Rest, Recovery, Relaunch

I returned from Germany on October 6 to regroup and prepare for my upcoming 3-month trip to southeast Asia.  This will be the first major leg of my journey.  Chile was a test run, in a country that I'm familiar with and in a language that I speak.  (And Germany was just a normal vacation with friends.) 

I haven’t had a lot to write about these last few weeks, as I take care of some administrative things:  applying for travel visas, paying utility bills, servicing cars, researching volunteer opportunities in southeast Asia, etc. 

I have enjoyed catching up with some of you in person or online.  In our conversations, many of you have commented, "Oh, I'm so jealous" or "You're living the life I want."  

Ah, life on the road seems glamorous, doesn’t it?

Yes, sometimes it is.  I enjoy the leisurely pace of not really needing to be anywhere or do anything.  For example, last week instead of taking the bus or UBER to my destination, I just strolled across San Francisco in my flip flops, enjoying the sights and sounds (and amazing October weather).  And I’m certainly looking forward to relaxing among the islands of southeast Asia. 

But recently, there have been plenty of non-glamorous moments as I try to live "homeless" in one of the most expensive areas in the country.  I’ve changed clothes in my car, done laundry at the laundromat, eaten lunch in the grocery store, and “borrowed” WIFI while parked outside Starbucks to avoid buying a second cup of coffee.  (I'm on a budget, remember.)

I would like to publicly thank several friends who have hosted me at their homes (or boats) so that I can avoid hotels and Airbnb.  And I’m grateful to so many more friends who have made similar offers.  (Rain check?)

In a couple of days, I depart for Hong Kong, and then Thailand.  I don’t have any plan, as of yet – other than to meet my parents for dinner in Bangkok.  (Crazy, but they will be there at the same time as me!)  From Thailand, I may venture into Cambodia and/or Myanmar as well.

As for volunteering and sailing, I’ve decided to figure it out once I’m there.  In particular, for sailing, I want to make sure I meet the skipper and inspect the sailing vessel in person before hopping aboard.   For volunteering, Chile was a huge success and I expect the same from Thailand.  I am less familiar with the country, so I want to do some exploring before I commit to a certain location for extended volunteering.

See you in 2016, San Francisco!

Reunion in Bavaria

I spent the last week in Germany, on what has become an every-other-year (at least) reunion of friends.   Adam and Ulf are friends of mine from business school.  Over the years of hanging out with Ulf in Germany for skiing, hiking, and celebrating birthdays, I have become friends with several of his close friends as well.   

I arrived in Munich, Germany, on Sunday, September 27.  I took the train from the airport directly to Oktoberfest (locally known as Wiesn) where I met Uli, my gracious host for the week.  We ditched my bag in the bushes at a friend’s office building (shhh… don’t tell anyone) and headed into our favorite beer tent. 

Even though this was my fifth visit to Wiesn, I was still as excited as the first time.  There is just something about it.

• Is it the traditional Bavarian outfits that people wear so proudly?
• Is it the songs that the band plays and the crowd sings along to?
• Is it the immense decorative wooden tents that fill with laughter, cheering, and singing?
• Is it the neighborly feeling that allows you, in fact welcomes you, to join a table of strangers?
• Is it the endless supply of beer, roasted chicken, and pretzels that come in huge portions?

One thing is for certain - my friends always show me a great time.  I really appreciate going with them.  I feel like I get a much more authentic experience hanging out with “locals” (even though some of them are actually from northern Germany).  They navigate our group into the best tents, with the best beer, food, and crowds.  

We have come up with a list of “Rules of Wiesn” that we like to remind each other of, should a violation occur.  I won’t repeat the entire list here, but in case any of you readers are thinking about a visit to Wiesn in the future, here are a few of our rules:

1. Don’t buy stuff.  (E.g., souvenirs, rabbit ears, etc.)
2. Never finish your beer.  (It's probably warm by the time you get to the bottom.)
3. Never pour the remnants of your old beer into your new beer.  (Why contaminate fresh cold beer with your warm stale beer remnants?)
4. Eat.
5. Hold your beer the “right” way.  (i.e., Hold the mug (called a mass) with your left hand, so that as you drink, your lips touch the mass at a spot on the rim where fewer lips have touched.  Most people drink with their favored right hand.  Alternatively, you can hold with your right hand, but twist the mass a bit so you drink from the spot just above the handle, thereby also avoiding the most common spot on the rim.  We’re sure the masses are clean, but then again you never know.  Also, if you are a man, NEVER hold the mass with the palm of your hand – use the handle to show that you are strong enough to hold the heavy mass.)

We spent four days at Wiesn, which was plenty from both a health and financial standpoint.

Over the four days, our group of friends trickled in from other parts of Germany.  By Thursday, all seven of us were here, so we started the second part of our week:  a hiking trip in Austria.

On Thursday afternoon, we made the 90-minute drive to Pertisau, Austria, for hiking in the Alps.  The town itself is small, nestled in a valley at the edge of a lake called Achensee. We stayed at the Einwaller Hotel, which included breakfasts and dinners.

We took two long hikes over the weekend.  The first hike included a 3-hour ascent to a 2,000 meter peak, which gave us a spectacular 360 degree view.  It was beautiful but also pretty windy and cold.  We stayed there long enough for lunch, but then headed back down a different trail, which turned out to be a bit longer and more technical.

The second day we took a longer but easier route, which still had magnificent views.   We stopped at a couple of huts along the way.  At the first hut, we had buttermilk, a traditional drink in this part of Austria.  At the second hut, we had weissbier and schnapps while enjoying the view and warm sunshine. 

On Sunday, we drove back to Berg, changed our clothes and headed off to Wiesn for the final night of the festival.  It was a great time to have all of us (plus a few other friends) together for that final night.

Needless to say, today has been day of rest, recovery, and rehydration.  And saying goodbye to great friends.  Danke!

On the Road Again

After flying back from Chile on Tuesday, I spent the next 3 days in the San Francisco Bay Area doing laundry, changing gear, reading mail, and seeing a few friends.  I even got to go on an overnight sailing trip in the Bay! 

Without a house to return to, I bounced around from hotel, to AirBnB, to boat... So even though I was "home," it didn't exactly feel like it.  Fortunately, my stay was only a few days.  It will be interesting to see what happens when I return in October for possibly three weeks!  A few friends have been gracious enough to offer me a room.  (Thank you!)

I'm now at the San Francisco International Airport waiting for my flight to Munich, Germany, connecting through London.  I am excited because I have friends in Germany that are always so fun to hang out with, especially during Oktoberfest, or Wiesn as the locals call it.  I've lost track, but I think this will be my 5th time at Wiesn.  We will spend a few days drinking beer and eating rotisserie chicken, then work it all off with a hike in the Alps.  

Something tells me maybe we should reverse the order of events next time...Nevertheless, I'm happy to be on the road again.

I'm testing out a couple new items in my kit.  First, I have a new primary backpack that is carry-on size.  Against my own sense of aesthetics and style, this pack is more of a traveling-backpack than a backpacking-backpack.  I guess I'm getting a little older so function is ruling over form.  Second, after a month of being cold in Chile, I invested in a new mid-weight fleece hoodie from Arc'teryx as my day to day outer wear, plus I'm bringing my lightweight down vest.  These, in addition to my full waterproof pants and jacket, will be great on the hike.  Third, I'm leaving my big DSLR camera (and its special small pack) at home, and instead I'm bringing my CamelBak as my second bag.  This will also be useful on the hike, whereas I didn't want to lug my DSLR around on the hike (or Wiesn, for that matter).  

When I have time, maybe I'll publish a short list of my entire kit.  (I've read a few adventure books and that seems to be something that is often included in the appendix.)  Perhaps I'll do that in November, when the third and longest leg of my journey begins.  

For now, it's time to catch my flight...  Servus!

Sunset over San Francisco Bay on Friday night, the evening before my departure to Munich, Germany.  Spent the night anchored in a cove on "Miss T," my favorite Beneteau 37.

Stay Tuned...

I'm recuperating in the San Francisco Bay area for a few days, doing laundry, changing gear, etc.

Then off to Germany this Saturday, September 26.

Also, I'm doing a little reconstruction to the site, so don't be alarmed if you see some stuff move around...

Not Goodbye, Just "Hasta Luego"

I’m back in the Bay Area now, lounging by the pool at the Sheraton Palo Alto, thanks to a friend who was willing to share his suite with me.  I'm in a bit of culture shock going from remote Isla Tenglo to the heart of Silicon Valley in just 24 hours.  (I avoided the long bus ride and just flew up to Santiago from Puerto Montt, which shaved at least 12 hours off the trip home.)  Anyway, I figured I'd make a final post about life on Isla Tenglo:

After 25 days on Isla Tenglo and the surrounding islands, I spent my last night at Casa Roja in front of the wood-burning stove with a glass of wine reflecting on my first volunteering travel experience.   

My immediate thought was how lucky I was to have Christian as my host.  He provided me with an experience that was exactly what I was looking for:  a combination of volunteering, sailing, and adventure.  A lot of people have asked me, “How did you find and decide on Isla Tenglo?”  It was because Christian offered these three elements via his post on www.helpx.net, and he delivered big time.

The volunteering opportunities were meaningful and appropriately leveled for a city slicker like me:  painting, gardening, pruning, hauling, teaching English, etc.  I enjoyed the physical aspect, and luckily nothing required sophisticated skills in carpentry, plumbing, or electrical.   Christian allowed me to choose from a variety of options, and was flexible with my preferences.  I enjoyed helping the local families, being invited into their homes for breakfasts and lunches, and learning about their daily lives.

The sailing-related opportunities were equally fantastic.  Working with David at Club Nautico Reloncavi, I had the chance to learn more about the mechanics and systems of big cruising boats.  Plus we went on three different weekend sailing trips down to Isla Puluqui with Christian and his family to work on their vacation cottage.  These were fun trips highlighted by bonfires, barbecues, and a true group effort on renovating the cottage.

The adventure aspect of the experience was the most challenging but one that I was able to overcome.  By the third week, I had even fallen into a pretty comfortable routine. 

The days themselves weren’t very long.  I was usually awake at 8am, ate breakfast with one of the families around 10am, and worked until about 5pm (stopping for lunch).  If I was on the mainland, I would stick around and use the yacht club’s internet or go shopping until 7pm, and then take one of the last boat taxis home by 8pm (which was sort of like a curfew).  No crazy bar hopping or socializing because the island is entirely residential (with only a few hundred people, I’ve now learned).  I was usually in bed with a book by 10pm.  ("Walking the Amazon" and "Godforsaken Sea").

Although I was awake for only 12-14 hours, they were tough hours:  fighting the cold wind and rain, doing physical labor that my body was not used to, and managing my emotions as I coped with the isolation.  Little things like laundry or sponge-showers (heating hot water on the stove and then using it to bathe) took longer than I was used to.  I learned to plan ahead – making sure I knew what I was going to do with those few minutes of WIFI at the Club, and making sure I had a shopping list for the store on the mainland.   If I forgot to do or buy something, I couldn’t just run out later on a quick errand.  

In the end, I felt good about my adaptation and would have liked to stay – especially because the weather was getting warmer with the approach of summer, and I was getting the hang of things.  I will miss Isla Tenglo and Isla Puluqui, Casa Roja, Christian, and his family. 

But I have to move on to the next adventure.  Germany is next.  I depart on Saturday, September 26.  Then I’m targeting Southeast Asia in November/December.  Then perhaps in January I will return to visit my new friends in Southern Chile.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited for at least a few days back in San Francisco this week to re-connect with friends, do some sailing, and take care of nagging administrative things.   It does, however, feel a bit weird to be coming ‘home’ yet to be homeless.  (Remember, I've rented my house!)  I'll be ok, thanks to friends and/or AirBnB.

Here are a few final photos from my last week on Isla Tenglo and Isla Puluqui...  

A rainbow over Casa Roja.

The cottage on Isla Puluqui:  BEFORE our work.

The cottage on Isla Puluqui:  AFTER our work.

I was really getting into my work, and so I bought an official outfit of protective gear!

The view doesn't get much better than this... on our way back to Isla Tenglo from Isla Puluqui.  Volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco, under some cool cloud formations.

We had a couple of barbecues on the boat with fabulous carne and sides (thanks Christian, Lali, David, and Kata).   One in the evening, accompanied by wine and Christian's singing.  One in the afternoon, as we baked in the warm sun (at last)!  We topped off each meal with this amazing cake -- some kind of dulce de leche, raspberry, and whip cream layered cake.

Week Three Was a Big One, Literally

My third and final week on Isla Tenglo was quite exciting – perhaps more than I really wanted.

First, I was lucky to spend two days working on an 82-foot Swan sailboat.  It wasn’t exactly easy work.  I learned an important lesson:  the bigger the boat, the bigger (and heavier) the work.  It took four of us, plus an electric winch, to haul the sails out of the storage unit and onto the yacht.  The mast on this beauty was 120 feet tall, so you can imagine the amount of sail we were dealing with!  We lifted the sails on deck, inserted battens, secured the foot, hooked on the halyards, pre-fed the bolt rope, and hoisted the sails during a test sail out the channel.  Unfortunately this was all work, no play, so as soon as we hoisted to test the sails, we then furled them and returned to the marina.  On our return, we bought 2.5 tons of diesel fuel which was another ordeal altogether.  That must have been a big gas bill!  (Perhaps this little excursion was my 15 minutes of fame.  As I stood on deck, the locals would maneuver their motorboats alongside us to take a picture and maybe see if anyone famous was on this mega yacht.  Nope, sorry, it's just DBT).

Second, on Wednesday night, as I was relaxing at home, I received an emergency “Presidential Alert” warning of tsunamis.  Without cell phone, WIFI, or TV access, I had no idea what was going only.  I just poured another glass of wine and hoped I was safe in Casa Roja, about 100 feet above sea level.  The next morning I found out that there was a 8.3 earthquake in Santiago!  Yikes.   That’s not exactly the kind of excitement I was looking for.  Amazingly, it sounded like casualties were a lot fewer than what you might expect.  I learned through talking to people that Chile is very well prepared for earthquakes, structurally and socially.  The tsunami alert worked very well from what I gather.   (A 5.8 aftershock just hit again as I sit here in the Santiago airport at a restaurant typing this!  Yet there is no panic.  People just continue eating.  One or two people grab hold of something, but that’s it.  And they look like tourists anyway.)

Third, Friday was September 18, or “Dieciocho,” which is the day Chile celebrates its independence from Spain back in 1810.  Official independence didn’t happen until April of 1818.  I celebrated with Christian, Lali, and their family back on Isla Puluqui.  For the third weekend in a row, we worked on their cottage, but also took time out for some great hikes, bonfires, and barbecues.  This weekend, in particular, we were treated by some of Christian’s singing.

It was a great week.  I spent Sunday night and Monday morning cleaning Casa Roja.  I have mixed feelings about leaving.  More on that in my next post …

You know it's a big boat when you can sit, or take a nap, in the boom....

... or when it has two steering wheels.

Without WIFI or cell phone reception, but I still received the Presidential Alert warning of tsunamis.  

Another weekend on Isla Puluqui working on the cottage.  I hope I get invited back to enjoy it during summer!

The view from our sunset hike on Isla Puluqui... My hosts' sailboats and island cottage in the distance.  Total paradise!  There is a vacant lot here for sale that has piqued my interest... 

Variety is the Spice of Life

Life on the island continues to be tough, absent of many of the conveniences I have taken for granted for so long. 

I find myself focusing a lot of energy on simply keeping warm, eating well, and staying clean. And I've learned to be more opportunistic and resourceful:  planning activities around weather, boat taxi schedules, and tides (the tidal change here is sometimes 20 feet!).  I've come up with some pretty creative dinners utilizing the dried or canned food available at the island store.

Yet when I look back and think about what I accomplished this week, it goes way beyond the basics.  I helped local families with:

• Hauling dirt, garbage, and broken glass from the island to mainland
• Weeding a garden
• Cutting firewood
• Teaching English
• Cleaning a sailboat inside and outside
• Digging a ditch for electrical and water pipes
• Building scaffolding
• Painting two houses

On top of that, I was fortunate enough to take another 3-day sailing trip to the island of Puluqui where we barbecued and had a bonfire on the beach at sunset.

Admittedly, after spending 15 years sitting at a desk, punching a keyboard, and navigating a mouse, my body is screaming at me.  (Ok maybe just "talking loudly" to me.)  I am suffering from tennis elbow, a jammed thumb, bruised ribs, and 3 cracked, bleeding fingertips from the dry, cold air.  Of course, these are mere flesh wounds no worse than a paper cut compared to what many of the locals endure day in and day out, so I carry on with a smile.

In my spare time this week, I made a video that tries to capture the many different hats I’ve worn this week.  Unfortunately, with the painfully slow internet, it’s going to take 5 hours to upload.  I can’t wait around, as I have to catch the last boat taxi back to my island.  So I’ll have to do the upload another time.  (Update on Sep 16:  I have uploaded the video to the Photos/Videos page.)

I have one more week here in Chile, then I head back to San Francisco for a few days of rest.  Then I head over to Germany for hiking.  While I've been very physically active here on the island, I don't feel adequately prepared for a trek through the Alps.

I’ll need a place to stay in San Francisco from September 22 to 25 if anyone wants to host me!

Working on Boats, Exploring Islands

I have now been living on Isla Tenglo for about 10 days and so much has happened!  Yet because I am technologically isolated – and in fact physically isolated – I have just been quietly absorbing and enjoying it all.  On most evenings, I find myself huddled by the fire talking through my fingers to my MacBook Pro.

Rather than post all of that writing, I’ve decided to provide a weekly update of my activities here at www.dannyboytravels.com along with an occasional post on Facebook.  I’ll also post a few pictures with every journal entry, but when I have more time and WIFI, I’ll add some “albums” in the Photos/Videos section with more extensive photo coverage.  The scenery down here is stunning as you might imagine.

This past week (starting Sunday Aug 30) has been nothing short of amazing, as I continued my work, but also explored the surrounding islands.

My work this week focused on the Club Nautico Reloncavi marina.  I cleaned Christian’s sailboats getting one ready for sale (“Finesse,” a 38-foot Jeanneau), and one ready for sail (“Kaweskar,” a 44-foot Beneteau).  As I had hoped, I also paired up with David, Christian’s son-in-law, and helped him with his boat maintenance and repair work.   We changed oil, replaced fuel filters, connected water tanks, repaired electronics, etc.  Each day the hard work was rewarded with a 3-course hot lunch at the Club Nautico Reloncavi restaurant.  Fantastico!

We worked on some amazing boats, including an 83-foot Swan and a 56-foot Bavaria.  Unlike San Francisco where most boats are “day-sailers,” down here the majority of sailboats are serious “cruisers,” equipped with dinghies, radar, solar panels, water makers, wind generators, etc. 

Like I said, the week wasn’t all work.  I had plenty of time to explore my island, and two others.

I first wanted to explore my host island, Isla Tenglo.  I was going to do that Sunday, my day off, but it rained all day long.  I canceled my hike as well as my supply run, choosing to seek refuge in my sleeping bag, by the fire, with a book “Walking the Amazon.”  This was perhaps the low-point of my trip thus far.  The hot water in the bathroom wasn’t working, and the stove was out of propane.  No hot shower.  No hot coffee.  Dinner consisted of a peanut butter sandwich with pumpkin seeds and almonds.

Monday made up for Sunday.  It was a glorious evening so I trekked around Isla Tenglo, taking photos of the distant volcanoes and the setting sun.  Only 8 miles long, Isla Tenglo is at the north end of Southern Chile – basically right where Chile changes from mostly mainland to mostly islands.  There are perhaps 1,000 people, and only a handful of motorized vehicles; in a week, I’ve seen one car.  The only store is about the size of an average bedroom (in San Francisco not Texas).  To get to mainland, you have to take a boat taxi, which sounds way more formal and scheduled than it actually is.

Mid-week, Christian and Lali took me on a 2-day road trip to the island of Chiloe to see a new piece of land that the yacht club had just purchased for a second location.  The drive was about 3 hours, including a ferry ride across the Canal de Chacao.  We drove through some amazing countryside, visited small towns like Dalcahue and Tenaun, and relished hot, fresh empanadas from a roadside restaurant.   The club’s land was at Playa Tutil, and looked like an absolute perfect location for their plans:  a clubhouse, boat yard, restaurant, and small hotel, plus moorings for 10-20 boats out front. 

At the end of the week, we literally set sail to explore a third island, Isla Puluqui, where Christian and Lali have a vacation cottage. We set off Friday afternoon in Kaweskar, a 44-foot Beneteau, with a full boat of 8 family and friends.  There wasn’t a lot of wind, so we motored for 3 hours down to the island, pulling into a serene cove where we moored for the weekend.

Arriving just as the sun was setting, we took the dinghy over to the beach for a big bonfire, marshmellows, and pisco sour in front of the cottage, which sat tucked away amongst lush trees and overlooked the entire cove.   After the bonfire, we went back to the boat for a barbecue, using the grill that David and I installed on the stern.

We spent the entire next day working on the house.  The family just bought the fixer-upper recently, so it needs some work before it becomes the ultimate vacation spot. 

I helped paint the trim around the front and back windows.    After the long day of work, we shuttled back to the boat where Lali had prepared an amazing lasagna.  We huddled around the table eating and drinking the evening away, knowing that we had made good progress on the house. 

The next day was Sunday, September 6.  After an early morning hike around part of the island, we spent the morning back at the cottage cleaning up.  Then we enjoyed roasted salmon for lunch (thanks again Lali), packed up the boat, and sailed back to Isla Tenglo.  We timed it perfectly – just as we were leaving Puluqui, the clouds rolled in and it started to rain.  Fortunately Christian’s boat has a full dodger and bimini over the cockpit so we stayed (mostly) dry.                                         

I finally got back to Casa Roja around 8:00pm Sunday.  I built a fire, made another simple dinner, and relaxed wondering what the next week would have in store for me.  (Another volunteer is coming tomorrow night, so I’ll be sharing Casa Roja.)

The view as we drove through the countryside and small towns of Isla Chiloe.

Securing the dinghy on Isla Puluqui so we can have a bonfire on the beach.

Beach bonfire on Isla Puluqui, with Kaweskar (our 44-foot Beneteau) moored just offshore.

A view of the family vacation cottage on the shore of Isla Puluqui.  (Photo taken from bow of Kaweskar in the foreground.)

Enjoying the view from the top of Isla Tenglo.

A Different Kind of Work

During the last three days, I’ve completed my first rotation of volunteer work across three families here on Isla Tenglo.  Over the next day or two, I’ll work out a full schedule for continuing the rotation.

On Thursday evening, I spent time with Veronica and her two boys Guillermo (9) and Felipe (6), teaching them English, using their school workbook as a guide. 

On Friday, I spent the afternoon with Mari and Rupe and their daughter Rocio (16).  For most of the day, Rupe and I built new stairs up the incline in his backyard. Future work may include building a greenhouse, feeding the animals, and helping Rocio with her English.  I admit I hope it’s not cleaning out the pig stall, but I will if I am asked.

On Saturday, I met Adela and her granddaughter Loreto (10).  Adela asked me to prune the apple trees in her orchard, so that they would fill out and not grow so tall.  This meant clipping some of the upper branches, which proved challenging.  Using rope, I was able to pull some of the branches down toward me to clip them.  Other times I had to use an old wooden ladder I found in the shed.  We’ll see how this goes. Teaching Loreto English may be a safer option.

Saturday evening, I met Christian’s son-in-law David.  He is an accomplished sailor, lives locally, and runs a sailboat repair/maintenance business.  I have offered to work for him for free, in exchange for learning more about boats, so we’ll see if this pans out as a fourth volunteer opportunity.

During these few days, Christian and Lali have been super helpful, available, and generous every step of the way which I truly appreciate.  I've enjoyed a few evening cocktail hours and dinner with them.

Here are a few pictures of what I’ve been up to:

Building a set of stairs in the garden.

The apple orchard I'm pruning.

This beats working in the office!

Bienvenidos a Casa Roja

After a 12-hour plane right, a 12-hour layover in Santiago, and a 12-hour bus ride, I finally arrived in Puerto Montt, Chile, at the Club Nautico Relocavi. The dock master took me across the channel in a small motorboat to Isla Tenglo where I met Christian, my Host for the next few weeks. 

Christian immediately welcomed me into his home for breakfast, coffee, and WIFI.  After being on the road for nearly 40 hours, I’m not sure which one I needed most.

As we ate, Christian shared some history about the island community and the local families I would be helping with various tasks.   

After breakfast, Christian and I walked along the waterfront to “Casa Roja,” a beautiful two-story house overlooking the channel.  I couldn’t believe it when he said this was going to be where I would stay.  “Act like you’re the new owner” he said as he handed me the keys and left me alone in this 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom house.  

As I unpacked, I admired Casa Roja.  It had been recently renovated but still required some finishing touches – in particular window and door sealing.   With lots of big windows and a large open living area, the house was undoubtedly a fantastic summer cottage, but with the cold wind and rain at this time of year, the house was a bit drafty even with a roaring fire in the wood-burning stove.  

As the evening drew to a close, I chose a bedroom on the second floor (thinking “heat rises”), with a magnificent view of the channel.   Before midnight, I was already up looking for extra blankets and putting on my fleece hat and socks.   (After that first night, I moved downstairs to be closer to the fire, which was a much better choice.  I can't enjoy the view anyway when I'm sleeping.)

All in all, I feel very welcome here, thanks to Christian and Lali.  I look forward to my stay at Casa Roja.  (Admittedly, it's taking me a bit of time to adjust to no WIFI or cell phone coverage, and having to worry about things like propane supply, maintaining a fire, etc.   But I'm up for the challenge!

La Casa Roja

The beach in front of Casa Roja.

The view from the balcony.

Not Just Downsizing, Going Totally Mobile!

Over the last couple of days, I've made the final preparations for my adventure.  I have packed up the final items at the house and move them to my storage unit.  My housekeeper and I did a 'deep clean' to prep the house for the renters. (It looks great!).   I washed the cars and hooked up battery tenders.  I packed and re-packed my backpack to make sure I was optimized in gear, size, and weight.  (My new DSLR camera takes up a lot of space, plus a Go-Pro, a point-and-shoot, an iPhone, a MacBook Pro, an external hard drive, and a battery brick.)

Here are a few pics from the last few days.

I'm at the airport typing this... Here we go!

I'm going to miss this tree.  

Many a BBQ happened here.  Good memories!

My Subaru STI will go into hibernation, but she will have company next to the S2000.  

Storage unit filled up!  But I am curious how much of this I will get rid of after months or years on the road....

Lots of extra gear! DBT is always prepared.

Waterproof bags to hold clothes and sleeping bag.  Plus boots, sandals, and waterproof outer layer pants/jacket.

All packed up!  

Getting Down to Business

With my ticket purchased and departure date set (Aug 25), I have scrambled this past week to pack up my house and move my items to storage.  I'm happy to report, it's done. 

I will be renting my house partially furnished, so the move was not quite as bad as it could have been.  But I did realize:  I have a lot of stuff!  Am I ever really going to look back on my college coursework?  Do I really need two snowboards?  Does the Atari even work, or is it just fun to look at?  I guess I'll answer those questions at some point in the future.  I have heard of many people who come back from extended sabbaticals and sell (most) everything they own.   

In addition to packing up the house, I have also packed my bags!  It took me a few tries, testing out my assortment of backpacks, looking for the right combination.  I was hoping to walk onto the plane with one carry-on and one personal item.  However, with the weather in Chile running at 55 degrees and raining (every day), I'm bringing a bit more gear than I had anticipated.  Also, I have decided to bring a lightweight sleeping bag for maximum flexibility on accommodations.  So I will be checking a bag after all.  Disappointing, as DBT prides himself on traveling light.  

In my spare time, I visited www.moo.com and created business cards for my new self.  I figured they might come in handy as I meet new people and look for opportunities to travel, sail, and/or volunteer.   

Decisions, Decisions

With time on my hands and the world at my fingertips, I have found it difficult to decide where to go first.   But I have made the decision.

I will depart August 25, headed to Isla Tenglo, off the coast of southern Chile, the edge of Patagonia.  Through Help Exchange (www.helpx.net), I have identified an adventure operator (www.patagonianautica.com) who is willing to host me.  (Yes, they have sailboats!)

I am absolutely thrilled by the opportunity, even though I don’t know exactly what I will do.  Work on the sailboats?  Work in the orchard?  Work in the lodge?  Teach the children English? Stay tuned.

Incidentally, I have been to Chile a few times before, including as part of my 9-week backpacking trip through South America in 2008-2009.  At the time, I made a series of videos documenting the trip.  I have uploaded a few of those videos to this site.  Check them out!

The Launch

Well, here it is.  The launch of my personal website.  Thanks to my friends who helped me coin the phrase Dannyboy Travels or DBT for short.

The purpose of this site is to serve as a weblog in the truest sense:  a virtual vault to log where I am and what I am doing.  My travels may extend for quite some time; I want to record (and remember) my experiences as they happen.  Don't expect any profound statements of enlightenment or revelations of my inner self.

I don't know exactly where my travels will take me.  I'm focusing on South America (Spanish, outdoor activities) and Southeast Asia (inexpensive, beaches), but I do have a trip planned to Germany (friends, hiking), and Australia/New Zealand (sailing) is not out of the question either.  We'll see.

Likewise, I do not know what I will be doing exactly.  Maybe I'll find work along the way.  Maybe I'll do some volunteering.  Maybe I'll just sit on a beach.  

So many unknowns, but one thing is for sure:  it will be an adventure!

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This is me - sailing on the San Francisco Bay!