Underwater Maui

Maui 2011

A Maui Camping Adventure

So, I'm making the leap to blogging... here is a brief recount of our camping adventure in Maui. You can view the photos from my album above- click on the photos to view the slideshow and read the captions. Enjoy.

Step One: Assemble all the stuff needed for a week of camping (minus the food): Tent, thermarests, sleeping bag liners, camp stove, pots, plates, cutlery, sharp knife, headlamps and some clothes. Now add: travel size playpen, a high chair that attaches to the table, countless onesies, sleepers, diapers, teething medication, and a few toys. The result: 3 very large, heavy bags... we were ready for our camping adventure on the lovely island of Maui.

Quayden, at seven months old, was a perfect little camper. He loved the ocean, he loved swinging in the hammock, he loved eating his meals outside and he loved sleeping in the tent with mommy and daddy. Ryan celebrated his 35th birthday with a trip up to the Haleakala volcano, followed by a sunset swim at our campground beach and a dinner of fresh marlin* and local veg (all of which he cooked himself on an outside grill). We surfed, we snorkelled, we hiked. We made friends with some local families and ate delicious fresh fruit. We swung in our hammocks and played on the grass. We spied endemic bird species with the binoculars and watched as humpbacks breached in the waters just off our picnic lunch spot.

My highlight came on the last day while snorkelling at Honolua Bay. About mid-way along the pristine coral reef, I heard a whistling from one of the boats in the bay. Assuming that I was about to be run over, I looked up and saw that yes, the boat was trying to get my attention, but not because I was in the way. A pod of about 20 spinner dolphins was cruising into the bay, not more than 100 feet away. A few quick kicks later and I was close enough to watch eight or so dolphins swim by me underwater... it was magical.

Maui was the perfect destination for a first camping trip with a baby... safe, clean, beautiful and warm. We are looking forward to doing a lot more camping locally this summer and I'll post up those experiences here for those who would like to follow us as our little family explores destinations near and far.

*My little educational piece (I'm never one to pass up on a "teachable" moment): the marlin was locally caught using the pole and line method- this results in minimal by-catch... it is given a "best alternative" or yellow rating in the Seafood Watch guide (for more information on making good seafood choices check out: www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx )