Some of the photo links seem to be having trouble, but if you type in http://photos.dietan.net/ you should be able to get to the whole gallery.
SouthEast Expeditions
If you're wondering how you can get out on the water and have as much fun as we are (or more) come see us on the Eastern Shore of Virginia any time.
www.southeastexpeditions.com has trip descriptions and all the information you need.
Point 65 North
The Kayaks that we have been using for all of the incredible adventures on this trip have been provided by Point 65 North. Please check out www.paddlepoint.net to find out more about these great boats, or call SouthEast Expeditions at (757)-331-2680 to paddle one yourself.
Loco Kiwis
Josh and John have headed across the Sea of Cortez and are on their way to Rio. To keep up with their adventure (and see if Josh gets his Baja info before me) check out www.locokiwi.com And if you happen to see them on the road, please buy them a beer and listen to a couple of stories. It's the best decision you'll make all day. Cheers boys, travel safe!
John Wayne Cancer Foundation
When we say "DIE TAN" we aren't talking George Hamilton tan. We're talking Old Man and the Sea tan. The expression "Die Tan" means "Don't get stuck in the office." You never know when your time here is going to end, so make sure that you get outside and live life to its fullest. Tan is a state of mind, not a state of fashion. So check out www.jwcf.org and protect yourself so that you can die tan later rather than sooner.
Shakey Earl & The Earthquakers
The soundtrack for our days on the water always includes at least one cut from the new Shakey Earl album Tellin' Your Tale. Go to www.shakeyearlband.com to get the next album that your friends will steal out of your car.
As we wandered through the door and took our stools at the tasting bar we met Darrel, our tour guide for the afternoon. He informed us that the free wine tasting was limited, but for $3 we could try 6 wines rather than 1. Sold! As we worked our way through the tasting menu Darrel further informed us that the NM school system had left him a little rusty in the math department, and that it would be our responsibility to let him know when the 6th bottle had been poured. Needless to say we tried everything at least twice and eroded a fair amount of the afternoon right there at the St. Claire tasting bar. Realizing that this would necessitate yet another change in plans we asked Darrel for his recommendations for camping and dinner. “Over the hill there and off the dirt road by the dairy there's a dry river bed. Follow it to the mountainside and you'll find an old platinum mine where you guys could camp if you want.” Seriously? Did he just say platinum mine? Excellent. After he told us about the Mexican butcher we stocked up on red wine and hit the road for old Mexico.
We made it to California! As we dropped into San Diego it was snowing, but we were on the water again yesterday at La Jolla exploring sea caves with some seals, and surfing a few waves. I'll post a full update and pics in a day or two, but wanted to let everyone know we are safe and sound. Jason is probably in Atlanta by now, and I'm taking a break from the road for a few days to visit my Dad. Will type again soon.
I hope that you enjoy the pictures, and that it takes you far less time to browse them than it's taking me to upload them. As a reward for your patience, I can finally offer you a gift worth giving. The official DIETAN.net stickers should arrive within hours at my unsuspecting mother's house in Bluffton, SC. If you send me an e-mail with your address and a kind and entertaining request for a free sticker, I'll send you one from San Diego at the end of the week. Come on... you know you want one. Send me your info at gonesailin@yahoo.com and start checking the mail next week.
Granted, it was cold when we fired her up this morning. 33 degrees according to the news. But still, I expected to be able to pull some power out of the engine as we climbed out of Sanderson and on to Marathon, Texas. An hour or so later we were still struggling to get the engine over 1200 rpm, and 30 mph. Not cool. West Texas is pretty and all, but I want to see these views at 60 miles an hour as I'm on my way to the river. By the time we rolled into Marathon we were really struggling. We loaded up on coffee, ripped out the old air filter and kept our fingers crossed on the drive toward Alpine. Maybe the engine would kick in once the sun warmed us into the 40's. Maybe it's just the altitude. Maybe we're completely screwed.
Although I'm pretty sure that my sister is the only one reading this, I'll thank all of you for coming to check out DIETAN.net. So far I have been having a great trip. And a wet trip. There's been quite a bit of rain down South this year. The fact that I have been having so much fun and getting wet doing it means that I have been doing a piss poor job of updating this web site. Tonight I am half way between Del Rio and Terlingua Texas with Jason. We walked into Mexico today and bought a groovy set of horns for the front of the Jeep. Tomorrow we're putting in on the Rio Grande for 4 or 5 days. This means that I will continue doing a piss poor job of updating this site. However, I have been taking pictures and notes. The pictures from the trip so far are all up at photos.dietan.net.
After we put away the tape measure and exhausted both sides of the rudder/skeg debate. It was time to get back on the road. I was recharged after a little time on the water with new friends, and packed up wishing I had some more time to get them to show me the real paddling treasures in this part of Florida. As I loaded up the Jeep Greg showed me a couple of satellite pictures of our intended destination and gave me directions to the beach and a good bar. Did I mention that these guys are great hosts?
This guy seems to know what's up, and all I need is the vague sense of permission that accompanies the confused look on his face when I tell my story and ask if I can jump the fence. Within seconds I have the X-Ray on my shoulder, and a slightly puzzled co-conspirator to pass it to. 2 minutes later I'm on the road and my new friend is still standing in the parking lot at Sea Kayak Georgia holding my card and a note that could have been the final clue in the DaVinci Code if it were any more nebulous.
The list is getting shorter. The cast is dwindling. The Jeep is loaded. It's time to leave. All I'm waiting for is one quick phone call from the fine folks at Sea Kayak Georgia down in Tybee Island. I need to see them to pick up the 2nd kayak that I'll be crossing the country with. They've had a pretty yellow fiberglass X-Ray on loan from Point 65 for a few months, and it's time to go get it. If they would just call me back.
I have managed to talk the night clerk at the Motel 6 in Carlsbad into letting me use his computer for an hour or so. I just had to "misplace" my 12 pack of Lone Star and agree not to harass anyone looking for a room. I have also been keeping a decent journal on the laptop just waiting to be shot out to you, and have taken about 700 pictures that will be available for your viewing pleasure just as soon as I can get plugged in. In the mean time, I'll go ahead an fill you in on the bare bones details of what I've been up to since that splendid night at South of the Border.
The weather was perfect. The Bay was slick calm under a beautiful sunset, and the Jeep seemed to purr a little as we rose up over the high rise and took in the scene that surrounded us. Of course that purr was actually more of a throat clearing which was followed by a couple of coughs and the spitting out of some clutch fluid and 8 ounces of oil.
