Return Back East _________________

4/30/94 Sat. Departed Maho Bay St.John about 10:30 a.m..Dave Talley was there as well as a friend Denise to wish me farewell.Dave will be following in a few days.Currently doing about 5 knots under reefed main and staysail with sunny skies and 85 degrees of temperature. As I watch St.John recede into the distance I feel many mixed emotions.So much has happened there.Friends made,relationships altered,an intense microcosm of life itself on a tiny jewel of an island in the Carribean.Played conga last night with the Echo people.It was fitting that I should play one last time. Drumming is a catylast for me.1600 miles lay before me.A time to spend with myself,God and the sea.I'm a wee bit anxious though I trust in my protection and all that is right for me now.

Yost Von Dyke is now off the starboard side.A happy place where one can take a vacation from one's vacation.A magical spot for some unknown reason.I'm so thankful for all that I have learned .I'm sure that things will continue to get better as long as I keep the faith in that direction and continue letting go.

Sixpence seems content to be moving again.Dancing before the wind pointed 0 degrees north.Home, a bed, a bath, all the comforts of land based life.I wonder how I will readjust.Or will the lust for the sea continue to pull at me.I often wonder why I travel in such a slow,uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous vehicle when in 3 hrs.I could be home by plane.On a day like today with the sun,the wind and the sea all in harmony and the bow wave bubbling it all makes perfect sense.This is the way to experience it all.The Good,the bad and the ugly.Plane travel is O.K. but when it get's bad it's really bad ! Travel by sailboat on unmarked highways is a bit risky though the dangers are readily apparent than those dangers on land.Stay connected to the boat,keep the boat afloat and don't hit anything.Real basic.On land there are so many more obstacles.Don't get audited,look twice before crossing,pay your bills, answer the phone etc...When I called my sister this morning she asked me if the coast guard will always know where I am and I said "Thank God no!"

5/4/94. Currently I have the drifter up in light winds.Approaching the 26th lattitude. Not much wind the past few days though I'm still moving albeit slowly.Have entered the land of the giant thunderheads.Clouds as big as Rhode Island. At this rate I'll get to Maine by the fourth of July.Best time to be there anyways.Couple of storm systems brewing north of me.Have a feeling I may tangle with one of them before I am thru.Having a hallucination of other people on board.A couple that is currently living up in the V berth.Not sure if they are dreams are not. Been telling them to keep a good watch while I sleep.They seem to be doing there job so far.

5/6/94 I'm really starting to feel good !!!This is the way sailing should be .Haven't touched the sails in 2 days aside from putting up the spinaker pole for the genoa.Nice easy downwind sleighride.Did 135 miles yesterday.Slept pretty good last night though I awoke in the middle of the night without the foggiest idea of where I was.Finally looked around and was able to put it all together. Went back to sleep.

5/10/94 Decided not to stop at Bermuda.I seem to have built up some momentum so it makes sense to just keep going.Tried to call Bermuda to relay message to loved one's but radio not working.Approaching the gulf stream.Lot's of thunderstorms and lightning all around.I get a little nervous when I realize that the mast is the highest point around.Cold front is approaching with a low associated with it moving to the north.Looks like I might be in for a pasting.

5/12/94 morn. Coasting along in light ne wind doing 3.3 knots.Leaning towards doing a direct shot to Monhegan rather than stopping in Provincetown.Haven't eaten much in about 4 days.Rice crackers and a banana.

5/12/94 eve. Things are really starting to heat up outside ! The cold front is approaching from the west and the sky has a dark and ominous feeling to it.I can see lightning coming as well.Time to prepare for whatever is to come.Changed tacks a little while ago and accidentally jibed the main.Luckily nothing broke but it scared the daylights out of me !.Than I got mad.Immediately following the staysail got out of control and the lines(sheets)went thru the blocks and where whipping around like a wild snake out of control.I had to go up foreward and drop the sail without getting whipped to death.Next time I should put a stopper knots on the lines.I have a feeling the next few days are going to be a lot of fun.

5/14/94 Sat. Been hove to(essentially stopped)since thursday evening.Currently in force 8-9 winds south of George's bank.Can't go foreward towards the cape because the wind is out of the northwest and can't go backwards into the gulf stream.Low pressure system has stalled and intensified over Nova Scotia.My worst fears.Looks like I'm heading east to England.Always wanted to see London anyways ! Currently have triple reefed the mainsail and backed the stormsail.Never been in waves this big before.Every now and then a rogue breaks over the boat with sound like thunder.Glad I made out a will !

5/15/94 Sun. Moving still towards Nova Scotia.Fourth day of gale.If I had flown home I'd be warm in my bed right now.Unable to eat much in these conditons. Everything is wet down below.Pitiful situation.Took some pictures for posterity though I wonder if i will ever be able to show them to anyone. Figured might as well since I have film left.Right now I am at 40.4 lat/ 66.6 lon.Would go to Nova Scotia if I had charts.Started off pretty scared.All I could do was huddle down below with the blankets over my head. Most warm weather clothing is wet ! Kissed the boat for holding together so far.Everynow and then I look up at the mast to make sure it is still there. Must thank Alden at the boat yard for wiring the upper stays to the crosstrees. Sixpence seems to be riding in these conditions well considering.Making 2.5 knots to the northeast.Thinking about the big three things I want in my life at this point.A warm bath,a warm dinner,and a warm bed.

5/17/94 Tues. Gale finally let go ! Ended up 30 miles south of Yarmouth Nova Scotia.It's hard to believe that it took me close to 5 days to get free of the storm. Part of the problem was that I went northeast which took me closer to the center of the low which had stopped moving and was gathering energy. Doesn't seem as bad now that is over.No bones broken though I was thrown across the cabin yesterday and smashed into the stove.

Postscript. Currently I am on Monhegan island staying with a friend of mine who is a lobster fisherman here.Taken 2 hot baths so far and had 3 wonderful meals. Feel like i have been reborn.First time on land since May first.I am really thankful to God for having protected me thru all this.Hope you all enjoyed this series.Nothing was madeup.This is really my life.If you ever think about buying a sailboat and sailing off into the sunset speak to me first.As for me. I decided that I'll NEVER do this again.That is until next time !!! I love Maine MIGUEL