The More I See The Less I Know

This is the  186th and last entry.  It was a life changing 9 months aboard Karaka. After 40 years of searching I finally found something that means the world to me. I had hoped that in my time away-- I could find something. Who knew that that sailing would be it? I have never had something steal my heart and soul the way that sailing has. Waiting and searching for my new home as been a frustrating process. For the first time I really KNOW what I want-- but finding the right boat and situation is a complex thing... I had hoped to finish the documentation of the 9 months on this journal, but its full! So the last of the photos are of the Amazon and you will find them here on the new website, in the photographic evidence section.

 http://themoreiseethelessiknow-chapter2.webs.com/

 Go take a look.

As for the new adventures of Christine, well you have to hold on a little longer. There should be news soon!

And documentation will start up in Chapter two. Although it really feels like a whole new book and not a new chapter!

thanks for being here

xo

Christine

aka GG

Did you know that September 19th is

"International Talk Like A Pirate Day"?

check it out!

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

If you would like to talk like a pirate check out this translator!

http://postlikeapirate.com/translator.php

Thanks for reading my journal, you're a great bunch and I appreciate your support!

in pirate speak is:

Hearty thanks fer readin' me journal ye're a great bunch 'n I appreciate ye support

Too fun!

The next roll of slide film will be of the Amazon! I have high hopes for the results.

Here are a few others to start.

Captain Tom sitting in the shadows in the final days in Jardine de La Reine, Cuba.

Karaka was registered to Hong Kong. I made her flag that you see Kaleigh holding --in Cuba,

Example of a lumber mill in the Amazon, we saw hundreds of these.

There are no villages up the Amazon...just a lumbermill and a Church and every now and then a school like this and then houses about the distance of two city blocks (from each other ) house after house for miles and then another mill and church and schooland more houses spead out like that all through the Amazon. The kids would often run out to wave or hop into dugout logs and try to race us! Brazil should have the best rowing team in the world! I feel very lucky for those 31 days in Amazonia...

Black and white photos are ready! here is a few.

Karaka anchored in Recife,Brazil.

Tobin or Ale, kitesurfing in Recife Brazil.

The anchor box on Karaka. Much sweating happened over this baby!

Dinghy on deck in Forteleaza, Brazil.

My tootsies soaking up the Brazil Sun!

I've lost two dear friends in the last two months.

The first , fought a courageous battle with stomach cancer for over a year.

The second, fought a courageous battle with personal demons in this mad mad world for many years.

Both were lovely men who blessed all who knew them with their loving free spirits, right to the end.

I was lucky to have had them in my life, if even for a few years.

LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH

LoveLoveLoveLoveLoveLove

Me and my friend were walking

In the cold light of mourning

Tears may blind the eyes

But the soul is not deceived

In this world even winter

Ain't what it seems

Here come the blue skies

Here comes springtime

When the rivers run high

And the tears run dry

When everything that dies

Shall rise

LoveLoveLove is stronger than death

LoveLoveLove is stronger than death

In our lives we hunger

For those we cannot touch

All the thoughts unuttered

And all the feelings unexpressed

Play upon our hearts

Like the mist upon our breath

But awoken by grief our spirits speak

"How could you believe

That the life within the seed

That grew arms that reached

And a heart that beat

And lips that smiled

And eyes that cried

Could ever die?"

Here come the blue skies

Here comes springtime

When the rivers run high

And the tears run dry

When everything that dies

Shall rise

LoveLoveLove is stronger than death

LoveLoveLove is stronger than death

Shall rise

Shall rise

Shall rise

Shall rise

The The

 It proved to be difficult to get my film developed, even in a city the size of Vancouver!

Here are a few from the color shots, the black and white and slide film will take a few weeks.

 Unless those really impress me I think the days of film are done for me!

xo

C

 When we were invited into this chess school we knew we were in the real Cuba!

  Hasta, indeed!

 Downtown Santiago.

Maguana Beach.

 This place rejuevenated me.

It was easy to find peace here.

I wrote a good chunk of a book in less than a week on this beach.

 Ahhh...Cuba....

Thought I'd give you peek at the last few weeks!

Minerals form a crust on the protected Spotted Lake.

Of course we went here!

40 outside,  time to cool off!

These flower baskets were all over town!

Nadine and I in Nelson enjoying the view

Having a little float in Glacial runoff lake. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Even during the day the stages are packed. This is a show, but its wild once everyone starts dancing!

The gypsy band came by our camp several times a day!

Our campsite was right in the middle of the 6 stages. Not much sleep happened!

The nights were a blur of sound and light. The party ran 24hrs a day from our arrival on

Thursday til we left on Monday.

The beach,swimming hole, bath, and napping spot. Icy glacial run off!

Getting my neck shaved by the Shambhala Barber! Yay!

One of the advantages to our central campsite was that the drum circle parked

right across from us every evening as we were getting ready to go out!

Nadine and I are ready to GO!

Shambala victims. Don't worry they are just passed out. Owie those rocks must hurt!

We danced our way straight through until the final song at noon on Monday!  I slept 15 hours that night...

Good times

ttys

C

Hello all!

Back in Vancouver after the camping trip.

Lots of adventures and extremely interesting people in those parts!

Too many stories to even start! I'll post some photos soon and you'll get some details there.

The music festival was OUTRAGEOUS! It really was like nothing I have ever done or seen...

The wedding of my friend was lovely and gave me the opportunity to connect with some friends I had not seen much of, for a while...

As for the near future, I return to work for 1 or 2 weeks tomorrow. The person who replaced me last year needs a vacation! After that its taking care of the last of my things into storage, I've had to give notice to my roomate, so I'll be couch-surfing again at the end of September... Hoping me and the right boat connect by then,  I need to be raising sails, its been far too long. I miss it terribly...

Gotta go answer 75 emails! Yikes!

ttys

C

Having lots of adventures in the Mounntains! Taking lots of swims in glacial river and creek run-offfs...its 40 degrees here or more....

Only dial-up connections and its slow internet, so not getting to email...

We go into the Festival tomorrow and come out on Monday! The whole area is buzzing with  excitment!

Talk soon

xo

C

I'll be going for a little  road-trip on July 29, returning on August 16th.

I'll be in the  Rocky Mountains and at a music festival. Apparently cel phone use will be sporadic and internet limited, so you can send me an email but it may be a while before I can get back to you!

The music festival

http://www.shambhalamusicfestival.com/index.php

We'll travel  through Vancouver Mainland-- east to Thompson Okanagan,-going South and North in this area--then east again into The Kootenay.  Camping and visiting some friends, and on the return leg I will attend the wedding of a friend in Kelowna before heading back to Vancouver.

Looks like I have a two week contract at my old job when I return. My replacement needs a vacation. I'll spent the next few days getting caught up on all the changes that happened while I was gone... then get the last of my stuff packed up.

Still hoping to haul up anchor and raise sails in the fall...

xo

c