Chickadee "Spirit of the Kootenays" 10th. Year Anniversary

Chickadee “Spirit of the Kootenays” 10th year anniversary away from the dock skipped on by a few days ago. I was out in the jungle and let my anniversary sneak on by me. But it was December 5th 1995 at 03:00 hrs a.m. when Chickadee first sailed out of the Straight of Juan De Fuca, beyond the point of no return, on a voyage around the world. It was a frosty cold winter’s morning I will never forget.

I initially departed out of Chickadee’s registered home port of Vancouver, BC on Nov 11th 2005. I then sailed over to Vancouver Island and spent a few weeks in Victoria BC, followed by a crossing of the Straight of Juan De Fuca to Neah Bay, Washington. I hung out in Neah Bay for about one week waiting for a weather window so I could round the notorious Cape Flattery. It was snowing, the seas were ferocious and I was scared as hell but away we went. I had faith in Chickadee and enough in myself, so my maiden voyage around the world began.

And now 10 long years have passed and there is much to reflect upon. It has been an amazing journey thus far. True enough I haven’t made it anywhere near around the world, though in my heart the fire burns as bright as ever and I would like to circumnavigate with Chickadee. That time will come. Right now I have 3 nestlings that need constant feeding before Chickadee can once again spread her wings free upon the winds of the sea.

Thus far I have logged about 7000 miles. I did a shake down cruise around Vancouver Island, sailed the complete west coast of the USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, the islands of the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras and Nicaragua with countless passages up and down the coast of Central America. All things considered, both Chickadee and her captain have held up well through the miles. One day I will share with you the behind the scenes stories of this amazing voyage.

I was out at our little school in the Nicaraguan jungle a few days ago. There is much work needed to be done for Escuela Mundo De Los Ninos. School is out for summer vacation and now is a good time to make things happen. Escuela Mundo de Los Ninos (World Kids School) has been in full operation for 6 years. February 2006 will mark the beginning of the 7th season of class.

• Build a separate house for the teacher with civilized furnishings, bathroom, shower, solar panel for lights. (earth bag and river rock construction)
• Provide the teacher with her own horse for getting to and from the village to the trail head and back to San Juan del Sur.
• The school needs 17 new desks.
• School supplies.
• Another black board.
• Computer for the older children. There is no electricity in the village but we could set up a computer on a 12 volt / inverter system fed by solar energy.
• Environmental software, sustainable farming, forest management software, health and family planning software (in Spanish).
• Replace the wire mesh for windows with real glass panes. Replace the barb wire fencing with less abrasive mesh to protect the pre-school children from cuts.

With under $5K Escuela Mundo De Los Niño’s can provide education to 35 children in this remote corner of the Nicaragua’s tropical rain forest. The children are theirs and our keepers of the forest. They need you and I to help provide the necessary tools to care for this region of the planet. Education is the key. If you can help World Kids with Escuela Mundo de Los Niño’s please contact either me, Capt Eric at eblackb@earthlink.net or email kindred spirit Renu Arjun at renuska29@yahoo.com