We're Only Here Once

From a knife in the eye to an unexpected date with two Parisiennes, the year-long adventure begins on New Year’s Eve.At www.jameswhiley.com you can find the text of these stories and the photos that accompany them.All text written and read by James Whiley.All music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and The NomadsPodcast engineered by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast StudiosBig thanks to my family for supporting me in this project. 

A month in beautiful Barbados with Mike and Margie, the Bathsheba boys, Jimmy Page (almost) and the First Lady of Surfing. All text written and read by James Whiley All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads. At www.jameswhiley.com you can see the photos that accompany these stories… and the texts are there too. Podcasts engineered by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au Big thanks to my family for supporting me in this project. Suggested viewing: Torren Martyn’s four-part short-documentary series ‘Lost Track: Atlantic’ at Torren Martyn - LOST TRACK ATLANTIC - Episode 1 - needessentials(Note: this is perhaps the first thing I’d turn to if someone asked me to explain why I surfed; and why I travelled.)

Finding the waves of my dreams in another Caribbean paradise. (Lots of surf-chat in this one!) All text written and read by James Whiley All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads. At www.jameswhiley.com you can see the photos that accompany these stories… and the written versions of the stories are there too. Podcasts engineered by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au Big thanks to my family for supporting me in this project. Suggested viewing: Torren Martyn’s short-documentary series ‘Lost Track: Atlantic’ at:Torren Martyn - LOST TRACK ATLANTIC - Episode 1 - needessentialsIf someone asked me to explain why I surfed, and why I travelled, showing them this might be the most efficient way I could explain.

Olas grandes, chicas lindas and Puerto Rican voodoo in this funky west-side story.All text written and read by James Whiley.All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads.At www.jameswhiley.com you can see the photos that accompany these stories… and the written versions of the stories are there too.Podcasts engineered by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au

Car head-butts, lightning strikes, stormwater drains, weapons-grade fireworks, mountain-climbing super-heroes, Kingswood station wagons, the Golden Age of pub-rock and an accidental, nomadic schoolteacher feature in this sprint through the years before and after 1993.All text written and read by James Whiley.All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads.At www.jameswhiley.com you can see the photos that accompany these stories… and the written versions of the stories are there too.Podcasts engineered by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.auBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support and help in this project.

Midnight drives, perfect waves, sweaty car-seats and a dog attack as the Central American leg of the journey begins. All text written and read by James Whiley. All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and The Nomads. At www.jameswhiley.com you can see the photos that accompany these stories, along with the text. Podcasts engineered by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au Big thanks and love to my family and friends for their support and help in this project.

Ten days in civil-war-scarred Nicaragua with rough tracks, mud-flats, dodgy dates, epic waves, and a fin chop stitched by torchlight without enough anaesthetic. Yowza.All text written and read by James Whiley.At www.jameswhiley.com you can see the photos that accompany these stories… as well as the texts. There's also an Instagram page if you search for james whiley or jamesw_wohoBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support and help in this project.And big thanks too to Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios for his tech assistance. See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and The Nomads, who are:Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – rhythm and lead guitars, songs and singing.

A month surviving scorpions, falling mangos and bizarre injuries in the war-torn home of pupusas con queso and classic right points. All text written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios. See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au At www.jameswhiley.com you can see the photos that accompany these stories… as well as the texts. There’s also an Instagram page if you search for james whiley or jamesw_wohoBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support and help in this project. All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and The Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars.

The Central American leg of the journey ends with a string of bus and boat rides through El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to Panama, where we discover no-see-ums, advanced food-sharing techniques and a dream surf-shack. Next stop: South America! All text written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios. See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au At www.jameswhiley.com you can see the photos that accompany these stories… as well as the texts. There’s also an Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/Big thanks and love to my family and friends for their support and help in this project. All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars.

The South American leg of the journey begins! I go on an epic journey by bus through the Andes Mountains to El Cucoy; nearly go into the horse-transporting business with the richest man in Colombia; and spend a surreal week spent high (but not what you’re thinking) above Bogota.   All text written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios.See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au You can see some photos that accompany these stories at the We’re Only Here Once Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/ The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.comBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support and help in this project. All We’re Only Here Once music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars. (The guitar solos you heard on this episode’s track, ‘Heading South’, are by Nic Leedon.)

Fun times with Ecuadorian inefficiencies, snow-capped volcanos, joyous salsa, home-made explosive devices, semi-permanent mountain roads, upset Italians on the Devil’s Nose railway and avalanche-aware cattle on the way to cold waves and new songs at Montanita.All text written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios. See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.auYou can see some photos that accompany these stories at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.comBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support of this project.All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars.The guitar solo at the end of this episode’s theme song, ‘Montanita’, is by Tama Taita.

Three weeks at La Casa de Coco with great people and deserted desert waves in a little town called Pacasmayo.All text written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios. See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.auYou can see some photos that accompany these stories at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.comBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support of this project.All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars.In this episode’s theme-tune, ‘(Working hard in) Pacasmayo’, Tama Taita shreds on lead guitar and Josh Kronfeld rips the harp. Great sesh, lads!

An epic bus and train journey through Peru from far north to far south, featuring deserts, mountains, weddings, markets, buried towns and dodgy digs. Vamanos!Written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios. See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au if you want to make your own.You can see some photos that accompany these stories at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.comBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support.All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars.In this episode’s theme-tune, Written on a train, Quentin Cooper plays the mandolin he found for five bucks in an antique shop and re-fretted with a penknife on our living room floor overlooking Dunedin. Great times.

After surviving a health scare, we walk the four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, then bus south to Lake Titicaca and the Bolivian border. Plenty of scenery in this one. Written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios.See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au if you want to make your own. You can see some photos that accompany this chapter at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/ The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.com Big thanks and love to my family and friends for their support. All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars. In this episode’s theme-tune, ‘Sufi’, John Thomasson (aka Carbonlifer) from Vermont in the USofA, takes us there on the flute.Check out John’s album (‘Carbonlifer: Digital Analog Heart and Soul’) at CarbonliferHe plays all the instruments and it rocks.#incatrail1993 #peru1993 #machupicchu1993

We visit La Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca, walk another Inca Trail to accidentally celebrate the Fiesta of the Virgin Mary in Coroico, then catch the now-defunct ‘Ferrobus’ across the desert Altiplano to the far north coast of Chile. Good times! Written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios.See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au if you want to make your own. You can see some photos that accompany this chapter at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/ The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.com Big thanks and love to my family and friends for their support. All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld and Midge Marsden – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars. This episode’s theme-tune, ‘Bright Fire’, was written in a chicken pen halfway along the Choro Inca Trail. John Thomasson (aka Carbonlifer) from Vermont in the USofA, takes us there on the flute.Check out John’s album (‘Carbonlifer: Digital Analog Heart and Soul’) at Carbonlifer

A ten thousand kilometre adventure through beautiful Chile by train, bus, boat, car, plane and foot; from the Atacama Desert in the far north to Patagonia in the far south. Muchas gracias a todos nuestros amigos chilenos!Written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios. See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au if you want to make your own.You can see some photos that accompany this chapter at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.comBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support.All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld, Midge Marsden and Vic Polyik – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars; Nigel Jenkins – recording engineer.The harmonica in this chapter is Australian bluesman, Vic Polyik. Check out his page at www.bluestrain.com.au#chiletravelstories#1993travelstories#backpack1993#backpackchile #sanpedrodeatacama#chilerailways#torresdelpaine#southamericatravelstories

A solo hitching-trekking-camping mission to ride magistical waves at two secluded left points in Central Chile. Yeehah! Written, read and recorded by James Whiley. Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios.See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au if you’d like to make your own. The photos that illustrate this chapter are at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/ The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.com Big thanks and love to my family and friends for their support. All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are: Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld, Midge Marsden and Vic Polyik – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars; Nigel Jenkins – recordings at Graffiti Studio, Dunedin, New Zealand. The harmonica in this chapter’s theme song ‘Sunshine’ is legendary Kiwi bluesman, Midge Marsden. Check out his spotify collection. #surfingchile#stokedchile#chile1993#1993travelstories#backpack1993#backpackchile#puertecillosurf#southamericatravelstories

The South American leg of the journey concludes with a Homeric day-trek back to Pichilemu and a few final waves at Punta de Lobos.Written, read and recorded by James Whiley.Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios.See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au if you’d like to make your own.Some photos that illustrate this chapter are at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.comBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support.All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are:Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld, Midge Marsden and Vic Polyik – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars; Nigel Jenkins – recordings at Graffiti Studio, Dunedin, New Zealand.#surfingchile#stokedchile#chile1993#1993travelstories#backpack1993#backpackchile#puertecillo#pichilemu#puntadelobos#southamericatravelstories

Anthropological riddles, three legged dogs, challenging reef passes and nearly a last-night mugging feature on the run home to Sydney.Written, read and recorded by James Whiley.Other cool podcast tech stuff done by Rod Morri at Sydney Podcast Studios.See www.sydneypodcaststudios.com.au if you’d like to make your own.Some photos that illustrate this chapter are at the We’re Only Here Once instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jamesw_woho/The texts of the stories are at www.jameswhiley.comBig thanks and love to my family and friends for their support.All ‘We’re Only Here Once’ music written by James Whiley and performed by James Whiley and the Nomads, who are:Anton Harris – drums; Lindsay Jenkins – bass; Quentin Cooper – mandolin; Tama Taita – lead guitar; Josh Kronfeld, Midge Marsden and Vic Polyik – harmonica; Ainslie Laverty – keyboards; John Thomasson – flute, trombone and scat singing; Nic Leedon – lead and rhythm guitars; Tony Stephens – saxophone; James Whiley – songs, singing, rhythm and lead guitars; Nigel Jenkins – recordings at Graffiti Studio, Dunedin, New Zealand. #easterisland#easterislandsurfing#easterislandbackpack#surfingmoorea#surfinghuahine#1993travelstories#backpack1993#backpacktravel1993#surfingfarehuahine#pacificoceantravelstories Thankyou for listening to We’re Only Here Once: 1993