Whale Watch - Maalaea

A gorgeous morning out on the water. As we drove down the hill at 6:45 am I was pleased to see the smoke from the Puunene sugar mill going nearly straight up. Yeah!No wind!We were booked on Pacific Whale Foundations 65 foot catamaran. Departing with a full boat of 80 we headed out. Across the horizon there were numerous spouts. We saw many pods and listen with a hydrophone for a few minutes. Fun!

Sunset prior to incoming cold front

Mooo evening

When Maui Land and Pine got out of Pineapple recently we were all sad there would be no more "Maui Gold Pineapple". I could not ever imagine not being able to get fresh pineapple at any time of the year. It was unthinkable. Fortunately 4 former Maui Pine managers got together and with the Ulupalakua Ranch manager Pardee Erdmann they formed Hailimaili Pineapple. They leases 1,000 acres and have kept "Maui Gold" growing and available. What about the fields I had the privilege of riding in behind my house? The pineapple field which has been behind my house since I purchased my property in 1988 has been made into a pasture. 400 acres are now cross fenced for the Ulupalakua cattle which were starving this year. The sever drought had left the ranch with little grass. The worst drought anyone had seen in a long time. The cattle now over look the house and freak out the horses. sometimes at night I can see their ghostly outlines and inquisitive ears framing them as they line the fence checking us out.

Lucky to Live in Paradise

Beautiful warm days, no wind and a bright blue sky. To the beach! as I approached baby beach cars were lined down the normally deserted street. Obviously the ocean was calling many. A work day at noon! The outer reef had a 8-10 foot break creating a over reef wave with a current in the normal swimming area. The water was a bit cold but nice after the intial plunge. The dogs loved it! Hunny, Q and Leila :) Q is a swimming marvel with her own lifevest!

Look out tower

On the top of a ridge in Styria Austria was an observation tower. The steps were a open grate making it more and more difficult to ascend the higher you got. I was 20 feet below the platform and had to stop. A small mental discussion of putting one foot in front of the other got me to the top. The views were spectacular. A map showed us what we were viewing. Just a few miles away was the southern boarder. Fun!

Butterfly house in Vienna

Right around the corner from the Spanish Riding school is a marvelous butterfly house. As we walked past the atrium I could see beautiful butterfly's. Wow, I must go in. We had less than a half hour before they closed. It was most enjoyable. Many people had the butterfly's sitting on their fingers.

A shark hanging in a Austrian Castle

Imagine my surprise when I walked through the main entrance of this old castle to find a 16 foot Mako shark hanging in the ceiling guarding the entrance to the castle.
apparently he has been there for almost 400 years. Caught and brought back to ward of and protect the castle. It is the only castle which was never over run by the enemy.