Abandon Ship

The south shore of Maui where I live has been getting pounded by 12 foot waves. The beaches were strangely empty this morning, but surfers were out in droves.

I waited at a break near our house in hopes of getting some good surfing shots, but the surfers were too wise to ride the waves. It was funny, actually. Lots of people paddled out on their boards but once they saw how big the waves were, they simply sat and watched. The few people who tried catching a wave ended up bailing out.

Sun Drenched

I spent most of today editing photographs which I took yesterday. At least during the process I get to escape by pretending to be in the photos. I actually felt relaxed and sun drenched while editing this photo.

Move

I read a couple of blogs every day and scan through my facebook friends every morning to see what people are up to and what's happening in the world. This is where I stumble across some truly wonderful videos. Here's one I found today.



Or Click HERE to see it directly on the YouTube site.

Later

Today was another sunrise to sunset and beyond photo shoot. I'm too tired to say more. Later...

Brrrrr

Youthful energy perked up our ocean swim this morning. That and chilly water. When does summer start?

Click HERE for more photos from today's swim.

Christmas Shopping

Yep, it is that time again. Costco has opened up its Christmas decorations and gifts aisles. In August.

Street Art

Okay, once again I'm sure most of you have already seen this video. But just in case you haven't...



Click HERE to see it directly at the YouTube site.

Another August Snowstorm

It was like swimming in a snowstorm this morning, there were so many clumps of micro-organisms in the water. Which meant there was a high probability of a Manta Ray in the area feeding on all that good stuff. But where was it?

Fortunately, my buddy Amita (photo on right) had been following this manta around so all I had to do was find her - and her pink swim cap certainly helped. She was sweet enough to take this great photo of me (below). Thanks, Amita.

Menace

There was a really cool black cloud hovering over Wailea this morning (did I mention how black this cloud was?). It felt almost close enough to touch and was menacingly dark, but soon burned off in the hot summer sun. I love our fun weather.

Animated

This video is pretty cool, and worth watching more than once. This is not blue screen. The people are holding photos which when shown quickly in sequence become animated. Very clever.

Click HERE to see it at the YouTube site if the video does not show up above.

Just Want to Belong

I often feel just like the blue fish I saw this morning. It kept trying to be a part of the group, but each time it would swim with everyone else, they would turn and face the other way.

Part of the Family

People are not the only ones who enjoy going to the beach, stretching out in the sun and digging their toes into the sand. Remember to treat your car as the valued family member that it really is. After all, cars are people too.

Madness

It was madness out there today.

It started off innocently enough. Just a light breeze and a few small waves. Then the wind and waves picked up. Whoowhee. The swim back was wild. And fun. I'm just glad it is not this way every week.

Click HERE for more photos from this morning's ocean swim.

Watching, Poking, Tickling

I was mesmerized by scuba bubbles on my ocean swim this morning. I love watching them, I love poking them, I love being tickled by them. I am (obviously) easily entertained.

Gotta Get One of These

A Big Disappointment

I seem to be a big disappointment to the Spotted Eagle Rays. When I first swim by them, at least one of them zooms right up to me, then turns around and heads away like I wasn't what it had hoped for. Sorry guys. That happens often in my life.

The Green Sea Turtles are much more laid back. They don't feel let down because they never get their hopes up in the first place. I like their style.

Scary Challenge

I am frightened of people.

It's true. So, I've assigned myself a real challenge. For the next couple weeks I will take an up-close and personal photograph of someone other than me for my blog on all my non-swim days.

Okay, let's see if I can live up to my challenge...

Hold Him Down

The big discovery by the Maui Pink Cap Swimmers on this morning's ocean swim is that Pedro is ticklish.

On the other hand, to the surprise of no one, is the fact that Lynne likes to play and hide in bubbles.

Click HERE for more photos from today's swim.

Spelunking

This morning Doug and I decided to explore a cinder cone, Pu'u Ola'i, which is a mile down the beach from our house. This hill is what the Maui Pink Cap Swimmers aim for on Sunday mornings and along the cliffs of which we often see rays and sharks.

Today we explored three of the many caves in the cliff faces. None of them go very deep, but one series of them actually go through from one side of a wall to the other.

Yes, I know, we have a boring life - but somebody's got to live it.

Just Cruzin'

It is funny that when the water was crystal clear, like today, I didn't see much of anything of interest. Two days ago, when the water was saturated with microorganisms, there were all kinds of cool creatures to photograph. That's okay, it's all good.

Get Out of the Way

When a thousand pound outrigger with an inexperienced crew is headed to shore in breaking waves - get out of the way!

This canoe ended up getting caught by a wave and came in sideways. Luckily no blissed-out beach goers were in its path.

Life was much calmer a couple miles down the shore where the waves were hardly breaking at all.

Target Practice

My goal this morning was to get all three Spotted Eagle Rays and both White Tip Reef Sharks in the same photo.

It was quite a struggle to keep up with them in the strong current, but the sharks kept circling nearer and nearer so I kept with it.

Until the guys fishing from shore started casting their unbaited fishing hooks at me. Fortunately, I was far enough out that they couldn't get accurate throws and the lines only landed on either side of me. I was able to dodge the hooks and took the hint - I got out of there.

Good thing, too. I soon encountered and swam with the same Manta Ray we saw on the Sunday swim. And everyone knows that Manta Rays are a lot more fun to hang out with than Eagle Rays or White Tip Reef Sharks.

View From My Window

I live in a treehouse. And this was the view out my window today. Not just today but all summer long. The remainder of the year our house nestles among green leaves and bird nests.

Ray Day

The Maui Pink Cap Swimmers got to spend time with a Manta Ray and an Eagle Ray this morning.

And even better than that - we got to spend time with each other! I had a great morning. Thanks everybody.

Click HERE for more photos from today's swim.

Thanks Mark

I am terribly shy about photographing people on the street. Most of my blog shots are either taken from a distance with a long zoom lens or are of my swimming buddies.

Last night I ran into a friend from long, long ago and asked if I could snap his portrait with my cell phone. I am surprisingly pleased with the result. Thanks Mark.

Beach Combing

I love the fact that our house has two beaches. On the south side is a beach of tumbled rocks which is perfect for beach combing. Today I found an Urchin test, a Spiny Lobster tail, and a Cowrie shell.

I take a dip every day at the sandy beach on the north side of our property which is also a great launching point for ocean swims, kayaking and snorkeling.

Life is good

Too Much of a Good Thing

More stars than in all the heavens. Well, almost, sort of.

Our little Starfruit tree is GOING OFF!!!!

Last year our Haden Mango tree kept giving us loads of mangoes (we still have several bags in our freezer), but nothing to compare to the Starfruit tree this year. I am guestimating over five thousand fruit currently on this poor drooping fifteen foot tree. There is so much fruit that the birds and wasps can't keep up - meaning we are actually getting tree-ripened fruit. Yum.

Dancing on the Sand

Beach weddings are a huge business here on Maui and I walked past a fairly typical one this morning. There was a bride, groom, their daughter, officiant, photographer/witness, and organizer/witness.

Something different today was an officiant who was also a musician, and the bride and groom dancing on the sand. There often is a musician, but this was the first time I've seen the bride and groom dancing at the ceremony. Nice touch.

I don't have an explanation for my recent photographs of Kiawe trees, but here's another one for your enjoyment.

All Together Now

Why do all the fish line up facing the same way? Is it a religious observance, or does it have something to do with the earth's magnetic field? Or maybe food or sex are involved?