watercraft

Lake Coeur d’Alene

Published May 28, 2016

Memorial Day weekend: unofficial kickoff to summer – and for the past 3 years, summer’s meant summer running.

World’s Longest Floating Boardwalk

Set my 10K PR in 2014 at the Bolder Boulder, last year marathoned in Burlington Vermont. Continuing the streak this Sunday in the Inland Northwest at the Coeur d’Alene Marathon.

Direct flight to Spokane, hotel 40 minutes away in scenic Idaho. Huge towering pines. Massive river-fed natural lake. 3 days of mental download, relaxation 🙂

When I originally booked this race months ago, was supposed to travel with a friend – that fell thru so…splurged & booked a room at the Resort which hosts Sunday’s marathon.

Hotel check in, bib pick-up – done in 15 minutes. Nice!

Popped on a jacket & explored the city’s downtown center (Sherman Street). Walked dockside, down the world’s longest floating boardwalk (3300 ft long) – past shops & restaurants, a fleet of recreational watercraft, up n over a floating bridge, then spontaneously purchased a cruise ticket 8 minutes before the ship set sail. Good timing.

90 minute excursion. Saturated in the smell of evergreen, sat on top & took in the lake’s cool breeze. Solo trip. No talk, no FaceBook – unplugged, first day summer vacation.

Disembarked, took in 2 parks, watched the sunset from my tower window.

First day of summer, complete. Running 26.2 tomorrow a.m. New adventure, new experience – first marathon since May 1^st, time to get back on the horse. No regrets life.

: summer begins in Spokane

: marina view from my hotel

: U-S-A wavin’ PROUD!

: what’s a lake vacation without a lake cruise, right?

: the Coeur d’Alene Resort, my fancy pre-race digs (for a night)

: late afternoon shore walk

: the 2-1/4 mile Mudgy Moose Trail along Lake Coeur d’Alene & through Downtown Coeur d’Alene features five life-size bronze statues positioned at locations where Mudgy pauses in his search for Millie

: McEuen Park, tomorrow’s marathon start

: Memorial Day remembrance

Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise

Posted in Rocky Mtn West | Tagged moose, rivers-lakes, watercraft | Leave a comment

Molokini Crater

Published January 19, 2016

Woke early Tuesday with a goal to snorkel Maui’s south shore.

Couldn’t reach folks by phone (too early, only answer machines) so drove to the boat dock in Kihei (pre-dawn, still pitch black) with plans to join an existing tour. Talked to 2 different groups – both fully booked…on a Tuesday? Who knew?

Back in the condo, feeling kinda deflated, continued my google search. Most tours leave at 630am; luckily Kai Kanani in neighboring Kihei additionally had a 9am tour start. (Thanks Steve for calling – I couldn’t handle another rejection.)

Wait, wait, back up. Flew 8 hours to Hawaii & snorkeling plans just happen today on the fly?

Truth: Haven’t swam since Ironman Boulder (August 2014). 8-months of training – completely burned out. If I never swim another 100 laps at 4am, think I’ll be a-ok. Wouldn’t miss it. Truth.

Bigger truth: Crazy fear of sharks. Begged my dad to see ‘Jaws’ when I was a kid. Movie house was full – our seats, front row…which meant everything was HUGE. Years later, I still shower with my eyes open – shampooing hair & all. Far as I know, no shark has ever squeezed up household plumbing thru a shower drain. Yeah…this film wrecked me.

So at age xxx, no scuba or snorkel stories in this guy’s wheelhouse…yet.

Luckily (because life is meant to be lived) when calling home, Ash harassed me (incessantly, over & over – Saturday, Sunday & Monday nights)…until this day arrived – waking early Tuesday, deciding…today, I’m going snorkeling.

Molokini Deluxe Tour
Our most popular tour, snorkel at Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. Great food, beverages and cocktails.
4 Hour Tour | Departs 9:00 AM Daily

Just 15 Minutes to Molokini Crater
Start your Maui snorkel tour closer to Molokini Crater than with any other company. Weather permitting, some boats take over an hour to reach Molokini Crater – at Kai Kanani it takes 15 minutes thanks to our exclusive departure location on Maui’s South Side at Makena Beach.

Because of rough sea, toughest part of the day – boarding the boat.

Groups of 4-6 waded out into the ocean. In between large rolling waves, crew members helped steady folks up a waiting ladder. Nothing like a huge crashing wave to get you used to the water – LOL>

Aboard the boat: introductions, safety talk, do’s & don’ts, brief snorkel instructions – and WHALES…large humpback whales! What I didn’t see on Sunday night’s whale & sunset cruise, unexpectedly I saw today. MASSIVE mammals!

[side note: in 15 minutes, I’m gonna jump in ocean water. Yikes!]

Anchored the boat near Molokini Crater, lined up early – jumped in. Done. No more story – appears I’m still a mighty strong swimmer & had an absolute blast. Initially hovered on top as instructed, turned on the underwater camera & followed a school of black tropical-stripped fish. 10 minutes in, was ready to dive. All the cool fish hug the reef 🙂

Due to murky ocean conditions, never saw a sea turtle…or the reef shark that another snorkeler filmed. Just as well – I would’a freaked. HA! Ended our day cruise with buffet lunch & Mai Tai’s.

So would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY!

: North Pacific humpback whale

: WOW, WOW, WOW!

Molokini Snorkeling, Maui

Posted in Alaska/Hawaii | Tagged watercraft, whale | Leave a comment

Maui Oceanfront Marathon

Published January 17, 2016

Hawaiian Kahuna (Priest)

Up early – really early for state #48. 5am marathon start meant I’d be running with a headlamp for almost 2 hours ‘til sunrise. Whereas most runners caught a 3:45am bus from Lahaina, I walked a short ¼ mile to the Start Line [awesome condo location in Wailea 🙂 ]

Congregating in a large parking lot, more than a thousand chatty runners lined up on Wailea Alanui. 12 people used this race to complete their 50 states – Hawaii is where most folks end the Quest. Listening to native music, we chanted lyrics back to a Hawaiian Kahuna (Priest) while awaiting last minute race instructions.

Had never raced wearing a headlamp previously; luckily, no issue – easy to adjust. Why such an early start? Most of us Mainlanders were expected to melt once the sun rose. 80 degrees isn’t crazy hot in July/August, but acclimating to the 60-degree temp differential (vs Colorado) is a struggle in only 2 days.

Ran at a fast clip first 8 miles, pacing a sub 1:50 half. Goal: get in as many miles as possible before morning heat kicks in & I sizzle. Darkness gave away to pre-dawn dusk at mile 10; turned off my headlamp a mile later. Race highlight – saw a whale breach between mile 12 & 13. Not from a ship, not on a whaling cruise – turned my head left & watched this whale break the surface while running, not once but twice. WOW, WOW, WOW!

Sun consistently streamed from mile 16 – temp now increased 4 degrees every 30 minutes…felt like a slow-cooking lobster. As I baked, folks starting passing in waves. My friend Stephen met up at miles 17, 21 & 23 – provided water & orange slices. Thanks!

Entered Lahaina city limits; dropped off Honoapi’ilani Highway, veered left on Prison & felt a late burst of energy. Increasing pace on Front Street (town’s main drag), saw the Finish. Heard another runner coming up fast behind. Instinctively [after 26 miles] switched gears – enough gas in the tank to outsprint the half marathoner by a length. Pumping hard at the end made for an awesome finish pic – American flag & palm tree backdrop, everything you’d hope & expect from Hawaii.

Stumbled forward & soaked under a nearby mister. Whatta life experience!

Maui Oceanfront Marathon (MOM 2016 Results) »
Lahaina, HI, Jan 17, 2016 K R HAGA LOUISVILLE, CO 4:47:27

: Kahului Airport greetings

: sunrise just past mile 11

: Ma’alaea Bay

: mile 12 whale breach – WOW!

: American flag & palm trees — FAAANNNTASTIC!

: STRONG!

Recouped on Maui’s Big Beach – ocean breeze & zzz’s, just what the doctor ordered.

Call it a day? Heck no. Caught the end of the Broncos-Steelers game, changed clothes & returned to Lahaina for a sunset dinner cruise (special event for MOM marathon/half marathoners & guests). Watched the sun sink slowly into the vast Pacific, most memorable sunset of my vacation. Mahalo, Hawaii for a 2nd amazing day.