Aloha Dreams

I struggle to know where to start in writing about the week we spent in Hawaii this this summer. It is a place unlike any other I have experienced.

I did not know that ocean water could be at once so clear and yet so many different shades of blue -- from aquamarine, to azure, to navy.

I did not realize how exciting it would be to drive and hike along the coast of Maui, while below us Pacific swells crashed against volcanic cliffs and broke on sandy beaches.

I was not prepared for the wonder of exploring reefs filled with corals and fish of all colors and sizes, and doing it in the company of curious green sea turtles.

I did not understand the remarkable nature of a place like Oahu where you can be standing on the beach one minute and striding through a dense rain forest less than an hour later, en route to to a beautiful waterfall.

It caught me off guard how quickly we settled in to this place and took it as natural to spend evenings watching the sun set over the ocean while enjoying the soothing strains of Hawaiian music.

I fear that photographs are not enough to fully capture and convey the sense of these islands, but still I offer them to you.

Photographs From Maui

Photographs From Oahu

We were moved by the beauty of this place and the graciousness of the people. And we brought a bit of the Aloha spirit with us when we departed.

Mahalo nui loa, Hawaii!

Celebration On Luces Bayou

My bride Linda on Luces Bayou

Given that Luces Bayou was the venue for our very first "paddle date", it seemed a fitting destination for our first paddle as a married couple.

So just a couple of days after our wedding, Linda and I returned there with our kayaks on a lovely late spring day.

We paddled. We reminisced. We laughed. We enjoyed the scenery and each other. It was a great way to circle back to the start of the journey of discovery that we've been on for the last couple of years, and celebrate the one that's just beginning.

More Pictures From Luces Bayou

Revisting The West Fork Of The San Jacinto

This was one of those "I really need some time on the water" weekends. And with Lake Conroe reaching levels that hadn't been seen since the 2011 drought, I was eager to re-explore the West Fork.

On my last trip here I was able to paddle about three and a half miles upstream through the Sam Houston National Forest before reaching a logjam that I couldn't get past. But to get that far, I had to drag my kayak over or around four smaller deadfalls.

Things were a bit different this time as I made my way upstream. Most of the same deadfalls were still there. But with the water level a couple of feet higher, I was able to glide right over most of them in my kayak. This left me free to enjoy the beautiful spring day, the new green on the trees, and the sound of the birds singing in the adjoining woods.

After cruising along so easily for the first three and a half miles, I was disappointed to find the channel still blocked by the exact same logjam which ended my last exploration here. I had hoped that the higher water level would enable me to explore a mile or so farther upstream, but it wasn't to be.

So I turned and slowly made my way back south to the launch point at Stubblefield Lake. It was a wonderful, relaxing paddle. And it was great to see Lake Conroe almost full once again.

More Pictures From The West Fork

Winter Paddle In the Bayou City

This sunny and reasonably warm winter day presented perfect opportunity for us to break our paddling drought and for Linda to try paddling her Christmas present for the first time. We launched at Sabine street and headed upstream through Tinsley Park, and then downstream under I-45. Along the way were treated to some beautiful views of the Houston skyline.

Misty Sunrise Over Caddo Lake

The most striking visual from our second visit to Caddo Lake came early one morning. Over the course of a chilly night, a thick blanket of mist formed over the surface of the lake. As morning arrived, the mist started to thin and flow and rise, almost as if it were reaching up to greet the rising sun.

Following Old River To Its Roots

This solo visit to Old River fell on a much more cooler day than my meetup group outing earlier in the month. As a result, I was able to explore more of the river than ever before. I paddled upstream to the point the channel became blocked by a mass of fallen trees, and then explored a small tributary.  As I enjoyed the beauty of the day, I had the company of a whole host of turtles like this red-eared slider, and even a kingfisher who was much less camera shy than usual. All in all, it was a nearly perfect fall paddle.

More Pictures From Old River

Armand Bayou: Where the Mullet is Always in Style

Bright sunshine sparkled on the surface of the bayou. Fresh, cool breezes danced across our skin. It was a fall afternoon so perfect that even the fish were jumping for joy!

What? Well, yes, the fish were mullet. And yes, mullet do jump habitually. But let's stick to the story line okay? It was an wonderful day for a paddle on Armand Bayou.

We launched our kayaks at Bay Area Park and paddled upstream among the leaping mullet the rolling gar. We set a leisurely pace, making frequent stops along the way to admire the scenery.

Water hyacinths were more numerous along the bayou than I remember seeing in recent years and they were covered in blooms. A number of osprey had taken up their winter residence along the bayou, along with the ever present herons, egrets, and kingfishers. We even spotted an alligator sunning on the bank during our trip upstream.

Some of the life we spotted wasn't quite so wild. Early on we passed one small boat where three fishermen were tending to a collection of about ten fishing poles. And along the way we crossed paths with a number friendly folks in kayaks and canoes, and even one on a paddle board.

Much too quickly the afternoon turned toward evening and it was time for us to head back toward the launch. As we passed our alligator friend once again, he slid into the water and swam along beside us briefly before concealing himself in the vegetation near the bank.

We bid him adieu and continued downstream. Before long we were crossing under the Bay Area Boulevard bridge with the boat ramp just a short way ahead. We set our paddles aside for a little while then and let ourselves drift in the light breeze. Neither of us were ready for this day (or this weekend) to end, so we paused to soak in the peace for just a little bit longer.

When was the last time you stood still long enough to take joy in something as simple as a little fish leaping in the sunlight? It's a feeling that never goes out of style.


More Pictures from Armand Bayou