The Great Journey

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[ Praying for the Safety of the "Great Journey" at the Howling Sea ]

Navarino Island at the Southernmost tip of Chile---This is the place where human beings finally arrived after 4 million years of travels from Africa.
December 5, 1993, the day we started our Great Journey back towards those roots. There were some gravestones on the beach. There rest the souls of the indigenous Yamana tribe who arrived here after a long journey in the distant past. We paid respect to them, sprinkled champagne on our kayak and rowed out to the sea.
Over the sea of Patagonia, strong westerlies blow throughout the year. They are called, "Howling latitude 30 degrees south, shouting latitude 50 degrees south" and this is the area sailors from all over the world fear. Innumerable ships have been wrecked by the raging sea in the age of sailing boats. Soon after we started, we were attacked by the storming wind. The fear of ancient sailors became real.
The stormy weather lasted for many days. Our kayak was tossed about like a little leaf by the merciless waves from both the front and the back. There was fierce spray from the surface of the sea caused by the gusts of wind. Waterspouts appeared and waves turned into white mist. The radio warned of a rainstorm with 50 meters per second wind coming toward us. We were forced to land our kayak in a bay, where we greeted the New Year.
January 3: The sea calmed down on the 6th day. We rowed vigorously fully energized after a good rest. Upon entering the Strait of Magellan, glimpse of the South American continent loomed ahead of us.
January 5: We rowed along the coast of the South American continent with dolphins accompanying us.
At 3:00 p.m. we arrived at Punta Arenas, a town in southern Chile. It had taken about one month to cross the strait. We had blisters on our blisters on both fingers and palms.