Santa Cruz Island

I have been wanting to go check out the Channel Islands for years now and finally the weekend came. The lady got the trip for her birthday and she let me tag along too. The boat ride out was rough going. Swell was sizable from the wind equaling still bodies, shifty eyes, blank stares and nervous grimaces all around. It was a pretty big boat so it wasn't horrible but I did get a little sick.

The water was so clear out there. You could see to the bottom almost everywhere, including fish, sea lions, urchins and plants. A perfect time to realize the camera was in fact finally dead...and not just sick. Other pictures were taken and they may end up here sometime but this is the only one I have from my phone. This is actually looking over a 100 foot cliff even though it doesn't really look like it.Anyway, we had an awesome time hiking around the island, kayaking all over, and just getting out and camping.

Domepiece

The house I am working on has a really cool dome. The original house before the fire had a tower with a dome and so that, along with a lot of other characteristics were carried over. I've never built a dome before but we worked our way through it and it is coming along great. It is now on the top of the tower and is being waterproofed. Next will be the tiling process which should be interesting. Here are some shots of when it was still on the ground.
Ja was added for scale.

Bouldering

Lately I have tried my hand at bouldering a bit. Honestly, I don't think I have ever said to myself, I really want to learn how to boulder. But, I work with a guy who lives for climbing so the opportunity came and I took it.

I didn't get it prior. Why wouldn't you want go higher? No Rope? How much time could you really spend on one boulder....if you made it to the top wouldn't you just move on?

These trips have really opened my eyes to a lot of things. This is really hard, technical, a lot of fun, nice and cool people.

Additionally I have seen some really amazing parts of this area that I didn't even know existed. There is something pretty cool about being high in the mountains, gazing out and seeing the ocean and then the Channel islands beyond that. It doesn't seem right but it is.

The strangest thing about these experiences has been the presence of FEAR. It's been a long time since I have felt that feeling. As I have aged, I have stuck with the hobbies I know and occasionally will experience fear but nothing like this. I am not sure if I like it but its different. I like the sport so far though. I reckon I had the same feelings when I was learning to ride a bike, learning to snowboard, walking alone in the dark, job interviews, talking to girls. Maybe the fear will pass overtime...unless its like job interviews.