Young Steven comes ashore

Today I had my very first visitor. That young, guileless spirit of the open seas, who for a short time in Austin joined the land lubin’ pirates of the Good Ship Holly, found himself on a cargo ship from Panama headed towards the Gulf of Urabá. This is very much to be expected from the likes of young Steven Van Maren, who called from a beach not too far away and made plans to meet up in Apartadó. All night rains, a dangerously high river and prior accompaniment commitments meant we had all of 45 minutes to recap our past adventures before I sadly walked away from the only familiar faces who have graced my almost-doorstep. Young Steven and his sea-faring friend, Ernesto Perez (also formerly of the ATX and frequent summer guest of Holly Street) took off soon after on a bus to Medellín with my hastily written instructions for locating the night-time anarchist scene in the great mountain city – a scene any good pirate should find his way to. While there is nothing particularly Colombian about this picture of me and the boys I hope it serves as proof that it is possible to find your way through the Darian jungle and into my life. Young Steven and Young Ernie certainly did and I am grateful to them! Arghhhhh, mates, arghh.