swimming with sharks and stingrays

While on Moorea, in early December of 2012,  our friend Frank Murphy (an old college friend of Howard's from the UC Santa Cruz field quarter days) took us out to play with the rays and sharks. We didn't really know what to expect as we arrived at a nondescript spot in the lagoon. Frank grabs some fish parts as bait and jumps in the water. With in moments he is surrounded by stingrays, nuzzling up to him, circling around him. Howard, Owen and I quickly follow him into water with our snorkels and masks on, grab some bait and feel like we are being mobbed. The rays are super soft in a slippery sort of way, they nuzzle up to you like a squirmy pack of puppies. Avery was freaked out, wouldn't get in the water. In (what is sure to get me a 'parent of the year' award), I grabbed her ankle and pulled her in the water. Some where in here is where Frank said "oh yeah, this is the type of ray that killed Steve Irwin....."  I hushed him up quick....... A little bit of kicking, whimpering and clinging later she got over her fear, and had a blast feeding them, touching them and letting them swim all about her. (If you ask her, this is one of her highlights from being in Tahiti)

Frank and friends

Avery getting nuzzled

We got to hang out for about an hour in the zone. Another boat with a tourist group showed up too, this obviously was the "spot".  We swam around with the rays under water and when under water you could get a good look at the other guests. The Black tipped reef sharks. (Sorry no pictures of them)  The sharks were about 3 feet long, and had black tips on there fins. They stayed 20 feet away, circling and circling around us and the boat, hoping for a tasty tidbit to float there way. But the rays were to piggy to allow that. All in all another fantastic experience.

they're eating her
(actually they are not, I am feeding them:)

Drinking Lucky Bird

     For my 42nd birthday, I received a DRINKING LUCKY BIRD from my big sister Cindy. The box proclaimed "this classic novelty is a scientific wonder, using the properties of thermodynamics to keep it in constant bobbing motion"  Well I thought, lets use this scientific wonder as the basis of an science lesson. The kids had to observe, play with it and then describe it. Then come come up with a hypothesis. The image below is Owen's explanation.
     Who knew a Drinking Lucky Bird could be so much fun?

Horseback ridding in Huaco

They said they had horses that could take tourists

Getting ready to ride. 

Really the horses probably hadn't had too many tourists

The horses were strong, but not really used to novice riders.

Siblings 

Below the white painted rocks which are a part of a shrine to the saint who died of thirst in the desert and her baby lived.

With no stirrups it was harder to stay on when  the horse was bucking

Avery tamed her wild beast and had no problems. 

Wild burros wondering what we are up to.

Our guide getting on. No saddle, just a running leap.

Huaco- traveling about the tiny town

Ella- intrepid 3 legged companion on our walks about the Hosteria

Fresh apricots picked from the trees of Huaco

Elizabeth Horan was on her way out to climb Aconcogua.  The kids helped her  by carrying her plastic climbing boots.  

Tourists being served by the Govt.

Sometimes, all people walking the dusty street drink soda.

These channels , "asecas" are all over Argentina, directing water all about the dry towns.

Reading under the shade of our favorite grape arbor at the Hosteria

Learning with Francisco at Hosteria Huaco, Argentina

Francisco had a vision

Actually Francisco had many ideas that we pursued.  Here  he and Owen are making a telegraph.

Alway some project. here a light bulb project?

If you use your head- (and pulleys and rope...

A small boy can lift a huge stone.

The vision is a reality.  The smiling wooden horse closes  the gate.

The farm WWOOF 1/3 to 1/11/ 2013

                     We got lucky enough to spend 6 days on Granja Tia Nora: Farm Aunt Nora  (3 days, then a break to Huaco, then 3 more)

This is Owen feadding the animals

Mom at the farm 

Avery and Butthead feading the chickens

planting 

Grapes- ripe and available to snack on

Owen riding high

Grinding up the dry grass to use for all kinds of farm jobs.  Owen put the shrredded matter under the huge squash to keep them from rotting.

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The entrance to the kitchen where the best organic vegetarian meals were served.

Sunny Sunflower

Life on the farm can be grueling, however not always...

our 5 hour siestas were often at the pool.

Avery

We loved the Peacock

Weeding-  Great stuff- all goes to the animals.