stubsadventures

What a day. Without knowing it when we woke up this morning, Spocker and I would be diving where few other people have ever dove. The site was only discovered three years ago, only one company dives there and they only go twice a month. The volcanic lake was inside the crater of a volcano and the sections of it we dove were alive with volcanic activity. The area was lit up with bubbles shooting from the lake floor, sulphur and ash spots and dead fish because of the sulphur content, not to mention, craters from other volcanos. The lake felt tropical in temperature compared to yesterday and the first dive was incredibly comfortable. My gear felt good, the pictures were turning out awesome, the air felt like it lasted forever. Not only is it awesome to have a perfect dive like that but to find out after it was over what a rare opportunity we had fallen into. It is so seldom that you ever dive somewhere where there isn’t at least a few divers splashing on the same day. For example, yesterday, we probably within a three-hour period saw as many as 50 other divers. Not only where we the only divers, the only other humans we saw were two buses that were passing through to get to the other side of the mountains. AND, our guide told us that they are likely going to close the site to divers soon because the area is becoming too active.  What a dream come true, I’m not sure how I ever got this lucky. Also, we actually saw a fish alive in the area where there were many dead ones and the dive master said that was also pretty rare as they don’t last long in that kind of water.

After that, we headed to the coast for our first ocean dive. The location where we went in was also pretty stunning. Abandoned buildings galore, and a rock structure that was at least a couple of hundred years old. We in Canada have no concept of the age of this country compared to ours. Sometimes you’ll be looking at a rock wall that is 1500 years old and was once the wall of someone’s house. It’s hard to grasp.

The dive was not as comfortable as the first that day. Pretty early on, I realized that I had broken the seal of my camera with sand from the location before and I had flooded my camera with water. Although this does suck, and will cost a bit of money to replace, it’s generally not the end of the world as long as the memory card survives because at the end of the day, your case is still fine. Either way, something like that plays with a person’s mind in those situation and generally distractions are not welcome as a diver. The first bit of the dive, sometimes visibility wouldn’t be more than five feet and you had to be very careful with orientation. What also didn’t help the situation was the fact that our only warning before this also somewhat cold dive was to be weary of baby seals. At this dive site, last season, a diver was attached by a mother seal, whose curious baby had swam over to the diver to play. This is something that stays with you when you can barely see passed the length of your arm. Finally though, in the deeper water, it got much better and unveiled a kelp bed that was filled with star fish, hermit crab, small fish and lots of sea plants. Three quarters of the day through the dive, I got an air bubble in the foot of my suit that I could not get rid of. It sucks when something like that happens because it’s a small enough problem but it messes with your buoyancy, which can be distracting and tiring. Eventually, my feet got under me and it shot me to the surface. Normally, this can be pretty dangerous but because I wasn’t too deep, I was safe.

We got back to the hotel feeling on top of the world, so we decided to rent some scooters and take a ride around town. We drove for about 20km and saw a beautiful section of the coast, golf courses, towns, a famous Icelandic horse farm and even kind of went off roading at one point. I was smiling from ear to ear, I have never done anything like this before and had the time of my life. I want one.

Tomorrow, we go north. Very north.

Stubs.

Today was slightly messed up. They tell you the water will be cold. They tell you that diving it in a wetsuit isn’t an option but what they don’t tell you is that it is too cold for your body to even go numb, so just a crazy amount of pain sets in.

Diving in Iceland is stunning and touching both the European and North American tectonic plates at the same time is a pretty amazing thrill but there is nothing that can prepare you for the cold. I have dove in the Atlantic, dove altitude in the Rockies in a wet suit but that didn’t compare to this feeling. The pain that sets in shortly after you hit the water doesn’t dull with time, only starts to throb the longer you’re in there. Focusing on your amazing surroundings can sometimes be difficult when you’re wondering if your feet and hands will ever feel normal again. The dives only lasted a half hour but it’s easy to see why, the body just can’t stand much more of that.

Although there is little wildlife in these lakes, the views are amazing and the colors are vibrant. The best visibility I have ever seen, you could see as far as your eyes would allow. During the second dive, most folks backed out because of the bitter cold but I pressed on, so I could take these pictures. Our first dive was part of our certification for dry suits, so I wasn’t allowed to take pictures on that dive, so not going on a second and walking away without photos wasn’t an option.

The second dive I prepared myself for much worse but it actually wasn’t too bad until the last ten minutes or so and I was awfully glad to pull my sorry ass out of that lake knowing that all that was left to do was pee and dry off.

Overall, an amazing experience and very much looking forward to diving in a volcanic lake and the ocean tomorrow to finish off our Icelandic diving!

Stubs.

Today, we had to say good bye to our wonderful hosts at the Guesthouse Galtafell. This place was so wonderful and the hostess gave us hugs and kisses when we left. We are now staying in a little village north of Reykjavik called Alafosskvos in a hotel called Hotel Laxnes.

We got a shuttle from here to the Blue Lagoon this afternoon. This is a huge thermal pool where the water is a cloudy blue color from the minerals in the surrounding rocks. We each had a two hour spa treatment consisting of a body scrub followed by an aloe wrap (where they wrap you in a huge plastic bag after rubbing you down with aloe, then they let you float around for a half hour). After that was a massage and it goes without saying we were both on cloud nine after that.

After having the spa treatments, we headed back to the bar only to find out that we had reached our limit of booze (only three drinks) for our stay at the Blue Lagoon. No one cuts off Stubs and The Spocker, so it was then that we knew it was time to go.

Tomorrow is the first two days of diving.

Stubs.

This morning at 0530 hrs I landed in Reykjavik, Iceland. I had no idea I was coming to such a remote part of the world. Most of the land is very barren and the towns and the few cities are far and few between. The geothermal activity is abundant, even down to the water spelling like eggs in the bathroom.

The guest house we are staying in, Guesthouse Galtafell is amazing and the host and hostess are taking very good care of us. We started the day off with a great breakfast, then explored the city before hiring a super jeep for a four-hour private tour of the surrounding area. We got tons of information (like about the 25% tax on everything here) to the division of the tectonic plates and how it affects Icelanders. We got to see some thermal hot springs and boiling mud, which was high on my list of things to do.

Icelanders so far have been lovely people who are very proud of their land and their heritage. They are proud to educate people on what is going on here, and invite them to experience all it has to offer.

Tonight, The Spocker and I are going out to enjoy the Reykjavik night life and show them how Canadians to it.

The pictures say it all.

Stubs.

Sitting at the airport. Made it past security now just waiting to board the plane. Not at all surprising, I haven’t spoken to my travel partner, The Spoker in two days and we’ll just have to bank on sweet luck that we find each other in Iceland. I mean, it’s an island, how hard can it be.

Spending the last week in Halifax and taking each moment as it came made it all that much more overwhelming when it was time to head to the airport to head back to the great north. Temperatures of around 13c made some last minutes shopping necessary and now I’m ready to hit the land of the Vikings. The fact that I’ll be diving in Arctic waters in three days hasn’t even hit me yet. I have a spa appointment in the Blue Lagoon to worry about before I worry about the icy water.

Last few days in Halifax, took some pictures of some critters around the cottage as well as got some pics of the work done while we were there. Check out the cool wall that Sidekick and I built-in one day.

Rejkulkajdsfilaik, (that’s how Spoker and I spell any Icelandic name) here I come.

Stubs.

Before Iceland will be six days spent in NS. Spending time there and at my family’s cottage makes me the happiest girl in the world. Going home is spent doing and seeing so many people that make me happy but at the same time it’s so hard to fit in so much and see so many people in such a short period of time.

A few quick site seeing trips to some of my favorite locations in Halifax for Sidekick to see (York Redoubt and the Dingle) as well as a quick side trip to Cape Breton to see my grandparents and spend a few nights on an Island that is, no two ways about it, just good for the soul. The first night in a little town called Arichat was a first for me and I loved the quiet island and stunning sunset.

After a visit with my grandparents and stopping at few sights in Sydney, NS we landed in Baddeck, NS. This is the home of Alexander Graham Bell. Check out the pictures of our beautiful provincial flower, the lupin.

Stubs

In 2009 I did my first international solo trip to the island of Bonaire, 50km north of Venezuela. I went to do my advanced certification and it just so happened carnival was while I was there. Check out the sites and even better the sounds.

Also, watch the dueling crabs. In my innocence, when I was watching this with a beer in a restaurant built over the ocean, I felt sad for the one crab who I thought was killed in the battle. Turns out, they were doing it. It was so overwhelmed, it just laid perfectly still for about ten minutes before getting up and scrambling away.  Hopefully you’ll appreciate my crab porn.

Stubs

Lobster is my little sister.  You probably could not find two people more different than Lobster and myself. Over the years, we have become best friends, developing a trusting, supportive bond. All that aside, we have some of the funniest conversations you’ve ever heard. They are nonsensical, and never the same twice. I have chosen a few of the best examples from our BBMs.

Lobster: Josh had his surgery today

Me: I already sent him a message

Lobster: Good

Me: Stop hasselin me, I did it already

Lobster: Don’t make me hurt u, cause u know I can

Me: I’m not the least bit worried about you or your puny muscles child. Bring on the heat cause I’m staying in the kitchen. Yea. I went there.

Lobster: Wow. I regret threatening u

Me: That’s what I was going for. Was it too much, or just enough?

Lobster: It was a little heavy on the rude side for my taste

Me: Playa was played. Straight up.

Lobster: hahaha u didn’t play the game u bitch slapped it

Me: Every once in a while someone needs to rock the game. You witnessed history.

Lobster: Lol

Me: You’re welcome ma sista

Days later…

Lobster: Ok, he’s coming to see me?

Me: Sure to see you

Lobster: Nice. I’ll shave my legs for that for sure

Me: I would hope so

Lobster: hahahahaha

Me: At a minimum

Lobster: hahahaha my standards have dropped. I should work on that.

Me: By the sounds of it, they dropped to an unacceptable level

Lobster: Oh, you have no idea – or ever will

Me: Lol, gross

Lobster: It will die with me

Me: The world would appreciate that

Days later…

Me: I want to blog about our conversations – you ok with that?

Lobster: Lol why not

Me: I’d have you approve content

Lobster: Oh for sure. I ran tonight. And not from the police.

About her latest crush on a guy:

Lobster: I never could after the things I have said. I blew it.

Me:  I agree with that. No looking back. It’s a shame really.

Lobster: Lol, unless he gets amnesia that’s my only hope. Or everyone on earth dies but him and I.

Me: Those are the kids of things you shouldn’t wish for.

Just the other day…

Me: You ok?

Lobster: Just bummed.

Me: Anything I can help with? Want me to send you a stripper gram?

Lobster: Lol please. A hot one.

Me: Police officer or fire fighter?

Lobster. Lol both. No emo’s.  One naughty, one nice.  No old bastards.

Me: You’re starting to get a little choosy.

Lobster:  No prepubescent boys. Or spry-staches.

Me: You know what? This is too complicated  now.

Lobster (hours later): Still waiting

Me: I’d say they got terribly lost.

Lobster: hahaha.  I would say.

Me: I’m not paying for over time, tell them that when they get there.

Lobster: I will say that after the job is done. Don’t want corners to be cut.

Me: Well played. You know how to work strippers.

Lobster: I am frugal when it comes to getting what I paid for

Me: That’s probably gotten you ahead in life. Good on ya!

Lobster: Thx. Cheap shmeap, momma gotta get what she paid for.

Stubs.

This weekend Sidekick and I decided to hang around Drumheller, where I live and check out Dinofest and do things in and around the area. The pictures pretty much speak for themselves.

The Atlas Coal Mine only closed in the 80’s and we did a cute tour up through the tunnel to the entrance of the mine. Learning about the lifestyle of miner’s always gives me an intense appreciation for my lifestyle. As part of Dinofest, there was a showing of Jurassic Park on a 30ft high screen underneath the World’s Largest Dinosaur.

There is generally an element of crazy randomness included in my weekends with Sidekick. When shopping for fruits and veggies, I decided we needed to try a whole coconut. The fun random part came when it was time to get it open. See attached pictures of Sidekick taking on this task with a 4ft axe. A little overkill but got the job done.

Also, as part of our dino filled weekend, I decided it was high time I made a fossil cast, something I have always wanted to do and they offer here at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Luckily for me, my Sidekick agreed to my crazy plan. Had he had any idea what this would entail, I’m pretty sure he never would have been there with me. The fossil casting part was cool, it was neat to learn how they do it, they had cool fossils to cast, the problem was, we were the two oldest people in there by at least 24 years for me, and Sidekick is 10 years older than me, so I can’t even imagine how he felt. There were lots of other adults around but they, of course were the parents of the children. Sidekick kept looking at me with that: I cannot believe I am in here look. Meanwhile, I had a grin from ear to ear and couldn’t wait to make my fossil cast. Check out the pics. Highly recommend that afternoon activity in the badlands.

Stubs

After working together for around a year, four of us girls decided to take a trip to Costa Rica back in March 2010. We stayed in Guancastle, the very NW of the country on the Pacific Ocean side. The location itself was nice and quiet and the black beach  next to the hotel was stunning but it was very far away from just about everything else in the country. Exploring the other sites of Costa Rica involved renting a car for two full days of driving and hiring a driver to take us places when “road pops” were required.

Highlights of this trip were: seeing my first active volcano, the Arenal volcano. Seeing the sulphur dioxide come off the side of that mountain was awesome and the hike we did in the national park in the area was full of amazing views. Relaxing in any of the hot pools at the base of the volcano is a must, especially the ones that second as bars. The people in Costa Rica are amazing, they are so proud of their country and among the happiest people you will ever encounter. My big wish for CR was so see monkeys. Reviews of our hotel said that it was common to see them along the beach. For the first five days we were there, no monkeys and I was starting to think that it wasn’t going to happen. I would wake up in the morning and go for a walk and find their paw prints in the sand, taunting me. Alas, on the second last day, after coming back from diving, there was a group of monkeys waiting for us and I proceeded to take upwards of 250 pictures. They were everything I had hoped they would be and they are some of my favorite pictures I’ve ever taken.

One day, we rented a car and attempted to find Palo Verde National Park to take a river tour. We found the park alright but after taking an alternative route through the park found a different tour company that looked nothing like the one of the pamphlet we were carrying around. After bartering the price down to 40 bucks each, he took us out on this huge boat, just the four of us. Leaving the car in that lot was sketchy and one of those situations where you only leave behind in the car what it is you could do the rest of the trip without. The ride up the river and through the Costan jungle was awesome. So quiet and peaceful, filled with birds and the river was crawling with crocodiles, we saw at least 8.

In Costa Rica, I tried zip lining for the first time. Didn’t hate it and didn’t love it either. The guides however made it worth the trip.

Overall, I loved every moment of this trip. The ladies who were with me made the week full of laughs and adventures, drinks and a lot of driving and most importantly, monkeys.

Stubs