3. Getting There

Alan was blown away by the letter.

All he could think about was how could the drawing he sold in Michigan City, Indiana get in the hands of this secretary on a very obscure island in the Indian Ocean? What really seemed cosmic was that he dreamed the subject of the drawing - he had never been further west than his home town of Oceanside! The coastline, the house, the "cargo trike", and the winding road were nothing he had actually seen, at least not in this lifetime.

Alan has made drawings and watercolors from his dreams for many years; and now this one seems to be of a real place.

The woman, Margaret, also sent Alan a road map of the island, that had this little map on the cover...

So Alan realized he must travel from Michigan City, Indiana, USA (click this link) to New Island. 

Alan wrote back saying, "Send me the tickets, I can leave tomorrow!"

2. Alan Gets a Letter

The drawing that eventually found its way to New Island.

Alan, a bit breathless, called Michelle about a week later...

"Hey, you know that show that the Art Club had last fall? And that drawing I did of an imaginary coastline? It sold, and all I knew was that the buyer was visiting from Australia..."

"Yessss," Michelle answered, not sure where this was going.

"Well, I just I got this crazy letter..."

THE COMMONWEALTH OF NEW ISLAND

Office of Wainwright Stevens, Ministry of Trade

Mr. Alan Faramond

671-B Willard Avenue

Michigan City, Indiana 46360

USA

17 March 2012

Dear Mr. Faramond,

     

     I am Margaret Mullen, the Secretary-in-Chief to Mr. Wainwright Stevens, Chief of Tourism. I happen to have in my possession an excellent drawing of our southwest coast that belonged to a local man of my acquaintance. An Australian woman may have purchased it; we are not sure. It has your name and address on the reverse. I brought the drawing to Wainwright’s attention, and we both reviewed more pictures on your ‘Alan’s Art’ website. We decided at once to contact you, since you are obviously familiar with our island.

    We are creating a guidebook that shows the beauty of our island and that depicts the joys of being here. It is our pleasure to request of you, in the capacity of Official Depictor, to produce a series of pictures of our island-nation.

     We will provide you with a list of the places we would like depicted. We can offer you a stipend as well. In return, we ask that you produce hand-made pictures and tourist maps of our island,as requested. The number and completion date of these is to be determined by mutual agreement.
     We are willing to offer transportation to New Island via Perth-Fremantle, Western Australia. When you arrive we will arrange for accommodations, and local transportation.

     Please reply via E-mail or telephone at your earliest convenience, and we will send airline and ship tickets in your name. Also, if you accept our offer, plan to be here for as long as necessary to complete the number of images in question. 

Sincerely,

Margaret

Margaret Mullen, for the Minister

PS: I do hope you say yes. Mr. Stevens has been under pressure to get our island “on the map” to increase international revenue. Your pictures are by far the best we have seen -- you seem to know our island well!

- M.

The Ministry of Trade ▪ 15 Government Hill Mall, The Commonwealth of New Island 1005 ▪ 99-12-334-2995 ▪ trademin1@freenet..ni

1. Meet Alan Faramond...

Alan Faramond's story will reveal New Island a little bit at a time... 

Alan's old neighborhood, on Willard Avenue.

Alan's life was on pause but he didn't know it. He lived in Michigan City, Indiana, where he was teaching middle school until a classroom incident prompted him to quit. He had lost his temper with a disruptive 7th-grade boy. The parents complained, and Alan was suspended for a week and asked to get counseling. The Counselor assigned to him let him know he was suffering from a "mild depression." He simply didn't return after his suspension was up.

He was seeing Michelle, his friend and sometime lover, who he had met at the local art center. She had been married once, had no kids and now lives with her aging mother.

Sometimes Michelle spent the night at Alan's, and one night his dreaming woke her up.
On this particular night, she watched him muttering in his sleep. He was asking questions such as, …Carla, is that you? What am I doing here? What is this place? Who are these people?

This wasn’t the first time he’d woken her up this way, so she poked him and said,

“Is there something going on with you?”

Alan opened his eyes, and groggily looked at her. “…Huh?”

“Hey, you've been talking in your sleep for a while now, sounding like you’re lost or something. Are you okay? And who’s Carla?”

He blinks a minute trying to recall what was just going on. “Um, oh yeah, Carla... Well, I guess I’m okay.” After a moment he adds, “I was having this dream, where I’m at this strange place, near tall cliffs, or on a desert. And then I’m in a small town with strange-shaped little houses, and there are people walking everywhere, who seem really friendly, almost creepy-friendly. A few reappear then disappear. I think Carla was one of them. Oh, and then I’m out on a beach near more tall cliffs, and I’m following a narrow path above the beach, at the base of the cliffs, and I’m feeling joyful – but for no reason I can think of.”

He stared toward the ceiling and added, “ I’ve dreamed about this before, Michelle, and what is weird is that I’ve been dreaming about it more frequently, and I don’t know what to do, except to make drawings of what I've seen there. It’s all that matters to me these days.”

Michelle rested her head on her arm and looked at him “Oh, yes, the drawings. I was just wondering the other day how all that was going – you never talk about them. I mean, it’s great that you are doing them and all, but you’ve also been telling me that you’re broke and they might repossess your house - don’t you think you should try to sell a few of them to pay your bills? Or get some kind of job? And what about your teaching job? Weren’t they willing to take you back after your suspension? And you have no car, you walk all over the place like those scruffy guys I see downtown, and you don’t seem to be doing anything…I wish I could help!”

Alan shut his eyes, heaved a sigh, and looked at her, “Yeah, I know, but I can’t stand the thought of going back to that school. Except for my drawings, I don’t know what else I want to do. When I draw, I feel like I’m at home somehow, and, I know this sounds weird, but if I keep doing these I might eventually find 'home', wherever that is, and maybe the drawings themselves are home, or…"

Michelle, hearing this before, stopped listening and let her fingertips wander over some sensitive areas on his chest. “Ooh, that feels nice – don’t stop.” Alan is lost in the sensation, like a petted cat. Resigned, she smiles and settles herself down with this strange dreamy man.

********************

An hour or so later they were having coffee on Alan’s back porch. Alan stared at his cup and finally said, “No offense, Michelle, but Michigan City is just not home. I could go back to California, but where I grew up is so built-up and crowded now that no one seems to be enjoying life there much. And there's the cost! Besides, the friends I knew there have all scattered. I probably should have gone back long ago, but here I am! I guess I feel comfortable here because I’ve been here so long.”

“Hmmm, it feels to me like you are a little lost, Alan, and not just in that dream! If Michigan City isn’t ‘home’ to you then maybe something else is going on. I do get a sense you’re not really happy here, though I haven’t heard you complaining that much.” She sat a minute with her coffee, and then asked, “So what do you really want?”

Alan stared at his coffee, “I think I want to be in a place that feels like home, like I belong. Maybe it’s some place inside me - I don’t know! I draw places that give me a feeling of home, like the natural places I loved as a kid – wide open beaches with only dunes or marshes behind them, or hills full of wildflowers, but I know most of that has been paved over!

“But I also need people who love me to make a home, and they appear in these dreams like ghosts, but I don’t know them. Who are they? Do they want me? Is there something I’m missing here?”

“I don’t know about your dreams," Michelle said, "but I agree with you – we all need real people that we love to make a home – not just a house or a pretty place! Don’t you ever want to have a mate or get married again?”

“I guess so...but I don’t see it happening here. Um, no offence, Michelle.” He looked at her. “So-o-o, what would you think if I moved someplace else? Now don’t get me wrong, Michelle, you know I like you a lot, and I probably love you, but we’re both kind of taking this day-to-day, right?”

She looked at him, taking this in. “Well, I kind of love you too, but I suppose you gotta do what you gotta do. And yea-a-a-h, I guess we are ‘taking it day-to-day’ as you say, and now I think I need to go home.” Saying no more she drained her cup and left.

Alan sat there and stared at the porch steps. Crap! I’m so good at saying stupid things. She’s right, I am kind of lost.

New Island Featured in Lee Mothes's Retrospective Art Book, "An Artist's Journey to Nevermore"

Our wandering artist has put out a new art book which tells all about how he discovered New Island.

Lee Mothes tells us about growing up by the ocean, and how he learned to draw waves, explosions, floods and earthquakes, (How do you draw an earthquake?) and then houses, beaches, and coastlines of his own devising. He calls the book An Artist's Journey to Nevermore.

192 pages, 340 pictures, and the story behind it, New Island included! 

The most important chapter in his book, of course, is the New Island chapter. Lee is offering two beach house properties on New Island, as well as maps and other artifacts from New Island In something called a Kickstarter Campaign, that allows artists and innovators to connect with their fans. Cool idea!

In Journey to Nevermore, Lee has shared some pictures of our island that even we haven't seen in a while. He tells us there are many more in his book:

Route P-1, near Boomer Head - one of Lee's first New Island depictions.

Route 6 in the Highlands, near Falk, with local cats

Bellingshausen's Discovery of New Island, 1819-20

Mystery place -- we don't know where this is, 

maybe somewhere north of Putney, since that looks like 

Gottfried Island in the distance.

Deep Bay and the Goodhope Pier

The locals call this Rusty's Beach, near Albion on Putney Bay.

Up near Gay's Asylum in the highlands, the sky sometimes 

opens up with a glorious display of stellar nebulae.

New Islanders can get a hand-signed copy of Journey to Nevermore with their names printed in the book by pledging two rogers ($45. US) to Lee's campaign on Kickstarter.

If you want to get the background story about New Island, and a lot more, check Lee's Journey to Nevermore project here.

Tropical Cyclone Guito sending high surf to New Island's south-western coast.

Tropical Cyclone Guito has been tracked on a southwesterly course from Madagascar into the south Indian Ocean. This morning huge waves from Guito began to hit New Island's southwestern coast, and similar surf is expected slam into the Putney suburb beaches about noon, say West Putney lifeguards.

Cyclones rarely hit New Island, but they sometimes generate high surf, especially on the west-facing coasts. The venerable Russian-built lighthouse at Roaring Cape often catches brutal storm waves far ahead of the actual storms...

Storm waves hit the Roaring Cape lighthouse

 far ahead of Guito, which is thousands of miles to the west.

 Today, 20-foot high waves from Guito also damaged the pier at Irian, about fifty miles up the coast from Roaring Cape. The surf is expected to continue for several days.

Ocean-energy enthusiast Leslie Kraft dances to this morning's waves at Irian.

Of course these waves attracts big-gun surfers from around the island and from Australia, and they should be showing up by tomorrow.

Oasis Discovered in Sheffield Desert

During New Island's brief monsoon season, ponds and oases appear in the dunes of the Sheffield. These are a treat for hikers, especially when encountered accidentally. This pond was found about ten mile northwest of Sand Lakes, or about seven miles north of Buns. See the little green arrow on the map. Of course when hiking in the Sheffield, carry plenty of water.

New Coin might be Added to New Island Currency

 

        There is talk on Government Hill that a new ten-roger coin will be minted soon to supplement the one-roger. This new issue, possibly in silver, will be about the size of an American silver dollar, and will be the highest denomination issued. The design will honor nature's beauty, nature's energy from the ocean, and the joy of being in nature, as in surfing. The reverse will feature New Island's coat of arms. Again this is only a rumor and no plans have yet been announced by the New Island mint.

        Currency traders have set the value of one roger at about  $22.50 in US dollars. IF this coin becomes fact, the ten-roger will likely be set at $225.         

       The one-roger, below, has been in circulation since 2003, and is New Island's first coin.

       

The indigenous blue pelican is New Island's national bird.

"Joy" and "We are One" are the national mottos.

 

One-rogers can be purchased for $22.50 each. Contact Lee Mothes at mothesart@gmail.com if you are interested in owning a 2003 brass one-roger.







 

Winter Surf Arrives near Putney

 

 

While Trish and Emil were enjoying their new place on East Sumbitch Island, up north, a series of winter storms began generating rough surf off New Island's Putney suburbs. Everyone in the neighborhood turned out to watch huge swells roar past Putney Head, as the weather offshore began to change. The Maidstone Café, Putney's oldest coffee house, is usually busy this time of day, but is nearly cleared out. A local art collector, Oscar Rivvitz, seems unaware of the action.

During New Island's winter months, which are June, July, August (we're in the southern hemisphere, remember...) severe gales lash the South Indian Ocean at the higher latitudes known as the "Roaring 40s" and the "Screaming 50s". Most of this weather-energy reaches New Island in the form of impressive surf, especially along the Southwest Coast. When it's this big at Putney Head, it's really crazy at Brandonhead or Roaring Cape.

Trish de Beaupre Gets her Deed and House!



 

Once on her land, Trish decided she wanted a spacious house with a big kitchen and a large studio. With Alan's help, she found that the clay on East Sumbitch was suitable for adobe-making, and plenty of pencil-pine and oak trees grew nearby for roof beams and patio framework. The doors and windows came from the Sapphire Tribe, the best window-makers on New Island.

With the help of a carpenter and an adobeman, Trish and Emil built their house and repaired the old boathouse, a relic from the days of the Russians.

Alan and Trish worked out the house design and floor plan, then Lee did the painting of her house, its floor plan, the boathouse. That's Emil having fun in his vintage mahogany Chris-Craft. Below is Trish's Grant Deed, issued by the Land Office.



 

Trish and Emil moved in just this June!

Meanwhile, Back at the Land Office

Alan was now busy drawing the plat map for New Island's most recent landowner, Trish de Beaupre. Here is the story:

Trish and Emil were looking for land and Trish spotted the Sumbitch Islands on the New Island map, and was amused by the unusual name. To see the islands up close, they took the Mail Schooner up from Putney on its weeky run. As the schooner threaded the narrow Fool's Passage, Trish spotted an old stone boathouse and pier, and she quickly asked if they could be put ashore for one hour. For a "docking fee" the skipper agreed.  While Emil poked around the crumbling boathouse, Trish hiked up the hill and found an ideal site for their new house!

East Sumbitch Island viewed from the mail schooner, which passes through the area once a week.

Trish then went to the Land Office back on the Main Island and met Alan, the clerk, mapper and sometime architect, who works there. Trish told him about her desire to claim land up on the Sumbitch Islands.
"Ah, that's an interesting place up there", Alan told her as he reached for the New Island Survey Book.  Alan then looked at the 34-Section Map, and found the Sumbitch Islands, up at the top, in Section 1:

He then went to Plat 2, up near the top of Section 1, which includes the Sumbitch Islands and North Cape:

 

Like all the 34 Sections, Section 1 is divided up into Plats which are about two miles by two miles wide. Each plat is drawn up whenever someone claims property on that plat. Since Trish is the first to claim land on Plat 2, Alan had to draw up the 2-mile-wide plat, in detail, below. Alan then marked the map to show the exact size and location (within a few feet) of Trish's land on East Sumbitch Island. Click on the map to see Alan's work in detail!

 



By the way, anyone who claims land on New island gets this same personal treatment!