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I don’t know why I was thinking our excursion today would be an lazy African Queen style sight see. The brochure didn’t specifically give away the surprise. Our Na Pali coastline exploration was aboard a HIGH SPEED Zodiac piloted by great-BIG-Polynesian guy. He gunned his twin outboards just outside of the breakwater jetty and in [...]

a.k.a. Fanning Island is an atoll with population 150. Their main economic link to the world was a relay station for the Trans-Pacific cable until NCL started weekly lifeline visits. The people here don’t exactly rely on the tourists who arrive like clock work every Wednesday but an anthropologist could certainly do an interesting study [...]

We are enroute to the South Pacific. 110 miles from Hilo. Only 987 miles to go, which means that we’ll be entertaining ourselves shipboard for the next two nights and all of one day. Seas are reported ‘Rough’ which equates to 7.5 to 12 foot swell. Sure doesn’t look it from our station, deck 11. [...]

AR standing amidst the carnage takes a healthy power bar break. Slipstream from a passing tourbus caused a little wobble from her front wheel. ‘Course, it didn’t help that she’d left the handle bars unattended while making a friendly wave and salute. (Don’t scare me like that next time We enjoyed a beautiful ride on [...]

Surfs up! I tried to catch the BIG ONE this afternoon and got beat up. I was a little late on the timing. The wave made an abrupt break and I fell over the top. Luckily I was spun broadside and thereby avoided the dreaded break-your-neck-head stand, but ended up body slammed on the shallow [...]

The Captain’s Choice SCUBA was a real highlight although sometimes the adventure is in the journey and this proved true today. Our Mexican piloto was a newbie and didn’t quite have the hang of the docking approach procedure. It was painful to watch as he would maneuver parallel to the pier but then was unable [...]

Jeff, is careful and precise when handling our aircraft. Your initial impression is that he’s young and reckless, especially when you learn that he has a dare-devil-may-care hobby. Exhibition motorcycle riding. That’s him — armor clad in racing boots helmut and full leathers, and he makes some pretty pocket change performing for and wowing the [...]

E X T R E M E ! ! and a most awesome experience. I must say that I have landed with a new outlook and enjoyment for life. I would equate that part where –you step out into the open fresh-air at 12,000 feet– with a mental struggle no greater or worse than strapping [...]