Traci's Underwater Adventure

During a peaceful dive, Traci reads a plaque and learns a frightening secret.

Raspberries

Last night, as Traci and I walked around Bellingham, we devised a brilliant plan of touring Lynden's Raspberry festival.





This morning, it came to fruition. Our first stop was the all-you-can-eat raspberry pancake breakfast. We were both hungry and excited.





Traci had to excuse herself a few times during the meal:





(for details go to www.cleaningthecolon.blogspot.com) Luckily, there was a woman who lived in Rwanda for a while to converse with.


Afterwards we looked at old cars polished up new.







We took advantage of a bus that brought us out to this small winery where we went on a walking tour of 10 meters. We tasted a hazlenut wine that we later put our names on a waiting list to buy--it was surprisingly good.







And to the berry farm, where we




saw a picking machine



resisted the temptation of a pulled pork sandwhich by fleeing into the fields











and gorged ourselves on raspberries





Opon our arrival back in Lynden, we promptly ate raspberry smothered ice cream.





A fruitful day it was.

On Wednesday we played in boats.








Jeff lost his shirt in a boating mishap. Here he shows off the consequences.





Nice Form




Cousin Steven readies himself for a flip.



I can't remember if I landed this one






Cousin Steven and Uncle Wray did some snorkeling





Today, Dad and I visited the Spiegal Grove.




We made our safety stop like good divers

Sunday, we got 4 dives in--two on wrecks. Afterwards, we were wrecked. Due to Jeff's lack of Mac skills, the photo's are currently unavailable. They're spectacular.

We got home and


Jeff shaved his head.




And the next day, after my long day of rescue diver classes, we went fishing. We bought 3 dozen shrimp (36, according to the sign on the door; if it wasn't for the sign showing the muliples of 12 from 1 to 20, I don't think I would have been able to figure out 3 dozen) put a bunch of beer in a cooler and packed some cheap nasty cigars down to the dock.

Lots of little bites. And then I pulled this guy up.


and kissed it.



Fish on!



Drats! The manatee let go.


Jeff caught this badboy




As we exhausted our supply of beer, cigars and shrimp, we lost interest in the camera and stopped documenting our catch. Unfortunately, the sharks, stingrays and manatees we caught and released never got photographed.

Kicked off the dive boat by NOAA and customers, Jeff, Dad and I drove up to the the Everglades to drive around. Quickly, I became friends with a lubber grasshopper. After assuring Jeff it wouldn't bite me, it bit me; startled, I shook my hand causing it to forever walk in counterclockwise circles.



We saw a few turtles




and lots of holes that looked just like this. Some had alligators in them. One alligator hissed at me because I got real close to take a crappy photo.





We drove down a road that looked like this for a while through the Fakahatchee swamp (The Orchid Thief, I swear they shot Adaptation here)




Feeling somewhat triumphant for some reason



then running from the mosquitoes that left blood all over the car, our clothes, and our appendages.



Dad and I watch Jeff scout some airplants from the car, having learned our lesson over the last few stops.

The 4th of July, diving the Duane. No current, which is unusual. Jeff thinks he's superman.



I think I'm an underwater gangsta


Kendall's got a good narc going


A school of grunts


Coral


We headed north to Fort Lauderdale to spend the afternoon with the fam. We tried to pick up fireworks along the way, but the line was alarmingly long, intimidating us up the road.





We got to Sharon's just in time for the parade.






And the flag-waving hot dog shake.




Jeff was a watcher





So was I, but I got this cool red visor

Long after getting baconified for breakfast




we went diving


we saw a friendly stingray eating something in the sand




things got a little out of hand



but it ended fine.