Snorkeling Adventures

Explorers R Us

The cut, with current.

          The other day we went to explore a tiny island close by.  As we were driving around the island we noticed a narrow passageway and we realized it was actually two islands but they were very close together.  

It looked there was only one island but somebody cut them apart.  We went to go and check it out.   We stopped between the islands and decided to go snorkeling there.  We found a VERY fast current ran between the islands.  We saw a bunch of baby barracudas, coral, a big huge crab, and sponges, and lots of sea grass.  Then we decided to go some somewhere else to snorkel.  We saw a big sting ray and a bunch of of cormorants, frigates, seagulls, snowy egrets, and blue heron.  We had fun. 

Snorkel fun.

Just after seeing the Ray...

Wreck site from sea level.

Fish on the wreck.

                              
The next day we heard a roar of a dingy engine coming toward us and noticed it was our friends from the anchorage.  They said that they were going to go snorkeling on a wreck close by.  
So we hopped in our dingy and followed them to the wreck.  We anchored and jumped in the water and snorkeled on the wreck.  it was really cool.  There was lots of coral and fish everywhere. 

Jamie launching from the dinghy.

Thumbs up.

  
I (Brady)  also found a small anchor on the bottom and after diving six feet down several times I managed to bring it up from the bottom and put it in the dingy.   By BRADY and JAMIE 

Brady's first salvage treasure.

Prop Doc

After a morning of “boat school”, in which Brady complained incessantly about having to learn some geometry,  (Q: Do I really have to learn geometry?  I’ll never use this in real life!  A: Yes you do, and Yes, you will.),  we headed off to “The Prop Doc” to pick up our propellor.

Props at the Prop Doc.

The previous week we had dropped off our three bladed wonder to have it adjusted and cleaned/polished.

Jamie checking out the equipment.

While there I asked the genial “Dr.” if he would be willing to show the boys the machines he uses in his work.  He happily pointed out several different machines, how they work and what his job entails.

"So this thingy does this..." **

"...and this thingy does that."**
 (** maybe not a direct quote)

He showed us the special molds that he uses to make sure the prop blades have the proper shape and angles, at which point I practically shout, “Hey wait!  Did you just say ANGLES???  As in GEOMETRY???!!”,  as I give Brady one those raised-eyebrow-what-did-I-tell-you looks.

Props, Doc!

Brady with the prop, and the Doc.

 “Oh yes”, says the good Dr., “I use A TON of math, and lots of geometry, all day long!”   Yes! Thank you!  Schooled by the Prop Doc.

Showing Jamie the, uh, prop-er way to carry a prop. 

Next stop: The Ice Cream shop.  For a nutrition lesson.

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Cardboard and Duct Tape

We plan to homeschool the boys (7 and 11, 2nd and 5th grade) while on our sailing adventure.  The prospect is a bit daunting.  Over the last year I spent quite a bit of time researching how best to handle this big job.  I bought books, bookmarked many websites, and girded myself for the coming educational battle.  Just before we left, I went to talk to the boys' teachers (both of whom are gifted educators).  Here's what they told me:  Just have them read.  Lots.  Have them write.  Keep a journal. And don't worry too much about the rest of it; it'll come along the way. They'll be fine.

Today Jamie decided to make a boat of cardboard and duct tape.    

When it was done we went down the the water's edge
and launched his creation.

We are closing in on our first week of our new adventure, and other than having the boys write in their journal every evening we haven't officially started homeschooling yet (or "boat school" as we find ourselves calling it).  And so, today I made no effort at schooling of any sort.  But I found that Ms. Calvert and Ms. Long were right on the money - it'll come along the way.  Here's Jamie's journal entry this evening:

My Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat 

Today I woke up and started to make a cardboard and duct tape boat.  First I made a cardboard frame of the boat, then I covered the boat completely with duct tape in the inside and the outside. Then I made a rudder completely out of duct tape.  NO CARDBOARD.  Next I found some chopsticks, and a rag and I used that for a mast and a sail. Then I taped the end of the sail to the bow.  Then I was done.  Then I took it out in the water and I put it in the water and then it floated.  I sailed the boat for about 20 minutes.  Then I went back to my boat Points Beyond.  I felt proud.

 By Jamie, age 7

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Gearing Up

Our plans are beginning to gel.  We've set a departure time-frame (December 2012), and are busy with details like figuring out home-schooling options, plans for boat projects, trip-planning, etc. etc.  My hope is to begin blogging more often about our preparations, and as we get closer I hope to have to boys begin to contribute to this blog on a frequent basis as well.  I expect that journaling and blogging will play a big role in the boys' schooling while we are "out there".  Stay tuned.

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