Columbia here I come!

I officially take credit as the worst blogger ever.  One would think when exciting, blog-worthy events occur I would WRTIE about them but no…if you know me, you know blogging isn’t my style and thus should not be disappointed by the 4 month gap.

Moving on…holy hell a lot has happened!  To make an extremELY long story short some shit went down on Inception, antics among crew that I didn’t agree with so I spoke my mind and was off the boat a week later.   I mean it was a bit more complicated than that, and definitely a blow to the boat - but after a kickass farewell booze fest I said goodbye to Adventure part I. and started looking for part II.  I literally went on 4 interviews a day for a week straight…was offered all but one and after several morning of getting dressed in the 17^th Street Office Depot bathroom I’d had enough.  So I settled…I accepted a job that was WAY over my head, on a 19 year old Charter boat (that looked more like 30), with a crew that hadn’t been hired yet…i.e I was about to embark on 4 months of hell.  Anyway, I accepted the job Friday morning so I could have some peace of mind…go home to Minneapolis for Memorial Day weekend and go back to FL with a job and a place to sleep.   Booked a ticket Friday night, flew home Saturday morning and spent the next 4 days with the worst anxiety – knowing what I was going back to made me physically sick.  BUT I’ve started living with the mentality that what is meant to be will be, so I started making provision lists and mentally preparing myself for this next adventure. 

By the way, insert here – I literally have the most amazing friends on this planet.  If it weren’t for them I would’ve had an official mental breakdown…God bless them for putting up with my anxious moody ass!  No clue if you guys read this anymore but if you do….Mom, Dad, Jenna, Shelly, Jean, Lissy O and Lyssie K.– THANK YOU and I love you guys. 

K, so back to life, back to reality (sing it, out loud, I dare you).  I’m on a plane headed back to FL yesterday and while I was in Chicago (on my 5 HOUR LAYOVER) I got a message from a Captain I’d spoke to briefly.  We talked a little more and he offered me a job…the exaCT kind of gig I’d been waiting 2 weeks to get.  2^nd stew on a 157ft Trinity that travels the world!  Of course I was taking him at his word but he said the crew got along great and if I was interested he’d fly me down to Colombia the very next day.  I accepted on the spot but it was bittersweet…although I had NO interest in the job I’d accepted Friday, the Captain is an amazing guy and I knew the bind I was about to put him in.  But I gave Andy (my new Captain) all my info and got a confirmation “Spirit Airlines" e-mail shortly thereafter.  But if I may…and I feel as though I should clear my name for a sec.  Even before I heard of this new job I’d been talking to this chic Katie who was WAY more qualified than me to see if she’d be interested in the Chief role (that I’d accepted) and I would be her 2^nd.  Not sure if that makes sense to any of you…but I’d been doing the leg work even before this switcharoo took place, to find a Chief Stew to replace me…I just had no idea I’d be off that boat completely.

Anyway, after I hung up with Captain Andy I called Captain Lee to regretfully rescind my acceptance.  I was totally honest about the anxiety that position was creating for me and how I felt like I’d be doing myself, the crew, and the guests a disservice by taking on a role I wasn’t qualified for...being the amazing guy he is, he understood and wished me luck.

So here I am, just got off a layover in Medellin en route to Cartagena, Colombia to meet my new boat :)  I am so excited my cheeks literally hurt from smiling!  It’s been a hell of a long day (I didn’t mention my layover was 6 hours) but I can’t wait to shake my Captains hand and meet my new family.  I haven’t hashed out our exact itinerary for this season but I know it includes Aruba, Colombia, Bonaire, Puerto Rico, Panama, and the ABC Islands.

The flight attendants are babbling something really fast in Spanish so I can only assume we’re starting our “decent” so I should run but there ya go – the quickest 4 month summary EVER!!  I promise to write within the week and let you know how it’s going…until then wish me luck!!

Xoxo,

mE

900 Horsepower and SPF 70

So here I am in bed, 45 minutes into my tossing/turning episode…so physically depleted but so mentally stimulated.  I just had the most amazing weekend, literally the most exhilarating & memorable experience I’ve had thus far.  We pulled into St. Thomas late Friday night/early Saturday morning and because of our last few owners trips the majority of my crew was owed vacation….some took their time in FL and the others (myself included) decided to take my vaca down here in the BVI’s – duh!  My crewmate Bobby and I are on the same page in terms of ‘taking advantage of our surroundings’ so we pulled out the Lonely Planet book and got to work.  It wasn’t long before we had a rough draft itinerary which included but wasn’t limited to: St John’s, Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, and Tortola (a necessary stop to clear customs), and after asking our Captain’s permission Bobby, Ziggy, Mark and I packed up the Intrepid with beers, pillows, sunchips and protein bars and hit the open sea.
Mind you this “tender” is a  $1/2 million, 900 horsepower beAst and there are maybe 2 boats in all of yachting who would allow their crew to “over night”.  So…as we pulled out of our Marina I looked at my friends and in unison said “IS THIS REAL LIFE??!!??”

Backtracking to the day before, the first night Bobby was on watch so we had him drop us off in St. John’s where we spent the day scuba diving, soaking up rays at Cinnamon Bay beach, and eating and drinking at the best local (non-touristy) spots.  We met a lady whose lived on the island for 15+ years and showed us the most intimate, beautiful spot to watch the sunset.

Haley found us a sweet, cheap little “apartment” about (pic) about 10 mins outside of town so at the end of the night we meandered back to our spot and crashed.   With the excessive rooster crowing and excitement for the adventure that was to come we woke up early to catch the Ferry back to ST Thomas to meet Bobby for Part II.  After Ziggy, Mark, Bobby and I cleared customs in Tortola we headed to the Baths in Virgin Gorda.  Hit in 2 days what takes most people a week, and the best part was it was all FREE!!   I caught myself at several points throughout the journey looking around thinking what did I do to deserve such greatness?  Some people go their whole lives dreaming about going to a deserted Caribbean island, tying up to some random mooring buoy just so they can jump out and swim to shore to watch the sunset – just so happens that was/is my life.  All in all, my new ‘family’ and I had a great little adventure and I can’t wait for more to come.  Literally exhausted but just had to share….nighty night from the Caribbean.

Xoxo,

mE