Thursday, July 30

Snorkeling

I started the day with a trip out into the water with folks from the dive team. Water temperature data is being collected by submerged devices at a bunch of sites around the island. As the divers set off to find each data logger, I stayed on the surface and did some snorkeling. The water and weather cooperated, for the most part. Some huge swells caught me off-guard and a white-cap actually broke over my head. It was a bizarre sensation. A massive pounding sensation on my head was followed by me looking around, expecting to see a large bird that had just dive-bombed me, thinking my snorkel was some kind of tasty fish. I saw no birds anywhere nearby and noticed the surface was still pretty foamy and white, as is the case after waves break away from shore. I waited a few more moments and another wave broke in nearly the same spot. Eureka! I swam away from the pounding waves and scanned the rocks and reefs for more blue tang, trumpet fish, trunk fish, and anything else I could find to fill up my viewfinder. The dive spots (snorkel spots for me) included Mennebeck Bay, Haulover Bay, Newfound Bay, Yawzi Point, and Tecktite. I snorkeled everywhere except Tecktite, which was a little too deep for snorkeling. At Tecktite, I stayed on the boat. I collected quite a few rays from the sun. By evening-time, I was doing well with a lobster imitation. It was really great to get out on the boat with the divers and see them in action. The dive team rocks!

I've been meaning to workout more often. I heard from Jeff, one of the divers from today and also a super-cool fish biologist working in the Biosphere, there is a race coming up in September around Labor Day. There is a triathlon and also a swim/run event. I'd love to do the swim/run! So, after work, with the Army Ten Miler and the potential for a local race in mind, I ran for about an hour. I weaved around the trails near my house and then set off on the Margaret Hill Trail. I made it almost to Centerline Road (a fair distance from my house) before turning back to come home. It felt great and I very much enjoyed having brought my water bottle along for the run.

The new housing needed a little bit of home-making. I did some dishes, put down a towel in the kitchen (No rug? Use a towel!...), did some laundry, and sat down for a tasty dinner of tuna salad. I caught up with Kevin, who will be here in less than a week! Woo-hoo! He's quite excited to be on a vacation and also travel somewhere he's never been before!