Sun., Jan.31, 2010 Penuelas to Gilligans/Copa Marina, Guanica

It just keeps getting better. For me, the best paddle of the journey so far. A 12.5 mile downwinder that took just over 3 hours and we experienced big open ocean swells, lots of wind, waves, sand spits out in the middle of nowhere and finished in pristine glassy mangrove channels at Gilligans Island in Guanica. Mike(ATC}, Stuart, and Heather joined me on the paddle and we met Jim, Savannah, Lincoln, Katgie, Ryan and Marley at the finish at Gilligans and Copa Marina Beach Resort. What a contrast of 20 knots of wind at your back in overhead swells, to paddling in swimming pool like conditions and an actual swimming pool at an upscale resort.... needed to rinse the salt off the board and paddle. Heather is our south coast guru, and ATC Mike grew up in Ponce so I just asked them to show me a fun paddle in their backyard and they blew me away. Expectations exceeded by far. The pictures and video should give some idea of what a beautiful day we had. Beautiful day, beautiful friends, beautiful island and awesome paddle. I love Puerto Rico!! I love paddleboarding!!!

Paddle for Haiti, Sunday Jan, 24, 2010

I was humbled and honored to be a part of such a wonderful gathering of fellow paddlers, friends , neighbors and beach bums for a good cause to raise some money for all those suffering just downwind a couple hundred miles in Haiti. A full day of so much fun , perfect ocean conditions and amazingly good energy. When all was said and done, a bit over $20,00.00 was raised from the efforts and generosity of all involved. I can't begin to mention any individuals , sponsors  or anyone who helped at any level , because failing to give credit to anyone who helped would be a disservice.

Just a LOUD THANKS to everyone who came out of the woodwork to help put such an amazing event together in just 7 days. You all know who you are....MUCHAS GRACIAS. We had 88 registered paddlers, four chase boats, and a few dozen others on shore helping with the logistics of the after party. From 7 year olds to grandparents took part in the 3.5 mile paddle from Pinones to Punta las Marias. The ocean glassed off like an aquarium just before the start and was like an ice rink the entire paddle. Surreal conditions. Amazing.Wonderful day, wonderful gathering, wonderful paddle, wonderful party for a great cause. Once again, MUCHAS GRACIAS A TODOS!!!!!!!

Ponce Yacht Club to Jim's Water Plant Wed., Dec.13, 2010

ART:  Today it became clear to me that this adventure around Puerto Rico is about so much more than just paddling from point A to point B. Reconnecting with friends, meeting new people, checking out beaches , islands and cays I have never seen, and visiting parts of PR that I have not been to in so long, and just going with the flow, not necessarily the plan, is what is making it so much fun. I am realizing to expect the unexpected.


I was not expecting to be home schooled by Heather and Savannah today, but what a fun day from start to finish. Science class was about mixing corn starch and water and trying to figure out why it reacts the way it does.

Art class was a blast painting conch shells together and having Savannah give me a custom tattoo. Physical Education taught me that Savannah is probably the coolest and best 8 year old paddler that I have ever met, and that her mom can paddle as long, far, and fast as anyone in PR. The 3 of us had the most beautiful 10 mile afternoon paddle along waters and coast I have never experienced in all my years in PR. After arriving to Point B 3 hours and 20 minutes after we started, Jim met us and drove us back home to shower and have a great dinner at a favorite local spot of theirs in Guayaniila. Lincoln, thanks for the ride to Ponce. Thanks to the Baus family for transportation, great food, company, friendship and awesome place to sleep.Again, my expectations were exceeded on every front. The next day Lincoln and I explored the Ponce shoreline for a couple hours and came out of the water both smiling and talking of yet another successful road trip.

HEATHER: I'm not even sure where to begin on this most remarkable day. Art Wilbe's paddling adventure has turned into so much more. The day began with the joys of homeschooling my 7yr daughter, Savannah. Art wished to sit in on class and that morning we were conducting a little science fun with cornstarch and water..then outside for some conch shell painting. Painting seashells made for some good pre energy for our 8.5mile downwinder from the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club to ICC.. Penuelas. Did I mention what a talented artist, Art is? I think he should reconsider the airport job and get on the roadside with his painted conchs!

Savannah was amped to paddle her own board this distance, but I didn't want to go tooo slow, so we brought a little bench and her paddle and she sat there and paddled the ENTIRE way. shhhh... don't tell Art that is why I kept looking back to see if he was ok. Girls got some guns! The weather, and seas were just gorgeous! Flat water, light wind and super clear. We didn't paddle a straight line to destination but instead zigzagged a bit and first stop was the beautiful island of Cardona. It was a joy to watch Art the Artist set foot on new territory! Then we set sights on Ratones Cay.. let me tell you, it was absolutely incredible! We paralled the little cays in shallow, crystal clear waters and just took it in.

Savannah told me she wanted to build a home on stilts and could her Daddy do this for her? For her writing assignment the following day, she told a story of what her dream bedroom would be like.... it had to do with the house on stilts, stars, waves and paddling.

Savannah’s Dream Room - My Outrageus Room

I have a dream room out by this shallow mangrove island. You can Paddleboard and surf these minin waves. It’s awesome! At night I would Paddleboard into my parents house and eat dinner then paddleback to my dream room and look at the stars and hear the craching of the small waves. Its amazing. Then I go to sleep and have wonderful dreams. I also have a swing and slide.


-Savannah Baus

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

From there we cut through the cays to find that a sand bar blocked the little river through the two islas, so we chuckled and walked our boards over the 50ft dune.. Art, does that count for your paddle around the island, or are you going to be short 50 ft??? From there we headed on down to my paddling, stomping grounds and cut through the mangroves and enjoyed the smells, sounds and colors of it all. Last stop.. ICC, my husbands chemical plant. What a trip to pull in and have Jimbo waiting with his man truck and giving us an off road, bed riding bumpy ride to the highway for a short distance in a rainshower. Yeeee HAW! I think we even heard some country music coming from the front.. yeah, Jim made us all sit in the bed, because we were wet and stinky, and his man truck still smells pretty. Top off an amazing day with dinner in Guanilla.. Monfongo, laughs and even sat with the local mosquitoes.. but they didn't eat much. Thanks for Dinner, Art!! Next stop Guanica?

                                                                              --Heather Baus

Check out the Video "Little Miss Magic and Jolly Mon" of all of the day's Photos, Music, and Fun.  Hope you enjoy! -L.

Coffin Island (Caja de los Muertos) to Ponce Yacht Club Dec, 9, 2010

ART:  The first leg of the journey done with a big group of friends. Tanya, Lincoln, and I load up the car and head south to meet up with Jim, Heather, Savannah, Stuart, Anton and Julie at the Ponce Yacht Club. We load up 6 boards and 8 people in Jim and Heather's  dinghy and motor 8 miles straight upwind in about 15 knots of breeze  to Coffin Island.

LINCOLN:  I remember pulling through the big steel letters on the interstate that simply read P.O.N.C.E.  So cool.  Well, you certainly know where you are.  Next I hear Art tell me to look to my left and I see it for the first time- the island of Caje De Muerto.  It's our intended destination and hear it's beautiful.  I also hear Art and Tanya discussing how far of a paddle it is, somewhere along the lines I hear "Only a seven or eight mile paddle."

Great.  This is... mmm... my sixth time paddleboarding?  Yup, this is gonna be fun.

After a while we get to the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club and meet up with the rest of the group.  What can I say about this crew.? Where do I begin?  Well I just don't have the words on how cool, how much fun, how awesome, well, might have a few of the words but their just aren't enough adjectives to describe how much I enjoyed being around each and everyone one of these human beings.  So rather than describe everyone I edited this 2 minute video laying out the Cast and Crew of this awesome trip.  Check it out:

ART:  I have never been to this island or the Yacht Club and both exceeded expectations. The water was magazine clear where we launched to do the 8 mile downwinder.

LINCOLN:  Art predicted the roughest part of the day would be the ride out there.  7 PaddleBoards, 8 people, 1 cooler full of water and beer, and choppy seas.  No worries, Jim and Heather's huge Dingy mowed through most of the chop (Thanks much in part to the expertise of Captain Jim).  I actually enjoyed every bit of the ride out, especially Heather who was cracking me up as she braved the front of the boat and "road the bull" the whole entire time.

 No wonder they call her THE HURRICANE.  The whole time we had the radio going and we were jamming to all kinds of music.  Some cheesy, some great, but all the music kept us rocking for sure.  What sticks out in my head is ACDC'S "ROCK N ROLL AIN'T NOISE POLLUTION", Foreigner's "HOT BLOODED", and Pink's "I'M COMING UP."  All of which I used for the soundtrack for the folllowing Vids.  Check out this one of the ride out.  Yeeeehhaaaaaa!

HEATHER: What an amazing day with new and old friends. It was super cool to reconnect and with such a common interest,,,,keeping my Bark board scratch free!! Dinghy ride I think was more work than the rocket paddle downwind, thanks to Antoine! Better keep your eye on that kid... he's a SUP rookie coming up the paddles! Really couldn’t couldn't ask for a better day... Gorgeous Caja De Muerto with Gringo pasta salad, seashell hunting, paddle board shuffling, downwind cruise.. oh yeah!!.. that's why we were all piled in a 19ft dinghy with 6 SUP's and 8 folks! Post downwind cervezas and a sundown on Miss MaJic.. when are we doing this again? Thank you Art for getting us ALL out on some paddle virgin waters!!


LINCOLN: The water, holy sh#&*t what beautiful water. Crystal clear underneather and a bright, glowing blue turqoise looking down at it above. It was truly the most beautiful water I have ever seen. Art said it right- "magazine clear". What a blast paddling out to the beach and swimming around, collecting conch, eating some of Heather's yummy Gringo Pasta Salad, and taking photos of it all. Fun, fun, fun!

Check out Video us rocking out Caje De Muerto:

EDITOR'S NOTE: WAS FORCED TO AUDIO SWAP FROM FOREIGNER'S "HOT BLOODED" TO CREED'S "HIGHER".  NOT MY DECISION-  DAMN YOUTUBE AND THEIR SILLY COPYRIGHT RULES- WORKING ON SOME NEW ANGLES TO AVOID THIS STUPID PROBLEM IN FUTURE.  OH YOUTUBE: YOU BASTARDOS!  -L.




ART:  Heather and Anton didn't take much longer paddling back than it took to motor all the way up to the launch. It took us about 1 hour 15 minutes to motor there and took Anton and Heather a little longer than an hour and a half to paddle home. Tanya , Lincoln and I pulled in about half an hour behind. So much fun to just hangout and catch up with good friends on the back end. As always lots of laughs, a great happy hour(s), and we hung out on jim and Heather's pimped out sailboat Miss Majic. Gotta thank Jim,Heather, Savannah and Stuart for the boat support, food , cold beers and beverages, and basically hooking us up ALL day.

LINCOLN: Yes, a big thanks to Heather, Jim, Savannah, Art, Tany, Julie, Antoine, The Baus's dog Ella, and to their cat...um...Jigaboo? (Hey, I didn't name him.) For real guys, thanks to all and can't wait to do it again.

Check out this video of the 8 Mile Paddle back from Caje De Muerto and then the party back on the beach and then on the Baus's boat. What a great time! You guys Rock!

Day 3, Rincon December ,31 2009

ART:  The plan today was to paddle another leg of our paddle around the island. Wake up before sunrise and have a great breakfast and coffee at the local bakery. I drive down the hill to Marias beach to check the ocean conditions and pretty much immediately cancelled the idea of a long paddle. The waves picked up and the wind has died down and I paddle out and catch half a dozen set waves from the outside and get to shore before the crowd fills in. Lincoln and I meet up and he wants to try out his new camera so we paddle out to Tres Palmas and have it all to ourselves for an hour and a half with really fun overhead waves coming through consistently. So much fun and in shock that no one else is out.

LINK:  Just couldn't believe it either.  Tres Palmas is ripping- biggest I've ever seen in PR.  And then there's me and then there's Art.  Nada mas.  Everyone else is down at Marias and Domes.  Suckas!  Y gracias Adios!  Tried the new Surf Heroe Camera out, a few kinks here in there, mistakes are all on my part and trying to learn this amazing new tool.  Settled for shooting with my Still Water Camera for the time being.  Later on I head down to Marias and score some great wave footage there.  Take a breath and check this out-  Oh yeah, it was just that good.  SEE BELOW VID:


 

ART:  We load up the boards and head to Lazy Parrot for a great lunch and I say adios to everyone and head back home in time to make my midnight shift at the airport. To sum up the last 3 days. great waves , lots of fun, and we ended up paddling only the 7 mile leg from Rincon to Anasco due to the quality of waves we encountered. I guess that means we have to head back to the West Coast soon to finish some more legs of the paddle around the island.What a way to wrap up a great 2009. Happy New Year to all....Peace



LINCOLN:  I had originally planned on heading back with Art in my car, but after experiencing this short stint in Rincon I decided I just had to stay to celebrate the New Year with all my friends there. To all of you-  Well gracias for everything and what a blast, huh? 

SEE BELOW VIDEO AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND

Will see you all soon back in Rincon.  (NO GPS SHORTCUT NEXT TIME!)

And what a great New Year it was.  Was so stoked to ring in the new year but halfway through realized how much I missed all my friends back in Isla Verde.  Long story short, headed back first thing in the morning (mas or menos).  And the good times just kept going.  Pinones for Pinchos and laughs.  And then picking up one of my best bro's at the airport.  Welcome home JT. 

Love you all.  The adventure continues.  And Feliz Trez Reyos to everyone.  HAPPY 3 KINGS DAY.

Taino Divers, Rincon to Anasco Public Beach Wed. Dec. 30th, 2009

ART:  My friend Lincoln is on his way from San Juan to meet me for a downwind leg of our paddle around the island. I had plenty of time to prepare due to his wonderfully accurate GPS system he swears by.

LINCOLN:  O.K., this is how it breaks down on my end.

   Me:  Yo Art, in Aquada. 

   Art:  Yo what's going on!  You're right around the corner, brotha.

   Link:  You know it!  Hey, what's the name of the next road I need to take? I think it's... Oh wait, no     worries, I'll just plug in my GPS from here.  My girl will do me right.  (I call my GPS my girfriend because of the female voice that speaks from the magical grey box and tells you where to turn and where to go.  Art hates the thing.) 

   Art:  No! Don't use your GPS.  I hate that thing.

   Link:  No worries, man.  My lady hasn't done me wrong so far.  Be there in a few.

   Art:  OK, but if you have that bitch talking when you get here I'm throwing her out the window.

   Link:  Roger that, brotha. 

Fast Forward two hours later.  I'm lost in the middle of the mountains, nowhere near Rincon and somewhat close to Mayaguez.  Wind up in a little mountain town of Las Marias.  When I ask the local bar owner if I'm close to Rincon he smiles, shakes his head, and says, "You used your GPS didn't you.  Happens like that here.  For some reason people end up here lost all the time because they listen to their GPS."

I nod, laugh, look at the map and realize just how wrong my girlfriend has done me.

  PUTA!

Why didn't I just go with the map before?  Because I love my girl and figured she was just shooting me to some great shortcut.  Again, here I am, two hours later.  Beautiful Country Though.  My bad Art.

ART:  The swell has dropped substantially from yesterday an the wind is howling around 25 knots all day, so we scrap playing in the waves and while I wait for Lincoln, Izzy and Frank from Taino Divers help me plot a downwind course from their shop to the public beach in Anasco 6 and a half miles away. Lincoln finally arrives after a short 2 hour detour through the hills of Mayaguez. We launch and paddle right along the coast the whole way stopping off at various beaches to either rest, meet and play with the locals, or chill out and drink cold Medallas at upscale beachside resorts depending on whose perspective you take. Long story short, I paddled to the car we dropped off in Anasco, and Lincoln supported me for 80 % of the way.

LINCOLN:  Just a quick note here.  Yeah, I had a blast.  Little worn from my detour.  As we begin our paddle the conditions are perfect- wind at our back, calm seas, and sun a shining.  I initially feel like I could go forever.  And then reality sets in.  Wait, what's going on here?  My knees are shaking and where did these dizzy spells come from?  Art asks me if I'm OK and that if we need to turn around that now is the time to decide.  No man, I wanna keep going, but damn never figured this would be so tough.  How are you doing?

Art smiles.  He hasn't even broken a sweat.  I watch him paddle just ahead and suddenly realize just how good of shape he's in.  This is Lincoln's fifth time on a PaddleBoard.  Art- Going on four years.  He's one of the best in the biz and I suddenly hate and love the bastard all at the same time. 

"Let's keep going, dude.  I can handle it.  Just don't laugh at me when I break it down to paddling the rest of the ways on my knees.  Oh wait, check that, I'm switching to my butt now.  Beautiful country though.  My bad Art."

And thank god we kept going.  What a blast.  SEE VIDEO BELOW- ENOUGH SAID.

ART:  Lots of smiles and laughs on the backend of the paddle which means it worked itself out just the way it was supposed to . My good friend Ron sums it up simply, "there is the plan, and then there is what happens."  What a fun two days. Incredible waves, old friends, new friends and lots of laughs. Thanks to Eduardo for the beds, Carson, Dennis, Izzy, Frank and everyone at Taino divers for food, friendship  and laughs, and Pablo for his Ron Barrilito goodies and support and stories. The beach where I pulled up in Anasco is stunningly gorgeous. The only negative was being reminded of how terrible the poor stray animals of Puerto Rico are treated. Breaks your heart, what a shame and disgrace.

Tres Palmas, Rincon Tuesday December 29 2009

ART:  Worked the midnight shift at the airport, and after checking out the waves rolling through Caballos from the control tower, a trip out West was  a no brainer. Got off work at 7a.m. and hurried home, loaded up the car with all the essentials for 3 days and was at Taino Divers in Rincon by 11a.m. When I pulled up , Carson, Ernie and Bryan were coming in from a fun morning paddle at Tres Palmas. Some of the prettiest and bigger waves I have seen in a while. 12 -15 foot faces with an occasional set in the 18 -20 foot range. Caught 6 waves, four being the biggest, prettiest waves that I have caught on a paddleboard. Within the first hour , I saw half a dozen boards snapped in two. The scene the whole day was pretty impressive. Wilderness in Aguadilla was as big, clean and perfect as it gets. Got out of the water at 3:30, a bite to eat at Shipwrecks and off to my friend Eduardo's guesthouse ,Sandy Beach Surf Camp or as Ron Barrilito Pablo calls  it, Villa Kandui.

LINCOLN:  Checked out Art's Photos, just too many great ones to post all through this one.  Check out this short video with music to truly get a feel.  This is the way we'll be rockin' for now on as we share our words/photos/videos and adventures with all.  And everyone is invited to come along anytime.  Yessss!