September 28 2014 dive # 937

September 28 2014 dive # 937
Did I say last time that was the last dive of season? Oops. My mistake.
Today was predicted to be a beach day with record breaking temps sooooooo I contacted Jackie to see if she was game for a dive.
We went to Back beach. The entry point is fairly easy, they have public toilets and there are places to park (so long as you get there early and bring LOTS of quarters for the meter. It is 25 cents per 8 minutes! Good thing I had a pile of quarters reserved for tolls)
Jackie, Sandy and Andy showed up plus a gent from Argentina se llama "Marcone" (I'm not sure if I am spelling it correctly) asked if he could join us.
Jackie and Sandy buddied up and I had "all the men to myself".
Water temp seemed reasonable. I am guessing about 62F. The further and deeper we went out it got COLD. I think we hit about a 50 ft depth. The viz was clear at about 20 ft or so. No current but a light surge.
There was lots of small lobsters, cunners and a HUGE red sea raven. He was a monster! I swam back to the shore most of the way back because I  ran really low on air. I think I ended up with probably 50psi left. That's what happens when you have fun.
I did bring an extra tank "just in case". And guess what, I did a second dive.
dive #938
We went back in at back beach but this time we dove in a triangle pattern so that I did not risk getting so low on air. Ten minutes one way, ten minutes another and ten another , and then slowly swimming back looking around at things. This was a good game plan.
Andy found a huge mushroom anchor. It was completely encrusted with stuff. There was one area that was loaded with all kinds of pipe fish of various sizes and colors.-yellow, tan, rust and brown. Some of the bigger ones looked like snakes.
There were these two crabs that had their backs to each other up standing up straight. They looked they were trying scratch each other's back. There were also some curious hermit crabs investigating Andy's gloves that had holes in them.
The place was packed with divers now. There were lots of "newbies" there working at getting certified.
Jackie, Sandy and I afterwards headed over to Plum cove.
 There was a dive club event going on. We wanted to say "hi" to our dive buddies. Fred, Chris and Pete were there as well.Everyone was having a good time. The sun was really beating down and I ended up "Hampton beaching it". The water felt really refreshing.
It was truly a great day.
So now I am ready for a bucket.

September 14 2014 dive # 936

September 14 2014 dive # 936
Oh I am digging for crumbs in the chocolate chip cookie bag.
I hate for the dive season/summer to end.
I cringe when I hear the drone of football game announcers.
Football=fall...Brrrrrr...
Jackie invited me to go diving with her and Andy at Pebble beach.
I felt like a hyper jack russell terrier waiting for the ball to be thrown.
Ok ok ok....!!!!!!
Off to do a shore dive at pebble beach.
Pebble beach is pretty easy to get to.
Take 128N all the way then a left onto Eastern ave, then  take a right at Barn lane (near the Shaws/Cape Ann dive shop plaza) take a left onto 127 Thatcher rd. Take a right onto Tregony Bow, a right at the end onto south st. Finally take your second left onto Penzance. The place is chock-o-block full of divers so you have got to get there early (unless you have a rockport parking permit)
It was sunny but cold. Wind from the NNW. It was less than 50F topside. I put my wetsuit on ASAP. I tried out my BCD that I had replaced the "crapped up"  inflator valve.It worked perfectly. I used 16lbs of weight since I had the BCD and full neoprene boots. The water chilly but calm and clear.
Jackie likes to swim so we swam out to the rocks. Jackie and Andy led. They both navigated perfectly. Thankfully, I had no problems with my right ear. Hooray!Andy found a 6 inch pipe fish along with little lobsters. Jackie found a comb jelly. I was cold and out of air so that was it for me.
They braved another dive with some metrowest buddies.
At least I got my "fix" for the day.

fashion show 2014 Oct. 25 2014

I am going to be in a fashion show.
I will be  a "model" for my own creations made of recycled and "upcycled' materials. (watch out Heid Klum!)
It's Wearable art.
I used thriftshop finds by reconstructing old, discarded materials. I also used bird food bags, feathers, junk found on the beach and an old basketball to put together some of my creations.
I am putting this notice out there in hopes people will come to this event.
It is a fundraising event.
I think it will be fun.

the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part # 107

It's painful to go to the beach now that I can not feed the pigeons. All the tourists have gone so therefore, the supply of pizza crusts, french fries etc.. are far and few between. It's been a few months since I've fed the pigeons but they still recognize me. I don't dare feed them not because of the stupid law but because of what could happen to the pigeons as backlash.
A month ago, the wall above Sal's pizza collapsed due to rot and rain damage. The ledge below had two nests with babies in it. The area where the wall collapsed was taped and fenced off. There was rubble and debris in bins.
The nests were gone.
But what happened to the babies? I was freaking out thinking they were chucked in a bin but I couldn't get in to check. I am hoping they were old enough to fledge.
To keep the pigeons off the ledges, fake owls were installed to scare them off.
I really hope no harm was deliberately done to the pigeons.
 I don't think people realize that there is a Massachusetts law that protects pigeon nests:  Mass law Part IV, Title 1, chapter 266, Section 132-"Whoever willfully kills pigeons upon, or frightens them from beds which have been made for the purpase of taking them in nets, by any methods, within one hundred rods of the same, except on land lawfully occupied by himself, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one month or by a fine of not more than twenty dollars, and shall also be liable for the actual damages to the owner or occupant of such beds".
There are less pigeons by the beach now that I have noticed. I am sure by the winter there will be even less of them.
Meanwhile, even though there is a leash law and a "no dogs on the beach" law  I've seen more dogs on the beach along with dog shit on the beach and sidewalks more than ever. I spoke to a young woman who had her dog run amock in August on a crowded beach. Her dog took a crap  next to somebodies beach towel and  she just left it! When I said something to her she just flipped me off. The lifeguards had no authority to do anything.
I guess" the laws" only apply to just a few of us.

September 7 2014 dive # 934 & 935

September 7 2014 dive #934
The wind was blasting from the NE. It was a bit "challenging" getting out of the slip.
 Regardless, it was a warm and sunny day. A perfect September afternoon.
Chris and Fred were running the show along with Pete and Andy manning the lines as well as John (from the froggies). We went  south to the wreck of the New Hampshire. Below the surface, there was a sneaky cold current.
Chris and I were still working on filming using Russ's double hose  reg, plate glass mask and rubber black fins.
 Again, like last week, I had some issues with clearing my right ear. With that in mind, I've been "practicing" all week '"working" on my ear by deep swallows making sure I could hear some kind of "click" in my ear. I did get down to 25 feet, but it was slow going and the water below was freakin' cold. Since it was cold it was also clear which makes for good filming. The water looked like it was "snowing" with all these comb jellies all about. I was hoping to see a torpedo ray, but no luck.
dive #935
The surface temp was about 60F and at 25 feet I had 45F on my temp guage. I didn't dare get out of my wetsuit just in case Andy saw something good. I still had air in my tank and even though I wanted to try out my BCD since I had replaced the inflator hose I opted to just use the back-pack since it was set-up. I swam around looking for critters. John also went in twice as well despite the huge tear in his wet-suit by his neck and shoulder.Yikes!
It was a nice day to be out. We did a detour on our way back to the dock to take a look at Pat S new boat. It is a beauty. In the harbor we also saw a huge seal swimming aound.
What a great way to end the boating season.

August 31 2014 dive # 932 & 933

August 31 2014 dive # 932
Labor day weekend
You can see the light and wind shift change by Labor day.
Bummer. This means "the gate is going down".
Regardless, you savor these sunny warm days like it is that last chocolate chip cookie in the bag.
Today was warm and sunny. We anchored in Folly Cove to do some more filming and also it was a protected cove. The waves at Salisbury beach (and other beaches as well) have been monsterously huge along with a wicked undertow and rip current.
Chris and Fred were running the show along with Pete and Andy. John (from the froggies) and Illya were also onboard.
The captain was 'on a tear". Chris and I did our best to do what was instructed as far as filming. I felt a bit sick and my right ear was acting up but I desperately wanted to go diving. I did my best "easing' my ear to equalize. The cold water felt good on my head.
The surface temp was in the high 60sF and appeared deceptionally smooth. However once we got past 20 feet there was a wicked current and it was freakin' cold. Chris reported it was 45F!!!!!!
 We did a few "swimming" scenes and 'fiddling around at the bottom looking at stuff" for the filming. A skate swam by and there was a convention of hermit crabs. They looked like a bunch of partiers. When I swam up to them they quickly dispersed as if I was a copper on a bust.
I tried to do the "don & doff' using the double hose but it proved to be more of challenge than I visualized. I kept getting the hose twisted and tangled which caused the air to flood in my mouth. This also blasted the plate mask off skilter forcing water up my nose. I have no problem ditching & donning using my standard BCD and single hose regulator. The double hose doesn't afford the same kind of flexiblity and even air flow like the single hose.
dive # 933
We took a little break and braved the cold undercurrent again to film a little more.
The don & doff with the double hose just wasn't going to fly, at least for today. Illya ventured out further in spite of being warned of the current. It's puzzling to why he just didn't stay close to the boat or by the wall.
Chris paddled out to him in the inflatable to assist him, if he needed assistance. Andy had his wetsuit on ready and waiting as well.Everything turned out to be A-Ok.
Never a dull moment!
My neoprene socks were not in my dive gear bag. I either absent mindingly put them in someone elses bag or left them on the boat. Maybe they just walked off all by themselves to hide .Even my scrottie old neoprene socks don't want the dive season to end!