Lazy Days

 
 Halloween? No way. Today was Sea Turtle Day. All I saw on my ocean swim this morning were lots and lots of Green Sea Turtles.

Mostly lazing around, snoozing on the ocean floor. A few were swimming here and there, but most of them seemed to be taking it easy.

Okay turtles, I can take a hint. Time for me to take a nap...

Rare Visitor

Our house sits above the ocean on a rocky outcrop. To the right is a sandy beach and to the left is a rocky one. I really do not know why two beaches so close together should be so totally different, but they are.

Yesterday, our stoney beach was visited by an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal who decided to make the shore her own bed. She seemed quite blissed-out, and who wouldn't be? Warm water, hot sun, cool breeze, how could life be any better than this?

Not Just Cars and Tar

We had lunch at the Dunes at Maui Lani yesterday. You can never go wrong with any of the Cafe O'Lei restaurants, but this one actually has a view of something other than a parking lot. Nice. We'll be back.

Up and Down

 I ran into a visiting wedding photographer and a group of Spinner Dolphins on my ocean swim this morning. The dolphins were swimming up and down the beach, and they stopped to say "Hi" each time they passed me by.

Click HERE for many more photos from today's swim.

Carried Away

 It all started out innocently enough. The perfect sky littered with only a few clouds like early onset cataracts in powder blue eyes.

Oops, guess I'm getting a little carried away here. Sorry about that.

Um, anyway, it was a beautiful Maui morning. Again.

Button Popping

We found ourselves wandering scenic old Lahaina town Sunday evening in search of a good Hot Fudge Sundae.

We failed miserably, but will not be deterred. We will keep on trying until we either: find a great sundae or all the buttons pop off our clothes.

Eerie Trees

My fascination with the Kiawe Tree continues. And what better time than the approach of Halloween to lurk around these often creepy-looking trees?

Tasty Turtle

No, it wasn't the turtle which was tasty, it was the algae growing on its shell which the fish were enjoying this morning. Yum.

Monte-Zumba in the Park

 Drum beats drew us to a residential park as we were randomly strolling through Sacramento this morning.

Nearly one hundred people in ceremonial garb and elaborate feather headdresses were continually dancing in a circle around a group of drummers. They were getting quite a workout and supportive volunteers brought them cups of water so that they would not have to interrupt their dancing.

I love stumbling across surprises.

Big Drip

We left a different Yosemite than the one we found. Clouds obscured the peaks, rain poured down, and waterfalls began running after months of being dry.

We took a walk through the clouds in a grove of sequoias. The trail signs spoke of listening to the sounds of the forest, but never mentioned the one we heard most: drip, drip, drip, drip.

And still, even with the clouds and rain, Yosemite was as spectacular as ever. What a great trip this was.

Working Rest

We decided to make today a "rest" day so, of course, we went for a long hike up, up, and up to some waterfalls this morning.

It was well worth it even though the snow had turned to rain before it hit us. Yes, pretty snowy weather would have been nice, but I really would not have wanted to have been hiking those steep slopes if they had been icy.

Every day in Yosemite National Park has been spectacular.

Smells Like Snow

Thanks to a suggestion from my buddy Mark, Doug and I had two gorgeous high Sierra glacial lakes all to ourselves today. We're not accustomed to altitude, so we both thought we were going to die on the hike up, but it was worth the pain.

Good timing too. The road will be closed in another week and maybe sooner - it sure smelled like snow to us.

Panic Attack

Doug and I hiked for about six hours today along the rim of Yosemite Valley.

Doug is standing at a 3000 foot precipice in the photo above and I was doing the same to get the photograph. Because of the watercolor effect he blends in, but he was definitely there and I was definitely close to having a panic based heart attack.

We took a gazillion photos, but somehow they do not show the drama of the location. I guess these will have to do.

Bears, Deer and View

All the hype I heard about Yosemite National Park seems to be well deserved so far.

This place is stunningly beautiful. And every time I turn around I see a vista at least as spectacular as the one in the other direction. Wow.

We watched a Black Bear and her two cubs foraging on the ground before all briskly climbing a big tree. They bounced around in the branches before climbing back to the ground. And the deer in the photo below casually sauntered past us as if we weren't even there.

We just drove in this afternoon and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Waists of Remembrance

San Francisco has been even more fun than Sacramento was. We wandered town during Fleet Week,the Air Show, and the Columbus Day Parade, and ate way tooooo much delicious food.

Ken & Leanne have been spectacular hosts and we will be sorry to be leaving them behind tomorrow.

But our waistlines will never forget these days, at least not for a long time.

Kind of Nice

Sacramento is lovely. Even the churches are kind of nice.

Other People's Eyes

 I used to be the only one out in the ocean with a camera. Once upon a time, long, long, long ago.

Now everyone seems to have one. Every scuba diver I saw this morning was taking photos and so were the snorkelers.

And I love it. I get inspired seeing through other people's eyes.

Cool Transition

Today I did a fun hike through Wailuku up into the Iao Valley.

Maui has amazing micro climates and I have always been impressed by the transition from the hot, arid climate of Maui's county seat to the cool, lush rainforest of the valley. I savored the difference more fully this morning because I did it on foot.

No Longer Angry

A small group of Spinner Dolphins joined me for my ocean swim this morning.

They have been avoiding me for a long time. In fact it has been over three months since they've decided to swim with me, and I've taken it personally.

So I showed them! They wanted to play, they jumped and spun and twirled all around me, but I was having no part in their frivolity. I just kept swimming.

But my resolve finally crumbled when they started dropping leaves in my path, so I joined them in playing the Leaf Game. I can never stay angry at them for very long.

Click HERE for more photos from today's swim.

There's No Place Like It

Of all the photographs I took on my walk this morning, the only ones I found at all interesting were taken right here on my street. There's no place like home.