Shooting Fish

 I am happy to have joined the Maui Camera Club. It's fun to shoot fish with other like-minded people.

And waterfalls and plants and flowers.

Yesterdays outing was to the grounds of one of Maui's more spectacular resorts. I am really looking forward to the next one wherever it may be.

Uncle Henry

I got to swim with Bruce's great-uncle this morning. Unlike Bruce and his young friends, uncle Henry wasn't the least bit skittish and swam right alongside me. It's good to be home. Sharks are definitely more fun to hang with than turkeys.

River Walk

We've gone from riding the range out where even the cell phones don't roam, to huge crowds crawling along the San Antonio river walk.

Thank goodness for a week of intensive overeating; it enabled us to blithely consume multiple courses at an excellent restaurant this evening. Yummmm.

Texas Ice

I thought Texas was a part of the South, so what's with all the ice this morning? [brrr]

Pre Christmas Bonfire

The first of the holiday bonfires is burning tonight. Each night's gets larger, culminating in the after Christmas fire which is fueled by the Christmas trees.

When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth

Today we were out hunting fossils and found several nice ones (photo below) from eight million years ago. We also found footprints which were much more recent. It turns out the footprints were created by a group of twenty-plus giant wild turkeys which roam the Texas ranchland.

Yeehaw

The surf was too big for swimming this morning, so the ladies and I strolled Big Beach for my last morning on Maui for a while. Texas - here I come.

All About the Toys

 Once upon a time it seemed that I was the only one out in the ocean carrying a camera. How times have changed.

Now days it seems that SCUBA diving is no longer about the underwater experience, but about playing with the camera equipment. I was going to say that it was about getting the photo, but after watching these people fiddling with their fancy setups I realized it was really about the gadgets. As usual, none of these divers saw me even though I was within five feet of them. It's all about the toys.

Winter Chill

I was feeling a bit chilly on my walk this morning with temperatures only in the low seventies [brrr]. Fortunately, the afternoon has warmed back up into our usual eighties [ahhhh].

People and Mermaids Too

 I run into some of the most interesting people on my morning ocean swims - and sometimes not just people but mermaids too!

This morning it turned out that Maui's Mermaids, and some of their hangers-on, were swimming the same route along the shore as me. Lucky me, they even let me join them for a while.

Without a Scratch

 For the second week in a row, some of the Maui Pink Cap Swimmers managed to break out of our established routine and explore the cliffs of Ahihi.

Adventure abounded and, happily, we all escaped injury (not for lack of trying).

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

Early Christmas

 Now that winter is here, the streets I walk are festively strewn with flower petals. This special consideration by the trees makes me feel appreciated. How nice.

And this morning besides seeing the usual stand-up paddleboarders and kayakers, I saw someone flying on water jets. I think someone's Christmas present came early.

Drivers License Revoked

Green Sea Turtles have been missing from the scene the past few weeks. Where did they go? Have they all been eaten by sharks?

Not to worry. This morning they were back, in abundance. But they've obviously been out partying somewhere, because two of them actually staggered right into me. Yes, turtles are often oblivious to their surroundings, but I've never had them actually run me over. If they carried drivers licenses, they would have had them suspended by now. Watch out for those holiday parties.

This Pillow Starfish (photo below) is in the holiday spirit, being all decked out in bright red.

Thrown by Waves

 I don't know which is scarier. The threat of attack by Tiger Shark, or the risky spots my swimmer friends take me.

This morning we explored the cliffs along Ahihi bay, peeking into every nook and cranny along the way. Well, not just peeking, but swimming into them to see where the waves would throw us when they crashed in.

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

New Spectator Sport

I couldn't resist the juxtaposition of this sign with these chairs. Whale watching, maybe; but shark watching?

Only a few years ago there was no public transport (except private taxis) on Maui, and now there is regular service with double-decker buses. Things are a-changin'

Enjoy the Swim

 This morning was my first ocean swim since Monday's fatal shark attack, and my mind was working against me the entire time. In fact I even cut the swim short because of my worries.

None of the turtles I saw, who are prime food sources for big sharks, seemed the least bit concerned. And after my swim I noticed several snorkelers who were having a great time, laughing and joking amongst themselves.

So, I've decided that it is time for an attitude shift. If I commit to a swim, I need to banish all worries about being torn apart by big ocean predators. I need to just enjoy the swim.

Time for Action

This morning yet another person was killed by a shark in my back yard. Two deaths in the past few months in my neighborhood plus several bites within a couple of miles. This is getting out of hand. If the sharks don't get back in line I'm afraid that I am going to have to take action.

Fewer and Fewer

 Because of a recent shark attack just a little way down our South Maui shore, turnout was sparse for this morning's ocean swim.

And the crowd grew thinner as the swim through murky water progressed. From the nine who began the swim, only four of us emerged together at the end. Don't worry, the other five all got out safely, but only minutes after getting in.

Drama Under the Waves

I noticed way too many bubbles coming from this scuba diver below me on my swim this morning. Fortunately the tour leader was paying attention and was able to fix the breathey thingamajig quickly and efficiently. Nicely done.

Zombie Apocalypse

What is more surprising than walking through the woods and stumbling across an unexpected grave?

Why, stumbling across two graves - one of which has been broken open, of course.

Which begs the question, why is only one grave opened? A resurrection? The beginning of the zombie apocalypse? Family feud?  Hmmmm...

Invaded - Again

 Hordes of snorkelers and dolphins invaded my swim-space again this morning. You would think that with a whole ocean to swim in, they wouldn't have to crowd me; but that's okay. I'll find someplace else to swim next time. There's plenty of ocean to go around for everyone.

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

Only Seven Months

I took this photo this morning for family and friends of mine living in the Midwest, where the temperature has not been above freezing for way too long. Don't worry. Your summer is only seven months away.

Hazardous Sunday

 This morning's ocean swim was a hazardous one for Shaun.

The shark (above) came after him. Not to worry though. Shaun had the brilliant idea to take the fin off his foot and stuff it in the shark's mouth. Which was offensive enough to the shark that it turned its attention to Sandy who was escorting us in her kayak. A couple of whacks with her paddle, combined with me trying to get close for photos finally drove the poor critter away.

But that wasn't all. Shaun also managed to find a large, and dangerous, Box Jellyfish (photo at bottom of page). Its poisonous tentacles were five feet long, but thanks to Shaun's discovery, the rest of us swimmers were able to safely avoid getting stung (not that I didn't come mighty close while getting the photo for you).

All in all, we had a fun and exciting adventure swim. What a great way to welcome back Patti and Janet.

Click HERE for more photos from today's swim.

Up Up Up

This tropical island is usually located under a high pressure system and clouds normally cannot form above 8,000 feet or so. But on days like today when the atmosphere becomes unstable and the moist tropical air rises up, up, up; spectacular clouds form around the mountain top.

While in the opposite direction, nothing can be seen but clear blue skies dominating a flat clear ocean.