Frankie Conquers Mt. Alava

Frankie, recently hiked to top of Mt. Alava. She worked hard to get to the top. Congragulations Frankie! I ended up carrying her some of the way down because her shoes were hurting her feet. Didn't take Julibear because last time she only made it about 10 minutes up the trail before she wanted to go back - she was in riding on my back.

Final steps to the top

top of the world. Must have heard " are we almost there yet" a

thousand times on the way up, but I managed to keep my sanity.

Took a much earned break at the Fale on top and had some lunch

Hurtin on the way down

Other pics of girls

Juliana and Harriet

Exercising w/ the kids

my exercise buddy

beached mermaid

Expedition to Rose Atoll

Recently went to Rose Atoll to do some field work. Rose Atoll is the tip of an old volcano that barely pokes above the surrounding ocean, and consists of a couple of small islands, a central lagoon and fringing coral reef. It took about 15 hours over rough seas to get there, but the trip was worth it. Rose Atoll is now a US marine national monument currently managed by the USFWS. The area provides an important refuge for nesting seabirds and marine life. Photos...

Rose Atoll and surrounding bathymetry

The mother ship - the M.V. Sili

Leaving Tutuila

Rough seas... even some of the sea hardy fishery and marine

biologists were chucking. I didn't chuck this time thanks to

Dramamine and crackers - thanks Terry.

Land Ho

Getting the alia (local fishing boat) ready for

transport to the island

First crew sets out for the island

setting up camp

Rose critters...

Hermit crab gathering

moray

black tip shark

The surrounding reef pavement is encrusted with a pink coralline

algae that gives the reef a pinkish color

lots of clams

Seabirds galore noodies, terns, frigate birds, boobies

working in the forest

Some members of expedition crew...

Smooth ride home

More from Rosie and Rocky's visit

Rosie and Rocky, sorry you had a rough time getting on your flight out of American Samoa .... your island experience is now complete! Here are some more photos from Rosie and Rocky's visit....

Maliu Mai resort on Tutuila

locals swimming in tide pool

color swap turned on ... i did not dye juliana's hair pink... even though she would love it if I did!

getting smoothies w/ grandma and grandpa

dinner w/ Cheryl and family at Tisa's barefoot bar

Cheryl and Levi prepared a traditional Samoan umu in honor of Rosie and Rocky's anniversary

Thank you!

Squeezing out the coconut cream

placing the food in the umu

covering the umu w/ banana leaves

day at Sadie's hotel w/ grandma and grandpa

Trip to Savaii, Samoa:

ferry ride from Upolu to Savaii, got kind of rough!

the beach villas at stevenson's resort

nice outdoor shower

the beach front

traditional samoan dancing

I took rosie and rocky to the local catholic church in Savaii.

church buried in lava

Alofaaga blowholes

crazy old samoan dude that throws coconuts in them for a fee.

look auntie Bua...

if we ever get tired of the beach then it will probably be time for us to leave.

Savaii sunset

ferry ride back home

video of blowing coconuts. fa..