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Donations to the Costa Rica Mermaid Swim are most welcome!
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See the Contact page to email, mail or phone Renate if you would like to donate cash or equipment or click the "Make A Donation" link on the left to donate through PayPal. Dear friends, acquaintances, sponsors and potential sponsors!
The needs of the ocean are more and more urgent. Alanna Mitchell, the author of Sea Sick writes that our time frame to effect serious change in marine protection is 15 to 30 years before it is simply too late.
In one week, I'm beginning my third and fourth marine sanctuary swims.
The first one will lead me from Cabo San Lucas to Bahia Concepcion along the inside coast of the Sea of Cortez, the Baja Peninsula, including a swim around Isla Espiritu Santo.
I have been offered some logistical assistance by the owner of the ecotourism company Baja Expeditions, Tim Means, especially for the island swim.
I will spend two months, from October 25th to December 14th, on this first expedition, hoping to touch as many lives as possible along the shores of the Baja Peninsula in workshops and presentations.
My goal is to collaborate with marine protection and environmental organizations in asking for 30 % marine sanctuaries. To this end, I will swim approximately eight hours a day and spend the nights either camping or hosted by hotels.
I'm asking for support in financing the support boats as well as sponsorship of the hotels along the route. Also, I'm hoping for any networking that would assist me in securing continuous boat support along the route, as well as media interviews, and the organization of the workshops along the way.
On December 14th, I will return to Costa Rica for my third Pacific coast swim. This time it will include a group of youths that will accompany me for a one week swim along the inside of the Golfo Dulce.
It would be a dream to have a young person successfully accompany me for my third crossing of the Golfo Dulce.
By taking young people with me for a week I hope to
instill a deep sense of love for the sea and help to create the next generation of environmental activists.
I would like to take several other youth groups along the coast on these one week marine rites of passage.
In order to finance this, I'm asking for interested potential sponsors to consider taking on boat support days.
For the two expeditions, the minimum cost merely in boat support will be ten thousand dollars. That would be at 100 dollars a day. And often the cost is much higher.
Dawne Deeley of Victoria, Canada, has just offered five thousand dollars in support.
It would be wonderful to find a matching sponsor.
Of course, any sponsorship would be wonderful, including the offers of overnight accommodations along both routes.
Please feel free to forward this letter to anyone who you might think could be interested in supporting this effort to protect our seas.
Many, many thanks in advance to all of you,
Sea greetings,
Renate |
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Donations: 2009-2010 Swims (Baja Mexico and Costa Rica) |
Thanks to the following people and organizations who donated to the swim:
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Voces Intimae |
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Thank you, dear fellow Alto singer, for your anonymous donation of 25$ on May 30, 2010, towards the PRETOMA swim next year! The first donation always makes a future swim real! |
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| Donator |
Johnson Outdoors |
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www.eurekatent.com donated a beautiful drybag backpack after my return in March 2010, thank you so much! What a beautiful surprise in the mail, - when I was least expecting it! It will be so useful on the next swim expedition for marine sanctuaries! |
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| Donator |
Johnny Mendez, Diario Extra |
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Thank you, Johnny Mendez, staff writer of Diario Extra, Costa Rica's most popular newspaper, for unflagging support of the last phase of my swim, with 3 separate news entries, TV interviews and internet publications.
You were there when I emerged out of the sea at Bahia Salinas to congratulate me for completing the 1011 km swim. You connected me with the mayor of La Cruz and were there when things fell apart, which they did regularly, and always let me know I was your personal heroine!
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| Donator |
Matias Gonzaga |
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Thank you, Matias Gonzaga, mayor of La Cruz, for 5 days of boat support. |
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| Donator |
recreocostarica.com |
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Thank you, Stanley and Margaret and Christine, for 3 nights of accomodation in your luxurious villa, and fabulous meals every day! And thank you for covering the gas for one day of boat support, and tipping the owner of the phone line i used when no other communication was available, so generously! |
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| Donator |
Manuel Allan, owner of SantaElena lodge |
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Thank you, Manuel Allan, for 2 nights accomodation in your beautiful lodge with the most amazing wood everywhere, and all the wonderful meals during those 2 days! |
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samba, MINAET |
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- Thank you, Samba, for giving me 1 day of boat support while swimming the section around the magical Murcielago Islands!
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| Donator |
MINAET Santa Rosa |
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Thank you, Samba and Cristian, for 4 nights of accomodation on the isla San Jose field stations grounds, and all the love and care you showered on us! |
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| Donator |
Resort Divers |
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Thank you, Robert, owner of Resort Divers, for a wonderful day of diving in the Papagayo Bay, and 3 days of boat support, that brought me right to heaven on the island of San Jose! |
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| Donator |
Tranquilamar Sportfishing |
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Thank you, owner Bob of Tranquilamar, for one day of boat support! |
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Ocotal beach resort |
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Thank you, Adriana, for setting up my 5 nights at Ocotal beach resort, in the honeymoon suite, which was absolute heaven! And thank you for the wonderful day of diving with the resort dive center! |
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| Donator |
Donde Claudio y Gloria |
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Thank you, owner Javier Rojas, for 5 nights accomodations in employee quarters next to your restaurant, as well as the meals during those days. Out of 5 offered boat support days offered, 1 became reality, thank you. |
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Charly Weber, Casa Time Out |
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Thank you, Charly, for 2 nights of accomodation, February 19 and 20, 2010, at your lovely cabin and the best ever German breakfeasts including German homemade bread! And that unforgettable Pizza made right there from scratch in your homemade oven! |
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Cabinas Ostional |
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Thank you, Cabinas Ostional, for your donation of the turtle mass arrival tour! |
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Karla, the Healing Center of Radiant Awakening |
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Thank you, Karla, for that lovely and so needed massage at the Harrmony Nosara Hotel, in the peaceful healing Centre of radiant Awakening! |
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Bobbi Johnson |
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Thank you, Bobbi Johnson and other friends from Nosara, for your very generous donation of $400 US towards boat support!
And thank you to the audience of 15 souls in my workshop in Nosara that contributed 25$ in total towards the swim! |
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TLT the Leatherback Trust |
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Thank you, Aimee Lesie, for one day of boat support financial coverage, and coordinating my stay at Playa Grande! And for that handy memory stick! |
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MINAET |
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Thank you, Rotney Piedra, Park Director,for providing the logistics for my swim through the Parque Nacional Marino de las Baulas. |
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Kike's Place |
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Thank you, Kike, for 5 nights of accomodation and all the meals at your wonderful place named after you, and for buying all the gas for 4 days of boat support, as well as paying the salary of the capitan, 100.000 Colones, or appx. 200$. A special thanks also for picking me up by car in Nosara, and transporting me back and forth to the boat, and back to Kike's place! |
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| Donator |
Kike's Place |
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Thank you, Kike, for picking me up by car in Nosara and taking me to your place - named "Kike's Place"! - for my Playa Grande base from February 14 until 19, including all the meals, and access to your boat, and transportation to and from the boat access! And thank you and your wife for your care during my circulation collapse on February 15, calling doctors, and arranging for my safety! |
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Carlos, owner of Pacifico Azul restaurant |
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Thank you, Carlos, for 2 days of boat support, February 9 and 10! |
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Harmony Nosara Hotel |
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Thank you, Irene Morales, manager of Harmony Nosara Hotel in Nosara, for your wonderful sponsorship of 7 nights and all the meals, and an amazing atmosphere of peace and love, and countless phone calls to try to find a boat capitan! And thank you for giving me an opportunity for a staff workshop that was even attended by the general manager of operations of www.Cayugaonline.com , Jorge Arietta! |
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PRETOMA |
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Thank you, Randall Arauz, director of PRETOMA, Costa Rica's foremost environmental activist organization and NGO, for giving me exclusive access to your vigilance boat from February 1 to 6, including the capitan, and Eric, a wonderful obdserver and assistant for the journey! And thank you for your contribution of 30.000 Colones - appx. 60 $ - towards the salary of the capitan! |
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Punta Islita hotel |
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Thank you, Alonso Bermudez, manager of Punta Islita Hotel, for sponsoring 6 nights from February 1 to 7 and all the meals in one of the most beautiful hotels in the world! I am so honored you chose to be a part of this swim in this most generous way, including a workshop you asked me to give to staff, and to the community! |
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Richard, www.ticamassage.com |
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Thank you, Richard, for a much needed massage on February 8, 2010, what a massive relief it provided! it was an hour in heaven!
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HAWE, www.bocanosaratours.com |
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Thank you, HAWE and Beate, for a wonderful ride on February 8, 2010, when my boat support once again fell through - it was the perfect way to forget the loss of a swim day, on the back of one of your magnificent horses!
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Interbus, transport from Quepos to Jaco |
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Thank you to Interbus for sponsoring the bus transport on February 1, 2010, with all my gear from Quepos to the ferry terminal in Herradura, Jaco!
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Alberto, Zuma Tours, Montezuma |
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On February 1, 2010, I had the pleasure to be sponsored for the boat crossing of the Golfo de Nicoya, from Herradura to Montzuma, by the owner of Cocozuma tours, Alberto. On top of that, Alberto gave 9 gallons of gasoline towards my boat support with PRETOMA, a very generous gesture indeed! Thank you, Alberto!
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Villa Lirio |
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Thank you, Robert, owner of the Casa Roland hotels, for 3 nights accomodation at the lovely Villa Lirio in Quepos, from the 29. to the 31. of January! |
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H2O Adventures, Rios Tropicales |
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Thank you, everyone of Rios Tropicales, for an amazing river rafting experience on the Naranjo River! An especial thank you to Katherine for typing a very long blog entry for me, right after being the safety boater! |
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Paul, Manuel Antonio Expeditions |
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Thank you, Paul, for the morning tour into Manuel Antonio Park with one of your very knowledgable guides! |
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Katharine Evans, Oceans Unlimited |
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Thank you, Katharine, for one nights accomodation in your lovely home, and that fabulous Thai dinner you prepared for us! And thanks for letting me call one of my sons, and lots of local calls! |
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Titi Canopy Tour |
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Thank you for a wonderful zipline tour on the 28. of January 2010, that included seeing 2 green and black poison dart frogs! And the most handsome guide Luis! |
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Hotel Si Como No, Quepos |
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Thank you, owner Jim, for hosting me for 4 nights and all the meals in your spectacular hotel in Manuel Antonio, from the 24. to the 27. of January 2010! The view from the room was spectacular, looking out into my favorite swim site of the 1000 km swim! |
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Oscar Monche, Mayor of Quepos |
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Thank you to the mayor of Quepos for 75.000 Colones - appx. 150$ Can. - towards a day and a half of boat support! And a ride in the police van transporting my belongings form one accomodation to another in Quepos! |
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Amigos del Rio, Quepos |
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Thank you, Amigos del Rio, for an inspiring day rafting the famous Savegre River on January 25! Thank you for giving me an opportunity to paddle in a tiny inflatable kayak, just me and a guide, Ronny, and for the donation of the photo CD! |
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Iguana Tours |
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Thank you, Andy from Iguana Tours, for inviting me along on an afternoon of horseback riding, swimming in a waterfall, and a great dinner! And thank you to Split Ear, the horse that faithfully carried me all afternoon! |
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Oceans Unlimited Scuba Diving |
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Thank you to the staff at Oceans Unlimited for a fabulous day of diving, and seeing again old friends! It is always so wonderful to know there are fans out there! And even better, to get to dive with them! |
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| Donator |
Aguila de Osa tours |
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Thank you, Carlos, for inviting me to the mangrove tour along the Sierpe! Even though I was so sick in that day I enjoyed all of your wonderful explanations of the wildlife we saw!
And thank you for the snorkling tour to Isla de Cano, my favorite place in the world, and my spiritual home! |
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Walter Brenes, Bahia Aventuras |
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Thank you, Walter, for a wonderful half day tour to see dolphins! What a treat to see so many of them, swimming so close to the boat! And thank you to Junior, your capitan, who traded his fins for a pair of mine, his being much softer and therefore less harmful to my tendonitis in the feet! |
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David, Southern Expeditions |
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Thank you, David, for a wonderful day tour with your company Southern Expeditions to Isla de Cano, including a mangrove tour along the Sierpe! What a splendid day it was! |
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| Donator |
Chango, Bahia Ballena Tours |
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Thank you, Chango Jose, for giving me one full day of boat support, and access to one of your boats for 3 other days of support! Your capitan Antonio helped me to find all the best routes on that day´s swim trajectory, and was absolutely delightful to work with! |
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Rana Roja cabinas |
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Thank you, Jose and Marielo, for 6 nights of accomodation and transport to and from the boat with all my luggage during base changes! |
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Esteban Calderon, owner of Bahia Azul |
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Thank you, Esteban Calderon, for your kind donation of computer time anytime I needed it while in Bahia Ballena, and that lovely farewell dinner! www.hotelbahiaazul.com |
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Kumari, Mystic Dive Centre |
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Thank you Kumari, for arranging for me to stay at the Rana Roja hotel in Bahia Ballena, and for a lovely dinner on my second night - the 19. of January - here, as well as the purchase of a very expensive medicine, Nexum, to treat my stomach ailment! |
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Jorge Uribe |
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Thank you Jorge Uribe , owner of the Las Vegas Restaurant in Sierpe, for your kind donation of 50,000 Colones - appx. 100$ - for one days boat support in the Drake area! |
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Abraham Concepcion |
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Thank you so much, dear Abraham, for donating the use of your gorgeous home at Punta Encanto for 5 nights so the Marien Rite of Passage could have a magical home base! Vasti, Michelle, Berta and me were treated like long lost family, and your meals wered divine!You treated us with utmost care and kindness AND SUPPORTED US IN EVERY WAY, INCLUDING THE USE OF YOUR CINEMALIKE TV TO SHOW ENVIRONMENTAL MOVIES AT NIGHT, THE USE OF YOUR POOL FOR RELAXATION AFTER A HARD DAY´S SWIM, THE COMPLETE ACCESS TO YOUR KITCHEN - YOU SPARED NO EFFORT TO MAKE US COMFORTABLE! |
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Bradd, owner of Aguila de Osa |
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Thank you, Bradd, for your kind donation of 9 nights in youre fabled Inn, 6 of these even in your very own bedroom! Thank you also for this very special trust in me! Thank you for all the wonderful meals during my stay at Aguila de Osa! I think I gained ten pounds at least!
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Emmanuel Express Restaurant |
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Thank you, Emmanuel Express restaurant in Puerto Jimenez, for all those lovely meals December 16 to 18! And thank you for the use of your laptop! |
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Parrott Bay Village |
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Thank you, Parrott Bay Village, for the beautiful guest cottage No. 1 for one night, Deceber 18, 2009! |
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Aventuras Tropicales |
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Thank you, Aventuras Tropicales, for a wonderful kayaking tour in the Golfo Dulce! |
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FECOPT |
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Thank you, FECOPT (Federacion Costarricense de la Pesca Turistica) for 6 days boat support in the Golfo Dulce, 6 days boat support for the Punta Burica to Punta Matapalo section, hotel accomodation in the Fogon de Dońa Innez in Pilon and meals. |
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Jackeline, Choza del Manglar |
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Thank you, Jackeline, owner of Choza del Manglar, for 7 nights of accomodations and breakfeasts surrounded by jungle and crocodiles and monkeys! I especially appreciated your converting an office space into a lovely bedroom for me, with air conditioning and lots of space, as well as the use of a bicycle! |
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Analucia Gonzales |
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Thank you, my very dear friend Analucia, for kindly cancelling my first Costa Rican phone bill for the month of December in the amount of 29275 Colones (appx. 60 $) via internet! |
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Francisca Pachita Miranda, subdelega de La Playa |
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Thank you, Pachita, for your friendship and company for the week in La Playa, the wonderful dinners, the party and meeting me at the end of the 404 km swim in Cabo San Lucas! |
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Jesus Cesena Burgoyne, Coordinador , FONMAR |
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Thank you, Jesus, for making a miracle happen: inviting me for my last week to swim the entire Cabo Pulmo to Cabo San Lucas section sponsored by FONMAR as well as your fishing cooperative "Bario de La Playa"! From our first conversation to my being picked up by 2 of your staff in La Paz, mere hours passed, and you had arranged for all the details to be taken care of, including the hotel and all the meals and all boat support, at no charge to me! You are my hero! |
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Mary Shroyer, owner of the La Paz Marina |
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Thank you, Mary, for your kind offer of your guest cottage for my last 5 nights and days in La Paz! And thank you to Bony, the lovely and faithful dog that was my constant company during my last days, and who helped me through many lonely moments! |
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Ciro, Sapore gourmet foods |
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Thank you, Ciro, for your kind donation of gourmet foods for the swim! To eat real Italian salami while on the camping portion of the expedition was such a treat, and, oh, that real Italian Parmiggiano! And the very finest Italian olive oil, all such unexpected treats! Thank you also for the lovely evenigs spent at your beautiful store, with good conversation and the best bread in the world, and your home-made dried tomatoes with rosemary!
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Niparaja |
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Thank you to the staff of Niparaja who provided me with the ride back to La Paz from La Ribera on December 2! |
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Gabriel, La Ribera apartments |
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Thank you , Gabriel, for 4 nights of accomodations that included the most comfortable bed of the journey so far! Thank you to Pepe Murietta for arranging my stay in this apartment! |
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CONANP |
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Thank you to the National Marine Park staff in La Ribera, especially the Park director Alejandro, for 2 days of boat support towards Cabo Pulmo, and all those wonderful meals! I look forward to our big project next year! |
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Poli, Complementary Therapies Center |
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Thank you, Poli, for several treatments including foot reflexology, massage and an Ion cleanse! Andf your friendship and a lovely dinner together! |
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Maria Teresa Solomons |
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Thank you, Maria Teresa, for allowing me to stay in your home since my arrival on October 25, all the days I was actually in La Paz! Without a place to stay that I could call home, I think I would have given up...And thank you for all the wonderful incense in your place that added peace and tranquility to my nights there! |
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Laurie Pederson |
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Thank you, Laurie Pederson, for the most moving Thanksgiving dinner of my entire life! You placing me at the head of the table and truly honoring my work on behalf of the oceans truly stirred my soul! And thanks for the 1000 Pesos, appx. 76 $. I look forward to seeing you again in Victoria! |
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| Donator |
Pepe Murietta |
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Thank you, Pepe, for allowing me into your home, and to Malo, your wonderful house mate, for that marvellous massage at the end of an exhausting day of swimming! And thank you for the connection with the CONANP people at the National Marine Park in Cabo Pulmo! |
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Baja Joes hotel |
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thank you, Angie and Joe, for generously accomodating me for 4 nights, and Karen for 1 night! It is such a peaceful and beautiful place to rest at night, after a long day's swim! |
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| Donator |
Karen at Grupo Tortuguero |
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Thank you, Karen, for accompanying me for 2 days for my swim in the La Ventana section, and thank you to Grupo Tortuguero for supplying the vehicle and gas to reach the Coast! Thank you for your connection with Pepe Murietta who was my next host and connected me with the National Marine Park staff in Cabo Pulmo! |
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Nick Rodriguez, owner of Rancho Las Cruces |
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Thank you to the owner Nick Rodriguez, grandson of a former Mexican president, for 2 nights accomodation and meals in the exclusive Club Las Cruces, during an engine breakdown and unnavigable weather! |
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| Donator |
Yolanda, owner of the Dock cafe |
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a thousand thanks to yolanda, the owner of the little Dock cafe and restaurant, for being my home away from home, and countless meals during the difficult 2 weeks of preparing the swim from scratch, given that no prior organization had taken place, in spite of so many promises....You, Yolanda, cared for me as if I were a family member, and all your staff were so very kind to me. These were the kind of gestures that made me aware that there are really good people out there, and quite often they are the unsung heroes...you are one of mine, Yolanda! |
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Silvia Guido Cota |
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thank you, Silvia, for the most amazing Reiki session of my entire life! You gave so much of yourself today, going with me to the media, accompanying me on my last day in La Paz before the beginning of the big swim! |
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Pippa Tucker |
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Thank you, Pippa, for your donation of those shiny black Lycra tights in which I have been swimming every day! |
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Santiago Guadalupe Olivera |
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Thank you to the taxi driver Santiago Guadalupe Olivera, owner of Sitio Flecha Roja, who gave me a free ride on the 8. of November all the way across town, because he was enchanted with the project! Because of him, I had the chance to swim with the sea lions on that special day! |
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Ecology Project International |
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Thank you to Ecology Poject International for 6 nights of peaceful accomodation and round the clock use of a computer and telephone! If you would like to know more about this organization, visit their website at www.ecologyproject.org
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| Donator |
Gabriel, owner of Carey Dive Shop |
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Thank you so much, Gabriel, for donating to me an incredible day of 3 dives around Isla Espiritu Santo, playing with sea lion babies! I will never forget this day! |
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| Donator |
Tim Means, Baja Expeditions |
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Thank you, Tim Means, for the airport pick-up in La Paz on October 25, 2009, and for the 3 nights tent accomodation and meals at the Isla Espiritu Santo camp. |
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| Donator |
Jadranka Sepic |
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Thank you, Jadranka Sepic, for your donation of $100 towards the marine rite of passage in Costa Rica, to support one youth fee for the week! |
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| Donator |
Barbara Souther |
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Thank you to Barbara Souther for 1 month of USANA vitamins supplements! |
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| Donator |
US Divers |
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Thank you, US Divers, for your donation of a wonderfuo pair of swim fins, and 2 masks, a pair of Aquasphere googles, and a snorkel! They will see thousands of kilometers of use in the next 5 months! Thank you, Mona , for making this possible! |
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Field's Shoes, Victoria, BC |
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Thank you for the exchange of my very used and torn Ecco Sandals for a brand new pair of the best sandals in the world!Every step in these is a kiss to Mother Earth! |
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Lissy Weitenhelfer |
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Thank you, Lissy from Vienna, Austria, for your 70$ donation via Paypal, all the way from Europe! |
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| Donator |
Rosemary, Deep Cove Market |
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Thank you, Rosemary, owner of the Deep Cove Market, for the $200 check you contributed on October 23, 2009 to this next expedition! This is your third contribution, thank you so much for believing in me! |
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| Donator |
Tina Boehm and the workshop participants |
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Thank you, Tina, for organizing the workshop on October 21, 2009, at the Roxy cinema on Gabriola Island, and contributing the $40 rental fee as a donation! Thank you to the participants for donations totalling $66.75! And, of course, to Brenda endless thanks for the $1,000 check.... |
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| Donator |
Brenda Bernhard |
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Thank you, dear Brenda, for your incredible faith in me and your donation of $1,000 towards boat support! I am so deeply grateful to a soul sister... |
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| Donator |
John Fitzpatrick, Nutristart |
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Thank you, John, owner of NUTRISTART supplements, for your kind donation of 6 months of supply of Nutriposds, Provide Smoothie, and Joint Start Premium! I love your products and have already fely a very positive impact on my health from using them for the last month! |
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| Donator |
Jack Thornburgh |
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Thank you to my fellow Eco-Cell member Jack ,of St. John United Church in Deep Cove, for your kind donation of $50! |
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| Donator |
Dawne Deeley |
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On Friday, October 22, my dear neighbour and friend, Dawne Deeley, came by to visit me and brought along a check for $ 5,000, an incredible gesture of generosity and kindness. This should cover 50 days of boat support, thus one entire expedition of the two this winter season! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Dawne also promised to support all my future expeditions, a wonderful gesture of trust in my devotion to the cause of marine sanctuaries! Without you, it would be almost impossible to finance these expeditions - I am so grateful for your help! |
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| Donator |
Tom Woloshyin |
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Thank you for your contribution of $20 and a wonderful therapeutic massage! |
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| Donator |
IMAX theatre Victoria |
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Thank you for another set of 2 tickets for fundraising purposes, and the lovely DVD "Whales" for my educational workshops! |
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| Donator |
Johnson Outdoors Canada |
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Many, many thanks to Jim Stevens of Johnson Outdoors Canada for the donation of the Eureka! El Capitan 4 AC tent! After using the now no longer available Eureka! Expeditions tent for more than 20 years, it finally gave up the ghost during the last expedition, and I am so grateful to receive another sturdy Eureka! tent to replace that much beloved original one that served so faithfully for so many years! |
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| Donator |
Renate Herberger |
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During my 2. swim, I donated 4,000$ of personal savings towards the support boat expenses of that swim. From July 30 until August 8, I worked at the Klahoose First Nation summer camp in Desolation Sound, Forbes Bay, as a swim instructor and waterfront safety coordinator, and I am dedicating the entire salary of 2,000$ I received for this contract towards the 3. Costa Rica swim, to make it possible for youths to accompany me along the route! My special thanks to James Delorme, who hired me, and to my friend Fran Woodcock, who arranged to have me interviewed for the position! |
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| Donator |
Speedpro Signs, Sidney |
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Thank you, Nagy Thomas of Speedpro Signs in Sidney, BC, 7-2062 Henry Ave., for donating, for the second time, printing of my lovely business cards! They are much admired by everyone who receives one! |
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| Donator |
Starhawk, author of Spiral Dance |
| Comment |
Many thanks to Starhawk for donating 2 workshops, worth 180$, toward my 3. Costa Rica swim! Starhawk is the author of 11 books and has been a personal friend for 30 years! |
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| Donator |
Laurie Burlock |
| Comment |
On October 1, 2009, my dear friend and fellow dancer Laurie Burlock donated $20 towards the 3. Costa Rica swim! |
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Donations: 2009 Costa Rica Swim |
Thanks to the following people and organizations who donated to the swim:
| Donator |
Beth Lischeron |
| Comment |
Beth Lischeron , owner of "Dragonfly Dreaming", Natural care for Body and Spirit, all organic wildcrafted and fair-traded, donated one of her marvellous "Paddler's Pal" lip soothers, on June 21, for the upcoming Rite of Passage Swim in Costa Rica! Thank you for placing your faith in a project still many months in the futue! |
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| Donator |
NOSARA community |
| Comment |
At an evening reception, 30 000 Colones and 20 US $ were donated by guests at this reception. Thank you to everybody who came to Lagarta Lodge! |
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| Donator |
NOSARA community |
| Comment |
After one of the many workshops I gave entirely without charge, the comunity contributed 75 000 Colones, appx. 150 Can $, 20 of which came from 2 young children from their sale of bracelets! Out of the 75 000 Colones, 50 000 Colones were donated by one single individual who did not wish to be named! |
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| Donator |
Hotel Playa Carmen, March 11 to 16 |
| Comment |
Thank you, Alexa and Stefano, for 5 nights and all the fabulous meals at your lovely hotel in Playa Carmen, even adding on a day when I was left stranded once again by yet another irresponsible boat driver....you have been an inspiration in generosity! |
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| Donator |
Tracey Dylewski |
| Comment |
Thank you, Tracey, for an incredibly relaxing and therapeutic long massage on yet another day a boat driver left me stranded without support....Meeting you on the beach was one of the highlights of my mermaid journey, thank you for all your encouragement and healing! |
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| Donator |
Sonja beauty salon |
| Comment |
Thank you, Sonja, for a marvellous relaxing massage on Friday, the 13 of March! Oh how it was needed! |
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| Donator |
Diane Sobel Globerman |
| Comment |
Thank you, Diane, for organizing the Manuel Antonio and Esterillos Este bases, as well as paying for my cell phone use throughout the journey, a very generous offer! |
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| Donator |
Neil Kahn, Kayak Jaco |
| Comment |
Thank you, Neil, for a beautiful kayak tour of Playa Grande and Agujitas, and organizing the Las Nubes school workshop for me! |
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| Donator |
Jaco Best Western Beach Hotel, 25. Feb. - March 2 |
| Comment |
Thank you, Jessoe Umana, and all the staff at the Best Western for pampering me for 4 days of wonderful food and a beautiful room, while I was sick and needed a quiet place to recuperate from the sea water contamination induced infection that required antibiotics! |
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| Donator |
Waterfalls Canopy Tour, March 1, 2009 |
| Comment |
Thank you for another chance to soar at eye level with sloths and toucans, including a wild tarzan swing and rappel! |
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| Donator |
Franklin, the taxidriver in Jaco! |
| Comment |
Thank you, Franklin, for spontaneously providing free taxi service to me in my 4 days in Jaco!
When ordinary people do the extraordinary and open their heart in generosity, it really makes my days! |
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| Donator |
Chiclets Tree Canopy Tour, March 1 2009 |
| Comment |
Thank you so very much for another flight through the trees including amazing vistas of Playa Hermosa! Once I get the photos into the website, you can all see what a fabulous experience ziplines are! Thanks for the CD of photos also! |
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| Donator |
Martin Skadsheim and Matt Reddy |
| Comment |
Thanks fellow Vancouverites for your spontaneous support of 20 000 Colones (appx. 40 Can.$ ) each! |
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| Donator |
Pelican Hotel |
| Comment |
Julia Johnson, manager of the Pelican Hotel in Esterillos Oeste, arranged my 3 night stay from february 27 until 2 of March, including food at the beautiful beachfront hotel. Thank you so much! |
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| Donator |
Rios Tropicales, H2O, February 26 |
| Comment |
Thanks to everyone at H2O for an amazing experience rafting down the Naranjo, a technical river including class 5 rapids! I especially enjoyed the long minutes being stuck in a rapid - to be still in the center of such turbulence was magical and sublime! |
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| Donator |
La Selvita Canopy Hiking Tours and Waterfalls |
| Comment |
Thanks to Josh from www.laselvita.com for his invitation to join the lovely zipline tour on Thursday, the 26 of February! It included a buffet lunch and swim in a waterfall. The guides were so friendly and warm, and even invited me to stay for the night at their home when my last night reservation in Quepos fell through! |
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| Donator |
Blue Monkey Hotel, February 21 - 26 |
| Comment |
thanks to the owners of the www.hotelmonoazul.com for 5 nights of accommodation in Manuel Antonio! Efren from the staff even tried to find me boat support on his day off...and the friendly kitchen staff let me store my swim lunches in their fridge, even adding some cheese slices when I had not gotten more than bread one day.... |
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| Donator |
Julio Bandillo, Dolphintourcostarica.com |
| Comment |
Julio, owner of Dolphin Tours, donated boat support for one swim day from the Bahia Ballena base on February 12, thank you so much! |
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| Donator |
Walter Brenes, BahiaAventuras.com |
| Comment |
Walter once again donated a swim day with boat support starting at Bahia Ballena on Valentines Day! Thank you, it was great to take so many youths into the water during that magical day! |
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| Donator |
Ileana , Punta Marenko Lodge, Drake Bay |
| Comment |
From February 1 to the 11, I had once again the amazing fortune to stay at my favorite place in the world, the mystic Punta Marenko Lodge, including all my meals and sandwiches for the extremely long 11 days of swimming this very long section - 150 km - all from the Punta Marenko base!
The staff and other guests pampered me all the way to the best badaids in the universe, Compeel, to advance healing from a fall, cutting my elbow and back.
The love there was palpable and I hope many will choose to spend their holidays at this sacred site!
Thank you, Ileana, for your amazing support of the swim! |
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| Donator |
Kumari Lefebvre, Mystic Dive Centre |
| Comment |
Kumari appeared straight out of the heavens today to donate 100 US$, organize a nights stay at the famous Cuna del Angel, and find me boat support for tomorrow! I am so very thankful for her support at a very difficult time...February 19, 2009 |
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| Donator |
Patrick O Connell |
| Comment |
Thank you to Patrick for your 20$US donation! Every little bit helps! |
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| Donator |
Casa Roland Hotel, Golfito |
| Comment |
The owners and staff at the Casa Roland 5 star hotel in Golfito have beautifully taken care of me for the last 7 days, during a time of much stress, thank you all so much for your kindness and generosity! I look forward to my stay at your other hotel in Manuel Antonio! |
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| Donator |
Nidia Lobo |
| Comment |
My wonderful new friend and feminist Nidia Lobo, obstetric nurse at the EBAIS clinic in Golfito, is loaning me her precious cell phone for the duration of the swim, an incredible gift of trust in me, and making it possible to actually call me at the same number throughout the project! A thousand thanks! |
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| Donator |
Nidia Lobo |
| Comment |
My wonderful new friend and feminist Nidia Lobo, obstetric nurse at the EBAIS clinic in Golfito, is loaning me her precious cell phone for the duration of the swim, an incredible gift of trust in me, and making it possible to actually call me at the same number throughout the project! A thousand thanks! |
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| Donator |
Ronnie and Soledad |
| Comment |
Thank you, Ronnie and Soledad, for free boat transport from Zancudo to Golfito and back whenever needed for meetings in Golfito! |
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| Donator |
Ana Lucia Gonzalez |
| Comment |
a thousand thanks belong to my dearest friend Ana Lucia Gonzales for 10 nights accomodation in her beautiful and peaceful home, and the many shared meals and conversations. Without you, I would not have dared to go for the 2. travesia a nado! |
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| Donator |
Au Coeur de Soleil |
| Comment |
Thank you, Joanne and Daniel, for my wonderful stay of 7 days at your little retreat in Zancudo, right on the beach! To be able to get up at 4 am to take a dip safely was such a treat.... |
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| Donator |
Oceano Restaurant Playa Zancudo |
| Comment |
Mark Homer and Stephanie Homer, the owners of Oceano, have graceously donated my meals during my stay in Zancudo.
Thank you for the best ever Cordon Bleu, and watermelon salad!You spoiled me deliciously! |
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| Donator |
Marcos Carazo, Rescate de Valores |
| Comment |
thank you, Marcos, for organizing my Jimenez base including 2 workshops for children, youths and adults, hotel, and all meals! And for the therapeutic massage that made my first swim day possible! |
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| Donator |
SANSA REGIONAL |
| Comment |
Thank you to the regional airline SANSA for choosig to sponsor my local flights! |
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| Donator |
Poder Judicial |
| Comment |
On January 16 the members of the criminal court, crown prosecutors and other employees, for the second time donated 36 000 Colones towards the cause! |
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| Donator |
SANSA REGIONAL |
| Comment |
The wonderful Costa Rican airline, SANSA REGIONAL, has generously offered on January 16 to sponsor my local flights! I am so very pleased to receive this most important sponsorship! |
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| Donator |
Roca Bruja Costa Rica |
| Comment |
thanks you to the manager of Roca Bruja, Ingrid Portillo, in San Jose, for arranging the receipt of 2 swim tops, UV 50, valued at 25 800 Colones and 21 800 Colones. Positively jellyfih proof! |
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| Donator |
poder judicial |
| Comment |
the members of the the courthouse today, January 15, contributed 35 000 Colones as part of a presentation I gave to crown prosecutors . Thank you especially to Luis Chang for organizing the event! |
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| Donator |
Tilman Herberger |
| Comment |
it gives me grea t pleasure to know a family member has chosen to contribute 200 $Can.to sponsor one day of boat support! Thank you, cousin! |
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| Donator |
Village Gallery in Sidney, BC Canada |
| Comment |
Thank you to owners Andrew and Helen Crump for 20 Can.$ |
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| Donator |
Unity Church members, Escazu, Costa Rica |
| Comment |
Thank you to the members of Unity Church who took my first workshop in Costa Rica on January 11, for donations amounting to 65.000 Colones and 20 US $, appx. altogether 170 Can. $ |
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| Donator |
Janet Silman |
| Comment |
Thank you to Janet, minister at the United Church of Canada in Deep Cove, for your donation of 70 $! |
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| Donator |
Fred Wellman, Doctor of Chiropractic |
| Comment |
Thank you so much for donating 3 chiropractic treatments when I injured my back as I left my own home for the swim journey , lifting my luggage! Without you, I would have had to cancel the swim....It is so encouraging to find angels everywhere, and your kindness to me in even seeing me for treatments on the weekend touched my heart! |
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| Donator |
Anonymous, Canada |
| Comment |
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your formidable donation of 2500$, after last swim's already incredibly generous donation of 1000$, this is most unexpected, but much needed and profoundly appreciated! |
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| Donator |
Petia Stefanova |
| Comment |
my longtime physiotherapist and the director of KINET-X donated 200$ toward the marine sanctuaries swim, thank you so much! |
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| Donator |
www.freespiritvictoria.com |
| Comment |
Thank you to the owners of Free Spirit Botanicals for a large Lavender Face & Body Moisturizer - it will keep my skin nice after 8 hour swimming days in the Pacific! |
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| Donator |
Susan and Greg Cook |
| Comment |
Thank you for your 40 $ cash donation! Every little bit helps! |
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| Donator |
Sidney Dive Center |
| Comment |
Laura and Lee Burton from Sidney Dive Center donated on November 25, 2008, my son Silvan's 20. Birthday, one pair of X-PERT ZOOM fins and 1 Aqualung mask and snorkel, many thanks! |
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| Donator |
CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce |
| Comment |
Through the initiative of my financial advisor Evelyn Higgins, CIBC donated 200 Can.$ towards the second Costa Rica swim! |
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Donations: 2008 Costa Rica Swim |
Thanks to the following people and organizations who donated to the swim:
| Donator |
Jackeline Calvin Haskell, Los Altos de Eros Luxury Inn, Spa and Yoga |
| Comment |
Donated 1 free day at the spa; massage, facial , lunch, Cleopatra bath, valued at 395 $ |
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| Donator |
Lola's at Playa Avellana |
| Comment |
Three nights in a private tent bungalow on the beach, two days boat support, many lovely breakfasts, lunches and dinners. |
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| Donator |
Tamarindo Village / Judy Bettinsoli |
| Comment |
Judy, from Tamrindo Village at www.tamarindovillage.com donated several days at her gorgeous hillside villas valued at $210 per night. She also took me out to a breakfast of waffles topped with strawberries and real whipped cream this morning. |
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| Donator |
Mike Witte, Roca Verde hotel |
| Comment |
3 nights accomodation, 200$ donation given to Zeidy Jimenez, Asociacion programas Sociales de Dominical, towards use for expedition |
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| Donator |
Marakatu restaurant, Dominical |
| Comment |
meals during 4 days |
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| Donator |
Delicias restaurant, Dominical |
| Comment |
6 meals |
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| Donator |
Plaza Suites Hotel, Dominical |
| Comment |
5 nights accomodation , free access to telephone and computer |
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| Donator |
John Chapman, www.treeoflifetours.com |
| Comment |
2 waterfall rappelling tours, 2 nights in the Diamante cave sanctuary, free ride from cave to Esterillo Oeste, lots of emotional support and warmth and wisdom |
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| Donator |
Jack Ewing, Hacienda Baru |
| Comment |
2 nights accomodation, all the meals, free zipline tour, free copy of his book |
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| Donator |
Ulli, Uvita |
| Comment |
1 night accomodation in Uvita |
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| Donator |
Taboga, Puerto Jimenez |
| Comment |
volunteer boat support for 3 days |
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| Donator |
Jimmy Cuvillo, mayor of Golfito |
| Comment |
4 nights of boat support, 5 nights accomodation in the Sierra hotel, all the meals and sandwiches for 3 people |
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| Donator |
Carmen Yansi, Golfito |
| Comment |
1 night accomodation for 3, arrangement for meeting with the town mayor |
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| Donator |
Ilona Kende and Silvan |
| Comment |
3 hours typing of log entries, and a lovely visit |
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| Donator |
Analucia Gonzales Garcia |
| Comment |
Emotional support all along the way, airport pick up and drop off 4 times, 7 nights accomodation, arrangement for Golfito host, being my best friend in Costa Rica! |
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| Donator |
Martha, owner of Mar y Selva ecolodge |
| Comment |
2 nights accomodation, all the meals, and organization of a women's workshop in the lodge as a fundraiser |
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| Donator |
Waldemar und Herta, owners of Cystal Ballena |
| Comment |
2 nights in the stunningly beautiful boutique hotel overlooking the ocean, and all the meals |
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| Donator |
Iliana, owner of Punta Marenko Lodge |
| Comment |
10 nights of accomodation, and all the meals including sandwiches during the long swim days in the Drake area! |
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| Donator |
David Alan Montoya, Rocas de Amancio |
| Comment |
5 days of volunteer boat support, rowing most of the way, from Bahia Ballena to Quepos! |
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| Donator |
Kristy and Kurt, Tranquilo Costa Rica |
| Comment |
5 nights accomodation and 1 dinner for 5 in Esterillo Oeste |
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| Donator |
Patricia, owner of Sanobanano hotel |
| Comment |
6 nights accomodation and breakfasts for 2 at the Sanobanano hotel in Montezuma |
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| Donator |
Ariana and Dave Nelson, Casa Colina |
| Comment |
4 nights accomodation, breakfasts and dinner in their lovely bed and breakfast! |
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| Donator |
Albert from Cocozuma Tours, Montezuma |
| Comment |
Boat support at no charge for 5 days, and a free tour for 2 to Tortuga island |
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| Donator |
Tropical Tours, Malpais |
| Comment |
free taxi ride to Playa Avellana from Malpais, worth 40 $ |
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| Donator |
Christy and Don, Lola's, Playa Avellana |
| Comment |
Complete sponsorship for 1 week, accomodation, all food, and a major fundraiser at the restaurant, donating 100 % of all proceeds for 1 day's restaurant sales! |
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| Donator |
Kristy and Kurt Rhain |
| Comment |
I was given a house in Esterillos Oeste for 4 nights and 1 over night accomodation at Kristy and Kurts personal home. They also held a party for me to celebrate the longest ever open ocean swim by a woman so far. |
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| Donator |
Mar y Selva Ecolodge |
| Comment |
Thank you Martha, for 2 nights of a beautiful stay at your brandnew ecolodge, and organizing a women's " The Sea Inside"workshop at your lovely conference room! |
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| Donator |
Cristina Caamano Santamaria |
| Comment |
Camping Cristina, Playa Blanca, Golfo Dulce, gifted us a week of free lodging at her home! Come camp here some time, it is so lovely and quiet here...only 5 $ PER NIGHT! |
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| Donator |
Susan Scheer, Phantom Yacht |
| Comment |
Many, many thanks to Susan Scheer and her son Matthias for their extremely generous support; allowing us on their wonderful yacht for 4 nights, feeding us and supporting me on their Zodiak for 3 very full days of swimming in the magnificent Golfo Dulce, covering close to 30 nautical miles of swimming! |
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| Donator |
Dolphin Tour |
| Comment |
Fernando Guerrero, owner of www.dolphintourcostarica.com, took me on a wonderful whalewatching tour on Jan 27th, and also donated a very useful marine map of Costa Rica. |
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| Donator |
Tree of Life Tours |
| Comment |
Jon Chapman, owner of www.treeoflifetours.com, gave me a super exciting tour of The Baru Falls waterfall, that included a 140ft rapell. His daughter, Melissa, is planning to spend a one day segment from Uvita to Dominical swimming with me! |
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| Donator |
Anonymous |
| Comment |
30 $, 2nd generation holocaust survivors support group, Vancouver
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| Donator |
Mary Rose, from Axe Capoeira |
| Comment |
100 $, for 2 IMAX tickets! Thank you for your incredible generosity! |
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| Donator |
Janet Silman and Marion Irish, Canada |
| Comment |
50 $, thanks! |
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| Donator |
Nicole Hutton, IMAX theatre Victoria |
| Comment |
Nicole Hutton, sales manager of the IMAX theatre in Victoria, has donated 4 adult tickets to any IMAX show, for sale as a fundraiser. |
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| Donator |
Anonymous, Canada |
| Comment |
one thousand Dollars were privately donated on January 14, 2008, in the hopes of inspiring matching donations! Thank you so much! |
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| Donator |
Rosemary Scott, Deep Cove Market |
| Comment |
Thank you , Rosemary, for your generous donation of 100 $ towards expenses of the "travesia"! |
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| Donator |
Simon Wigzell, Virtual Cottage Industries |
| Comment |
Simon is donating maintenance and regularly updating of this website that he designed until the end of the swim! |
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| Donator |
Steve Sharples, Sales Rep., Aqua-Lung Canada Ltd. |
| Comment |
On December 9, 2008, Steve donated 2 pairs of Aqua-Lung fins and a mask and snorkel, as well as a rescue strobe light, all professional quality! |
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| Donator |
Chris Kolbuc, www.couchsurfing .com host |
| Comment |
Chris Kolbuc from Whistler, BC, who hosted us during a visit to the mountains, donated a Body Glove rashguard swimshirt and a pair of compression stockings, together worth appx. 200$. |
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| Donator |
James Fowler, Henley and Walden Law Firm |
| Comment |
James Fowler of Henley and Walden Law Firm on #201 - 2377 Bevan Ave. in Sidney, BC, Canada, has graceously donated 125 $ Can. towards the swim's expenses! |
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| Donator |
Guenther Sandl, GPS |
| Comment |
Guenther Sandl of Victoria, BC, Canada, has graceously donated the 3 month use of his personal GPS for the duration of the swim! |
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| Donator |
Barb Souther, USANA vitamins |
| Comment |
Barb Souther of Saanichton, BC, Canada, 652 2906 , has graceously donated 6 months of USANA vitamin supplements! |
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| Donator |
Liquid Heaven Diving Experience |
| Comment |
Darryll , the owner of Liquid Heaven on 103-2537 Beacon Ave. in Sidney, BC, Canada, has graceously donated an Oceaner Triathlon Wetsuit, worth 900$, custom fitted to my measurements! |
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From: RENATE HERBERGER
Subject: THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU GENEROUS DONORS AND FRIENDS
To: EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY!
It is my great privilege to tell you all that I have safely - minus my stolen luggage from a Vancouver bus stop on the last leg of my return trip! - arrived back home to my forest sanctuary on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada.
After a tremendously successful swim covering 749 km of the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica, beginning at Isla Burica 5 km South of the Panama border and ending at the Santa Elena Peninsula, only approximately 80 km short of the Nicaraguan border.
This was all possible because of the unbelievable support of so many of you.
I have encountered in Costa Rica a level of generosity and kindness and genuine desire to help like I have never experienced in any other county of the world.
It all now appears to me quite miraculous.
Let me begin and share with you some of these amazing moments of generosity I have experienced.To begin with, when I suggested on September 23 2007, to Zeidy Jimenez, the president of the "Associacion Programas Sociales de Dominical", this swim project for Marine Sanctuaries, she immediately jumped on the opportunity and agreed to organize it in Costa Rica. Neither of us had any prior experience in expedition planning! Given that we were actually "flying by the seat of our pants", it is amazing how much we accomplished!
Over the next four months, we exchanged hundreds of emails, brainstormed, sent proposals and generally turned our lives over to seeing this project come to fruition. I know I spent up to sixteen hours a day making phone calls, trying to find Canadian sponsors, writing endless letters to potential sponsors and doing the myriad of other things that entail commencing a project of this magnitude. I can only imagine that Zeidy's investment of energy and time was equally as huge, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for her faith in me, and for believing we could pull off this project, even though she is afraid of the sea and does not know how to swim, nor does any other member of the organization!
Zeidy and the Associacion remained with the project until March 9th 2008. I would not be surprised if they collapsed in a heap from sheer exhaustion by that time, given that they could not even swim to relax, let go of organization anxiety and feel the blessing of the Sea Herself... Without Zeidy and the Assocacion, this project could not have been set in motion.
A great thank you goes out to my very dear swimming colleague Analucia Gonzalez.
She was there for me throughout the journey, and was my main emotional support while in Costa Rica.
We spoke on all the days that I had access to a telephone, and she provided an extremely important contact in Golfito. Due to this contact I received sponsored boat support from Golfito's Mayor Jimmy Cuvillo for 4 days. He also made five nights of hotel accommodation possible at no charge for my team of 3, all the meals included.
Analucia swam with me one day, for seven and a half hours of the eight, the longest anyone swam with me in one day.
This was days before she left to compete in the Masters World Championships for swimming in Australia.
I am hoping Analucia will come join me in Canada, as I have invited her to come to my home and while visiting me here, compete in a relay with me, which extends 26 km in Lake Cowichan and is taking place this summer. I hope you are already booking your plane ticket, Analucia!
Tiskita Lodge, www.tiskita-lodge.co.cr , owned by Peter Aspinall and his wife, near Punta Banco, was my first lovely refuge. I spent four nights as an invited guest at the lodge and enjoyed an incredibly beautiful cabin to myself, surrounded by the sound of Howler monkeys.
The food was fabulous and the location itself is truly magical. After such a beautiful beginning to the journey, a big thanks goes out to Susan Scheer and her son Mathias, who accommodated myself and my first assistant Daniel Lopez on her magnificent yacht for four days and provided boat support for three days with her zodiak.
I had never been on a yacht before and found it spectacularly luxurious and fantasized to have them accompany me the whole way! Alas, they already had other plans. Next, through the intervention of the mayor of Golfito, Jimmy Cuvillo, I had the great pleasure of four days of municipality sponsored boat support with the amazing boat driver, Taboga. Taboga was by far the most professional and caring boat support along the way and he has offered to accompany me all the way, border to border, next year when I repeat the swim and plan to complete it.
Obviously, funds would have to be found to pay him for such a long journey...any takers?
Anna Yanski and Carmen Yanski of Golfito, Analucia’s friends, accommodated myself and my two then team members, Daniel Lopez and Maria Eugenia, overnight and introduced us to the mayor.
Without this introduction it is unlikely the mayor would have been this generous
The following five nights were donated by the owner of the Sierra Hotel, www.hotelsierra.com , thanks to the mayor’s connection. |
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On the other side of the gulf, Crocodile Bay Lodge provided two nights and all the meals for me and my new two team members. Thank you to the owners of Crocodile Bay Lodge, Cory and Beau! These meals were beyond scrumptious! There, I was accompanied by new team members, Minor and Estella Aguilar.
Then followed the only "one night stand" of the journey at the picturesque Parrot Bay lodge, next door to Crocodile Bay Lodge.
Following our stay and my swim in the area of Puerto Jimenez, where my first ever sponsor Jeff Hodges had last June 5 organized my crossing of the Golfo Dulce, also a first ever swim journey published in the world media and familiar to many of you, I decided to swim the entire inside of the gulf and was invited to stay at the home of Christina Cardonga (sorry if misspelled) in rustic Playa Blanca for one week.
Estella Aguilar accompanied me and after the end of that week I chose to continue my journey solo, trusting that my boat drivers would not fall asleep too often and leave me as consideration for a hungry crocodile’s potential dinner!
I am sad to say I never met a crocodile along the way nor a shark as much as I wanted to, but after all we had a contract where I swam for them and their continued survival, and they obviously understood that and kept a loving distance.
My next base was Punta Marenko Lodge in Drake Bay.
Thanks to the phenomenal generosity of the owner Iliana I was able to stay at this hauntingly beautiful retreat for ten nights, all inclusive. This included eight days worth of countless sandwiches since lunch time on the support boat meant ravenous hunger. This could include eating up to six sandwiches at any given time! You can see that feeding a swimmer is a very generous offer and I cannot say that I lost any weight along the trip, if anything, I float even more now and I’m just about impossible to drown!
After swimming all the way to Bahiai Ballena, I stayed in one of the most fantastic boutique hotels I have ever seen, the Crystal Ballena, where I was invited to stay two nights and two days all inclusive.
While there, I had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of Dorothy Mac Kimmon, the author of the Fodor Costa Rica guide, and through a 2 page list of her personal recommendations, I was able to solicit hotel support in locations where the Tico Times article in January had not been able to bring forth room offers! A huge thanks to you, Dorothy, I am so glad you chose to have breakfast with this stranger who asked if you would like company!
I feel extremely lucky that both her and myself chose, coincidentally without ever having met before, to eat at the same time, and that we both chose to share that hour with each other!
In Domincal, the Plaza Suites Hotel donated five nights to me, and its very compassionate manager Manuel Antonio was there for me with a big hug when I found out that my eldest son was hospitalized.
I found this level of kindness and compassion throughout my journey with so many people, many of whom are beyond the reach of this letter or internet communications.
Edwin Daniel, a member of the tourist police in Domincal was one of those people who in a brief contact, while we met in front of Zeidy's house by sheer "coincidence", was able to let me know how important my work was, how needed it was and how grateful he was I was swimming on behalf of "his" wild seas.
Also in Dominical, the owner of Roca Verde Hotel Mike Witte donated 3 nights and also gave a 200$ contribution towards expenses! This was before the official swim started, during the days of press conferences and workshops in the Dominical area, the headquarters of the "Associacion Programas Sociales de Dominical".
Martha, the owner of Mar Y Selva Ecolodge, near Uvita, organized a women’s workshop for me to teach, and donated two nights at one of her serene cabins to me. She has the biggest swimming pool of any hotel in Costa Rica, half Olympic size, and one of dreams is to organize an aqua dance therapy course there.
It was an amazing privilege getting to know Martha, and I so appreciate the sharing of her personal experience and wisdom. Thank you Martha for being there for me. You are a kindred spirit.
During this segment of the swim, David ‘Allen’ Montoya accompanied me on his 15 hp boat for five days. He did this as a volunteer and also donated the extra gas needed over and above the $100 worth of gas donated by the Deputy Olivier Perez. Allen actually rowed next to me while I swam and thus provided the most ecologically sound boat support along the journey. He always had an encouraging smile for me whenever I looked his way, and was unconditionally positive throughout the five days we spent together. If I were able to locate a boat with a more poweful motor for him, he would also love to accompany me on the swim next winter (January to March), and he is willing to dedicate the full 21/2 months to it that this will take! So I actually have 2 potential choices of boat support already!
On one of those days, Melissa Chapman from www.treeoflifetours.com swam with me for half a day, and it was a great pleasure to have an adolescent by my side. |
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Her father, John Chapman, invited me on two waterfall rappelling tours on his immense and sacred property. There I also had the opportunity to spend two nights in a meditation cave; blessedly, during 24 hours I was completely alone.
Some of the most magical moments of this journey were spent with John, the waterfall and the cave. John is offering to everyone who has donated a service or funds to me in Costa Rica to come on one of his waterfall rappelling tours - free of charge! - as a thank you to me for swimming on behalf of wilderness, and to thank all those who supported this endeavor! I highly recommend taking John up on this incredible and most generous offer! John, when he first met me, immediately recognized the deeper nature of the swim. His first question to me was, “So, are you like Peace Pilgrim, except in the water?” To which I answered, “Yes!” John was at times my desperately needed spiritual advisor and was always there when I needed him. Thank you to John and his wonderful family for all that they offered to me! I know that we will collaborate on important healing projects in the future...in the sea and hanging from cliffs over waterfalls, facing our deepest fears!
My next two nights were spent at Hacienda Baru, on invitation by its owner, Jack Ewing. He also donated an exhilarating zipline tour to me on his amazing land. I admire Jack’s spirit and what he has done to allow his land to recover and become a thriving jungle once again after having been clear-cut fifty years ago. It is amazing to realize that a cattle ranch can return to being a forest in such a short amount of time, simply by letting it be. This is truly the heart of my mission: the creation of marine sanctuaries worldwide would also allow for marine life to recover and thrive once again. All we need to do is get out of the way and let go of our collective greed. Nature is amazingly resilient if you give it a chance. Jack, you are an inspiration to me and your warmth and gentle spirit will always stay with me. The following base was in Esterillo Oeste, where Christy Raihn gave five nights of accommodation at the brand new home of her friend, Terry, who was on vacation. My final night there was spent at Christy’s home and I was then accompanied by my son, Silvan and his girlfriend, Ilona Kende. Christy threw a party for us and arranged for several media interviews in the area and this was very much appreciated. Analucia and her daughter Natalia were with me for two days at this time and spent Easter with us.
The following three nights, Silvan, Ilona and I were invited to Club Del Mar, a luxury five star hotel in Jaco.
Since no boat support could be found there, I decided to take two days off to play with the ‘kids’. It was so lovely to just be with my son and his gorgeous partner! These 2 days were in fact the only truly "off "days I had on my 3 month journey!
From there we moved our base to Montazuma where Patricia, the owner of Sano Banano and Ylang Ylang Resort, donated six nights and breakfasts to my son Silvan and me. She also introduced me to Cocozuma Tours, whose owner Albert agreed to provide boat support for four days free of charge!
Albert was one of the kindest business owners I had the pleasure to meet on my journey. He always had a smile and hug for me, and his office assistant Wendy and I shed tears when it was time to say good bye. Albert and Wendy, I miss you lots. Thank you so much for your openness and generosity!
The following base was in Malpais, where Ariana Nelson and her husband donated four nights at her unique bed and breakfast, Casa Colina. Thank you for the amazing tuna sashimi.That whole dinner was unforgettable! It certainly was so much more than a " Bed and Breakfast "! I very much enjoyed the chance to speak my mother tongue, German, with Ariana...
My next sponsor is my fairy godmother, the lovely and inimitable Christy Van Akkeren and her husband Don, owners of Lola’s restaurant in Playa Avellana, the most beautiful beach restaurant I have ever dined at! Christy and her mother looked after me in every sense of the word. She held a fundraiser for me, she accommodated me for nine nights ( three at the beach in her guest tent, and six at her mother’s stunning hotel at www.TamarindoVillage.com) , as well as arranged media interviews, a presentation of my swim, and all the boat support during this section. During my time with Christy I could truly relax and enjoy swimming without worrying about anything else. She took care of all the details. The fundraising covered $800 worth of boat support and $400 cash towards the next leg of the journey.
Christy had dedicated 100% of the profits of her restaurant on that day as this fundraiser, an incredibly generous gesture. Thank you so much, Christy, and Judy! Seeing you, Christy, waiting for me with that huge flower bouquet at the bus stop was a sight I will always cherish in my memories! The day at the heavenly spa that you spoiled me with was the most pampering experience I have ever had!
My last base was in Playas del Coco, where Mary Ramona and Mary Kirigin were my wondrous sponsors. ‘Mama Mary’ welcomed me with open arms and had arranged in advance all the boat support, all of which was donated by three local dive companies, Rich Coast Diving, Deep Blue Diving and Summer Salt Diving. |
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I stayed at her hotel for four nights and enjoyed fabulous meals on the house. ‘Mama Mary’ also arranged for press interviews and a conference and slide show, where I was able to present my swim and its mission to many locals, as well as to press. Mama Mary even paid for my taxi to the departure airport in Liberia, fifteen minutes from her restaurant and hotel Pato Loco. I miss your hugs, Mama Mary! When it was finally time to fly home, I realized that during my three month stay every single hotel night was donated and a great majority of the meals also.
Astonishingly, there was a considerable amount of donations in boat time also, and so upon my return to my house (without my luggage as it was stolen at a bus stop in Vancouver while I was awaiting a bus...), I am really grateful that I do not have to sell all my worldly possessions in order to finance the swim!
The only person who made a pledge before I left Canada, Richard Silver, which consisted of fifteen cents per kilometer, called me today to remind me that he owed me money! I will put the $150 that he is donating towards seed funds for the upcoming border to border swim in support of sharks.
I just contacted Paul Watson from the "Sea Shepherd Society" who is prominently featured in the movie "Shark Water" - truly a must see! - to find out if we could possible join hands on a future swim project.
He was very enthusiastic and quite thrilled to brainstorm working together in the near future, perhaps with a swim around the Galapagos perimeter.
I am also planning to contact Steven Spielberg who with his movie "Jaws" contributed to unrealistic fears of millions of people of swimming in the sea.
My hope is that he might be interested in supporting one of my swims as a remedial gesture.
In closing, my heart is filled with deepest gratitude to the dozens of dolphins that chose to approach me and play with me, the group of pilot whales that swam under me, the humpback whales that sang for me and the myriad barracudas, turtles, yellow fin tuna and countless manta rays that graced my days at home in the sea. Your timeless beauty and grace made my every day in your home a miracle, and I feel so priviledged and blessed to have had this opportunity to swim with all of you.
It has been an honour to represent your plight to all the people I met and those who read and heard about this awareness swim throug the media. I pledge to you, my beloved finned friends in the sea, to spend the rest of my life time advocating on your behalf, and swim with you on annual long migrations!
My human friends and sponsors, do let me know if you would like to be involved in the upcoming swim!
To each and every one of you, a big hug, much love and endless thanks.
Please come and stay with me sometime in my home on Vancouver Island, and enjoy my hospitality in the depth of an old growth forest, where you can commune with owls and eagles...My door is always open!
Thank you to the Divine Mystery who allowed all of this to happen, and brought us all together! In the Spirit of the Seas, Renate "Mar Sirena"
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