Why Do All the Locals Think We're Crazy?

by Scott Finazzo

Why Do All the Locals Think We're Crazy? is the true story of three firemen from the Midwest who decided to break out of their mid-life routine and take their mischievous senses of humor and their inability to back down from a challenge to new limits. Their kindred love for tropical locations, along with an insuppressible desire to be anywhere but Kansas, led them to extend their reach beyond the borders of the continental United States. They, with a combined total of zero boat building experience, constructed their own kayaks. Then they, with a combined total of zero sea kayaking experience, planned to spend a week paddling among the picturesque U.S. and British Virgin Islands. From day one twists, turns, setbacks, and obstacles hindered any romantic notions of a cinematic triumph over the confines of mundane suburbia and personal limitations. Yet, they took the trip, risked their reputations and lives, and managed to avoid becoming a pointless maritime tragedy. Through perseverance, humor, and rum they conquered the literal and metaphorical mountains they encountered: personal conflict, delays of every kind, kayak failure, separation, a night alone on an uninhabited island, and a rescue by a yacht chartered by drunken Dutch airline pilots.

Why Do All the Locals Think We're Crazy? chronicles the entire journey from idea inception through their return to the mainland. It combines adventure and humor with sprinkled in dime store philosophy that will leave you captivated, laughing, and glad to be on dry land.

Genres: Nonfiction

179 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2014

About the author

As a dreamer of dreams and a traveling man I have chalked up many a mile.
Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks and I learned much from both of their style.

Reviews

[Wendy's Wanderings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book. Before I started reading the book I thought oh dear,three Fireman. What am I in for? I hate to say it, but I was thinking all brawn and no brains. But,in reality its not like that. Of course, you do have to wonder where their brains were when they decide to kayak the Caribbean in boats they made. And, might I add, they had no previous boat building experience. The impulsivity of that decision I believe could be the authors admission of undiagnosed ADD. Which, I can very much relate to. In fact, it is how I wind up with all my crazy adventure stories.
I gave the book 4.5 stars. My only little complaint is after the story there is a paragraph the author wrote where the last sentence ended with the F word. For me personally not the very last thing I want to end the book with. A book that took me on a great adventure Overall, I think he does a good job of telling his story. For me it was interesting, entertaining, and humorous. If I'm lucky, maybe the author will traverse Mt. Everest next or Explore all the hidden treasures of the Grand Canyon..
This was a book given to me through the First Reads Goodreads program and no way affects my review of the book.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book because I've known one of the adventurous guys, John, most of his life. It was so much fun to be able to actually feel more connected to the story. It's written really we and I totally enjoyed it.

[Bill Bitner · Rating 4 out of 5]

What made this really great is I read it during a vacation to Tortola BVI, so the various places jumped out even more.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got such a kick out of this book! Why? Well...

This is the story of three Kansas firemen who decided to go kayaking around the US and UK Virgin Islands. The idea came to author after reading "On Island Time". Of course a few friends agreed this would be an awesome thing to do. After pricing ocean kayaks, why wouldn't the next logical move involve constructing them; after all, they were men with tool kits! They had the support of their families (once they had reassured said family members there was life insurance). So maybe they didn't have an encyclopedic knowledge of ocean kayaking. Or river, pond, stream, lake kayaking. Okay, so one guy had never even been in a kayak. These were strong brave friends whose jobs involved burning buildings and rescuing people and doing all manner of manly things, they could paddle around the Caribbean. Yeah. Right.

What makes this such a readable memoir is quite simple. The tale is told with exquisite humor and honesty - from the original idea to airplane issues, glue that maybe should have dried a tad longer, the kayaks they maybe should have tested out before the trip, the fine art of kayaking (entry, balance, rock avoidance, pumping out water while paddling, etc etc etc) they had yet to learn, sunken cell phones, drunken Dutch pilots, planning the trip before November when everything is actually open, basically all those pesky details are laid out with an it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time-duh! kind of honesty. Knowing they all somehow managed to avoid tragedy made it easy to smile, snicker, laugh out loud shaking my head and just enjoy the several hours I spent with these men on their journey.

I received this book on goodreads in exchange for an honest review, sometimes I get so lucky I am amazed. Read it from the comfort of your beach chair or your corner of the couch. And smile.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun read. I did doubt these firefighters common sense more times than not. I'm just glad they made it back alive. This is a light read and would be a hoot if you happen to be traveling in islands.

I didn't think was necessarily hilarious funny but there were lots of parts where I was smiling and shaking my head.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

It was quaint. A short refreshing read.
I don't think the title fits the book at all. It is completely removed from the central narrative.
Lot's of "bro" moments which was off-putting, personally, most of the time, but I shouldn't judge it. This is a memoir, this is Finazzo's adventure with his bros.

[Jason Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great quick adventure book stepping through the highs and lows of enjoying a trip to the US and British Islands. Finazzo showcases the results of some spur of the moment decisions and how it can affect their initial procedure or plans.
I figure I would have to see if there are other books by the others involved to get the full scoop on some of what all happened towards the end of the story.