CaptainOrange

One of the gifts I got last Christmas (though it may have just been an early birthday present) was a tangle of wires, resistors, LEDs and this thing that looks like a giant Triscuit cracker. It was from Brad and Jodi and at the time, it seemed like more than I could handle. I put it in a drawer and forgot about it. Brad and Jodi were visiting this week. We always like to tackle an interesting project. I'd say that this was good luck. I know Brad would say good planning. Below is the beginnings of everything needed for a great project. Coffee, a schematic or two, parts, tools and (of course) balloons! The ingredients of FUN As it currently rests, the the assembly looks pretty much as below... Let's hope we were being graded on function over form WTF? I know. This looks strange, even for me. It's a flash trigger with breadboard and a few extras thrown in for good measure. It was ordered from this site for anyone intrepid enough to want to make their own. The ...

I have been back from Honduras for a month. Enough time that I've come off the high of the trip and been able to do some thinking about what, if anything, I've learned. Beware the Atlanta airport. Perhaps I underestimated it's dangers. Before Brad left for his final flight we went to a restaurant, celebrating our triumphant (i.e. Live) return from the murder capital of the world. I had a bottomless Dr. Pepper and a delicious tasting veggie burger and fries. A couple of hours later, my stomach began to have some serious misgivings. I was sick all the way home and for two days after my return. Sunlight and adventure are an awesome combination. After recovering from suspected food poisoning, I felt like a new man. The cliche makes it hard to understand my meaning. The morose lethargy that I normally struggle with through the beginning of spring was gone. I had energy -- for myself and everyone around me. I was shocked to see others walking around like zombies and complaining...

We are getting an early start at the ruins this morning. First a fantastic breakfast of assorted fruit, scones, waffles, spiced compote, coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. We are one of the first groups to arrive. There are 5 members for this guided portion. Jim, a retired educator living in Quebec, was with us yesterday. Dave and Nancy join us this morning. Coincidentally, they were just at the Cocoview in Roatan. I recall briefly seeing them, though they dove from a different boat. The ruins of the religious area are unreal. They dwarf the dwellings of the upper caste that we saw yesterday. Again, sensitive areas are roped off, but I am impressed with how much we are able to touch and climb. Midway through our walk, Brad and I even get to scramble down into an empty tomb. View from within a tomb As much as I like to wander, I am struck by how much a good guide adds to the experience. Miguel is well studied in the Mayan culture and his knowledge of their culture and glyphs ...

Anwyn always accurately aces anything attempted. Nobly noting nuance, never naughty--needs niceness. Wistful Warrior, wishes wonderful warm wrapping... whomever... whenever Yes, yearning yearly, you're yet youthful. Newly number nevele (negatively now). Notoriously nice.

Last night was our last in Roatan. There was all you can drink rum punch and a fire dancer. I'm not sure those should be mixed, and yet they were. We avoided the rum, but enjoyed the flames. This morning I woke at 4:30am. Does that count as morning? I suppose. Everyone else is still sleeping since they are all taking an international flight at a more reasonable 11am. Brad and I are going to the main-land. Our flight departs at 6:40am and we have a quick boat trip and 20 minutes on the road first. The airport is sluggish, but they still manage to insist on searching Brad's luggage and opening a box he has a highly breakable object stashed within. I think everyone at the airport feels safer now. That's a smaller plane than I am used to. This is going to be... interesting. I know, it's no Twin Otter or anything, but still... the pilot's controls are labeled in Russian. Two planes later we have been picked up by a guide who will escort us during our 3hr drive to t...

The thumbnail down there is the link to the ever-growing album. New ones at the end... Honduras Falling, the dark, getting lost and drowning. What are things that mankind is terrified of? Correct. Bonus points would have been awarded if you had also mentioned that they were things associated with night diving. Tonight we are going for a night dive. Let me tell you, it takes a bit of nerve. I'm glad we have already dived this area during the daylight or I might be totally petrified. It was really fun bombing around The Prince Albert (an intentional ship-"wreck") with a pair of high-powered flashlights. At the same time, I had frequent visions of running into a rogue lion-fish and having to be flown to hospital. We all have our demons. For the record, Brad was responsible for making us late for supper. No, really, it WAS him. Our Dive-master preps us for todays dive There needs to be a buffer between diving and flying. We leave tomorrow morning, so this morning i...

Wednesday, March 2 Here is an instructive map of the immediate Coco View area  from a dive perspective. Sorry about the lack of pictures on this post. Brad has a lot of pictures and video, but, the dive pictures are hard to deal with (too many to sort through on this tiny machine) and I've not been in the water too much to use my camera. I'm a bit gun-shy. I've been violently ill to my stomach two days in a row and I don't want to make it three. That said, I'm not known for knowing when to say when. I'm here to dive, and dive I will. In my favour: new anti-nausea meds on loan from Brad, calm seas, the brashness of (near)youth, the desperation of (near)age, and a very light breakfast (just in case). Betrayal! They are taking our boat on the longest ride of any of the dives I'll do while here--23 minutes. Doesn't sound like much, but the trip that laid me out on 'V-Day' was barely 8. I work hard to distract myself and am rewarded with a even...