montarapete

montarapete
Member Since: November 19, 2005

A trip to Antarctica

By montarapete written 7/9/08 5:34 PM, published 7/9/08 5:35 PM

There is still one continent left I havn't stepped on,maybe it has to wait for another life,but maybe one day I conquer my aversion to being treated like a danger to all other life on this planet and go there anyway.

My old travel companion,my Swiss Army Knife, was confiscated at the airport.The shiny three inch blade and cork screw clearly the perfect tool for the professional highjacker.I felt naked and defenseless but still made it down to Ushuaia on the tip of South America.What had become of the home of the brave?

A ship waited on the pier. My bottle of Rum was confiscated upon boarding. Now the chips were down. I could have paid again the value of the bottle ,like buying back your freshly stolen wrist watch from a pickpocket and would have been permitted to consume it, so it was not about keeping an old sailor from getting drunk. It was simple normal corporate greed.

The trip was fun and fascinating anyway as I had anticipated this confiscation and made prudently other arrangement which kept me from buying it at the bar for five Dollars a shot. Cape Horn,o a calm day  The precious egg  So much to talk about  a rare sunny day  The Dutch square rigger  Deception Island  The old pier  Lupines 

 

 

 


Challenge Entry

Adventure

By montarapete written 7/25/07 12:17 PM, published 7/25/07 12:17 PM

wafer bay bringing the bacon home good day
Adventure
Over forty years ago the world was much bigger then today. In San Jose, Costa Rica I met a couple of Belgians who asked me to join them on a treasure hunt to Cocos Island.
This was before the place was turned into a tourist circus and a world heritage site.
Together we had maybe $2000,no communication equipment, a tent, rice beans, coffee and spices to last for a few month. Hubert had a "treasure map" and a metal detector.
I had a burning craving for adventure and little else.
A chartered shrimp boat dropped us off.
For almost six month we lived off the island without seeing another human being. Then a tuna fishing boat picked us up, barely alive.

the camp wafer bay bringing the bacon home good day
Adventure
Over forty years ago the world was much bigger then today. In San Jose, Costa Rica I met a couple of Belgians who asked me to join them on a treasure hunt to Cocos Island.
This was before the place was turned into a tourist circus and a world heritage site.
Together we had maybe $2000,no communication equipment, a tent, rice beans, coffee and spices to last for a few month. Hubert had a "treasure map" and a metal detector.
I had a burning craving for adventure and little else.
A chartered shrimp boat dropped us off.
For almost six month we lived off the island without seeing another human being. Then a tuna fishing boat picked us up, barely alive.


South of the border

By montarapete written 10/15/06 12:36 PM, published 10/15/06 12:36 PM

 

Requison Every year, for the last twenty or so, my wife and I have spent several months south of the border.
Few places are left we haven’t visited during that time with our old sailboat we had for 33 years and now, with an 15 year old Toyota camper, who has transported us over roads few dare to cross in an four wheel drive.
Baja is one of the few places left in America with a touch of the old West, still almost devoid of mass invasions of people and the sterilized facilities we call the Great Outdoors here at home. Here are some of my memories.
  the beauty of the desert vermillion flycatcher Whales on the bow baja06_081 baja06_104 on the way to San Basilio    


Challenge Entry

Critter around the house

By montarapete written 9/23/06 12:35 PM, published 9/23/06 12:35 PM

There is always something new looking around the garden,under logs or in the vegetation.Popup Linkhumming bird Popup Linkbanana slug Popup Linksalamander Popup Linkgarter snake Popup Linkskunk family Popup Linkspider Popup Linkcorky Popup Linkseptember morning

San Mateo county life

By montarapete written 9/5/06 6:45 PM, published 9/5/06 6:45 PM

A week ago the smelt were spawning.At high tide they came by the millions to deposit their eggs onto the sand,male and female wiggling in the the retreating waters.
The sea birds are well aware of these life cycles and congregate also in vast numbers to feed on the hapless creatures.
There is much to ponder about the value of life.Popup Linksatiated sea birds
Popup Linksea weed Popup Linkthe looser Popup LinkMontaralight house Popup Linktreasures Popup Linkin the tide pools

Coons are people too

By montarapete written 8/28/06 1:20 PM, published 8/28/06 1:20 PM

Coons are people too

I know there are people out there that hate them, trap, shoot and sometimes eat them for invading, what they perceive is their territory. Raccoons have been on this continent much longer then humans, so it stands to reason that we invaded their territory.

Watching this intelligent creature almost daily I can’t help it but seeing one of us trapped in a coon body. Few human mothers show more care for their offspring than coon mothers who with infinite care feed, clean, defend and teach their rambunctious brood the rules of life.
They do open your garbage cans or even sneak into the house to get a quick bite from the cat dish. Few coons cannot outdo your three year old in getting into places they have no business in and doing the maximum amount of harm when left to their devices.
 Keep in mind, where once there was grassland and forest, where they were at home, there are now asphalt, concrete and houses. Hunger is a universally painful experience for all higher life and who would condemn a human mother for stealing food to feed her children or a hungry man for himself.
Once, coming home I found a young coon sleeping in my bed. I never figured out how he got into the house and I felt somehow offended and dispossessed. Pushing him slowly down the stairway with a broomstick I finally convinced him over his hissing to depart my sanctum and later I discovered he was a she, who loved the relative security of my home and a few month later had three delightful little cubs under the house.
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Beautiful San Mateo coastline

By montarapete written 8/26/06 3:24 PM, published 8/26/06 3:24 PM

Few people are lucky enough to live in an area so full of wonder.In a few minutes,from our home in Montara,we can watch the harbor seals playing in the surf,migrating whales in the season,elephant seal colonies at Ano Nuevo or wandering in the towering redwoods at Butano or Big Basin.
The coastline is an ever changing caleidiscop of beaches,cliffs and rock formations.Popup LinkDESCRIPTION_HERE Popup LinkDESCRIPTION_HERE Popup LinkDESCRIPTION_HERE


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