Frank Denney, Bill Symon, Urmas Kaldveer, John Erving......friends!

This blog is all about friendship. Some of you have seen these guys before in previous posts. They are my closest male friends from my youth. These are the men I grew up with, played sports with, discovered “girls” with, and the men whose friendship during all that time was always available like a deep, deep, well of loyalty. I wasn’t a particularly confident child/adolescent and these men were the ones who stood by me, hurt with me, and Lord knows, laughed with me.

The above picture was taken less than a month ago when we got together for lunch at a restaurant in Half Moon Bay, in Northern California. The one on the right was taken 57 years ago, that's me on the left, Frank Denney and John Erving on my right. I was in The Bay Area to have cataracts removed from both eyes on the serious recommendation of two Ophthamologists I had seen previously. I knew it was going to require a fairly lengthy stay in The States and I wasn’t quite sure just where I would have it done, how I would afford it all and where I could stay.

Even before leaving Baja my dear friends Alan and Marilyn (you have certainly heard me mention them before) after hearing my situation, immediately suggested I use their Doctor and stay with them in Alameda for the duration. I cannot even begin to describe the enormous relief I felt after this offer and I could not but accept. Those of you who know Alan and Marilyn can understand the joy with which I accepted this incredibly generous offer. 

Alan and Marilyn Pomeroy

As soon as Alan got back to Alameda in April he set up a pre-op appointment for me, and the date for the first operation (the operations themselves are nothing). Turns out his doctor is a Dr. David Bui (Vietnamese), nationally renowned for his work in this particular field…..and was willing to see me and do all he could do to get me back to Mexico asap. Nevertheless, even if all went well, it looked like a three week sojourn at least. That’s a lot to ask of your friends, to put you up for three weeks, whoa. I began considering ways to break up that period by moving around a bit between the pre-op and first operation and between the first and second op, and then maybe head down the peninsula to see my buds while waiting to make sure the second op went well.

In the meantime my daugher Kersti and her husband Bill also offered to put me up, but Sacramento was out of my comfort zone for transportation etc and they were just in the midst of a move.

I arrived at SFO on the 13^th of May, took BART to West Oakland where Alan picked me up for the drive to Alameda. Their home is on a quiet, residential block near the lagoons…..a sweet Victorian with private bath and a dynamite bed. Altogether the perfect place to deal with the coming events. To say that they are the consummate host/hostess is a ridiculous understatement (I won’t even begin to mention the food), they made me feel like family right away and I knew I was in the right place. I’m talking friendship here.

The pre-op went fine on the 15^th and the first op was scheduled for the 22^nd. Dr. Bui was extremely kind and offered to cut the cost in half for one of my eyes (I entertained him with whale stories). He said he could make me 20/20 WITHOUT glasses and that’s when I began to laugh. He was a bit miffed at this outbreak and when I asked how long it would take he said 15 minutes per eye, which started another gale of laughter. I explained how I had worn glasses since I was 14 and they had been a nemesis all my life (sports, social etc) and now he was telling me he could alter all that reality in 15 minutes!! He got it, and we then laughed together…..and that’s friendship.

In the meantime my bud Frank Denney heard about my situation and suggested I visit he and his wife

Jackie in Redwood Shores before my 1^st op. Perfect! I called my son Zack in Oakland and arranged to stay with him two days, take The BART back to SFO where Frank would pick me up and take me to his home for a couple of days.

Zack came to Alameda to pick me up and we went to his place near Lake Merritt. He then not only gave up his room to me but had the apartment totally together, made me dinner (this was new and damn good) and we watched 2 documentaries he wanted me to see. He was a great host and as always we had a wonderful visit together…..and that’s my boy.

Late afternoon the next day I caught The BART to SFO where Frank picked me up. By this time I had seen more people, cars…..stuff, than I had seen since visiting my sweetie in Charlotte last July. In a very real sense I was in culture shock (I have lived in Baja for three and a half  full time years now). Frank and Jackie have a nice condo in Redwood Shores with the Bay lapping up on the rocks, Canadian Geese walking about and a gym nearby. Frank had me at the gym early the next two mornings and I was thankful to get some serious exercise in after the past few days of lying about and eating. When I went to the pool for laps, there were no open lanes but the lifeguard said I could share the one she pointed to. I got in and prepared to launch as soon as my lane companion made it to the other end. Since he swam kinda slowly I waited until he was half way back. As he approached he got bigger and bigger. I mean this guy was a balloon, he totally floated, almost his whole body was above the water! I figured I could slip by him and did, but each time we were to pass, I moved WAY over….he was huge! Hanging out with Frank and Jackie was delightful….and once again the food was superb, including dynamite shakes made by Jackie in the mornings.....and that's friendship.

Frank & Jackie Denney

Frank suggested we get together with Bill and John at the restaurant in HMB and like the great friends they are, they came the next day and we were once again together, four really, really dear friends. It was a wonderful meeting as you can see by our faces in the first picture. Remember these guys are all 69 and 70! I love these guys, I owe them so very much. The next day Frank and Jackie took me to the special brunch at Scott’s in Jack London Square on the 20^th and OMG did I eat. It was incredible, absolutely incredible. Once again remember, I am a tortillas and beans guy from a little village in Mexico, this was amazing and I had such a great time (over) eating. Three plates…..THREE! They took me back then to A/M’s in Alameda and I mentally prepared for my 1^st op.

The op was interesting. My eye was seriously dilated, I was given a mild sedative, a drip put in my arm and after just a bit walked into the op room where I lay down, given more sedative (really liked that part), a local anesthetic, the Doc came in, lots of bright lights, some suction noises and 15 minutes later I am up on my feet, given some juice; another 15 minute rest and out the door. For the first time since I was 14 I was 20/20 in my left eye (and we’er talking one bad eye here)! Of course this made the world weird for me, but I was IMPRESSED! Because of a little bleeding the next day (no biggie) I decided not to venture to Ukiah between ops and instead stay with A/M in recovery and prep for the next op….the 29^th. Those sweet, sweet people just said, “stay as long as you need”. Where I come from that’s called friendship.

The day before the 2^nd op was Memorial Day and I was, as well as my son Zack, invited with The Pomeroys to an Italian BBQ nearby. Yet again….OMG, the food. I was experimenting with life without glasses so things were all a bit weird visually but the tri-tip and the people…..great afternoon!!

The 2^nd op was another breeze and I walked out now with 20/20 in both eyes! The next day the post-op showed all good so Dr. Bui said I was clear to go home. I decided to leave on the 4^th of June just in case there were any complications. On Thursday the 31^st my brother Peter and his wife Julie came to Alameda for a short visit (we hadn’t seen each other in a couple of years) and then Zack once again picked me up so I could stay with him for a night before heading to Palo Alto…..and yes, other dear friends, Bill and Gloria Symon, invited me to stay with them until time to fly out and Bill would take me to the AP besides….and that’s friendship.

I was feeling a bit queeze on Thursday but had no idea what was in store. Whether because of the ops, the food or the culture shock I was on my way to major stomach problems. It didn’t really hit until I got to Zack’s that night but oh man, way bad. Zack took on the roll now of provider. He got me special food, meds and let me lie around his apartment like a zombie. On the 2^nd I felt up to taking BART down to Millbrae where Bill would pick me up. The trip from the BART station in Oakland to the BART station in Millbrae was uncomfortable at best and involved two “accidents”….Jesus! When Bill picked me up I just said, “I’m not feeling good at all” and he got me to his home and for the next 48 hrs Bill and Gloria nursed me back to health…..now that’s friendship! Bill just said, “here’s your room, lie down, anything you need”? Gloria went out and got some homeopathic medicine, electrolyte water and started the chicken soup. Am I blessed or what?

Gloria and Bill Symon

I felt so good the next day we went out to lunch at The “O” (The Oasis, a favorite hamburger place in Palo Alto we all used to frequent) with Frank and John and had another wonderful meeting of FRIENDS.

The next morning Bill drove me to SFO and I flew home. But it didn’t end there….Alan picked me up in San Jose (he had flown there a few days before), we had dinner at Tio Pablo’s in Los Barriles, got groceries at Chapito’s and drove the road back to El Cardonal….and Shangri-La.

Long story, all about me, but more importantly about friendship. Thank you my FRIENDS, I am blessed to have you in my life!

                                                NAMASTE'

                       

Moon rise, May 5th, 2012

Once again I have to gladly thank my dear friend Star Gilley for reminding me to “look to The Heavens”. We have beautiful moon rises here in Baja pretty regularly but this one was the closest approach of the moon to our Mother planet for the year, worth a moment of appreciation.

Fifteen years ago, I had a moon like this off the stern as I sailed an 84’ sailing schooner across The Pacific.

The schooner Dariabar

We were in the very middle of The Pacific Ocean and I was steering by The Constellation Orion.

Me at the helm, 1998

The Moonbeam that night was like liquid Mercury and pointed us toward Hawai’i. Last May 5th, this Moon, pointed directly to me on my bodega roof and my Shangri-La.

If there is any question in your mind of the importance of The Moon, check out this article from Scientific American.

Without the Moon, Would There Be Life on Earth?

By driving the tides, our lunar companion may have jump-started biology--or at least accelerated its progression

By Bruce Dorminey  | April 21, 2009 | 16

            The ocean tides mirror life itself. Their ebb and flow pay homage to the cyclic nature of the cosmos along even the most secluded seashores. But is life itself also ultimately a fluke of the tides?

If so, life may ultimately owe its origins to our serendipitously large moon. The sun and wind also drive the ocean's oscillations, but it is the moon's gravitational tug that is responsible for the lion's share of this predictable tidal flux.

Our current Earth–moon system, according to the prevailing theory of lunar formation, reflects our solar system's early game of planetary billiards, when colliding planetary embryos created entirely new versions of themselves—in the case of our own planet, a disproportionately large natural satellite in close orbit.

It all started some 4.5 billion years ago when, as theory has it, our nascent Earth was blindsided by a Mars-size planetary embryo, believed to have spun Earth into its initial fast rotation of roughly 12 hours per day. The molten mantle thrown into orbit after the catastrophic lunar-forming impact quickly coalesced into our moon. Within a few thousand years, Earth cooled to an object with a molten surface and a steam atmosphere. Life emerged some 700 million years later, or about 3.8 billion years ago.

But four billion years ago a cooling Earth already had an ocean, but remained barren. The moon was perhaps half as distant as it is now, and as a result, the ocean tides were much more extreme.

At an average distance of 235,000 miles (380,000 kilometers), the moon is currently receding from Earth at a rate of 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) per year. As it does, Earth's own spin rate is slowing. And, in the process, roughly 10²⁰ joules of gravitational energy is shed into the oceans annually.*

Over the eons, all that energy has had an evolutionary impact.

"The oceans' tidal flow helps transport heat from the equator to the poles," says Bruce Bills, a geodynamicist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "Without the lunar tides, it's conceivable that climate oscillations from the ice age to the interglacial would be less extreme than they are. Such glaciations caused migrations of animal and plant species that probably helped speed up speciation."

Bills also points out that such tidal heat transfer could have also mitigated climate fluctuations. The problem in determining which "tidal forcing" scenario is correct, he says, is that climate researchers currently lack data spanning extremely long timescales. Even so, Peter Raimondi, an ecologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, says the tools of evolution are also driven by the tides' influence on these intertidal regions.

"In a rocky intertidal area," Raimondi says, "it's very clear there are strong evolutionary pressures brought on by a changing environment over a short spatial scale. Without our moon, our marine environment would be much less rich in terms of species diversity."

But is the influence of the lunar tides actually responsible for life itself?

If life originated around deep ocean hydrothermal vents (so-called black smokers), then the lunar tides played a minor role, if any, says James Cowen, a biogeochemical oceanographer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. If, however, life originated in tidal waters, he says, then tidal cycles could have played a major role.

Before leaving El Cardonal for my cataract operations in The States, I took one last kayak out to The WZ. There was a fog bank out about 1 mile, not particularly rare, but always adding something to the “adventure”. As I entered the fog I remembered that day in Bodega 35 years ago when I encountered my first Humpback. As I was paddling back in towards shore I heard some dolphins approaching from the north. I was out of the fog, it was a beautiful day so I put on my mask and rolled in. Three Bottlenose Dolphins swam by within about 15 feet, gave me a once over and continued on their way. These were the first BN dolphins I had seen this season so it was a delight to say hello.

There were also some Mobulas doing a mating dance nearby and then a masked Boobie flew by 6 feet overhead. I finished the day by swimming in from the tip of the reef....paradise!

Masked Boobie, not my pic

Two days before I left (I am now 10 days from returning to my beloved Mexico) I went out in the panga to see if any last whales were passing by on their way to The Arctic. My friends Noel and Bonnie came out with me and we really lucked out by coming across a breaching male Humpback, I also got a good ID (HB# 23 12).

HB# 23 12

It was my first time out with Vicente’s nephew Fabien, a young man who caught on real quick to the need for proper positioning during a photo sequence. Noel caught a nice 18 pound Dorado that we all shared and I saw my first Brown Boobie, another fine day, no?

Noel and his Dorado......dinner!

Brown Boobie, not my pic

Here’s a great sequence of Humpback Whales trying to help a Gray Whale calf during an Orca attack. Keep in mind that The Orcas are simply doing their part in the greater scheme of the Biosphere.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17991601 HBs helping Gray

I’ll leave you with this:

I'll be back in Mexico on the 4th of June....with BIONIC eyes!

This is a recent crop circle. I find it strange that a phenomenon of such interesting possibilities is relegated to the media “freak bin"......then again, maybe not so strange, eh?

Mid February to Mid April had been quite a time for good friends, parties and delightful conversation. Here’s a pic of my son Zack, me and friends at John and Nantz’s beautiful home just north of me. Great party!

                     Nantz, Zack, me and Alan 

This group of charming ladies came by Shangri-La to add their feathers to my “spirit tree”. For those who come to visit, you are welcome to add your own feather.

Susanna, Patrice, Nantz, Cary, Sara 

 This is the way the “spirit tree” looks at this point. It is a new tradition for me, and allows me to imagine the spirits of my friends wafting in the breeze.

 On April 11^th I took Nantz, Patrice and Sara out to help me spot Humpbacks. We came across two in front of Boca del Alamo and I got two ID’s, one a really good one.

 HB# 22 12

Then we spotted a large number (4-6) blows further out and they appeared to be Humpbacks, maybe Blues. We high balled out to about 7 miles and discovered a large group (20-25) of Sperm Whales. This was only the second time in all my searches down here that I have found Sperm Whales. They come here regularly but are not seen often. I had seen 4 Sperm Whales in 2007 but was not yet confident enough to dive with them so I didn’t, but vowed that the next time I would. Well, after a few photos I decided to go in and had what has to be yet another premier experience swimming with The Whale People. Vicente figured I got within 20-30 feet of the group but once again the water was not clear enough to see them underwater so I could only glimpse their backs, dorsal and flukes as I swam along. There was also a little bit of chop and the fact that there were at least 20 whale bodies around me stirred the water up a bit.

Close up with some Sperm Whales

My spotters, Sara, Nantz, Patrice

I went out again a week later but saw no Humpbacks. I did however see another Gray Whale, and a Bryde’s Whale. The Grays rarely come in here but The Bryde’s Whales are quite common.

Gray Whale #5 12

Bryde's Whale

Figuring that the season was over I was surprised to see a Humpback breaching directly in front of my place. I grabbed my camera and got this shot, not good but I felt it was a good-bye wave from The Whale People until next year. Fantasized that it was my old friend “Odin”.

 "GOOD-BYE"

Some weeks ago my good friend Alan Pomeroy swam with a group of “spiraling” Mobulas. I had never seen that but I could imagine how cool that must have been. Well, The Gods looked upon me favorably once again and I ran into another “spiraling” group on the 21^st. I had gone out to The WZ to see what was happening and there was NOTHING. However, there were some Mobulas swimming nearby and as I watched them I noticed that they seemed to be circling. Now, I would have not paid much attention to that if it hadn’t been for Alan’s story. I paddled over and damned if they weren’t spiraling below me. I dove over the side and became part of the Mobula spiral for a while. Seeing as I was not a Mobula I was not in the competition for a mate but there were no hard feelings on either side.

Took my last turn out with Vicente on the 22^nd, nada. So I’m done for the year. It was not a particularly good year in numbers, only 22 ID’s, but to be with my whale friends at all, is a gift and I cherish and appreciate it more than you know.

This morning, Sat. 4/28, I woke up with the intent to kayak out to The WZ. I got to the bluff and saw that there was more of a swell then I usually kayak in and as I turned to go back to my trailer, I said, “no, I will go out, if I stop now, I’ll stop again next time and I will weaken” (I know, I know….obsessive). Well, I went ahead and even made it out to The WZ, damn glad of it!!

My extended family from Quebec were here for a month, and as always it was wonderfully pleasant. We were able to ID a Gray Whale and some Humpacks while they were here and even got in a series of dart games at the newly opened cantina in El Cardonal. We left rather early but the music did not stop until the last revelers left around 7:30 in the morning. A bit jarring, the cantina is only about 150 yds from our place, but it has not been repeated so far.

Gray Whale # 3 12

Brigitte at the wheel

The day The Q’s left my daughter Kersti and husband Bill came in. They have not been here in ten years so there were some visible changes in the town (paved street, sidewalk, new store etc) but they fell right into The Baja groove and were ready to experience everything.

First on the list for me was to get them in the water with some whales. Neither had been out with me before so the whole “whale experience” was new to them.

Kersti and Bill

The day started with yet another Gray Whale (#4 for the season) and then a search for some Humpbacks.

Gray Whale # 4 12

We were gifted with the appearance of three adult Humpbacks about 7 miles out from Punta Pescadero. Their intro was dramatic, a double breach of two males side by side, totally clearing the water not 100’ from our panga…..and then the show started! Apparently it was either two males vying for a female (it is after all breeding season), or three males testing each other. We followed them for a good two hours and then I asked Kersti and Bill if they wanted to go in. Both said yes without hesitation, so we suited up and twice went in as close as we could get, which at one point, was no more than 20’. They seemed to be curious about us and totally benign as always. Turned out that Kersti has always been afraid of deep water (we were in about 1000’) and this was a major test for her. I was very proud of them both.

Kersti and Bill after whale swim

This is a pic of HB# 15 12, one of the three we dove with.

HB# 15 12

Just as a note, my friend Alan Pomeroy came across a Whale Shark on the 28^th and took an extended swim with it…..congrats, Alan!

The day Kersti and Bill left, my son Zack came in for the week. He was here two years ago and had the full on “Whale Experience” with me then. A somewhat similar “competitive” event as Kersti and Bill witnessed with the addition of about 40 dolphin. On the 31^st we got a radio call while on a grid search that there were two Humpbacks near Los Barriles, 15 miles south. We hustled down there but felt we had missed them until I spotted two kayakers in the area. We stopped and asked them and they pointed SE and said they saw them there about 20 minutes before. I asked Vicente Jr. to take an angle on Punta Colorado and we began the search. V Jr. is an “Eagle Eye” like his dad and about ½ hr later he spotted them.

HB# 16 and 17 12

We couldn’t get an ID on them because it was a mother/calf pair and she would not fluke up and leave her baby at the surface. I got a good series of flank shots and then asked Zack if he wanted to go in. he did and we were once again able to get relatively close but not enough to see them under water. We too took a hike to the pictographs, did 3 WZ kayak trips, worked out on the beach and did some fine visiting.

It was a very special time having my kids here, I can’t believe I was able to keep up with them.

Kersti and Dad

A few days ago while taking some compost out to the desert I spotted a large raptor in the branches of a small tree about 30’ from me. Even with the cataract I could tell that I had not seen this species before. I walked closer and was treated to the beauty of a Harris’ Hawk. This is the first one I have ever seen.

Harris' Hawk, not my pic

I went out on another grid search yesterday with Susanna, Steve and John. ID’d a Humpback off of Punta Pescadero and then went out deeper. No luck so started north and got a call that there was one still there. Was it the same one? Yes, but then we see it change course to intercept two other Humpbacks moving south. Soon all three are together and once again we have evidence of some “combat”. Some tail lobs, trumpeting and lots of flank collisions. Also two more ID’s…..a good day! Here are the two "combatants"

HB# 18 12

HB# 19 12

Picture below is me and Steve swimming with one of The Humpbacks

Vicente Lucero and Urmas, 2012

I’m starting my blog with this very recent picture of my “pangero” Vicente Lucero and me. This is our 8th season together as “The Dynamic Duo” of The East Cape. We have encountered and ID’d over 250 Humpback Whales, some of which were world class pictures, and thereby are the standard for that whale, at this time. We have had only one “recapture” (a whale identified by us in more than one season in our grid ) during our work so far. Here he is, HB# 12 12, ‘Odin”, and here is his story (taken from my book that is in review).

The Saga of “Odin”

The first whale I ID’d in 2008 was an active and playful male Humpback that gave Vicente and me a grand and long show of exuberant surface behavior. I figured he was a juvenile male of no more than two years old. He gave us a number of “flukes up” and became HB# 1 08. Later that year my son Zack adopted him and named him “Odin”.

In 2009 I again ID’d Odin (my first “recapture”) and saw him 5 more times during that season…..one time with a “girlfriend” that he had to fight another whale to keep, and he did. Once again his overall surface behavior was exceptionally playful and vigorous.

I didn’t see Odin in 2010 but lo and behold….and MUCH to my surprise, he showed up again last season (2011). The Humpbacks who travel here to Mexican waters during the winter breeding and calving season have 4 different and widespread locations within our waters to congregate, therefore “re-captures” are rare in exactly the same area from one season to the next. I also had the pleasure of swimming with him for a short while without even knowing it was “Odin” until I got his flukes picture up on my computer screen later. I informed Zack and Jorge about the encounter and it was agreed that this was indeed pretty amazing.

Then this season, 2012, yes, Odin shows up yet again! He was alone but just as active as ever, he’s a real showman! He is now also HB# 12 12, being my twelfth ID of this season. Zack is coming to visit in a few weeks…..will we dive with Odin? Will my son Zack have the unique opportunity to “meet” Odin, Eyeball to Eyeball?

"Odin", flank shot, 2012, HB# 12 12

The 4^th sighting of “Odin” was a special day in a number of ways, not the least of which was seeing my dear friend Christine Lee Gist again. A delightful young lady with a deep affection for “The Whale People” and a quick, inquisitive mind….what better company on a grid run? Before the day was over we were treated to a large herd of Pacific Common Dolphin surrounding our boat, at least 2-300, along with two Grey Whales (rarely seen in The Sea of Cortez) and 4 Bryde’s Whales…..damn fine day!

Grey Whale, notice splotchy coloring and almost no dorsal fin

Grey Whale "fluking up"

Grey Whale fluke shot, GW#1 12

Bryde's Whale, note shape of dorsal fin

I should add that we had also gone out the day before and seen NOTHING…..perseverance furthers, no?

Here’s a nice shot of my extended family from Quebec (Tristan, their middle son, is in Norway as an exchange student right now). I have been honored by being adopted by them as a member of the family since 2010.

From left, Quentin, Antoine, Brigitte, Jean-Luc

I went out on a search last Monday with Vicente and came across this Blue Whale about 6 miles out.

Blue Whale, B# 1 12

He/she was not particularly cooperative so my ID shots are not good, but this one is not bad. I haven’t seen a Blue Whale in my grid for the last two years so it was a real treat.

I have had some real nice opportunities to kayak out to The WZ in the last few weeks but have not had any whale encounters. I have seen lots of dolphin, turtles and Mobulas, but no whales. The other day I came across 4 or 5 Vaquitas that let me get within 20 feet but then dove away. They are a porpoise rather than a dolphin, and are quite rare, found only in The Sea of Cortez I believe.

The pictures below are not mine but express certain feelings that I entertain at present.

I call this "Lament"

And Yet!!

There is a GREATER reality, is there not?