.

5.  Hate, fear, anger and similar are negative, low frequency energies of separation, alienation and imbalance - flee them.  See 3. 

6.  Our True Nature or essence is life energy or consciousness - eternal Love in our limited understanding.

7.  We are from the unmanifest of many names;  God, Allah, Source, Buddha Nature, Creator, Universe, All That Is and more manifesting and experiencing itself in a myriad of form one of which is human kind.

8.  The Way to Peace on Earth and Peace with Earth remains eternally the same,  Love as manifest in the lives and teachings of spiritual masters (men and women) through the ages.  Some would argue the Christ called Jesus was the most highly evolved of these, a shower of The Way through his life and teachings.

9.  When you give of yourself in service to the greater good of all without expectation of reward it is impossible to not receive in some way. Thus "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

10.  The Way (Love) is narrow but not impossible (see 3).  It takes humility, prayer, practice, denial of self and an open mind and heart. 

11.  There are unavoidable consequences for every choice whether of action or doing nothing (also a choice), see 1. 

12.  Because everything is  interconnected (see #1) the means and ends are one.  For example when the means is violence the result will be the same.  And when love and compassion are the means the end will also the same. 

13.  Intention is more important than unattainable perfection.  Love and forgive yourself when you fall short in some way even as you would love and forgive others.


PS  Remember to have fun in the process "All the world's a stage..." Shakespeare. 

Peace Rider

The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.  Albert Schweitzer

Note:  Since originally posting this from Cuba I have made a few minor changes for clarity.

Cuba Adieu, from Holquin 3/20/14

Dear Friends,

This may be my last post before returning to Miami.  Time with friends and travel will keep me busy and away from a terminal. 

Raman Gonzalez and family isn't back yet.  If it works out I will see them in Gibara the 22 to 24th and return by bicycle here.  I will take a detour to check out Marina Vita near Guavalavaca. 

If I were to summarise my experience here in just a few words it would be tranquillo and blessed.  I heard the former spoken often.  Cubans have achieved what we have not, something that can't be bought - peace.  There are no guns on the streets, and very little violent negative energies coming through the media that children might have access to. 

Young children, dressed in neat, clean, purple and white uniforms are taken to school by their moms in places.  There is no fear of violence in the schools or on the streets at night.  It is one of the safest and most welcoming countries I have travelled in.  Like any society of human beings it is not problem free.

I'll be back.

Peace Rider