Disclaimer: I started this post at the Birmingham Airport on Monday but have only now had an opportunity to backtrack and finish it. I am now in an internet cafe in Bodø exactly 4 days into my journey.
I'm sitting in the airport in Birmingham, Alabama waiting on a plane and I am keenly aware of the fact that I am now at the intersection of my past and my future. I am also overwhelmed by a sense of thankfulness and appreciation for the people who have helped me get to this point--friends, family, teachers, coworkers, et all. I am deeply appreciative of the people in my life and very aware of how lucky I am to be going on this adventure. Thank you all.
For those keeping score at home, here's my trip in a nutshell: Today I am flying from Birmingam, Alabama (where I attended a wedding last night) to Chicago, O'Hare where I will board another plane headed to Copenhagen, Denmark. I will then fly from Copenhagen to Oslo, Norway where I will get on yet another plane headed to Bodø (pronounced "Buddah"), Norway. Upon landing in Bodo, I will immediately head to the marina where I will board the 44 foot schooner that will be my home for the next 2.5 months. Her name is "Gitana" which means "gypsy woman." Within the first few days of June we sail from Bodo to the Shetland Islands, stopping along the way at a few Norweigian port towns incuding Allesund and possibly Trondheim. The rest of the itenerary is below:
June:
Shetland Islands--> Isle of Lewis, Scotland (port)
Isle of Lewis-> Cork Ireland (perhaps intermediary stops along Irish coast)
June/ July
Cork, Ireland--> Gibraltar, Spain (this is the longest leg of the journey, check a map)
July/August
Gibraltar--> Sardinia--> Tunisia--> Sicily-->home
Of course all of this is tentative and entirely dependent upon the weather and the assumption that we won't be slowed down by bouts with polar bears and/or pirates. "groar!" and "arghh!"
Again, to all of you reading this post, thank you for your interest in my trip. Stay tuned as more posts and photos will follow.
L'Chaim! --Paul
"Long periods of well-being and comfort are in general dangerous to all. After such prolonged periods, weak souls become incapable of weathering any kind of trial. They are afraid of it. Yet it is a fact that difficult trials and sufferings can facilitate the growth of the soul. I know there is a widespread feeling that if we highly value suffering this is masochism. On the contrary, it is a significant bravery when we respect suffering and understand what burdens it places on our soul. "--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
8 comments:
is that what polar bears sound like? groar!!!? hahaha nice touch, paul.
annie
Judging from your quote it sounds like you understand why people do things like marathons and work on commercial fishing boats.
"Be patient and tough. Someday this pain will be useful to you." ~ Ovid
keep reaching, Paul. we can't wait to see where you will go . . .
mom & dad
we are so proud of you! we will follow your adventures with great interest. we love you! sarah and peter
Watch out for the whales too. They say 'reereweeeee.'
Hey Paul -
The English writer Arnold Toynbee’s advice to any traveler: “Fight tooth and nail to be permitted to travel in what is technically the least efficient way.”
Paul buddy, aside from swimming to Sicily, looks like you’ve succeeded doing that in spades.
Here’s hoping that discomfort is the only thing you’ll suffer.
Looking forward to your updates.
Tony
Tom Tom, i am so proud of you. I will be thinking about you every day and will still be texting you random things whenever they come to me! haha. I miss you and love you very much! - rita
Fare well and ado all of ye Spanish ladies. Fare well and ado all ye ladies of Spain-
Its the only old salty sea song I know... have fun and I hope you look like a pirate when you get off that boat!!! PWD- Bill
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