Earthquake in Roatan

It was 2:25 when we were ambushed out of our beds.
Half asleep, the floor was trembling,
the walls were rattling and panic was ahead.
I jumped up from the bed out of instinct,
only to find myself struggling to remain standing.
There were loud panic screams and crashing of many things.
Those 45 seconds felt like an eternity,
I was confident that just out side, there was a
hurricane with lots of water, waves and might...
When it passed, amongst all the commotion,
I stepped outside to find that the sea stood still like fine wine.
There was no wind, no waves, and no might,
the only fear was that a tsunami would attack us that night.
Dumbfounded by the forces of nature,
we sat there in reflection and prayed for our protection.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake of 7.1 magnitude struck northeast of Roatan in Honduras early on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake that hit 39 miles northeast of Roatan, Islas de la Bahia, had a shallow depth of 6.2 miles.

A tsunami watch was in effect for Honduras and Belize, Guatemala, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. The quake, which struck at 0824 GMT (4:24 a.m. EDT), was originally reported to have a 7.4 magnitude.

IC Phase Debriefing

I've been on land for the last five days with some really special friends; Andy, Anna and Family. The time I will spend here is of significant importance as it is a good time and place to stop, reflect and direct my intentions on the roads to come.

Vivid Clouds at Swan Island

We sailed for Seventy-two days from the Florida Keys, across the gulf stream, cruised along the Northwest and Southwest shores of Cuba, then headed southbound to the Grand Cayman and crossed the Caribbean Sea to arrive here - Roatan, Honduras. This entire sailing trek was an incredibly inspiring, intensely humbling and a life changing experience for me as the situations I encountered compelled me to stretch all of my limits - physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual.

Grand Cayman pre-sunset

On board there were relationships I strove to build and find common ground, but often failed to suffice its demands - While there were lots of other challenges with sailing techniques and the sea life in general - I find that these were my hardest challenges at sea.

I can say that I have improved my skills as a listener, I learnt to listen way more than I talk. I have also learnt that even though our society depends on it - time is irrelevant. Of course, I can now say that I know how to sail and that will be very valuable when trying to crew on other boats. On the other hand I have to admmit that it was very leberating to have all my gear on two wheels between my legs on solid ground again. I would like to extend once again a huge thank you to Patrick, Melanie and Paciphaée for taking me across the seas, helping me on such a vital part of my journey. Merci Beaucoup!!!

This marks a big milestone for Infinity Cycle as I begging a brand new continent. I think that I'm starting to have some weight to my word after having travelled over 7000km/4500mi. I feel that I can give myself a couple of weeks off, so I will stay here for a bit than gently make my way into the land, where I will be joined by Luiza for a week get-away in the mountains of Honduras. After which on the 15th of June I will be hitting the road toward Nicaragua, and hope to be in Panama by mid July to look for a ride to Colombia. It is a good feeling to have the power to move yourself at your own speed. I'm very excited to start this new phase!

hi-five over the corals

I've been working hard these days to put the site up to date. Now you can check the map to see where I have been with some proximate dates and distances.

I wanted to bring special attention as well to some videos I have posted on you tube about my experience at the "Rincon de los Milagros" in Havana.

For those of you who want to reach me, I'll be on skypolandia the next few days.

Total Distance Travelled: 7321km / 4549mi
by sailboat: 2433km / 1368nm
by bike: 4888km / 3037mi

View Infinity Cycle in a larger map

Up to date map, tracing my travels from Toronto to Honduras

o mi/km - Toronto, ON - Oct 6th, 08
563mi/907km - New York City - Oct 17th, 08
2268mi/3651km - Miami, Fl - Dec 2nd, 08
3038mi/4889km - La Habana, Cuba - Mar 19th, 09
3975mi/6398km - Cayo Largo, Cuba - May 5th, 09
4143mi/6668km - Georgetown, CI - May 12th, 09
4549mi/7321km - Roatan, Honduras - May 21st, 09

Enjoy the photos and videos on my flickr page (click here)

Across the Caribbean Sea

Wow... I thought that this sailing adventure was almost over, but the trip keeps getting longer and the adventure just begging... I'll start this entry from when we go to Cayo Largo, our last stop in Cuba. Upon meeting this Irish sailing Vessel, Indio. They informed us of the possibility of going to the the Grand Cayman for a layover and break up the long Sail. There Patrick and Melanie also decided to work on their boat, in La Ceiba, Honduras and not Guatemala as originally planned.

Sailing Vessel "Indio" - Cayo Largo, Cuba

We arrived in Georgetown, CI after 32 hours in the sea. Nice and hospitable port authority and pretty friendly place in general. It was strange to be in a developed country after two months in Cuba. I felt a guilty familiarity and sense of relief when I walked into a sparkling clean, wheel chair accessible public washroom with automated hand driers and with plenty of toilet paper available to use.

Pirate ship on a silver sea

What an experience that was, but I must say that It really hit home for me when I found the Thai Restaurant of Georgetown, called "Thai Restaurant", I went in there with my heart open and speaking the little Thai I remember (from my Thailand days 10 years ago), and minutes after I walked in I was invited to sit down and they were feeding my all this free delicious Thai food that I could not refuse (for those who know me :-). So keeping with my polite attitude I kept eating all the food they gave me. Plus They gave me and my sailing family free internet for a few hours. The following day, I came by again to find another delicious free meal and internet, thank you Miss Yen Dee and staff for your generosity.

We left Georgetown the next day after fuelling up. This leg was when the adventure really began. By 11pm the night the engine dies on us (problem with the oil pump), I was doing the night shift and the wind was decent, so we decided I would sail the boat slowly till we figure what to do. At 5am, there was no wind to be found so we went to sleep and simply drifted in the middle of the Caribbean Sea till the morning (let me detail that this was no quite sleep, due to the waves the boat vigorously rocked from side to side and everything - pots, pans, etc - made it very loud ambient). Melanie bravely took the helm and sailed a mare 2 knots (mile per hour) for the entire day. Later on that afternoon, Patrick was able to repair the engine and we were back on track.

The following day, 48 hours in at sea, we arrived at Swan Island, Honduras. This place was know to have a striving little community some time ago, but it for what ever reason everyone left, and to protect it, Honduras sends an army plane with a troop of 8 soldiers a cook and food every 2 month or so. These men make sure the island is safe from invators.

Swan Island - "El ultimo Paraiso del Caribe"

We get there and with the intention to stay a day and 2 nights, however (this is the punch line) on the morning of departure, on a routine engine check we discover that the transmission was contaminated with sea water (for those of you that don't know, this is a BAD COMBO). There was not enough fluid to clean and replenish the tank and according to the army, we could be stuck there for weeks - this was a bad situation to be in. Lucky the head of the troop also imformed that the plane was due to come by any day and the there would be space for more passangers. The idea that one or more of us could go on the plane back to La Ceiba, on a mission to get the necessities (parts, transmission fluid, food, water), and find a way back out there with fisher man or something. This was indeed a mission, and I was voted to do it.

Dolphins at play near Roatan, Honduras

Another day goes by, no plane, no oil, low on food and water... we decided that if this plane was to arrive, Patrick would be the only to stay on board to conserve the food, Paciphaée, Melanie and I would depart as soon as the plane arrived. However to our great relief, a fishing boat - Driftwood - came by and were able to help us with enough oil to clean and replenish the transmition plus gave us lots of tuna fish. We set sail the following morning and had a safe and quite ride all the way to Coxen Hole, Roatan, Honduras...

The end of a phase


Coxen Hole - Roatan, Honduras

Enjoy the photos and videos on my flickr page (click here)

Reflections of Cuba

This is probably our last day in Cuba and I wanted to put a few words together to maintain tradition of writing about the countries/regions that I experience.

This particular phase of IC, has took a different format and mind set as It would have taken if riding my bike solo. I have been a crew on a private sail boat, (belonging to a family; Patrick, Melanie and Paciphaée) and all plans regarding travel (where to go, when to go, etc) were made by the Captain, not me. I therefore have had to work on other aptitudes like doing as I'm told with out any comments, Also always being ready for duty and the trickiest of all would be to try and fit in somewhere in the family dynamic.

Binoculars

With these new structures, I can say that we have gone through some difficult times (some would say it is inhumane to have 4 people living in such confined space - the boat) and at one point I came close to considering coming home. But with all that said, we managed to work it out, and are keeping our words till we reach Central America, Roatan - Honduras.

The morning after a night shift

In between all of this, lies Cuba... A glorious nation, geographically close to the States, but quite the opposite contrast in culture and distribution of resources... Here even though the greater amount of the population, live in simple, undeveloped conditions some of us in North America would consider "poor". They live happy lives, with the support of their families and communities, everyone has access to good free education, good free Heath care, and the cost of food are subsidized making it insignificant and available to everyone...

Hasta la Victoria Siempre

The island shares no borders with another country and are very strict in not allowing anyone to leave, (with the exception of a couple of situations, including marriage) so the concept of travelling I introduce is quite foreign to them. And opens up a can of warms that has been tricky approach in conversations, never mind understanding it. The ideas I present here are those friends of which I had a chance to talk with. According to these friends, Castro keep a close eye on it's people and there are many dos and don't s. If you are cough doing a don't, you might be considered an Anti-revolutionary, and may have to live and work and a farm for over six month, with out pay. I have a friend who did that, and has now an open application as a refugee to the States. Some of them fled to Mexico on a speed boat, only to get caught by the Mexican police two weeks later and be deported back to the island.

I view of the ocean

These above mentioned cases, are only a small fraction of Cubans, and is indeed a rare occasion now days. When travelling on a boat or bicycle everyone we meet is very friendly and helpful. The socialist culture is to share all that you've got, and they will feed you with what ever they have, with out hesitation. They are very aware that 1 dollar to us costs nothing, but to them is a full days wage. In Puerto Esperanza, for instance, Some friends get by only because of foreigner sail boats that came by with gift and what not. In the boating world it is well known to always have small things to give away in places that you visit. Things like books, plates, soap bar, tshirts, hats, tools, etc can really make a difference for some and they will feed you and love you for it. This way you make friends where ever you go.

Little Brian... reminded me of me!

Cuba relies on 80% of income from the tourism industry and a good Cuban knows to treat tourist right, so they enjoy and come back again - quite a simple concept. This is a country with two currencies, the national pesos, and the convertible pesos (CUC) that holds equal or greater value to the USD, There are about 24 national pesos in one CUC, and like I mentioned earlier, a regular Cuban earns around 1 CUC per day. It became apparent to me, that Cubans who work jobs that come in contact with tourist, can increase their wage rapidly and swiftly. I began to share this idea with people that I met and they agreed. However, in the first few days in Cuba I saw how these huge all inclusive hotels work and many, many tourist come here to "experience" Cuba. but stay in the resort all day, with the friendly staff, and they don't even have a clue about the real situation, or that there is a national currency... These resort establishments, in my opinon provide a fake experience of Cuba

Sailing Vessel "Seren" and the sun

Every so often I met someone and had the impression that they were really just helping me cause they wanted my dollars - this seams to be a common feeling amongst world travellers - and this is not the best situation you want to be in so you really have to know your stuff (actual prices etc...) and always keep an eye on the back of your head.
phew... so much to write... so little time...

Cayo Largo, Cuba

PLEASE SEE MY IMAGES AND VIDEO FROM CUBA