Step one...pack & go.  No excuses.

OK, I admit it.  If I could carry it all,  I would take 6 boards, a first aid kit to support a small nation and enough clothes to  cover all contingencies...including a chance VIP invitation.   BUT this is a SCST surf trip. Two boards and a carry on. No frills.  Tee shirts, boardies and wax. Cutting the load as we speak.   Camera and computer represent most of the weight.

Atlantic turns on (finally) with Tropical Storm Bertha.  Hope to catch some waves  in FL and RI next week with departure from RI to Mexico for SCST III end of week. Just wishful thinking...but swell for Mexico looking good.

In Old San Juan, PR  waiting for an alumni sail on the SSV Corwith Cramer.  We put to sea today. It has been 38 years since I sailed as a student apprentice and then deckhand on the SEA ship RV Westward.  The trip pretty much altered my career path from surf industry to marine biology.  This is SCST Trip #2 for my 60th year.  Going totally offline for the week sail.  Will post a slide show and some stories when I get back to land. 

Doing a dawn patrol this morning.  Swell sounded like it filled in over night.  Some waves would be great as I may jump back to FL a little early.

Eric Geiselman, FL pro surfer showing us mere mortals how to surf a gutless Apple Bay micro wave.

May be on travel, but some daily life activities are necessity.  Setting up Vietnamese coffee for Mike and Gayle who are coming down the hill from their place.  I never miss my Juice Plus and Protandim daily supplement fix. Then a surf check. If no waves, then workout.

Vietnamese coffee with Mike and Gayle this morning to kick off a slow, relaxing start to the day.  No waves today, so looks like a chill beach day.  Here's the view from Da Blue House porch.  Got re-acquainted with some old friends and met some new friends at a party last night. Tortola has grown since my last visit almost 30 years ago, but it is still a beautiful island.

I remember as a kid seeing flight stewards and pilots on the airline ads. Air travel seemed so glamorous then. Who knew what it would evolve into.  My reservation was with  US Airways, But US Air is merging with American so...American is handling some of the flights.  I was on the wrong side of the terminal.  Lugged two surfboards cross terminal to find out that American is now charging $200 per board bag. Welcome to domestic travel... Let the adventure begin :-)

Less than 2 days left to pack and square away work commitments and the anxiety vs. excitement begins to build.  This is a relatively domestic surf travel excursion compared to previous years, but it is a warm up for  a series of adventures to commemorate "the 60th year' (God, health, job & economy willing...).  First stop for 2014 - Tortola BVI and a connect with my SCST wingman and dear friend,  Mike Ryan. Have a house at Little Carrot Bay - "Da Blue House".  Hope I hit a swell...Really hope to see proper Cane Garden Bay.  More to come