I’m a bit blown away reading this. Hi Joe, Hi Paul. I’m pretty certain I met you both in July/August 1983. The car you were driving from California to Pennsylvania for the family reunion broke down in Flagstaff. You left it there and caught a Greyhound bus the rest of the way. It was a local route and took 5 days. My bestie, Dee and I were going to New Jersey from Phoenix. You lads were great traveling companions and absolute guardian angels.
I remember the conversations we had about big families and wanting a life on the water. I’m so happy to see you have been having all the adventures! Keep being made of win.

Brandy/Bernie O’Neill

Danielle,

I think this is a great story that will be passed down through the generations. Now it’s time for you to live YOUR dream!

This is so neat! My dad is a cousin to the Camusos and I remember this being one of the many stories he has told me over the years that I absolutely loved! It is so cool to see the pictures that go with the story after hearing it so many times!

Wow, Joe, that is an amazing story! You should write a book about your adventure. Maybe even a full-length movie!

Thanks for sharing.

Sounds like it was an amazing evening. I’d love to see the video that was taken during the presentation!

The New Orleans trip inspired Ronnie “Herb” Morrison and I to take a 2nd trip, from Clearfield, PA to Key West, Florida.

We left in June 1979 and arrived in Key West Feb. 1980, a bit slower than the New Orleans crew. After arriving in Key West, Herb and I were out of money and landed jobs at a yacht club, maintaining yachts. Part of the job involved delivering the yachts to New England in Summer, Florida and the Caribbean in Winter.

I fell in love with sailing and the ocean and sailed for the next 8 years on various yachts. I sailed to the Europe and we spent 2 years sailing and exploring the Mediterranean Sea, sailing as far east as Turkey (Yugoslavia and Turkey were my favorite) then sailed back to Californian VIA the Panama Canal (the owners were from LA).

I met Swiss Captain and spent 2 years in the Pacific, sailing as far west as Australia and New Guinea, then sailed back to San Diego the rest of the time I spent sailing between New England and Caribbean. We now live in New Zealand. So that trip was a catalysis to a lifetime of adventure.

John Puhala

Thanks for sharing how your older brother’s journey was an inspiration for you own adventure! How many people were on your expedition? How long did it take? Anything specific you would like to share that impacted your life?

Wow, what great memories those photos bring back! I am Paul’s younger brother Joe. I was only 16 when this adventure unfolded. I would spend every evening after school that winter helping build the Kayaks and in this tight camaraderie. I threatened my mother that I would quit school and tag along, but I lived the adventure through their letters and updates. This was the catalyst to set me on a different journey.

When they returned to Brockway, Ronnie “Herb” Morrison hatched a plan to do a similar trip, but this time east of the Continental Divide. We kayaked the Susquehanna River to Key West, Florida. I eagerly put my hand up for this adventure and saved all my money from odd jobs. Little did I know what adventures would unfold!

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Joe Camuso
Whangarei, New Zealand

Bill, what a wonderful tribute to so many people who contributed to the success of your expedition and presentation 40 years later.

I believe that somewhere in the audience or someone who reads about your journey may become the next “great adventurer,” giving all of us an incentive to reach for greater heights in all that we do.

Thank you!