Tropical Blends Shop Visit

On the way to the airport, Charlie and I stopped by Tropical Blend Surf Shop. Jim was there and as usual was eager to discuss the finer points of board design and construction. Lots of cool stuff like racks, boards, paddles and accessories.

Second Day - First Time Fishing with the Epic 686 (that I built)

I went to Hickam Flats to try casting the Epic 686 I had built up back in Florida. I didn't see any bonefish/o'io - but I did see some schooling finger mullet (or something like that), a lizard fish and I even managed to catch this crab. I also saw the following: A mantis shrimp Several sea cucumbers A few pin cushion sea urchins This guy... I wonder if it is the same one (snowflake eel) I saw a couple of years back... and whole colonies of polyps (checkout the ones that were exposed to the air - this was a pretty low tide). So I didn't catch a single fish - but I did see a lot of what life uses this flat. I did drive out to check another spot - and I did see evidence of a larger predatory fish attacking the schooled up smaller ones (big splashes and lots of jumping fish). You don't have to twist my arm to make me go back.... Oh - and the rod casts wonderfully - this is going to be a workhorse for sure (in lighter wind conditions).

First Sunset on Oahu

This is the view from our friends' house. Not a bad view... I think the colors at sunset here are different than what the mainland experiences. They are lighter, more yellow/golden and purple than the orange and red. I think it has something to do with higher particulate count/different gaseous composition that the air on the mainland has - with more people and more machines emitting carbon dioxide and combustion products, and with the tradewinds blowing those same products away from the islands, there is a difference. Pretty in any case.

Second to the last post

This is last post. I made a hat for Marlon - K1 P1 for 8.5" then K2tog + P2tog decreases each of the four needles. This was made of worsted weight yarn - I'll make one for myself out of thinner yarn in a beanie style.

Last Post for Today

And from the Mainland - I'm going to start work in Honolulu so you'll see a change for scenery and focus (more fish and surf). Our last stop of the day yesterday was the Pyramid Brewery in Seattle next to the football stadium. And by coincidence, the Seahawks were playing. The Apricot Ale is La and my favorite beer (with a very close second going to Poseidon Grapefruit IPA - but you can't get it outside of Oxnard, CA). Noe and Marlon did not like the crowd response to the good plays - not a good way to get them to like professional football... Really good beer nonetheless!

Kinukuniya Bookstore

Our bookstore fetish is magnified when we pass a Japanese bookstore... And this one is in the Uwajimaya complex - talk about a triple threat (groceries, cream puffs and Japanese bookstore stuff).

Uwajimaya Seattle

Cool Asian grocery store! Of course the Beard Papa store is in the same complex - those cream puffs are sooooo good!!!

REI Seattle

I went playboating in the river and didn't even get wet!!! Actually we checked out REI's flagship store in Seattle yesterday. Biggest REI I've seen throughout the land. We've been here before on our previous trips to Seattle - always a fun time checking out the latest and greatest in outdoor stuff (I don't mind this kind of shopping).

So Good We Came Back - And Were AMAZED Even More!!!

We brought the kids to the Bass Pro Shop. We took a closer look around and the Fish Bowl at the Tacoma BSP is really a bowling alley - UNBELIEVABLE!!! It doesn't get any cooler than this! These paintings are at the Fish Bowl entrance. I bought some Malin Malon wire - I hope this is the stuff you can make bite tippet with by twisting and using a lighter to melt the end holding the fly... I'll let ya'll know in a couple of weeks (I've got an appointment with some kaku out at Pearl Harbor). More pictures from around the shop If you find yourself on I-5 driving through Tacoma Washington, do yourself a favor and stop in.