Quotes: 

“The first few days away from terra firma, or solid ground, are always the most challenging.  Trying to find your sea legs.  Adjusting to life on a rollicking, pitching, rolling vessel where nothing is level, nothing is stable, and each surge and move is unpredictable, erratic, and sometimes painful.  Alas, life on a boat.”

“We know we’re making progress, but it’s hard to gauge any type of distance traveled when there are no reference points to watch and measure yourself by—only endless horizons of open ocean.”

“Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.  Many sailors have helplessly stared into the boundless ocean and pondered these same thoughts.  The cruel irony of course, is just how precious water can be out here…”

“Ship logs through history are rich with stories of playful dolphins greeting mariners after their long voyages.  European explorers often referred to dolphin like these as “sea hogs”- but we simply look at them as entertaining good will ambassadors as they welcome and escort us into the island chain.”

“The river reminds me of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, in that we are traveling not just into a different geographic location, but into a different time.  I just hope we won’t be muttering, “the horror, the horror,” after this…”

“These small communities were isolated in their respective valleys from each other by high cliffs and turbulent seas, but there was still intensive warfare and cannibalism.”