Thanksgiving Dive 2009
November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving Dive 2009
We have a tradition of doing a ‘night’ dive on the morning of Thanksgiving. Todays dive was on the ‘Reef’ behind Bunker Hill (or Little South America as we like to call it). We had about 12 divers and 2 shore support folks show up (3 including Vitus). The dive was pretty good (even though we didn’t get photos of it) it was still a night dive (meaning is was still pitch black out and we navigated with dive lights and glow sticks)
Afterward we got the fire going, and had our traditional post dive beverage. Grand Marnier soaked peaches and Champagne (Thanks Don & Chris). We also had coffee and cider and assorted doughnuts.
The fire roared for about an hour, the conversation was good, the company was great and it was a good way to kick off the day.
I have added a gallery of the get together here.
Let It Snow
November 25, 2009
I’ll keep it simple, I could not resist adding code to the site that lets snow flakes fall across your screen. It is winter after all right?
Remembering Our Band
November 23, 2009
For a brief and really fun time I had the pleasure of playing bass guitar and singing for a local band here. The last time I
Playing Bass in Our Band
played with them was for the Aleutian Life Festival back in August. We did some great songs and I sang the One I Love by REM. Earlier in the year (or maybe it was last year) we played in the studio of KUCB during the annual fund raiser.
I was going through my mp3 collection (nearing 5000 now uuugh) when I came across four songs we did in the studio. Daniel the station programming manager recorded us as we played. It was great and I hope the other members of the band don’t mind that I put them up for you all to hear.
You can download or listen by clicking on each song.
Destinationless Roadtrip
November 23, 2009
Every five months I get a month off, in August I didn’t leave the island for a full vacation – we were a little busy at the hotel with summer guests and several large functions so I stayed here and spent a few weeks trekking the other side of the island with Dakota. The deal was that I could take a few weeks later on.
Tickets are purchased and a few plans are being made. So far just the basics – I leave December 18th for Portland where I have rented a midsize SUV to act as my mobile home. I’m taking the first few days to head up to Seattle – to checkout the NOAA Dive Training Courses, specifically I’m interested in the Diving Medic courses. Then over to eastern Oregon for Christmas with Mom, then… well then is a two week road trip with mostly no itinerary or destination.
I’ll try and get in some skiing in Idaho and Utah, some desert time in Nevada, wreck diving in Southern California, then head north on the 101 relaxing and taking in the sites of the coast, detouring only for good reason, bad weather and of course the Temecula, Sonoma and Napa Valley wine country. (cant beat a good glass of red next to warm fire right?)
Eventually making my way back to Portland (or Seattle) where as expected I’ll do some last minute shopping and fly back home.
Alaska (Pacific) Octopus
November 23, 2009
Alaska (Pacific) Octopus
Todays dive was great. I’ve been spending a lot of time since my hike across the island (and rescue via the USCG) kicking back and relaxing. Todays dive was at one of our favorite local dive sites. Reid and I dove The Reef at Little South America to check octopus dens for eggs and occupation.
Jennifer and Simon were a head of us while Brandon and Mike were behind us. It was windy with winds of 35 mph coming from the south. Water temp was 39 but visibility was fantastic and at a max depth of 83 feet ~ I was happy to be back in the water.
We checked several dens – with Reid checking and marking down the results on the slates.
We saw several occupied dens and only one of them had eggs hanging. We had one den, near the end of the ‘reef’ that was occupied and had a huge ‘grave yard’ (also known by the marine biologist folk as a midden) out in front of it. It was littered with King Crab and Giant Clam shells.
Also worth mentioning is that just as Reid and I rounded the corner of the reef, I saw Simon backing off a large den enterance and an ocotpus backing back in to the den.
Simon told us top side that as he approached the den the octopus came out after him. whoa, better him than me!!
All in all a great dive with some great people.
Criminal Minds Quotes
November 23, 2009
I’ll be honest with you – I’ve been so distracted over the past few months that I’ve nearly shut down. I’ve spent very little time on my hobbies with my friends – in exchange I’ve spent a lot of time in front of the television.
I do not have a set of shows that I watch on a regular basis but there are a few shows I’ve recently started watching that really grip me.
One of the reasons I enjoy the show Criminal Minds is because its quick, smart witty and intense – and it’s also very believable. Another reason I enjoy the show is for the quotes and how they are delivered during the show.
Here is a site that gives up the quotes and who said them by episode:
Torres del Paine
November 3, 2009
Earth & Sky Compete
I have finished adding images from the trek around Torres del Paine. This trek was done at the same time we did Monte Fitz Roy in Argentina. I did notice though that I have some of the pictures backwards (in the wrong gallery) I’ll get that fixed soon.
We spent a month in the Patagonia’s traveling around, hiking, trekking camping.
You can find more images from this trek under the adventures menu item at the top of the page.
Although we spent maybe 10 days trekking around Torres del Paine, as well as surrounding mountains and glaciers. We met Gregg and Deia twice on the trail. For agreat read and hopefully some inspiration for getting out and about – please check out their adventure Across The Andes
Monte Fitz Roy
November 2, 2009
Monte Fitz Roy ~ Argentina
Well it has taken longer than I thought it would but I have added some images to the Fitz Roy gallery. February of 2007 my friend Lisa and I went to South America to trek around Fitz Roy and Tores del Paine. It was a vacation and birthday trip all in one.
We made our way to the little town of El Chalten where we spent seven days trekking and camping around the mountains and glaciers.
Using the menu bar at the top of the page, you can find more images of the adventure, under adventures.
Webcam
November 2, 2009
The new webcam arrived today. I wasted no time in getting it setup. I’m using the Linksys WVC56GCA. I got he camera refurbished from eBay and so far it’s working well. Previously I used the integrated camera on my laptop – but quickly realized having it perched in my window all day wasn’t a good idea.
The new camera is streaming live video and supports up to four simultaneous viewers. I’ll spice up the camera page when I get some more time, but for now you can see it at http://webcam.danslife.net
Dan
Missing Makushin
November 1, 2009
I spent some time on the water today. I had made some repairs to the engine on Kasper (My Boston Whaler Montauk)
Makushin Volcano ~ November 1, 2009
I left the Goose Ramp and made my way around Ulakta Head in to Broad and Wide Bay. I had a great view of Makushin Volcano. As I made my way further down the bay, dead on to Makushin I started to recall two summers ago when my friend Lisa and I spent a week climbing on and around it.
That was in August, I’m now thinking (with a little help of the fresh snow covering it) that a winter ski, camp and climb might be a good way to spend a week or so.
