The World through our Lenses

Ferry Carwash

Originally uploaded by J. A. G.

Here’s what the day looked like. I was working out and on the second round of stairmastering i switched to a self powered machine till the staff decided to close the gym. I had to use a flashlight to get my clothes to go home.

So after winters of trying Polly and I found an Owl in the wild not in a cage for once. We headed over to Amherst Island to the famous Owl Woods again and this time we got lucky and ran into some birders leaving. So I asked them about finding owls. The guy was so in love with owls he talked about different types I only knew of few types (barn, Snowy, burrow) and this guy goes on about long eared, short eared etc and draws maps of the owls habitat.

Then he starts talking about blue spruce trees, and popular trees and they like hanging around this type of tree. Off we go into the wood and only see Blue Jays, Chipmonks and Chickadees. Then Polly trots off in the snow to a group of fir trees and hears something, 10 mins looking up and finally the oh shit. The Owl is about 10 feet up staring her in the eyes, So I got this shot off before it flew off.

We leave and trot back to the car about a 45 min walk back and drive around the island, giving up on a dead end road we turn around and a giant Snowy flies right up from in front of us.

So finally I see an owl in the wild and now know how to find them for the next time the weather is good.

I am also back in the gym and doing OK so I hope to finally make it in to a pair of 34′s again this year.

So Santa, Kinterclass, Saint Nick, Three Kings etc was pretty good around the house, Coupled with my new lens 150 – 500 I scored more then a drunken cheerleader on prom night. I hope eveyone got what they asked for in context to what they believe in.

The above shot was from the front step into a tree where the rat was eating, then I hopped into the car for some alone time and headed to west street to take this pano of the west end of Wofle Island.

So today after we attempt to get a few goodies from Boxing day sales we are going to Amherst Island to find some owls hopefully.

So I am just getting over a serious cold for the last few days and made it to the Gym to day for a pretty good work out. The thing is when this happens then the drugs that I take to control my mood and sleep go out of whack and so does the depression therapy and of course during the holidays. So I went out tonight to take a few pics and play with the high ISO set up on the D300 which I am pretty impressed with.

I plan to go out and try it with a tripod when it becomes a bit warmer the -20 temps tonight were just a little to much for my liking today. Even with the cold weather I haven’t had any problems with my arthritis which I am grateful and hopefully it will get better with the health.

My cat has a new hobby attacking are removing Santa Claus from the window and slapping it around, Polly is not impressed and spends most of the time in the living room scolding poor smokie. I don’t think the cat is listening to her anyway

Three days of snow in Kingston has netted us about a foot on the ground and people are in shock and awe over this. I remember when I first moved to Kingston 20 years ago the lake effect would bring a foot over night and no-one would even say anything, A sign of the times I guess.

So after two weeks in Bonaire photos under travels for those interested, it is offically cold. On Monday night after a long workout and chilly day Sean and I went to the flicker roundup at the Merchant Tap house for a drink and evening of shooting the shit. Best meet up so far and no freak-outs or panic attacks. The interesting thing like military guys most of the younger members are now seeking employment new cities after 4 – 8 years in Kingston.

Bonaire was very rough mentally for me as my depression was working over time and coupled with lots of indecision it was raging the first week but as long as I was diving and taking pictures it was very doable.

Good news from VA as they approved a heart monitor for me to monitor my heart while working out which is a great aid for losing weight and making workouts longer. So far this week I have logged in about 60 KMs and lots of hot tubbing .

The Christmas spirit is all about in town now and lots of homes are light up even more then the usual from what I think so I have to get Polly out for an evening of photo taking of them. So hopefully stayed tuned.

Tomorrow apparently my bike comes home from California and I have to teach a nitrox course as well so I will be busy tomorrow and off to the states with Sean and Vinnie on Friday. Seems that I am always riding around somewhere.

So Dan and I became honorary members of the Bonaire Bikers MC last night, I got to take out a Street Glide which is simular to my bike only for 40 bux. When we got to the rally point we were met with at least 40 more bikes of all types which is odd as the island is a bit smaller then Wolfe Island in Canada.

So around the island and in to the Steak House for beer then off to the private Bikers Bar to round up the night. Then we went for supper at the chinese place which was very affordable and plenty for 20NEF.

In the Morning Annie had to be taken to the hospital for a stomach virus and we didn’t get out till the afternoon for a dive, when we made it to the dive site we had decided on trying to find the seahorse at Eden. Much to our surprise we saw lots of other stuff but no seahorse.

But there’s always Monday.

That was the weirdest fish I ever saw and I more then likely would have missed it but it was just out of place a little.

For the first time in a week I feel ok and not so grumpy again most likely better for the people I am with this week as well. So off to Red Slave Hut for a dive this morning and despite all the warnings of wicked current and ending up in Antarctica we found none and lots of schooling fish and corals that seemed to have been missed during the hurricane last month.

I even found a large anchor from the 18th century which must have been uncovered or it would be adorning some locals villa. So after getting some goodies we ran into the cinterclaus parade and off for the dive in front of the town. This is where we found the frog fish, giant eel that was the first one I Have seen this large during this trip.

So depending on where we go tomorrow I will go back to the 105 macro or 12-24 if we do a wreck.

So today we went with Benji to La Cai for some southern wildside diving in hopes to see a turtle and eagle ray, Three Turtles made an apperance and best of all one had made a home in the reef so it was a model for a few shots.

La Cai is an interesting dive as there is current going at least three ways and low vis in the first 20 feet, and on the way back it apparently becomes a pull and glide situation not for us as we made it through no problems at all. Then we decided on the Witches hut for the afternoon dive and got blessed with yet another turtle making it 4 for the day. One thing that I had noticed was only one of the turtles was tagged so the other three were new ones or smarter then the biologist that tag them.

For supper we went to Bongo’s for the BBQ last couple of times that we attended them it was great and packed today was the complete opposite and service suck so bad that we almost walked out. So next Friday we will be attending a different BBQ, the food was good btw it was just the service that bite.

Even on a vacation you sometimes can’t shake the funk and this week is no exception it just coming and coming and with no relief in sight at times.  But I still got some diving in which seems to relieve me for the time of the activity some what.

A quick tour around the south end of the Island netted some photo opportunities as well. Bonaire is the home to wild parrots which seem to take great pleasure in showing you when and where they are and when you get close to them they take off  only to reappear behind you squawking and chuckling at you.

The island is also a large salt producer and for the first time in the three times that I have been here there was action at the salt hills and a ship to fill as well.  The hurricane that came through in the Fall 08 has done a lot of damage to the reefs and lots of the great schools of fish are nowhere to be seen.  The better places to see stuff, Salt Pier, La Cia are now only accessible with a guide,  the favorite site of the Town Pier has  been totally wiped out and is no longer on the official list of dives.

And Vandenberg any closer it would have knocked you out. But the mission was to find seahorses and we did that too.  So the day started out slowly and after some navigation issues we ended up in Kaapata for a dive.  Unlike a lot of the sites here (due to last months hurricane) in Bonaire there was a lot of wildlife on this one.  

After about 90 mins we got of the water and were treated to 2 very large iguanas hanging around the truck by a wall, Harold got to try out his new camera and got a great shot of it.  

So a stop in Rancon for lunch at the  local restaurant were you can have Turkey, Chicken, Beef, Goat or Fish stew only so chicken it was.  Then off to the windsock resort after a stop at the hut and a Seahorse hunting we went.  Within 2 minutes we found an Orange one which apparently is rare in these parts as most of them are black/greyish colours.  After a few more minutes Annie started screaming and I dropped the camera (attached to a dring) as I thought her or harold were in dire straights and to my delight a whale shark swims by.  

Right over Harold who is oblivious to the fact and right by Annie and I.  So after years of diving in whale shark territories I finally got to see one.