Warmer Latitudes

From 80N 86W to 24N 81W, and most things in between.

My recent trip to Florida came at the tail end of a frigid tour in Eureka. Needless to say, it was time to thaw out. One of the main reasons I wanted to go to Florida was to get back in the water, and rediscover scuba diving, something that I have not done since I was in Australia in 2007.  My mother and I booked a 2.5 week trip to Florida, basing our stay out of Pompano Beach, at the gracious hospitality of my pseudo aunt, Susan Freeman.

ready to dive

mom, me, and Susan donning our new Boston gear, under protest

Our first experience after landing at the Fort Lauderdale airport was the humidity and warmth of the air. A big change from what I was accustomed to. Second was lunch at a local fish hut, Tarks of Dania Beach. A fried grouper sandwich called my name, and I had to answer. Instantly felt at home back in the warmer climates. We spent the rest of the day relaxing in the pool, alongside the intracoastal waterway.

view of the intracoastal waterway

It didn't take long for me to organize my first dive trip. With the help of Susan, who had scoped out a local dive proprietor, we ventured over, and I scheduled myself two guided dives and full gear rental.  The rest of the day was spent getting a muchly needed flow chop, and relaxing poolside exposing my areas of frostbite to a bit of a sunburn; dichotomous to say the least.

I had a few days before my first dive trip, so I took the chance to review my dive manual and pressure tables. I didn't want to hit the water without taking the opportunity to review the theory, with hopes that the practical aspect would be like riding a bike.

Most days started with a morning run, ranging from 5-7kms. Some mornings were a bit more hazy than others, so a run wasn't feasible, but that is the sacrifice we make to the vacation gods.

  

Pompano Beach, FL looking south

Pompano Beach, FL looking north

The day had finally arrived to get back in the water. It had been almost eight years and a different hemisphere since my last dive on Knuckle Reef on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Airlie Beach, Queensland. I digress. It was an exciting feeling to get back on a dive boat and venture out into the ocean again. I spent my time checking my gear and ensuring I had air accessible through my regulator and octopus. It was finally time to get in the water, and with a sudden splash I was right back on the horse. My first dive was on a reef called The Nursery, for the sharks and other wildlife supposedly calling it home. We dove at a max depth of 32ft for a bottom time of ~36 mins. No sharks were spotted, but I did see 2 rock lobsters and 1 sea turtle (to the elation of my dive guide Brittany). After a surface interval of 40 mins to allow some of the nitrogen to dissipate, our second dive was underway. This time we were diving on a shipwreck, the SS Copenhagen. This dive was at a max depth of 27ft for ~40 mins of bottom time. There were parts of the ship that had been tossed around during hurricanes, as well as the ships large anchor which was visible. The big sighting was some French Coral, which is experiencing a resurgence in the area after a period where it was endangered. After both dives were completed, I was quite pleased with my first time back in the water. A little tired, but overall very happy.  After returning to shore, it was home to shower and then to a local restaurant, the Nauti Dawg, for a bacon double cheeseburger to cure the hunger I had earned.

The next day, mom and I picked up our rental car, and took off for the Keys. We drove south along A1A through Fort Lauderdale and Miami, winding our way along the coast and over Biscayne Bay, eventually connecting to US1 and Florida City, the gateway to the Keys. We stopped for a map at a local visitors center, and kept driving south through Key Largo, and eventually found our stop at Smugglers Cove, Windley Key, Islamorada. Hunkered down for the night, enjoyed some local lobster dish and a few cold beers. Life in the Keys is relaxing, and without the hustle and bustle of the mainland.

Smugglers Cove Marina, Islamorada, FL

Atlantic Ocean

The next day we drove down to Key West for the day. Wandered Duval and Whitehead Street, had lunch at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, enjoyed a Romeo and Juliet Anejo cigar while we walked around town, visited the Southernmost Point in the Continental USA, visited the Mile 0 marker on US1, stopped into a local rum bar called the Speakeasy Inn for a Pussers Painkiller and a glass of wine for mom. Good to get out of the heat and into the air conditioning. After the day of wandering around Key West, it was time to get back in the car and head back to the hotel on Islamorada. During our drive back we scouted a location where we could rent kayaks the next day, as well as a potential dive shop for a second dive trip for me.

Bass Pro, Islamorada, FL

'Pilar' - boat owned by Ernest Hemingway

 

Gary, the pelican.

The next day, was mom's day. She had wanted to go kayaking while we were in the Keys, so we made it happen. At a local park down island in a place called Robbies Marina, we rented two kayaks and set out for a morning of navigating the mangroves. There were pelicans (colloquially named Gary) as well as various fish sightings, and I think I made out a manatee figure in the water. Parts of the mangrove cover left little to no headroom, and the current proved a bit of a challenge at times, but both mom and I made it through, with only one minor battle wound from the mangrove branches (mom), and a wicked sunburn on my legs. After this exhilarating morning of kayaking, we were advised to check out the Islamorada Dive Center located at the Postcard Inn and Resort. They were recommended as the best dive proprietors around. After a brief meeting at the dive center, I was scheduled for my second dive trip the following morning. Mom and I set out to discover the Postcard Inn and Resort, and sample the cuisine at the beachside tiki bar.

manatee hunting

navigating the mangroves

 

The following day I was at the Islamorada Dive Center shortly before 0800, ready to go. I was fitted for my gear, introduced to my guide, Tony a kid from Duluth, Minnesota who had found a love of coral reefs while in school, and then we were off. This dive was more professional, and logistically more complicated. The first dive was on a shipwreck called The Eagle off the southern coast of Islamorada. We hit a max depth of 102ft and a bottom time of ~30mins. The dive was a quick one down the anchor line, which required some frequent equalizing to prevent the pressure squeezes, as well as fighting the current on the surface. However, once the Eagle came into sight, those efforts were actualized. It was a massive shipwreck with many different forms of aquatic biodiversity around and on it. The highlight of the dive was the swim-through. Apparently there was a hurricane a few years back which had inverted the ship underwater and poked a large hole through the side allowing for any diver comfortable enough to swim through the hull of the ship. May or may not sound exciting to you, the reader, but for me the diver, it was spectacular. There was also a 600lb Jewfish along the starboard hull at the ocean floor, which decided to make our acquaintance during the dive. Friendly and very large! The second dive on this trip was on a reef named the Captain Arnos. This was a drift dive on a shallow reef. We had a max depth of 22ft for ~44mins of bottom time. The highlight of this dive was swimming with nurse sharks and a rather large Moray Eel. Was not as intimidating as I had thought it may be, and a nurse shark even brushed my leg. The morning dives were over, and it was now time to get back on the road, and back to Pompano. What can normally be a long and arduous task of exiting the Keys, we did in about ~3hrs total. Not too bad considering it was a Friday.

The next morning, I ventured over to the South Florida Diving Headquarters again to schedule my third dive trip. I had promised SFDH that I would come back and dive with them again after my trip down the Keys, and I didn't want to disappoint them. I spent the rest of the day lounging in the pool, finishing up “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway, one of my favourites. Just at the tail-end of rush hour, I got in the car and drove to West Palm Beach to pickup my friend Jess at the airport. She was flying in for the weekend to lose a 10k race to me, and enjoy the change in weather from the cold Boston climate she calls home. The next day, surely enough, Jess lost the Gumbo Limbo Turtle Gallop 10k race to me. She blames her injured hip muscle, but we both know that she was just intimidated by the Canadian who doesn't train, and still managed to finish the 10k in 1:15.

great number

Hayley, myself, and Jess

To celebrate her loss, we toured the Funky Buddah Brewery with her friend Hayley who also ran the 10k race, and who also beat Jess. The Funky Buddah Brewery is a local craft beer brewery in the Fort Lauderdale area. After spending the next day on the beach, nursing her injury and mentally preparing for the Boston Marathon she had to run the next week, it was time to chauffeur Jess back to the airport for life back in Boston. Later that day I did another two dives with SFDH, thus completing my diving vacation in Florida. I truly enjoyed the chance to get back in the water again and revisit something I am passionate about. I'm already planning my next dive vacation, and look forward to it every day!

boat with a flag from the Yukon

Most normal people would simply end their vacation and return home. I, however, decided this was a good chance to criss-cross the continent and go visit my sister and family in Vancouver. So off I went, catching flights around the US to eventually get up to Vancouver, just in time for puck drop of Game 2 of the Canucks playoff series against the Flames. It is always good to visit Vancouver and see my sister, cousin Aleisha, her husband Marlow, my Aunt Amanda, cousin Gabe, and my Aunt Christine. 

False Creek, Vancouver

Home Ice!

To top that off, we were able to take a drive up the Sea-to-Sky highway to Squamish and visit with my friend Arad and see his new house. Captivating views in Squamish. My final day in Vancouver was spent touring the north shore with my sister, and taking a hike through Lynn Canyon.

Sea-to-Sky Highway, BC

Squamish, BC

LS, and her water

Lynn Canyon, Vancouver

Lynn Canyon, Vancouver

My flight home from Vancouver routed me through Calgary, which is a frequent stop when commuting to and from work in Eureka. Just can't seem to escape Calgary. Finally landing back in Waterloo in the evening, Ryan Pyear picked me up and took me to meet his newborn baby son, Cullen Joseph. Just a week old!!!

The Pyears

Later that week was the Friends of Laurier Football Corporate Dinner, where our 2005 Vanier Cup team was being honoured. This was an event I was hoping to attend, but wasn't sure if I could make it given my globetrotting. However it was a great event and a good chance to catch up with my old teammates.

Finally, it is time to catch some sleep, and rest up for whatever life has for me next!

Happy Trails, all.

Mike