Cole Tyler

 Sorry if there are misspellings as this is somewhat new to me.

 

But as I was leaving the hostel this morning for the final time Tierney was entering. As we met he asked me where I was going and I told him that my boat was indeed elaving in a few hours. He asked me to wait for a minute as he raced upstairs. When he returned, he not only smelled worse than when he left me, but he presented me with a brown journal as a gift. He told me it was for my adventures and that I had a duty to all travelers to write my experiences. So while I will be blogging to all of you, I will also be writing my experiences in this journal — thanks, Tierney– as I don’t plan on walking around South America withh a laptop in my arm.

 

Cheers,

 

Cole

 

 

P.S. Thought I’d share what Tierney inscribed in the journal…

 

Mate, good luck and remember what your father told you, “To thine own self be true.”

I’ll have a brew waiting for ya in OZ.

 

Cheers,

 

Tierney (the best roommate you ever had)

New Brown Journal

 

Redondo marina

After reading through some replies this morning, I realize that I haven’t even told any of you how we will stay in touch. Well, it’s a lot easier than I would have thought, thankfully.  I am bringing my laptop and blackberry. Both have access to the web and I can upload my blogs almost instantaneously. 

 

A question I was asked by Mike Smith regarding how I plan to keep my computer dry and charged. Good question.  I have a waterproof case for all electronics and there is a power outlet on most sailboats so I’m not worried about staying in touch.

 

I took a look at Gramp’s journal one last time before packing it up and one of his first lines hit me hard. Initially because I feel the same way, but also because in some weird, power of the universe sort of way I believe that our souls are connected and that we are doing this adventure together, that we are stepping onto a sailboat together…So, if I may, I’m going to steal one of his opening lines as I shut down my laptop and place it into my bag…

 

…believe me my friends, a heavier heart never went aboard a ship, “unless it was a convict condemned to go to bandimen’s hand for recreation.”

 

Cheers,

 

Cole

 

p.s. I do miss her…

4:29 AM. Haven’t slept a wink. While I’m thinking about this adventure I’m also thinking about Adelaide. I haven’t heard from her since I left and the terms we left on were not very cordial. Actually, I think she hates me…and maybe because I’m leaving I’m thinking about her more as my emotions are likely going every which way…but I am thinking about her…Am I crazy?

 

Cole

It’s 1:29 AM and I can’t sleep. And it’s not even due to Tierney’s Australian snore as he is still out at the bars.

 

It’s because I’ve been dreaming about this day since I was 8 years old. To begin the voyage to Cape Horn, to sail around this world, to witness the various cultures, and to live life with a constant curiosity is a dream come true…You know, the more I visualize and think about it, I feel it is my destiny, my purpose in life– to see the world, but more importantly, society.  Learn from it, and spread its knowledge…and in a few hours, when the sun rises over the ocean, that purpose will have begun.

 

Wish me luck, but as I’ve always told Connor, Brady, and Jackson, “It’s got nothing to do with luck…if you prepare, then luck is on your side.”

 

Well, I’ve been preparing for the past 17 years…Time to let it rip…

 

Cole

Unbelievable! The same man who wanted Captain Clay to sail his boat knows Carbajal and they spoke today about him doing the job for a lesser price, as he needs the cash. Of course he agreed.

 

Later in the afternoon Isaac showed up at his boat. For a few hours they talked. About what I don’t know and currently, I don’t care. All I do know is that they made up. And we are not only going to sail this man’s sailboat to Mexico, but Isaac even got him to pay us the initial fee he offered Clay. Hahaha…this is too funny.

 

Anyway, we spent the day packing our supplies for this initial leg. The plan is to sail this guy’s boat to Acapulco, transfer to another boat that will get us to Costa Rica and eventually a small and thankfully safe port in Columbia. There, I guess we are supposed to meet some people that both Isaac and his father know. I’m not really sure of the plan, but I’m ready to get on the water!

 

Leaving in 9 hours! Gotta try to crash.

 

Cole

 

P.S. Tierney talked himself into staying for another week at the Hostel…he has some way with words…

For the past two weeks I’ve been waking up to the sound of the Pacific, Tierney’s naked ass, some naked gal’s ass that Tierney met on the Pier the previous night, or the gigantic street sweepers. And most of the time I awoke with a massive headache from the shots of Grand Marnier that is so popular around here. But today, while I did wake up to Tierney’s naked ass and a well deserved headache, I also woke up wet.

 

No, it’s not what you think so stop right there. C’mon, I’m not an amateur and Jackson was the last one to wet the bed, and that was in college. (A story for another blog)

 

Rather, I woke up to a bucket of water being splashed in my face by Isaac. Yes, the Isaac!

He told me to wake my ass up and that there would be no more sleeping in as we have a lot of work to do in the next 24 hours as we are setting sail from Redondo Harbor tomorrow at sunrise.

 

Will keep you posted.

 

Cole

 

P.S. It’s happening just like I played it out in my head. (Yea right!)

So tonight, when I got home, after only 3 slices of Paisano’s pizza, I pulled out my grandfather’s journal. And in one of those moments that could be defined as ‘eerie,’

I began to read his written word once more. I’ll share it with you as it may just blow your mind.

September 10, 1947

I cannot say that I felt sorry when I left Allentown to go to Boston to join the ship, for I entertained the fond hope that I delayed long enough to give the ship a chance to sail before I could arrive there. Much to my disappointment, however, she was not to sail until the following Monday—it was Thursday when I arrived. When I was informed of this I never went near the ship believing another man would be employed in my place. On Monday morning I went down to have a last look at bid a    final adieu to the good ship that bore me so many miles over the broad and trackless ocean. I met the Mate in the gangway.  He said if I did not intend going, I should say so because there were plenty glad enough to take my place. I told him        I’d go along so I stepped in the channels to go on board. I could hardly raise my foot high enough to step over the bulwarks and, believe me my friends, a heavier heart never went aboard a ship, “unless it was a convict condemned to go to bandimen’s hand for recreation.”

 

 

 

 

 

Am about to pass out, but let me know what you think!

 

Cole

Why would things work out? That would be too easy and of course, my life has to be complicated.

 

To make a long story short, and for the fact that I don’t want to piss myself off any more than I already am, Captain Clay can be compared to your older brother’s friend. You know, the one who you thought would buy you the booze and take you to parties, but actually took you to the parties to hook up with your hot friends who were high school sophomores at the time.

 

And that is what happened today. Captain Clay used me to jack up the price for the boat he was sailing and when the owner wouldn’t pay his asking price, Clay bailed. So I’m left with no sailboat, no trip, and no plan. So I’m heading to the bar below this place, Dragon, for happy hour (which is ridiculous, check out www.dragonbar.net).

 

Cole

So it’s Monday morning and I am planning on taking off tomorrow with this guy named Captain Clay. His job is one where he basically takes rich people’s boats and sails them to specific destinations. This particular job has him sailing to Acapulco, Mexico. There, he has told me that it would be easy to find another boat to Costa Rica and possibly Ecuador.

 

I know it’s not what I planned, but the plan would have been too easy if it worked out perfectly, right?

 

Will try to convince Captain Carbajal to sail with me even if Isaac fails to show tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

 

Cole

 

P.S. To let everyone know, I haven’t heard from Adelaide so it’s safe to say she is not the biggest fan of me right now…

I went back to Isaac’s office today, and it being a weekend I had to take 5 busses, but it was worth it. He was not in his office, but there was a professor across the hall grading mid-terms. I asked him where I could find Isaac and he told me that he was off on the weekends, but usually spends time surfing the south side of Santa Monica Pier. So 3 busses later, I was at the south side of Santa Monica Pier.

 

Sure enough, there he was on a longboard cruising in and out of 3-4 foot sets. As I sat on the beach two things hit me;

1)      Surfing is the place I go when there is a lot on my mind and thus, Isaac had to be considering the offer.

2)      I have to show Isaac one of my grandfather’s entries.

 

When he got out he noticed me and walked over to where I was sitting. He placed his green, 9’6’’ board down next to me and sat on it, dripping wet and staring out at the ocean.

 

After a brief silence, Isaac told me there is a lot about his father that I don’t know and for him to pick up his life and hop on a boat with him, or anyone else, is crazy.

 

So after listening to Isaac tell me a little about his life and all the reasons why it was a bad decision for him to go on this trip, I remembered what my grandfather used to tell me as a child.  That I had nothing to lose so I might as well just “let it rip.”

 

And I did.

 

I pulled out the journal that my father gave me the night that Gramps passed away and opened it to a page that I had memorized. And then I gave it to Isaac.

 

It read;

We are getting close…so close that I can sense the aura of The Cape becoming stronger and stronger. Tonight, after dinner, the man who has had me clean the deck more times than the rain gods, Captain Brennan, asked Carbajal and I to join him for a cigar on the deck. He leaned over the starboard side staring into the dark seas as he has likely done countless times before, and he taught the both of us a lesson that would prove to be much larger than the swells which loom ahead in a day …

 

“William, Auerilio… this site is powerful and it is not for everyone. But those who can accept its powers, its history, must be clear in their thoughts. Meaning, you must comprehend that this sight is one that embodies dreams, life, love, and danger.

 

Dreams my son, are a must.

If you are not dreaming, you are not living.

If you are not living, you are not inspiring and impacting others.

If you fail to love, you are stealing from society and raping your soul of what it has earned.

And if you are afraid of danger, then well…you wouldn’t have stepped aboard…

 

William and Auerilio, if there is anything Cape Horn proves it’s that life is about living, and to live, you must dream. So William and young Auerilio - dare to be great and live your dreams and let the moment around Cabos de Hornos remain in your heart forever…”

 

I could not move, only stare out at the moon as a tear as salty as the south Atlantic dropped from my youthful, imaginative, and now inspired eye.

 

Cheers,

William Tyler

 

p.s. Oh how I miss my wife.

 

And before I walked away I told him where I was staying and that I was getting on a boat in two days heading to South America from the Redondo Harbor and hoped that he would join me.

 

Cole