I noticed the local skydiving operation has a new logo on a banner attached to the container where they keep their equipment. I quite like it, and it’s very geometric, but it does look a lot like they’re going to drop you into the ocean!
Posted for Becky’s Squares: Geometric. See more responses here.
I’ve lived in Hawaii for more than 12 years and go snorkeling whenever I can. New Year’s Eve was the first time I’d seen a Humpback Whale in the water (here). Yesterday, less than a month later, my wife and I had this even more remarkable encounter.
Walking down to swim at Lapakahi Historical Park, I spotted a humpback not far offshore. When we got in the water, the whale was still there. It wasn’t very active, just milling around, as they sometimes do. Also, in the same general area, was the same woman who had been with us on New Year’s Eve. We swam out and headed in her direction.
As we got closer, the whale could be seen ahead, still not doing much, but it became apparent it wasn’t alone. The fins of another adult whale could be seen a bit farther out. But that didn’t quite explain the activity I was seeing until I realized that I was seeing a third whale, a calf swimming close to the first whale, which was clearly its mother.
I put the brakes on then as I had no wish to accidentally come between a mother and her calf. But at that point, the whale and her calf turned in our direction. The mother was huge, much larger than the previous whale, and getting bigger by the second, with her calf poised close above her. I have to say, there was a moment there when I was a tad nervous. But she simply continued her turn before heading away with an imperious swish of her tail.
Posted for Becky’s Squares: Geometric. See more responses here. Also for Clare’s Share Your Desktop. See more responses here.
Stocky Hawkfish markings appear symmetrical, but aren’t quite. However, they do an excellent job of helping the fish to blend in as it waits, motionless, to snag passing prey. This fish was more patient than most. There was a swell running and it kept swishing me back and forth in front of the stoic fish, which was sheltered from the waves, and also wedged in with its pectoral fins.
Posted for Becky’s Squares: Geometric. See more responses here.
One of the tables at a local coffee shop has a chess board painted against a colorful background. Not sure whether chess pieces are available for those who want to play. If they do, it’s worth noting that chess is a very geometric game.
Posted for Becky’s Squares: Geometric. See more responses here.
Sunday Stills challenge theme this week and last week is ‘Your 2024 Year-in-Review.’ See more responses here. As before, I’m going with a favorite photo from each month of 2024, with a caption and link to the post the photo first appeared in. Last week, I posted favorites from January through June (here). This week, it’s July through December.
A new business has opened in Hawi, though at a spot that has not been a great location of late. However, the sign is a winner in my book and I liked all the rectangles and lines going on. Perfect for Squares!
Posted for Becky’s Squares: Geometric. See more responses here. Also posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card. See more responses here.
Yesterday, driving into Lapakahi Historical Park to go snorkeling, my wife and I saw a Humpback Whale, close offshore, doing multiple tail slaps. After we parked the car and headed towards down to the shore, the whale was still slapping its tail. By the time we had our gear on and ready to swim, it looked like the whale was done and heading south.
But, as we got in the water, I saw the whale heading north. We swam out, without any thought of seeing the whale. Chances were it would dive and disappear, or move on, or turn around again. But once out toward the edge of the reef, we realized the whale was hanging around and even nudging towards the shore. By this time it was doing fin slaps.
We had never been this close to a whale in the water and the sight of the huge fin reaching up and then slapping the water with a loud thwack was impressive. As we watched, the fins got larger. I dipped my head underwater and could make out the hazy shape of the whale, the first time I’ve ever seen one in the water. Eventually, the whale came into full view and paralleled our course for a few minutes before it eased away, though it remained quite close to shore.
The whole encounter was deeply moving, an end of year gift for us and another swimmer who was there. During that swim, we also saw three reef sharks and later, a pod of dolphins. It says something that those encounters, normally the highlight of any swim, felt anticlimactic!
The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 175. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.
