Sailed to this reasonably remote set of islands at the top of panamania. The local people still paddle round in dugouts, some now have outboards but the majority are sail and paddle. We only managed a day here beut it is the sort of group of islands that you could really spend many many weeks exploring. The local trade is making molas or ornate tapestry style mats and wall hangings. Yet another place on the list to go back to….
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Canal Time!
It was time to transit the Canal through to the Caribbean on a typical panama day, grey and torrential downpours on and off. An amazing achievement of engineering and plain hard work, the best parts were fishing in the lake at the centre of the canal where there are apparently plenty of monkeys and even the odd mountain lion as its in the dense jungle and very hard to access. The trains which act as bow & stern line pullers and the shear proximity of the mondo panama cargo carriers going past you all over the place. The transit down was done in the dark to add another perspective to the canal.
Check out the photos for a play by play.
Panamania.
Good trip, hooked a marlin just off the south coast of panama, good size (think it was a stripie) spooled the reel in a min flat and couldn’t do anything to stop it. Bugger! Followed it up with a nice size dorado that night so all was not lost.
Arrived in Panama city on the fringe of the most impressive electrical storm of the trip to date. After a 2 day sail from Cocos. Went ashore for a day to feel what it was like again to be in a city and was over it after about 3 hrs.
Panama itself is a city with a long history of occupations and troops, the Americans being a major part in this as a stronghold for their pacific fleet. Overall a city of incredible wealth alongside widespread poverty with ghettos extending from close to the marina all the way to town.Cocos Is
A mint little island in the middle of nowhere 350mi off the coast of costa rica. First day: misty conditions as we came in @ 9 in the morning. Walked in the afternoon over to wafer bay lush as forest, then walked up to a mint waterfall, swam and posed for a few timotei photos! Apparently part of Jurassic park was filmed here and I can see why. Spent the next day diving and having some time off. The diving was awesome, very untouched, apparently some of the best night dives in the world with hundreds of feeding white tips, by the size of the massive hammerheads we saw and the reef sharks that took a liking to our fins I can see why!
Galapagos
After about 3500mi of upwind sailing and motoring into current it was nice to call land ho early one morning when the island of Isabella came into view. I don’t really know where to start with the stories of the 2 weeks that we spent there. The first week myself and the rest of the delivery crew hung out in Porto Ayora chillaxing, I completed my dive Padi and had some amazing diving in the process seeing everything from hammerhead sharks through to Massive manta rays, which are up to about 5m wingspan and prob the most impressive thing I’ve seen underwater. There are some amazing walks and beaches around the place, we ate well and had a few good nights out around the semis of the RWC meeting some cool people that I’m sure we will bump into again somewhere around the world.
The following week we joined the boat again for the owners trip. This trip involved 7 days of cruising, walking, a birthday along the way, diving and snorkeling. I really can’t describe how awesome it was in words and if I did it would take a long time, so will let the pictures speak for me.
Some places are truly awesome and untouched in this world and the Galapagos is one of these not a place I will ever forget and hopefully I will have the privilege to go back there one day.
Marquses Islands
This was our first stop on the mighty bliss. Good passage there, highlighted by an awesome 200lb yellowfin tuna! The Marquses are very remote, lush islands 800mi nth of Tahiti, pretty epic place and about 20yrs behind Tahiti which was refreshing. Had a day with a car ashore and spent it walking to a beach and seeing the sights and sounds of the island finished with the islands dance practice for the dance competition which was about to take place.
Tahiti
Back to the south pacific! Tahiti has always been good to me, good people, beautiful island and sweet weather. Spent the few days I was there prepping the boat for the 7000mi ahead, kiting, few runs and of course there was time for a tiki pirate party at the sandbar.
New York, New York.
What a cool city to hang out in, Spent my days cruising the city and riding the subway seeing the sights. Plenty to do and see, with culture, good coffee (rare in this American land). Highlights here were defiantly a tour on an old concorde, massive aircraft carrier, big statue in the harbor & tall buildings which really are amazing feats of engineering.
Sardinia
Went and spent a week in Sardinia for Maxi worlds on the Dykstra 110’, good weather, racing, fleet of boats. Long week all round catching up with people & keeping the boat in one piece.
Valencia!
So the mission here was to partake in an epic Tomato fight and smash young Graham/Baker/Dainty at all costs in the small town of Bunyola just out of Valencia.
It started with a leisurely stroll and quiet night out in the old town of Valencia and escalated from there. The following day we moved hotels and had a slightly bigger night out followed by a recovery on the rooftop pool. Then the first of the big events the water and wine festival. This is held out of Valencia in another small Spanish town. It is the opening night of a fiesta that lasts a week. We started by scoring some scalper tickets into the bull ring where bout 8 bands are around the stadium and basically have a bandoff for about 2hrs. This is all happening while local punters decide to chance their arm at a bit of bullfighting otherwise known as running away from 500kg of pissed off meat charging straight for you! I may or may not have had a whirl but don’t tell Joce she will confiscate my passport when I return to NZ. After the antics in the ring everyone marched down the streets behind the bands getting ice cold water poured from the balconies on them, to the square where trucks full of red wine are distributed for, Drinking/throwing at others – Brilliant.
On to the main event the next morning. The Tomato fight was a little bit of madness started by some amigo who managed to get to the top of a greased pole and claim the ham, which means the fight is to begin. Followed by literally truckloads of tomatoes in the main street to destroy the other fighters with J. After it all you attempt to remove the smell and tomato seeds, wash tomato acid out of your eyes, throw away shoes and items of clothing that will never be recovered. All and all a good old day topped off with a night out, two thumbs up.
Spent the rest of the week chilling in Valencia, and then a few days in Barcelona before I was off to Sardinia.
Palma,
Back home to palma for a few weeks of R&R, and some Fiesta!
Well the Spanish sure do know how to throw a party. Had the local Fiesta in Alaro which lasts for 2 weeks kicking off at the start of Aug. this involves everything from local theatre and Mountain bike races through town right into the night with feasts, concerts & dancing. The final night is the real highlight though, basically the Fiesta is based around the patron St of Alaro – St Roc. Devils start on one side of town with a drumming band @ bout 10pm then march through to the town square shooting off a whole range of fireworks. When they get to the square they basically shoot off a whole lot more fireworks and you dance around the square trying not to get burnt hair. All I can say is that it would never be allowed back home for serious health and safety reasons.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Bilbao / San Sebastian with Anna&Fi!!
Awesome so it is family weekend in northern spain!
All met up in Bilbao, cruised the city for a day or so, grabbed a car and shot off to the coast, mint coastline all the way to San Sebastian, i got some Saturday night fever going on while the youngans hit the hay, next day we hit the NW coast weather wasn't the greatest so it was a quick look at the beach, local market then back to Bilbao to get our Guggenheim on. . Pretty amazing piece of architecture, very out of place in the city of Bilbao but cool building none the less, plenty of cool pieces of modern art inside as well, well worth a geeze.
All and all a great weekend, good times catching up with fam and hanging out :)
More photos:
Portugal delivery
Only got to spend a day in portomao, was a bit resorty and touristy in bits, Portuguese is so far from spanish that there was no way i was going to understand it! would like to go back and explore a bit more oneday as both the south of spain & morrocan coastline looked very cool with large peaks rising out of the med..
Photos:
Friday, August 5, 2011
Croatia..
After spending a week in Palma, I had the unfortunate occurrence of being shipped off to Croatia as the fix it man on a 100ft Swan, Gutted!!
Flew into Split & stayed in the old town, beautiful little harbor with a great old town and some real cool old buildings, squares that pumped long into the night and nice weather to top. On the boat the next day and sailed north up the coast to Primosten, crystal clear waters, idyllic seaside beaches, Is fully on my list to go back and spend a week or so there.
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157627236288075/
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Back in Palma
Was good to get home to the apartment in Majorca. Rest was far from near though. Fired straight into the superyacht cup which involved fixing sails mainly cause muppets were allowed to operate hydraulics buttons, incompetent fools! Then a good shindig at the end !
Valencia - San raphael
Brief visit, didn’t see to much of the place, they were setting everything up for the F1 though which would have been sweet to stay for. . Superyacht and race docks like a AC wasteland.
Valencia – San Raphael
Went for a rip round the med on the Hugo Boss open60. Good trip, one night of good breeze running full stealth mode with no batt power and no generator, in other words don’t wipe out in front of a cruise ship! The boat was going up to do Giralia from St Tropez.
San Raphael.
Just round the corner from St Tropez in the south of france, this whole coast is pretty darn beautiful . Very busy though and not really my gig. Hungout fixing stuff on the boat until I was required to be on a plane, drove through Nice, will go back one day but not on the top of my list.
Photos:http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157627067786581/
When in Rome...
After 4 days in Roma I was fully history’d, museo’d, statued and architecture out! The concentration of historically important buildings and places is mind boggling. Saw most of the spots, best thing was the fountains @ 3am when there was no-one else around, and photobombing a tourist shot by climbing one of the monuments and staying still so that tourists could snap away obliviously without realizing I was there. Sweet food if you get away from the tourist spots (which are everywhere.)
Photos:http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157627067782637/
Sardignia
In Porto Cervo for 10 days and 2 regattas. This place is pure unadulterated money and the toys you can buy with it. First regatta was a bit of a write off with little to no wind. 2nd one was enjoyable, new boat though and to much to work out whilst driving all over the ocean. Had some great meals out and prob drunk a bit to much as always but was a blast, remember to bring your gold card or as someone else said, make sure the boss is picking up the tab!
Spent the last few days on the island around the north, some sweet beaches, awesome kiting spots and good hills around to boot. All and all thumbs up but needed another week to see the south of the island, however off to Roma it is…
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157627192319588/
Madrid
Had the pleasure of roaming Madrid for a day. Enjoyed the city centre, awesome 3-4lane roundabouts and really cool gardens in the middle of the city. People are nice, good train system wish I had some more time to explore the art & history museums.\
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157627067777887/
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Rhino Came to Palma!!
So Ryan came down last weekend, was good times all round for sure, we hit an amazing Limestone cave on the South east coast of Mallorca. awesome pools to snorkel in, crystal clear and stunning limestone structure, prob one of the most amazing caves I've ever been in. We also tried out magaluf which is the English hangout down here where all the Hen and Stag doo's come from the UK, so its pretty crazy. enjoyed a trip to Cape de Formentor, raced around Port Pollencia on a hobie 16, Climbed some cliffs - awesome check out the photos.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Island in the Sun
So I have been here on Mallorca for a few weeks now. Palma will be my base for the next 6wks of regattas and seeing Europe. Doing a bit of work here, sailing, exploring and trying to refuel my creative soul so that I can spit out some sweet designs, I have a 3bed apartment in the small Spanish village of Alaro under the hills, awesome place, apart from the fact that not many people speak English which can be a bit testing at the supermarkat etc. . Will update shortly with all the info but for now Photos...
Friday, May 20, 2011
Palma, Palma...
I have arrive in the beautiful island of mallorca, Been here for a few days now, not really had a chance to check out the town as I've been helping out fitting sails to some of the boats and out on the water sailing. The marina and industry here is massive, like a boneyard of infamous superyachts. Move up the hill to Alaro - a little town in the middle of the island today, looking forward to an apartment and some culture. this will be my base for a few regattas in the med and some work around palma.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Southamtpton-Cowes/Isle of wight
Went to spend fri night with Jizza and Kt, was goodtimes all round. Spent the afternoon at cowes, walked around, went to a boat show. Quaint little town, cool little alleys and brick lanes. Night out good fun, went to a few bars, not great music and apparently a bit dead for a fri saw a few good old scraps though. Then train back to London.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Londontown..
Well I have arrived in Londontown! Got in and caught up with Anna in Windsor and spent 10 days doing the following : Notting hill markets and a catchup with Ryan, KD, Blair, Craig and Mel. Few big nights out in town, Some Sunday roasts, caught up with Queenie at Windsor castle and ran in the great park which just keeps going and going. Was disappointed that legoland was a gay children’s amusement park and not the legendary lego structures I had imagined. Hung out and walked the city parks & gardens, saw some of the NZ war memorials which are pretty cool.
Walked through about 60% of the monopoly board, including Mayfair which just oozes money in the form of ferrairs and masseratis. Did a few museums, the best was prob the natural history museum with the dinosaurs section.
Ran into Rob T on the street in the suburbs, seriously what are the chances! So we did some touristie stuff all shirted up, the way to not be treated as a real tourist.
Had a day at the churches, Westminster abbey, pretty mind blowing, lots of toombs, history and famous people all with a story most impressive thing here was the intricate roof in the chapel that holds the second higest knighting order in England. Also went to an evesong service at St Pauls, amazing building with the huge open dome and sweet acoustics for such a huge space.
All and all really enjoyed the time I spent in London, a big thanks to all who put me up Anna, Jono & Kirsten, Rhino, Nat & Dan much appreciated.
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157626793772368/
Sunday, May 1, 2011
West Garmany
Flew to Frankfurt and took the train to Dusseldorf about 2hr trip. Here I met my tour Guide Lea, she showed me around Düsseldorf, quite a rich city had a beer at a bar which had its own brewery inside it just for that bar. Had a kebab on the Rhine river, good kebabs here but still nothing on Cuba Kebab. Then went to leas place in Essen, good little West Germany hangout, most of the city was bombed in the war so mostly new buildings. Had a couple of brews that night, good chilled times.
Slept a bit then went to the Rhur museum, awesome place and great example of heavy industry the west germany is famous for. Old coal mine and there were heaps of them here. Also a bit of a natural history museum and history museum. Then went to another part of town owned by some rich dude that housed all his workers there with a sweet supermarket which you’ll see in the photos. Ate a Currywarst after being taught in german the correct way to order it, played some german drinking games – Looping Louie!
The next day on the way back to Frankfurt I visited Cologne Cathedral, amazingly intricate and interesting structure, had some down time here chilling in the quiet time of gods house. This was followed by a brain explosion of loosing my ticket to collect my bag and therefore missing my train.. oops… not to worry though its germany, you just take a faster train! Mean, good on you german efficiency.
A Big thanks to my personal tour Guide Lea, was awesome to have a garman speaker hanging out.
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157626669058191/
Saturday, April 30, 2011
San Fran round 2
Got back to San fran and hung out for another week or so. Huge, Ant Megan and some whangrei chick came to hang out in San Fran and we did a bit of Alkatraz, went to al capones cell etc, pretty cool place, good rough prision, maybe NZ could learn a thing or two..
Then went back To Yosemitie for some fun in the sun, pussied out of trying to climb the hill again, bears, freezing cold, no weather forecast and a depature time of 2pm back to san fran didn't bode for a good outcome. had a sweet trip though, a lot of snow melt in the 2 weeks since I'd been there. then rounded up my time in SF and flew to Germany. not before being mildly sucessful with a pavlova, and failing dismally with the other one. . .
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Californian Roadie
Left San Fran on a crisp Monday morn. Managed to get myself to Sacramento the state capital. Was a pretty average city to be honest but it’s where the governator had his office I think. Then went to Squaw Valley – home of the winter Olympics in the 80’s and ran into a mate from Uni, rode the afternoon with him, perfect spring conditions, awesome views, massive field with endless terrain. The went and sat on the side of Tahoe for a few hrs work, mint sunset. Couch surfed stefans that night
Rode Homewood the next morning. Sweet little field which literally climbs off the shores of lake Tahoe. Amazing views and good tree riding, was a little crisp under the board as it had melted the day before and snap frozen overnight. No one about midweek riding, softened up by 11 for some sweet time on the board the switched to skis for the avo which was interesting to say the least!
Spent the night in the car in south Tahoe, pretty cold and woke up with a solid amount of ice around. Continued on down to Kirkwood on a beaut spring morning, spent 2 days here and had a nice foot of fresh pow on the second day, some of the most ridiculas riding I’ve ever done.
From here I left the hills of Tahoe sliding around on the ice in my rental car.. to Yosemitie. Spent the next 2 days here walking and enjoying the park. Freezing in the car, waking up with fresh snow on the roof. Tried to get up half dome but fresh snow caused me to turn back and loose myself in the woods for a solid couple of hours, which was compounded by the fact that I stumbled across a black bear (which was well scary!) and had to take an even bigger detour around a frozen lake, down a smallish dodge rockface and back to the track. All and all some amazing views, immense rockfaces, all in fresh snow. Breathtaking.
My next mission was Viva Las Vegas! After 12hrs walking and a 5hr drive straight to vegas arrived at about 2am and walked around in the lights. Following day was a dirty fried American brekkie, dogey backpackers and hoover dam, which is a sweet sweet piece of engineering. 720ft deep dam with 650ft thick concrete at the bottom, built ages and ages ago, good effort. Little night out in the might Vegas and a bit of kip to catch up on all the nights spent in the car. In the morning it was off to the gun range to shoot up an M16 and .50cal handgun, Nevada aey.
Death valley has some nice scenery, rattlesnakes on running tracks, massive salt lakes that are 300ft below sea level, Midnight canyoning where I felt exactly like the guy from 127 hrs, an 11,200ft peak to climb up and get buzzed by the f-18’s flying out of Edwards air force base. All and all had a great 2 days here, not very crowded and very different to anything back home.
On the way to San Diego went and saw the Boneyard where all the old commercial jets get parked cause its really dry, then down to San Diego that night. San Diego was good times, mostly working but spared some time to have a harbor cruise and see the beach, and have a few nights out. Its got a mint vibe and would fully recommend a visit if you ever get the chance.
After a few days in San Diego I headed up to Newport beach for lunch at john Waynes old yacht club, and a Friday afternoon beer at the Newport pier.
The weekend in LA. Did the good ol Malibu, Santa Monica and Venice beaches, even had the classic blading down Venice, didn’t see to many muscles but dancing roller skaters, people getting arrested and little Venice with the canals were defiantly highlights. Hollywood and Beverly hills were accomplished I got lost in the car one last time then dropped it back to the rental place. I then found out how much of a nightmare it is to get around LA in buses… grrrr.
Then there was a yet another day of goodness riding my first rollercoaster! At 6 flags, mental is a good way to describe it!photos and vid here:
Vegas & Death Valley:http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157626669049729/
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
San Fran
Flew into San Fran and had some sweet times hanging out riding the beast for a week or so. (an amazing piece of machinery, the first bike that has concealed compartments inside the frame for ease of running drugs at the border.) did a few touristy things, and was shown around by miss Baker, a bit of catching up with work. Let the games begin. . .
Thanks heaps to Dan the Man for letting me hot bunk his room, Danya and Di, Miss baker, Chris & Greg.
Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157626638706403/
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Carribean
This is the starting point for my trip, I went over to sail on the 44m Drumbeg, for the Bucket regatta. Flew into Sunny St Marteen after a long and drawn out set of flights from Wellington, had a few days training, fixing little bits on the boat. Then had 3 Days of racing and struggling with starting well at the back of the fleet because of our handicap, was some pretty sweet sailing had by all though with 42 boats 95ft+ all racing it was a pretty amazing sight. The islands couldn't have set a better backdrop with crystal clear water and nice 10-20kn breezes.
photos are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillmaxwell/sets/72157626762397824/
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Welcome
Hey guys,
I have often been told that i am, well, reasonably average at communication s this is a way of checking up on where I am and what I'm doing.
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