Tonight the sun sets over dirty desert streets as we three sailors walk beside blue water on green algae shores, maroon mountains silhouetted by an orange sky. Morning Star lies in the bay tugging gently at her anchor chain. Her crew in good spirits as we walk to Hotel Alcatraz for dinner, showers and cervezas.

When the time will come your name will be called, and when that time arrives who around you will stand tall or who that stand with you falls?

You are approached in that hour of life with a choice given by the creator of all things, it is your time will you rise on this one dark night, and if not to rise than to falter.

Which path you choose at first light, will be the path you choose for the rest of your life, for as the sun sets the sun will rise, and what path is chosen today will be the same for all your days. Choose strong. Choose wise.

For it is in your confidence you belong your destiny is your making, your days for your taking, and no better time to begin than the present time you are in.

“God sent a wind across the earth and the waters began to subside. The springs of the deep and

sluices of heaven were stopped up and the heavy rain from heaven was held back. Little by little,

the waters ebbed from the earth”

The book of Genesis

We sat up under the rhythmic tick of the light passing over head facing south into oceans yet to be traveled. Silent we thought of the miles traveled and the miles to go. The cliff dropped off into the ocean where we slept and awoke to the sun rising over the mangroves far below. For years, I thought, I had climbed mountains and watched the sun rise over the water from high above alone…

With a voyage so vast and trials so trivial it may seem foolish to seek so passionately home instead of pondering the journey. I feel as if I was Odysseus on the wide wine blue sea searching for my homecoming. There are good winds that come from the north and in the peaceful easy latitudes of paradise, there are none. The sun rises over the sea and beats off the water in the early morning blinding us as we travel forever south. With each passing of each southernly latitude we seem to be moving further from home.

Since we have last corresponded we have traveled far. Paradise found, lost, and realized.

The rows of sugarcane, uncut blowing in the tropical breeze roll by the window of the taxi as we leave a trail of dust in the air of the dirt road. Mountain peaks like volcanoes disappear in the distance behind us as the mangroves and palms grow larger in front of us. The sugarcane plantations give way to coconut plantations and finally a grass airstrip then the gate to Barillas Marina, El Salvador. We unload Forrest’s things into the dinghy and motor out to Morning Star,c lying safely on her mooring in the hot afternoon in Central America.

I sat still looking out from under the hood of my rain gear. The night is black, and as the lightning flashes beads of rain illuminate in the scope of my vision and I can see the calm sea and the rain swept water. I watch the sails catching the little wind from the front. Silently I sit, cold and wet watching for the break in the clouds when the storm will pass over us and once again we can make good time through the water. I look at the watch clock and it is six hours after I took the watch. Four hours into a squall, and only two until the sun will rise.

It was four years ago I crossed the Pacific Ocean for the first time. The name itself means the peaceful sea. The Pacific is tranquil and relatively calm. Her deep blue waters and tropics extend across the equator like a string of jewels, mysteriously hypnotizing. Thousands of miles of water, our largest ocean, only explored a few centuries ago by Cook, she is still uncivilized in many parts. I learned to sail on her waters. I have seen much of her. Four times we crossed the equator from Northern Hemisphere to Southern. So as the Locks of Miraflores closed behind us, and raised Morning Star 100 feet above sea level, we looked out to the Gulf of Panama lined with islands. I said goodbye to her, unsure if I will ever sail in those waters again.