and again – WOW – perhaps you’ve heard of the dolphin research center in the upper Keys, Fla? http://www.dolphins.org/

I got to go there last year and paid to be “in a show” with them – wasn’t what I expected, but to be so up close to these amazing critters – super cool. I googled that river – how WONDERFUL to kayak with them PI!!!
I am wondering if the lynx conversation involved possible mating? And! If I had heard such a sound out hiking or camping I would have thought SASQUATCH!
here a photo of a female dolphin up close & lookin’ right at me…

That is incredible q-bird! That sound is creepy – very human-like.

The male leopards and male tigers sometimes “howled” at night. You could hear it echoing across the desert – incredibly haunting. I wonder if it had something to do with territoriality? Dominance?

Those lynx are gorgeous. Funny how they paid no attention to the truck in their little disagreement….

I will try and scan more tiger and leopard pix – I recently dug my old photo album from the Big Cat days out of a box from the flooded basement of our old house and most of them survived. I know there was a video I gave to my late Dad as well (when he came to visit) but I can’t find it.

These days I’m temporarily living on (and kayaking) the Folly River where I see dolphins every day. Sometimes several pods a day, VERY close up. It’s breathtaking. So my new obsession is Atlantic Bottlenose family life and communication. I’ve even seen them strand-feeding, which is mind-blowing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ6xbnGEhTk

coming at you from way back here PI, forgot where we were discussing big cats – wanted to share a quick vid from last spring around these parts up here –

http://youtu.be/aYDGFnrTSAk
This is a big cat sound I have never heard in person – really different.

Thought you might enjoy.

I would want you on my side in a fight 🙂

Was it the Spanish crew who worked the lines? I mean, docking that boat had to require some serious ropes and the strength of men. Fish soups & stews – oh I know, I know! The last boat I worked on was with Mr.Q – a 34′ Harris double hulled fiberglass “stinkpot” named the Blue Star</i) for 7 years. Perfect little boat – this sweet boat could take far more harassment from the Ocean than us puny humans ever could, I chit you not. Our average trip out on the fishing grounds was 7 to 10 days. We had been out & only had a so-so trip product wise this one time, so we did a real fast turn around – sold the fish, had one night on shore, then resupplied and were back out at it the very next day. We cruised at only 7-8 knots, so it took all day really to get to Fort Jefferson (safe harbor – the very last islands in the Gulf, flat water & no tankers can run over you inside there, so you can sleep well & not have to stand watch). Right after we anchor up, a fellow commercial boat, a crawfish trap boat, the Annabelle C, comes up on our stern. Her Capt. Rick says, "OMG, are you just back from Key West? Please, please, oh god PLEASE… I'll trade you lobsters FOR ANYTHING YOU GOT – we've been eating chilao (a Cuban stew) for the last week!" And before I could even dig out a whole chicken & some hamburger, he has twirled his 55' boat around and his crew is tossing lobsters onto our deck – 4 – 8 – a dozen lobsters! are all crawling around and there's me running around too, trying to capture them before they make their way to a scupper (one escaped)! Funny… and tasty too. 🙂

later dates mate!
q

Thanks q, amazing picture!
I’m originally from Hawaii. Left home at 17, and after Scientology I returned home for 28 years. I again left Hawaii 8 years ago and am on the East Coast now, experiencing Autumn falling for the first time. Just lovely!
For 30 days the Royal Scotman wasn’t allowed by Hubbard to dock. We were constantly at sea, doing various drills on what was called the Liability Cruise. Only fishing I recall was done by the Spanish crew (non Scientologists). They took over the cooking from me after I used up half the food storage in the first three days, unaware it had to last for thirty days. I remember lots and lots of meals of nearly inedible fish soups and stews!
My favorite memory on board was being turned onto Jimmy Hendrix. My friend and I partied with Mary Sue and a burly man from the engine room in her salon almost nightly. I don’t recall any alcohol or drugs, just a lot of laughing and dancing. At the end, when we did successfully dock and go into drydock, Captain Mary Sue Hubbard said she was calling it the Power Cruise.
Will return with a photo I took of Captain Mary Sue, if I can figure out how to post it here.

Aloha back atcha there then Candy ~ Yes to be continued, oh I hope so! 30 days at sea! doing what? going… where? running most of the time? and anchoring up in some safe harbor some of time I gotta believe? Again, I’m thinking heavy weather here… sometimes, no boat is big enough. How many people did you have to cook for? For me, the most was while working these Yankee Fleet head boats (charter boats for fishing & also whale watching ~ 🙂 8 crew & 20 – 50 passengers for 2&3 day trips twice a week. Easy peezy short trips. Deep water sailing for long periods, well, that’s a whole ‘nuther story. Did anyone fish on Apollo like ,off of smaller tender boats? I started out on sailboats too! This boat: Cecilia 60′ steel ketch. Got on board her in Belize, 3 months later sailed her up to Fort Lauderdale. Hawaii! That’s where you’re at? Wonderful.

a song for you Candy from your Israel Kamakawiwo’ole ~

http://youtu.be/nXeA-7a-2kQ

Aloha, A nui hou Malama Pono

I’m glad our lunch date is ON!
I may have been raised by a narcissist, ultra fundamentalist chiropractor, who supported George Wallace for pres ((100% true). 😉
But I am recovering from my upbringing,
And why would a narrow mind come to the Bunker anyway?
Always learning and on your side,
Love,
Casa
PS Mr Casa has a case of Corona, how many do you want?

And a good sign that eventually, after leaving, you can find some true common sense, sanity, and decency again, as Rinder appears to have done.