Geoff's Races
So I have been a slacker at posting about the races Geoff has done so far this season. So here it goes.
Normally the first race of the season is the Turkey Trot, but due to inclement weather (bad for McMurdo standards) it was postponed this year until December. Due to it's new date they renamed it the Reindeer Run. Geoff was very impressive and came in 3rd place.
The Cyclocross mountain bike race was next. I tried this race the first year they had it.... yeah I didn't prove to be too tough of competition for anyone. I was last, but happy just to finish. This year Geoff came in 2nd place. He has previously won this race two times. This only reinforced the fact that we don't need to come back next year. He no longer has to hold onto his title.

Merry Christmas...
Here are some pictures from the town Holiday Party....
The first picture is of some of my ATO coworkers and the second is of Geoff, our friend Bear and me. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We hung out with friends, watched lots of Christmas movies and enjoyed a great feast.

Art Show ..........

This years Art Show was full of artists and crafters displaying their goods. I sold my handmade jewelry and knitted goods. Geoff took advantage of my table and sold hats at one end.... while Bear took up real estate at the other end and sold his coins. We all had a fun time listening to carols, socializing with friends...... and of course making a little cash too.

Night and Day.....
The difference between a McMurdo summer and winter is like night and day. With the summer brings a population of over 1,000 people. We've had to say good bye to the night sky and hello to 24 hours of daylight. Winter's relaxed vibe has been replaced with the hectic, fast paced campus life summer brings.

Summer also brings much more activites recreation~wise.... races like the Cyclocross, Turkey Trot and this year Geoff is training to do the marathon. The warmer weather has been great for Geoff's 2 hour runs. The summer Art Show was last week and I did really well selling my jewelry and knitted scarves.... I will post pictures as soon as I can. The best thing about summer though... is seeing the friends you have made from season to season. Although Geoff would think that the increase in hat sales ranks a little higher.

Hawaiian Vacation

Actual date ~ September - October 2005 (if anyone knows how to change the date let me know)
After a Winter on the Ice.... Vacationing in Hawaii proved to be the perfect destination. Sun, sand and lots of relaxing made for a happy Geoff and Danielle.

Three days on the island of Oahu was enough for us. If you like the city life and shopping then Waikiki is where you'd want to be, but not for us. We had a good day of snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. We both saw turtles and many beautiful varieties of fish. But we were both were ready to head to Kauai.

As soon as we stepped off the plane the relaxed vibe of the island was undeniable. Open courtyards in the airport, green lush gardens and chickens roaming everywhere. We spent the first night in Kapaa preparing for our hike along the Na Pali Coast and enjoying some wonderful fresh food. Sushi and smoothies from an organic restaurant hit the spot.

The next morning we drove an hour to the Kalalau Trail. The hike consisted of 11 miles of steep hills and valleys. Guavas trees and beautiful flowers were everywhere. Momma and baby goats also roamed around the trails. After quite a few hours of hiking on steep cliffs the paradise called Kalalau was much more beautiful than we anticipated. A fresh water cave, waterfall and sunsets over the crystal blue water all just steps from our camp site. We were even invited for beer and dinner by some locals that call the valley home.... which of course made Geoff very happy.

We spent a few days basking in the sun (me wearing SPF 45 due to her pale Antarctic winter skin) and then it was time to head out.

With two nights before our next planned stop, we decided to play tourist back in the town of Kappaa. Both of us ready for a feast, we decided to check out a luau. An all you can eat buffet, free Mai Tai's and entertainment made for a nice relaxing night.

Next stop ~ The Coconut Hut. Just a short walk from the beach and away from noise, except for the occasional wakeup call from the local chickens, no phone or TV and an outdoor shower were just some of the highlights of the hut. The owners even helped us plan a Zip lining trip. Which of course Geoff was not even somewhat scared of..... and I considered terrifying at first, but after two zips across enjoyed the breeze and view from top. The biggest town near the Coconut Hut is Hanalei Bay. We made a few trips there for shopping, fruity beverages and a wonderful organic dinner at Postcards restaurant. Which we highly recommend if you love fresh local fish and delicious tofu dishes.

We enjoyed many walks on the beach at sunset and relaxing on the sand. Geoff was quite the fish insisting on swimming every time we were near the water. After reading about the beautiful fish right out our doorstep, we decided to rent masks and fins and check it out. While I was doing my lazy man's snorkeling with a bodyboard and floating along, Geoff of course decided to venture out a little further. His reward ~ more turtles and the best of all.... a reef shark.

We loved our stay in Hawaii and guarantee we will make another trip to paradise very soon.