Dive group Hawaii

Group shot before we left for our final diving day of diving. Went to 2 spots with large schooling fish and very nice caverns which we swam through. Light was shinning through coral and had a luminating feel. Bout to walk down to a street art festival on the square, nap, then New Years luau tonight.

King of the World!!!

Ok, my little titanic moment! Leonardo doesn't have nothing on me!! Off for our morning dive!! Come on sharks!!

Wood carvings

Several shops and street vendors carving wood statues right in front of you. Lots of talented craftsmen. Makes me wanna break out my chain saw!!!

Dinner tonight at Roys with friends. Had fish. Very good. Heading to bed. Last dive day tomorrow!

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Whale 2

Whales!!

Great day for diving today! Got some underwater pics of sharks about 120 ft down. Will post those later. Awesome day for whales. Several groups spotted giving us a show slapping and jumping out of the water! Truly amazing!!!

Lighted church

Lighted historic church next to our condo.

Pics on deck

Me and Mark taking a pic on way back to port. Maui in background. Heading to dinner with some friends tonight. Been going to bed like 8pm every nite, as diving is draining on me 'ol body !!

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Maui island

Picture of Maui island after our dive. Saw a few whales off in distance. It's tough to get a picture of them!! We are doing this part of the island via helicopter on Sunday before we leave. Should be some great waterfall shots!

Morning boat ride

Morning boat ride out to Molokini, which is a rock formation off the main island of Maui. Saw lots of colorful fishes and lobster. Some saw a really big manta ray and swam with him. Will try to snag some underwater pictures from someone and post.

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Boat and marina

Here's the boat we take out each day for our dives. Holds about 25 divers and crew.

Divers's Up!

Picture of other divers coming up. Water was so rough you had to grab a rope to follow. Boat rocking back and forth due to waves and current.

All for tonight. Heading to bed early here to keep rest in check for tomorrows dive.

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Scuba break

Took this on lunch break between dives. Saw lots of colorful fish swimming in schools. Yellow and blue ones . A big shark which was more curious about us and stayed a distance away.

Getting ready!

Mark gearing up for the dive at island of Molokai. About 45 minute boat ride to this island. Great views and water crashing on rocks. Did see a few whales in the distance along the way, but not close enough to snap a clear picture. Did a Dramamine patch today and ride was good and no chunking!! 

Morning boat ride

Took this picture on way out this morning for diving. Seas were rough, like the movie perfect storm! Great dive say. We all saw a large hammerhead shark in the distance.

Banyon Tree

Entire town of Lahaina is centered on a city block with this gigantic Banyon tree which was planted in mid 1800s, It has roots which reach down and forms an attaching tree. Really amazing. You can walk underneath it. Try to zoom in on this picture to see detail.

Off to bed early tonight to rest and prepare for Tuesday's dive near Malikai island. Did see a whale in the distance today. Could see fins come out of the water. Hopefully closer and a pic for you tomorrow!

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Malikai Falls portrait / Day 1 Scuba

Well. Today was first scuba outing. Seas were so rough, that I had a few chunking spells. Have to let your pride go when your doing that in front of 20 people!! Hey, nice to meet you....ugh ugh over boat! Made the dives still. Got a motion sickness patch for tomorrow!! Spent the afternoon resting, fluids, lunching and grocery shopping. Neat little town. Beach shops and restaurants. Took a fast pace painting class. What ya think? Still need practice. Its a start! Hahaha.

Mark gets Lei'd !!

World record! Mark gets Lei'd within 10 minutes of landing in Hawaii! They took his picture and forever posted him on the hall of fame wall at the airport!

Flight over Pacific

Sunny and billowing clouds

On way to Maui for Scuba

Just landed in LA en route to Hawaii for scuba trip until after the New Year. This is the famous LAX flight tower. Like a scene from the Jetsons! Will be blogging all week with some pics of our trip! Have a great Holiday!

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Santa 3

Nice bonfire in the village

Santa 2

Santas Wonderland

Took a hay ride through Santa's Wonderland park in College Station. Really neat. Old western town. A must see over the holidays.

Happy Halloween !!!!

Habitat 2

Our job was moving prefabbed walls off truck to slab. Crews nailed in place. Roof trusses followed, then trim, plumbers, lunch, decking, siding, paint, windows , doors. After about 8 hours of hard work , house is up and ready for day 2. Electric / Sheetrock , paint, roof , finish out over next 7 days with new crews. Home dedication Saturday for the families. Was really a neat and fulfilling use of time. Changing lives. Will do it again...

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Weekend build for Habitat for Humanity

Spent Saturday volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. Was a special 7 day blitz to build 2 houses for needy families. We met at 7am in SE Austin. Our single mother client was present and helping. Was like the home improvement show quick build. 100 people, tents and crews. What follows is truly amazing.

Abby & Meadow at Bull Creek

Some reason this didn't post the first time! They had such a great time in the water!

Bull Creek w/ girls

On a walk with Abby & Meadow this morning at Bull creek. With all of the recent rains, the waterfalls are moving great!!

Frogs a croaking !

Got a close up of two frogs singing away outside in the front fountain tonight. Loud lil suckers!

Bombs Away!!

Getting some pics in from others from the trip.  This is me jumping in from the back of the boat. Notice the degree of accuracy with my legs..:)   After a signal, we all descend as a group of 6-8 people. Thanks for the pic John & Dave!

 

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St. Lucia 2010

Back in the States. In Atlanta waiting on a flight back to San Antonio. Really a nice trip!

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Sunset view

Had such a nice time at the resort, diving and St. Lucia. Heading to the airport in a few hours to start the journey home. Been a great trip!

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Sunset sky

Colors of the sunset overlooking bay from the rooftop.

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View of Pitons

View from rooftop of Pitons

Farewell rooftop dinner

The resort and the scuba center had a rooftop happy hour and dinner for us on our last nite at the top of Jade Mountain. Had filet mignon and goat cheese salad with gazpacho. Incredible food and views .

Waterfall at Botanical gardens

Isolated towards the back is this cascading waterfall.  Water is hot and works it's way to a hot springs pool area where we sat in the mineral water for about an hour before refining back to resort .

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Swimming with the turtles

Been seeing a few turtles along our dives.  So peaceful when they swim. Such a thrill to swim with them.

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Volcano

After our dives today, we took 2 shuttle buses to the active volcano on the island.  Strong sulfer smell.  Very hot water!  Island was formed by this volcano.  Hasn't erupted in a few hundred years.

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View 2

Mark holding up the balcony with the Pitons in the background.

Room with a view!

Beyond first class. Rooms hanging on the side of a cliff. Pitons to the left.

Upgraded room!!

The lower section of the resort was being overbook. Staff ask a few of us if we agreed to move, they would set us up in the higher exclusive private section called jade mountain. ( this is where they filmed Jake the bachelor last year). Amazing. Open, all custom, jacuzzi in middle of room. Private butler. Score!! We will ask the others up to HH and dinner tomorrow nite after our last dive.

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Botanical gardens

We then ventured to the botanical gardens to see many varieties of flowers and plants, walking our way back to a pretty waterfall.

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Diving group photo

Diving with a great group of buddies.

Mark diving

Saw a few sea turtles, eels and lobsters this morning . Skip

Scuba boat

Heading out this morning for 2 dives and then an evening nite dive.

Tropical canopy

Tropical canopy from one of the trails. Sun shining through just right

Tarzan ropes

Old church

Church on the plantation where slaves were allowed to go to worship once a month. 1 Commander per 6 slaves. About 10 commanders per property.

Plantation tour

Part of our resort is an old plantation. Years ago sugar cane, cocoa plants. Tour of slave qtrs and production huts.

Locals at waterfall

Waterfalls

Between dives , the group hiked up mountainside to the hot water springs.

View from Room

Have the best views from room. Overlooks rain forest canopy w/ birds and tropical plants. Went on 3 dives yesterday. About to leave in 30 minutes on boat to take us to spots around the Piton mountains. Between morning dives we are hiking a path in the jungle to see a waterfall. Been raining most mornings. Then it clears up. Guess that's how the jungle stays green! Just finished breakfast. Need to make a sacrifice to the Gods before I head out!! :). Skip