Saturday, December 12, 2009

To the U.S.

In just a couple of days, I should be leaving Colombia behind, for some time to come.  I should be heading back to the US, for the first time in, oh, 3 1/2 years, I think.  Wow.  Working in the US for a while will be nice:)

The weather and sea state here is crap.  We were up to 8 meter (~25 foot) seas and 50-60 mph winds.  It will be good to find calmer waters if we can.  Possible port calls are Grand Cayman, Freeport and Galveston, as we make our way North.

Just started a book called Blood River, by Tim Butcher.  It details his quest to follow in the footsteps of fellow Daily Telegraph reporter, Henry Morton Stanley, crossing the Congo.  His journey across one of the most violent, lawless, remote and fractured countries in the world is nothing short of insane.  Over 2,000 miles of fetid, disease-ridden, impenetrable jungle, populated by brutal military rebels, cannibalistic tribes and well, pretty much by only people and things that want to or would kill him.  No roads, no law, no infrastructure and he tackles it alone, with a few grand in his show and an old motorcycle.  As I said, insanity. I'm only part way into the book, he is only just about to start on the journey and I am mesmerized by this guy.

Food blows.  The cook should be fucking shot.  I had pork loin that I COULD NOT CUT WITH A STEAK KNIFE, last night.  Well, obviously I did not "have" it, I just put it on my plate and then tried to cut it.  I actually had some white rice and two pieces of toast.  Fuck me, the pounds are just melting off but I've got a permanent, gnawing pain in my gut.  Starving to death must be extremely unpleasant :(  And on that note, it is time to shut down and head for what passes on here as "dinner".  Later people.