Scott Bourne’s has just created a 200 page hard back book featuring his journal writings from a three week journey through the Balkan countries, called East of the Adriatic. Photos by Bertand Trichet, Sergej Vutuc, Lars Greiwe, and Jaka Babnik and illustrations by tattoo artist Romain Pareja. Available in English and French from 19-80 Editions. Click through to read the author’s notes.
The words and photographs presented in the following pages were gathered while traveling through Eastern Europe in search of new and undiscovered skateable surfaces. The skateboarding has for the most part been omitted, for no other reason than to give the viewer an idea of what is actually happening in the head of the traveler as well as what he sees during such explorations.
In well over 20 years of skateboarding I must say that I have traveled the Earth in every imaginable way, from Ferry to freight train, car, bus, and airplane…. but one thing is for certain; no matter how it is that we travel there is no closer comparison to our lifestyle, or at least the lifestyle of those I have fallen in with, than that of the ole time sailors. For there takes a certain type of spirit to live like this and travel with such aimless direction, to wander, to stumble, and for no other reason than the thrill of a new discovery. How many times have I signed on to go to some foreign place that I had never heard of before nor knew its location on the map, till I had arrived? It could happen at anytime!!! A phone call late in the night and next thing you know I’m in a car speeding off across the continent connecting big cities with the small towns in between…. and for no other reason than adventure. Where are we going, and what next, always an insatiable desire for more, more, more??? Young and wild in dead-end America, off to the poles, the coast, or the uncharted abyss. We made maps impossible to read without the desire for the adventure that created them. We followed stars, ghost, or folklore, often sailing on instinct alone, never lost for we had no TRUE destination, at home anywhere on the infinite golden grid. Until these travels took me to other continents. Australia, Asia, Russia, Europe, wet and wild as I splashed around the world by bar and boat, enchanted by the Siren’s call. In every new town we must experience the local food, custom and drink…. and whatever drink we drink, we drink too much. There will be local song and dance and hopefully a little romance. And much like the old sailors songs, we drink our last shot and say farewell. There will be a girl, a fight or a simple misunderstanding that might land us in jail overnight. Never in a town for more than a few days and when we leave it seems that there are just as many happy faces as sad. Handshakes and hugs then once again, we are off trampsing across the globe.
The writing here in, is taken directly from a journal I kept while traveling East Of The Adriatic. The photos are nothing more than visions as each individual saw the journey. The camera itself can be much like a pistol blast as we steal the treasures of each new town or cause trouble when a native believes we’ve stolen their soul…..here in lies our adventure!
Scot H. Bourne
