Summer Begins and Troubling News Keeps Washing Ashore.

Posted on June 8, 2023 by ianrmackintosh

I recently returned from a Memorial Day hiatus down on Cannery Row, less than an hour’s drive South to local Monterey. We spent a couple of nights in the Spindrift Inn just a few hundred yards from the world-famous Aquarium.

Our room featured a King bed, large programmable gas fire, binoculars and cushion-filled seating nestled into a spectacular Bay window overlooking the Bay; all this is perched just yards off the waterline where gentle waves lap relentlessly upon a sandy beach directly below. The views are breathtaking from the third floor and the weather cooperated throughout our stay with alternating mild overcast and moderate occasional sun.

Some 50-150 yards offshore a flourishing band of underwater kelp forest stretches from the West beyond Fish Hopper Restaurant, continuing passed our North-Easterly perspective, then thinning out beyond the protruding point to the East that obscures Fisherman’s Wharf Pier, just 1 mile away as the crow flies.

Traffic and distractions are visible across this majestic, scenic outlook throughout the day…

At 0600 a couple of Sport-fishing boats head out (one from Chris’ Fishing and Whale Watching business) and a half-dozen otters begin working the kelp for mussels. By 0700 a few small, night-working commercial fishing vessels and trawlers meander East back into Monterey Harbor and Wharf, straggling past the large red swaying channel marker standing 100 yards outside the Kelp off the Fish Hopper.

I sailed about that very marker buoy years ago when learning off-shore keel-boat skills from Dutch’s School operating from the very end of the main wooden Harbor Pier. It was this same area between that channel marker and kelp which was closed-off in 1997 as remains from the fatal John Denver experimental aircraft crash were sought. Times have happily moved on since then; now only peaceful coastal activity fills this scene.

During the day occasional single and small groups of canoes pass back and forwards through the kelp, moving slowly, watching the array of wildlife on display… now cormorants, seagulls, red-legged Pigeon Guillemots, otters, harbor seals, sea lions and pelicans work from the sandy beach, moving around rocks protruding from the shallow sands and out to the nearby kelp forest.

A 20-foot skiff powered by a small, ancient, outboard motor showed up a couple of times on the Tuesday following memorial Day. Two workers manually hauled kelp aboard until the boat was filled midships some two feet higher than its sides. Then off they went, bringing their harvest to companies supplying now-desirable kelp and seaweed-based products to the world.

On the last morning at around 0800 a group of eleven scuba divers appeared lower right into my view. They waddled across the sands some 30 yards away then flopped into the shallows to affix lengthy fins upon their feet, before floating slowly off in a circular group towards the Kelp. One by one they disappeared into the forest.

I saw no sign of them again; no obvious bubbles nor any disturbance at all. A pair of canoes passed over where they had vanished and the occupants moved slowly, looking downwards, seemingly transfixed.

By 0900 the divers suddenly and collectively re-emerged. First a group of seven appeared, followed minutes later by the final set of four reappearing 30 yards further out. And they slowly paddled their way to the beach in these same groups, till they hit shallow water then removed their fins. Finally, they stood and staggered, ungainly in their weighty gear, to disappear again in a few yards, passing beyond my immediate view.

It was an odd sighting. Right off Cannery Row; only 50 yards from the road to the water’s edge. And at 10.00am the whole event was repeated as a group of (this time) 10 divers waddled back down into the water and replayed similar events. Were these the same divers, or a second group? Ahh, the mystery!

Time in Monterey was well spent. The Summer crowds are not yet in full swing and Memorial Day itself is considered just the beginning of the Holiday Season.

We mostly avoided (the Pier of) Fisherman’s Wharf as it looked a little busier; finally, we had dinner there one evening at Domenico’s, where it is rumored as many as 5 Presidents have dined, overlooking the pristine and prestigious marina. The otters still entertain and play in the still channels by the docked boats, amusing diners and passersby alike.

I wonder if the 20-year waiting list for permanent slips for vessels in the inner harbor is still the norm?

Stores along Cannery Row are a mixture of decent tourist attractions; some souvenir shops, restaurants with just a few higher-end suppliers of jewelry, art and designer ornaments. And of course, there is the World-famous Aquarium, which is always worth a visit, providing you buy tickets ahead of time on busier days.

I managed a couple of bike rentals during my stay. Firstly, for a manual bike trip from the Spindrift Inn, East passed the Harbor and Wharf down to Seaside for a Starbucks where the paved trail ends. The crowds were not too busy on the trails during this extended Memorial Day break.

The next day we this time rented eBikes and headed West on the trail to the picturesque, man-built cove at Lovers Point, then used bike lanes to head out further and venture a few miles along 17-mile Drive. The weather was clear, sunny and mild.

We cycled the couple of miles after the Point alongside bright pink/ purplish rock flowers covering the low sweeping cliffs like a carpet right down to the rocky inlets and seashore which varied from just 20 to 50yds distance; blue skies and calm ocean panoramas featured all along the way. 😊

Back at home in Santa Cruz the recent months leading into June have been mixed with overcast, occasional sunny days and temperatures typically running from mid-50’s F to high 60’s. The result of this combined with the preceding stormy winter and wetter months has caused both yards and empty lots to explode in new growth.

By late May our garden featured a great cascade of white roses tumbling down a six-foot wooden fence and reaching into billowing shrubs of orange Cuphea and red-tipped Salvia (Hot Lips) below. The maroon Lorapetalum are chasing up the trunks of the Queen Palms, sprouting their small pink flowers and flourishing wildly.

A couple of ferns sheltered under trees have massive fronds reaching over 7-feet high with Azaleas firing off unseasonably, flowering in bright red and pinks beneath their shade and overhang.

Several of the giant, potted Camelia Japonicas are flowering in reds and pinks, uncontrollably dropping blossoms and petals in quickly forming mounds upon the paving beneath their healthy glossy leaves.

And all this following aggressive pruning and cutbacks last Fall before the deep stormy winter took hold and coastal damage became common hereabouts.

Hummingbirds are slowly returning to the five or more well-positioned feeders, though their numbers have not yet caused the usual protective sentry duty performed each year by a few bullies, which will soon enough control the whole back garden, again.

The storm-damaged Pier at Capitola may have its missing planking (a full 15-yard gap) repaired by late Summer, but it seems likely bureaucracy may yet impede short-term progress. As for the staircase down to the beach at 26^th Ave., some 250 yards away, it has now been repaired and is fully restored. Most of the beaches have been bulldozed and the numerous remaining debris piles have been removed ahead of the Summer Season festivities.

Sadly, the railings and paving keeping pedestrians from falling into Moran Lake (again about 250 yards (SE) from my door) are still missing. Logs, trees and various ocean-borne detritus swept away the previous structures when unusual winter storms washed over the road in December-January, tearing them apart.

But the flowers and blossoms are out; plants, shrubs and trees are flourishing making everything look so much more attractive and renewed despite the seasonal gloom normally associated with June in these parts.

So, it again became time to chase away the noisy crows from our immediate vicinity. This was last done 3-4 years ago and held up quite well. But as expected the massive rookery just a mile or so away eventually housed newcomers that encroached upon the property; they had to go. And this is how it is done…

Go out and buy two or three large fake synthetic models of black birds. Place these in plain aerial view, laying on their sides about the property and wait. Very shortly crows (typically ½ dozen sometimes many more) will gather about, circling or perched on viewing sites overlooking the scene.

They become disturbed, audibly distressed and very loud. It seems they sound the alarm and warn the greater community. After an hour or so the cacophony dies down and they disburse. But IMPORTANTLY when you take the models away a few hours later, crows do not noisily return in numbers; often for several years. 😉

I am not sure if ALL birds are driven away, but it is clear the cawing of crows is immediately much diminished, and they can be seen perching and cycling their operations a good +50yards further away from the house. As for Hummingbirds and others, their appearance seems to persist and they are then safer from egg-robbing, scavenger crows as the year moves into Summer then Fall.

The Santa Cruz pier is over a mile long and is set next to the famous Boardwalk in the Northern area of the massive, almost semicircular Monterey Bay; here the coast runs almost N-S. The end of the Pier lies about (1 mile) due East of the famous surfing spot, Steamers.

There is now a new attraction established on the Pier. 😊

The local Humble Sea Brewery has opened an open-air Taproom about 400yards from the end of the Pier on the Western, sunset-facing side. And it is extremely popular.

The Taproom has simple chain link fencing isolating it from the pavement and parking. There is plentiful, garden-style seating and numerous propane heaters for effect and warmth on the cooler evenings. It is very popular, and its slightly pricier beers attract a more discerning crowd which makes the whole experience a little more upscale.

Humble Sea was reportedly solicited by local operators, offering them the opportunity to expand their existing similar local (brewery and taproom) operations while providing an interesting and wholly new service on the Pier. It works! They feature a dozen boutique beers which would satisfy the most discerning palette. 😉

On busier nights food trucks back into the Taproom space; Thursdays there are excellent Fish and Chips to tempt customers and passers-by from Noon till early evening. Other food types will routinely be on-hand at busier times throughout the Summer season.

This place is well worth a visit!

And in the same vein, this new Taproom provides similar entertainment and views as does the rest of the pier this time of year. On evenings there are daily and sunset sailboat cruises out of Santa Cruz Harbor, just a mile due east of the Pier. These are offered on the massive (60’ Catamaran) O’Neill and (70’ Sloop) Chardonnay Charter boats.

Every evening these vessels swing right up along each side of the Pier to the great entertainment and delight of both foot traffic and those aboard sipping either wine, beer or their beverage of choice. It is an impressive sight and unique photo-op.

The scene is completed by various other ocean-bound activities, including a few transient vessels being anchored-up each night within 100yards both sides of the Pier and run-throughs of this same area by as many as eight, 6-man canoes with outriggers and sundry smaller local sloops out enjoying the extended and newly warmer nights.

It is busy, fascinating and it can all be viewed from either side of the Pier, most of its Restaurants or the new Taproom.

And beneath all this are the constant shenanigans and clowning of the Sea Lion population that lives beneath the pier, noisily resting and playing between feeding excursions upon the rafters and crossbeams that support the entire structure.

One of my favorite pastimes on the Pier is watching visitors from around the world excitedly watch, photograph and film the antics of the Seal (and sea Lion) population.

Just last night I watched a seagull squawking relentlessly, seated upon its’ nest, resting on the same support beam that accommodated a newly arrived, bellowing Sea Lion with its head not eighteen inches from the bird. And vociferous intimidation was offered by all. 😊

Just a few weeks ago the winds around the Pier could occasionally become quite slack, even as larger swells rolled in from a more Southerly direction outside the otherwise protected Bay. On these days, the waves would drive 30’ high spray onto the cliffsides around the lighthouse/ surfing museum at Steamers and the better surfers would stay out till darkness drove them in.

Upon other such nights the winds would run 10 knots and so wind-waves often amounted to little depending on the direction. But for the last 2 months there have been the (previously mentioned) boats anchored on either side of the Pier. Frequently, the occupants that tendered-in as night fell would get rolled and tumbled heavily by swells as their night aboard ran on. A 30-40’ boat can buck quite wildly when swinging on an anchor into a +5-foot swell or wave, even when those are arriving 15-18 seconds apart. ☹

On the positive side, being aboard during such a ride provides an effective way to develop great sea-legs. 😉

And as we move into Summer things around this neighborhood keep changing and evolving…

A couple of weeks ago I spotted a Grey Whale cow and calf slowly circling into the outer area between the Santa Cruz pier and the Lighthouse/ Museum. It was one of few (whale) sightings for me this migration season. NOTE: The cows sometimes hear hunting Orcas further out to sea on their route North to Alaska and so circle back into Monterey Bay to protect their calves until the threat has passed.

Just last night I saw ½ dozen Skim boarders were back at Moran beach working the new sand profile, washed over and built up by the Summer tides.

That same evening the Crow’s Nest in Santa Cruz Harbor reopened their traditional, free-entry, fenced-off weekly Thursday beach-parties for the Summer season, tucked up adjacent to the flourishing and busy public Volleyball courts.

And the weekly Bandstand Concerts are already back playing on the Capitola seafront.

Summer is truly upon us. 😊

But there is a closing note I really should add about observations of matters affecting my personal life…

Again, I must mention everyone’s susceptibility to Cancer. One in Two people will develop cancer in their lifetime, so it behooves us all to be keenly aware of the liability of late detection.

Anything you can do (Dr. visits, checks, scans or tests) that promote early detection is a major step in the right direction. It never pays to ignore signs and concerns that allow potential problems to grow.

For myself, I now have Cancers detected early on two occasions. On neither occasion was detection other than an unrelated and fortunate fluke.

I recommend everyone develops their own, medically supported plan and installs a proactive detection scheme in their lives. You just cannot rely on LUCK! 😉

And now it is time for me to chronicle in the briefest terms possible the most notable Domestic and International events that have ruffled World News outlets.

Everything I record is solidly visible with simple Internet searches. I relate only well-accepted (albethey unpalatable) truths that are difficult to refute, though may not yet all have received global acceptance and may be denied and hidden for some years yet to come. But Good or Bad, Right or Wrong, they are real…

US Military Wokeness has deepened:

Airforce… at least three bases have recently been hosting Trans shows for minors (*).

Navy… banning/ monitoring the use of pronouns, specifically outlawing use of “conservative,” “religious,” and “family” themes in speech and frowning on use of pronouns such as “Dad’ and “Mom.”

ARMY… recruiting is down almost 25% and struggling.

Cadets… Academies are typically being taught CRT.

(*) Generals Milley and Austin (Chair of Joint Chiefs and Sec. of Defense, resp.) claim no knowledge of such things. These are the same guys who thought the Afghanistan withdrawal went just fine.

Defiant Gen. Milley insists claims of wokeness in U.S. military 'grossly overexaggerated' | Fox News

Biden recently sent 1500 Troops to the Southern Boarder. You might think that these were to help with enforcement? Not so. They were allocated to help with simply processing the now increasing streams of Illegals INTO the US, as Title 42 ended.

The BRICS Alliance (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is interested in expanding membership and creating an alternative to the USD as the World’s Reserve Currency. New countries like Saudi Arabia are circling this group with interest but are wary of proposed new participants that will further expand China’s influence. 20 Nations have expressed interest in joining the group.

The US has been officially booted out of the Philippines. This is to say their use of the Islands to address supporting local war efforts relating to China are now not permitted; no American supplies or weapons are allowed that are necessary to defend Taiwan from Chinese attack.

Domestic Social Turmoil remains front and center…

At a National Teacher’s Conference, Biden proclaimed, “there is no such thing as someone else’s child.” This underscores the State push in schools for uncontested controversial sex teachings, CRT etc. and the intent to dismantle traditional Family structure.

Leftist Billionaire George Soros continues to fund countless radical DA’s (who are soft on crime), BLM and Antifa movements (and rioting). He has funded Coups in 8-9 Countries and his son Alex has met with Biden at least 17 times at the WH since his presidency began. Soros destabilizes nations and helps install new governments.

Hard Left politicians (Ilhan Omar and Bernie Sanders) are sponsoring a bill to provide 3 meals/ day plus snacks for 50 million people in the US. Who these people are, how this will be funded and what it will cost is not explained.

A Civil Rights lawsuit has been filed against the University of Minnesota for implementing a 10-week graduate Summer Research Program that only accepts students of color and provides them with a $6,000.00 stipend.

In Florida Gov. DeSantis has signed an eVerify Law into effect that enforces the existing Saye Law in ensuring local job applicants are legal residents. Concerns revolve around the likelihood of illegals being driven out of Florida towards Sanctuary States.

Promotion of Trans lifestyle and products has quickly backfired, first on Annhauser-Busch (AB) and then Target. AB pushed a promotion of transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney with Bud Light beer that left them $20B down in Market Cap (MC) within weeks. They were quickly followed by Target who were pushing Trans clothing for children, front and center in their stores; they are currently down $10B in MC. The tune of “Go Woke, Go Broke” loudly plays these days with Companies caught between their customers and unrelenting hardline LGBTQ activists.

CA Gov. Newsome is suggesting bringing in the National Guard to work with the Highway Patrol in San Francisco to shut down the escalated, rampant open-air drug dealing in the City. How bad are things? “People can’t even walk the streets anymore.” The concern is that when such policing is again removed, drug dealing will immediately return.

Dozens of US States have bandied together and requested Biden drop a new program that financially punishes good-credit Homebuyers by having them pay more to help fund poor-credit borrowers. Pennsylvania Treasurer (Stacy Garrity) warned that “It is already clear that this new policy will be a disaster.”

An inarguably sick man (a Mr. Neely, who is black) who was acting out was restrained with a chokehold by a Veteran (a 23-year-old white male) on the NY Subway. Sadly, this man (who had dozens of arrests and needed care) subsequently died. The local (Hard Left, Soros funded) DA is charging the Vet with murder and other radicals are calling for those who assisted to be charged similarly.

Then next we have the Durham Report…

Finally, the report about Trumps “Russian Collusion” has been released by the Special (uninfluenced, we hope) Investigator. It decimates the entire Russia narrative.

It is clear the Idea (the Steele Dossier, a “sack of lies”) was bought and paid for by Hillary Clinton, willingly Run (though already known false) by Obama with both FBI and DOJ Collusion. The scandal is reportedly the largest ever in American Politics, but will the guilty be punished?

GOP Senator Tuberville (AL) feels that Hillary Clinton should be in jail for the Hoax. Indeed, now some of the four Clinton Foundation criminal investigations (for influence peddling, fraud etc.) that were squashed by the FBI when she ran for President in 2016 may be reopened. We will see. 😉

And GOP Rep Anna Paulina Luna is seeking a $16M fine against Intel Committee member Alan Schiff for constant, outrageous and never-substantiated lies. His proven-unfounded fabrications and claims were made continuously throughout a shamelessly biased House investigation of the Russia Hoax.

Next up is Biden…

It is abundantly clear that son Hunter’s Laptop has proven ownership and hosts a wealth of business and personal information, photographs and data that should have seen him indicted 3-4 years ago.

It seems the FBI has been running interference to prevent investigators accessing specific documents further proving Biden family dealings in selling political influence under Obama’s nose, when Joe was his VP. It appears a “Contempt of Congress” charge against Dir. Wray may shortly break this loose.

In addition, 51 Intelligence experts knowingly originated and signed a weaponized letter During the 2020 Election that claimed the Hunter Biden Laptop was fake, disinformation. This was not true, and all signees were fully aware that no such evidence existed.

However, this letter provided the impetus for Democrats, Big Tech and Media to go into overdrive to suppress and discredit the story and prevent it reaching (2020 Presidential) voters. This was successful.

Recent polls of actual 2020 voters confirmed that had this evidence been correctly acknowledged, Biden would have lost votes across the board and Trump would have easily won the election.

The current house Investigative lead (James Comer R-KY, House Oversight Committee Chair) has openly confirmed that Obama was fully informed of (his VP) Biden’s large-scale illegal family influence peddling and turned a blind eye. This also explains Obama’s much delayed endorsement of Biden during the 2020 campaign.

And now the Whistleblowers uncovering the Biden Family Corruption are under weaponized Government attack…

Chair James Comer offers that “9 of the 10 people we have identified that have good knowledge of Biden family business dealings with China and others, have one of three things in common: they are either currently in Court, currently in jail or have gone missing.”

Comer insists that the Biden WH, Lawyers and Media are trying to intimidate and discredit whistleblowers… surprise! 😉

It seems Biden may be following in the Clintons’ notorious footsteps as a WH Whistleblower has recently gone missing, too.

Whistleblowers are being brushed aside from the Hunter Biden IRS investigation as the DOJ has moved agents off the case, impeding reasonable progress. The already slow-walked work at the weaponized IRS is now further impeded by a weaponized DOJ, while the FBI holds back providing its own, Biden corruption evidentiary letter(s).

The current corruption update is that the investigations have proven distribution of $10M in ill-gotten gains among the Biden family with expectations that the final total will run $15-30M.

Last report suggests 10 Biden Family members are currently involved in these activities, but this number may increase to as many as 12.

The sources of funds are China and Ukraine, though I saw one article suggesting there are provable improprieties committed by Joe’s brother in Saudi Arabian dealings. News just broke of another deal “with a Country more troubling than China” involved. Hmmm? ☹

Investigators have said that illegal fund acquisitions and family distributions were committed through a network of shell companies, but they were nevertheless not difficult to track. It seems The Big Guy and family are not as clever as they thought. Perhaps they feel entirely above reproach and accountability?

The scale of this corruption and collusion is again setting records in American history. Who might be indicted or fully brought to reckoning?

And Biden is not the only one with scandal potentially littering his Legacy.

Obama’s record might finally get the scrutiny it warrants. He has much certain, media-suppressed corruption and scandal on his hands…

Because he: Knew and ignored that Biden was peddling influence as his VP; Actively drove an illegal witch-hunt and surveillance on the known lie which was the Russian Collusion Hoax; Funded Wuhan Research illegally; Weaponized the IRS against Conservative Groups; Lied about Benghazi; Implemented comprehensive spying on Citizens (all of the US, German, Brazilian and others); Drove the Ukrainian Coup (with Soros) that stimulated the 2014 Russian takeover of the Crimea; Facilitated the origin and growth of ISIS; Materially harmed the US Military with questionable appointments of (>200) Generals and Admirals etc. etc. Need I go on?

Presidential choices in US Politics are commonly disappointing. Perhaps I am being too polite?

There are 8 Billion people on the planet and 340 Million Americans. And the total current landscape of Presidential Candidates is what we are offered? Ouch. ☹

Insiders seeing Biden falling (literally) and Harris’ incompetence are looking for change on the Left. Rumor has it this pair will be brushed aside: certainly, Biden’s in-your-face corruption and coverup combined with Kamala’s pitiful record and persona will assist this process?

It is proffered that a (Susan) Rice/ (Gavin) Newsome ticket might be a replacement. Can you imagine? Rice is the one who BEGAN a week-long PR tour pushing the Benghazi coverup story for Obama a FULL week after it had already been 100% proven discredited. What brass and total disregard for public opinion!

And Newsome… sigh. The man who sees a new radical cause and jumps in to claim the lead, charging to predictable disaster, time after time. He is genuinely pathetic, personifying the disastrous trail of CA policy decisions and choices.

Then we still have the harms of the COVID Vaccination to understand and assimilate…

A massive data-release of all Pfizer internal/ CDC documentation was federally court-ordered and facilitated a large-scale, carefully coordinated review by numerous teams of medical professionals from around the World of exactly what was known before the Vax Programs went public.

If you want to wade through the endless frightening list of consequences associated with the Vaccine, then view the presentation made by Naomi Wolf who had this Pfizer data release reviewed and analyzed.

To be clear, the problems were profound and numerous. If you were vaccinated, you ARE infected with these problems. Issues are numerous, severe, life-threatening and at best debilitating while permanently residing within the (membranes within the) body.

The US FDA was already fully aware of these test-proven issues, even as big pushes were being made to vaccinate (in the US) people of all ages. It seems unquestionable that recipients should have been more appropriately advised of risks, although people with severe health issues and pre-exiting problems may have had little alternative but to chance vaccination, anyway.

I watched a Video of Mark Zuckerberg speaking to his direct reports and advising they carefully consider receiving the Vaccination, given how unproven it was and how it might affect you (it DOES affect your DNA) 5, 10, 20 and even 30 years in the future. I feel sure Zuckerberg was privy to the Pfizer/ CDC early knowledge and was providing a warning. I DOUBT he and his family would prove to be vaccinated if he were ever tested.

And the push for vaccination was profound in every walk of life and for all ages…

Pfizer’s own trial found that in 2021 54% of pregnant women experienced a range of adverse and even severe reactions after vaccination with their mNRA shot. Both Pfizer and the CDC knew that the Vaccine jab caused damage to fetuses and babies , but recommended them to pregnant women, anyway. 21% of those experiencing adverse reactions fell victim to spontaneous abortions.

Pfizer’s own documentation shows that everyone making shot recommendations knew the harm the vaccination could cause.

In the US, pregnancy deaths skyrocketed in 2021. The CDC still offers no explanation, despite obvious conclusions that can be drawn from data, immediately described as available, above.

Sadly, even those who were NOT vaccinated are subject to infection by those who were, by the process of shedding that is a consequence of the shot.

Researchers in the UK have found that 1 in 310 of people receiving their first BOOSTER vaccination DIED withing 48 Days. This data was released by Britain’s Office for National Statistics (ONS). As the unvaccinated are dying at a much lower rate than this they conclude that the excess death in the UK is directly the result of COVID Booster shots.

It is believed that the ONS is not as corrupt as the CDC in the US. Who knows? However, they (ONS) did publish records nobody wants to brag about. But perhaps other cuts of that same data were much worse again? ☹

In mid-April, the FDA quietly lowered their recommendation so that now all that is required for (full) vaccination is one VAX plus one booster. And in early June the recommendation is that children 6-17 who are healthy do not need to be vaccinated at all.

We can all recount that in very recent months the US was still pushing VAX for babies and children under 4 years. Why?

Personally, I recall that even before the VAX was available it was clearly publicized global medical opinion that “children not at risk need not be vaccinated at all.” What changed? Events always showed that the aged and compromised were the ones at risk. Certainly, hard data can NEVER have shown that vaccinating healthy young people was wise; however, it IS highly profitable.

Now subsequent, troubling thoughts come to mind. Why is the mNRA element of the vaccine finding its way into cattle, their feed, fertilizers and OTHER established vaccines? Why is Bill Gates talking about the untenable 8 Billion earth population and the need for population control “using vaccinations.” I can see why conspiracy theorists might run riot thinking about these connections!

And what of the still unconfirmed specific Origins of the Coronavirus…

Bat virus funding in the US was sought mid-2013 and initially funded before mid-2014. Records show that funding was requested to create Coronavirus “Mutants.”

Four Labs were selected with the #1 being the Wuhan Institute of Virology chosen by EcoHealth Alliance. The US is proven to have funded these endeavors with Dr. Fauci writing checks on Obama’s watch.

Personally, I would just like to be fully convinced of two things:

The virus was NOT released deliberately.
The major flu’-like outbreak during October 2019 at the World Military games in Wuhan was NOT COVID.

Given the millions of consequential deaths around the World and the potential for similar future liabilities, it is well passed time for accountability and precise corrections.

Around the World, other calamitous events continue…

In UK schools there are reports of people being bullied to BE Trans.

France continues with its latest season of rioting; sometimes the Nation seems ungovernable. These latest demonstrations come because of President Macron’s personal decree that (their currently very low) retirement age for benefits will be increased to 64 years. This resulted in street riots, destruction, police-conflicts, walk-outs and strikes across the Nation.

France is now well off their original AAA debt rating (normal for a modern industrialized Nation) and has fallen to AA-.

France Avoid S&P Credit Downgrade But Concerns Persist | Barron's

As a country, France looks like Swiss Cheese from the perspective of governance and policing, with ~1000 Government-reported No-Go Police zones in Muslim areas.

China has converted virtually every aspect of domestic life and governance to be under the official umbrella of National Security. So, ANYTHING the CCP does not like is now readily prosecuted accordingly. And with President Xi elected for an unprecedented third time there is an all-powerful single untouchable Chinese leader in a fully complete Communist Autocracy, ramping the Military like it is 1930’s Germany.

Then there is Ukraine. What is really happening? All News I find (in US, UK and elsewhere) is about Russian losses and collapse. But this is not exactly what the reported Battle Lines implies.

The WH is no longer pretending that their Special Forces (along with similar from the UK) presence is to track logistics and spending and now openly admit they have boots on the ground, US soldiers engaged in direct conflict with Russian Military. This might appear minor, but is actually a VERY notable unauthorized (by Congress) escalation of US Policy.

It is generally assumed the US is running the entire show for the Ukraine military. Perhaps a clearer image of events (and an outcome!) will be reported by Historians in 10-20 years from now?

On the scientific front, Kamala Harris has been officially appointed by Biden as the US Czar of Artificial Intelligence (AI)…

British scientist Geoffrey Hinton is known as The Godfather of AI. He has quit his job at Google to sound the alarm at dangers posed by AI, which include “ending people.” For myself I have seen AI video demonstrations which feature robotic responses alarmingly disinterested in, or disrespectful of human opinion.

This subject is considered VITAL to US security, (and indeed all Nations of the World). So why has Biden selected a known unqualified and proven incompetent as Czar of AI? Such appointments are globally viewed as a clown show.

And finally, we have the much-despised Sussexes, frustrating and annoying most Royal watchers on BOTH sides of the Atlantic. WHEN will they just get out of the way and live quietly?

Love or hate them, the UK Royal family (now headed by recently crowned King Charles III) is largely respected around the world. Indeed, they are a net money-maker and exceptional good-will ambassador for the United Kingdom.

As for (Prince) Harry, I do not pity nor excuse him because of the early loss of his Mother. A sad reality is that statistically many millions of children are alive today that lost mothers (and / or fathers) at an early age, frequently in equally and often even more horrific circumstances. It is the nature of early loss.

Personally, I would prefer he dealt with this more privately and did something about his disturbingly bad choice of a wife. What a miserable and malicious pair they have become.

I am not particularly a major fan of the Royals, but acknowledge they remain a good deal for their Country. What is not to like about having them around while simply keeping a sensible historical perspective about their role and place.

And that about wraps up this revisit of many prominent events occurring since my last Posting.

On a Happier front…

Are you making the most of your neighborhood and surroundings? Sometimes there is more going on than we realize, and a larger, balanced view of life is more rewarding.

Find out what is going on around you. Local friends, family, places and events are your support system. So, make the most of these special offerings which surround us all. 😊

Ian R. Mackintosh is the author of Empower Your Inner Manager Twitter@ianrmackintosh.

Enjoying Local Surroundings and Recording Notable News Events

Posted on October 18, 2022 by ianrmackintosh

The last several weeks have seen a lot of activity around both my local neighborhood and the Alameda/ San Francisco areas I visit regularly.

Weather has been mild hereabouts, and the Summer tourists and weekenders have melted away as schools got back underway.

A major sign of the changes was apparent when I recently left my house, turned the corner wandering just a few yards down to the bottom of 26^th Avenue to then be greeted by a Hang-Glider drifting back and forth along the cliffs some 100 yards away.

The warm on-shore, <10 knot updraft off the Monterey Bay allowed the glider to lazily move a few hundred yards back and forth some 40 feet above the cliff-face. An easy, lazy day for the pilot and an incongruous view for my solitary self, standing directly below.

Just a few weeks before and 100 yards inland from here I had a 7-foot eucalyptus branch drop +40 feet squarely onto my head as I rode in the bike lane immediately beneath a canopy of trees.

This >2lb. cutting had remained from tree-work done earlier and chose to fall directly as I passed below. What are the odds, and what good luck! Just a knot on the head, scuff on the forehead and I was not even separated from my bike. 😊

Mid October surfing contests show up on weekends for High Schools and other participant events. Temporary canopies and Audio commentary is then set up along The Hook, which stretches along Pleasure Point from the Café down to 41^st Avenue. Non-participant surfers still arrive and line up slightly away from the tournament action, either down toward the O’Neill cliff house or the opposite end of The Hook from the competitions.

Capitola recently held its massive annual fireworks display, run from off the end of the old pier. The event is always spectacular, lasts 20-30 mins and is hosted this time of year by local businesses as a Thank you to Residents for their vital ongoing support.

The show is well worth the visit. The Capitola Village is packed, and the East Cliff is lined by pedestrian-only traffic with heads thrown back admiring the creative display reflecting off the Monterey Bay waters and towering into the skies above the crowds. A true spectacular, just a short walk from home.

I ride a bike year-round and normally 5 days a week. Rides usually run about 12 miles/day, with some weeks a couple of 20-milers thrown in. Weekends I save for sailing out of Alameda on the San Francisco Bay, which is just as well as there is always more road traffic around Santa Cruz on both Saturday and Sunday.

And biking hereabouts has changed, even during the week.

Since the pandemic ended, more people ride. In the last 6 months things have evolved from sightings of e-Bikes being <1-in-5 to now being 90% electric. And those bikes fly around!

E-bike safety tips for new and experienced riders - Los Angeles Times

It seems folks who seldom rode have picked up electric versions. Bikes are new and custom, sporting racks, paniers, kiddy-seats and all sorts of adders, often towing or even pushing child and animal trailers. The varieties are endless, and it is uncommon to see any two alike.

Riders seem to peddle little and travel fast. >>20 mph speeds for Electrics seems common-place and users effortlessly cross the 5-10 mile stretch from East-to-West Santa Cruz in just a few 10’s of minutes.

Electric Bike Top Speeds: How Fast Can You Go? | Juiced Bikes

I suppose increased accidents will soon inspire the introduction of consequential new regulations needed to accommodate this major trend. Strangely, cannot even recall when I last saw a new bike that was not electric and in truth this has all occurred in <12 months. 😉

As a warning: if you ride a manual bike for (say) just 10 miles hereabouts, you are going to need to avoid typically 3-5 risky (to yourself) actions by other travelers. Culprits are unobservant vehicle drivers, pedestrians and other cyclists, respectively. And the problem worsens greatly as your average speed increases. It seems speed somehow makes you far less visible to others; we develop a cloak of invisibility. 😉

By early September I had finished the planning for my 2023 trip to Alaska. It is a case of plan early or miss-out on the best Trips, Guides and Facilities for the next adventures. If you wonder what is available there, check out my last BLOG posted September 11^th. In a related theme…

During late September, a friend from Alaska stopped by on his annual drive from his home in the Kenai Peninsula to his Summering setup in Arizona. It is a long drive with quick, regular business stops along the way; he is a great guest and welcome company who needed a break from massive daily driving schedules.

On his arrival I was treated with a delivery of bear-meat for my freezer, and we spent our brief available time running around touring my local area and haunts, ending up with evening drinks and music outside, seated by a firepit. There is so much to see and enjoy here, it was a treat for myself to have someone else appreciate what is offered locally.

Following this fun visit, we are now planning a joint Sailfish fishing trip to Southeast Florida next February / March.

Hopefully, we can make this recent stop-over a regular event. Maybe next year I will take the pilgrimage with him and provide some relief on the driving duties?

San Francisco Fleet Week occurred early October. This is truly a Family treat with ships to visit, the town bustling, street vendors everywhere along the waterfront and a unique and special aerial display on Saturday and Sunday.

The Airshow runs across the space between the Embarcadero Piers and Alcatraz. The viewing area is good from Fort Mason even down to the Ferry Building, but best North of Pier 39. Sights include a couple of jet display teams (the Blue Angels are a highlight), aerobatics and a host of one-off fly-bys from both major military and commercial aircraft.

Planes and flights come in from Golden Gate and Bay bridge directions, over Angel Island and even enter the performance area right overhead, from behind the City itself. The display has low, highspeed passes and endless acrobatics; a unique treat to watch and experience. Crowds can revel in the thrill of the event and enjoy a profound sense of pride. 😊

For myself, I have been fortunate to see this Show at least a half dozen times. Mostly from the water, where I usually motor a boat of half-a-dozen passengers about in a clockwise direction around the cordoned-off, low-fly area which runs several miles both East and West between Alcatraz and the Embarcadero. It is spectacular viewing for passengers, but when you are at the helm the heavy boat traffic often demands your complete attention elsewhere. 😉

If you have not seen this or similar displays, try to do so. And soon. I hear a City Supervisor in San Francisco is moving to ban the Blue Angels from their airspace. He is also extremely vocal in complaining about the attention outside press gives to such local issues. I wonder what his true agenda might really be. ☹

The area I live has many splendid features and opportunities. But much is changing. It is good to enjoy the numerous positives that remain available while we can. 😊

Let me now move on to summarize some of the more prominent News items occurring in the last weeks; specifically, those that have possible downstream ramifications of concern…

Over $3 Trillion has been wiped out in Retirement Accounts (401’s, IRA’s etc.) in 2022, alone. If you own such an account, you will currently have seen a >30% and perhaps as high as 40% drop in your accounts’ value. Most investors have now lost around 2.5 years of gains in the last year or so. This is a result of Market confidence in Government and consequential Outlook. Ouch.

Average folks are being abused by reported inflation running 8-9% (at 40-year highs) and constantly spiking gas prices. Retirees are additionally under the gun with Administration promises of Capital Gains Tax increases that will further establish the US as having the largest such Tax in the World.

With Fed Rate hikes already underway and more promised the Housing Market has come under pressure and the Dollar has grown abnormally strong, which severely hampers US Exports.

Dollar strength inevitably brings downward pressure on numerous smaller Currencies and Countries around the World which will consequentially economically decline further, with many not even being able to service their debt.

Fuel prices are exploding all over Europe because of the Ukraine proxy War. Europeans (esp. in places like Germany) cannot fire up Coal Plants fast enough before the colder months arrive. The UK is forecasting that over 70% of it’s restaurants are expected to fail this Winter because of energy costs. Hard to imagine the pain and pressure that will similarly fall on every household across Europe. ☹

10 states now have average gas prices above $5 : NPR

As always, s***t rolls downhill.

The weaponization of Government in the US continues in many forms…

A Federal judge revealed that Biden ordered the raid on ex-president Trump while denying ALL current knowledge of the event. No surprise there. Blatant lies are commonplace.

Whistleblowers have confirmed the FBI is creating a false narrative by classifying the January 6^th Capital incursion as separate individual nationwide Domestic Terrorism instances, to be tried in every State possible while simultaneously moving agents off child sex abuse cases. Such priorities and caring. ☹

Pelosi is legally obliged to investigate the Administration for blatantly trying to manipulate the Saudis to delay reducing oil shipments and so momentarily aid US gas pump pricing ahead of November mid-term elections. It seems the Saudis have well-documented scruples about such action which would have produced large global economic downsides downstream.

Joe Biden has personally and publicly threatened dire consequences to the Saudi’s for outing him on this matter. Wow. He may have forgotten about the essential neutralization role the Saudis play in the Middle East, having Iran as neighbors and all.

Apparently, the Administration act of soliciting in-kind actions from Foreign Sources to aid a Partisan political goal is illegal. I am sure Speaker Nancy P will give this all the attention her party requires. Sigh. 😉

On the lighter side, the BBC is reporting Hunter Biden will be charged with Tax crimes. His personal laptop has been providing corruption insight to his activities (in Ukraine and China) for a few years already. It recently additionally turned up his Swalwell-like engagement and dalliance with a new Chinese spy. So far, no charges for Hunter for anything (while Dad holds the reins). 😉

I saw some Poll or other a couple of months back that had ~70% the US General Public agreeing that Biden is both corrupt AND had likely benefitted financially from his corruption. It was implied that voters simply DO NOT CARE this is the case. Wow.

On the local home front, San Francisco was reporting a 25% Office Vacancy rate at the end of September. Looks like Covid Impacts, Out-of-State moves and Neighborhood Toxicity (prices, crime and homelessness) are all in play.

And soon to arrive will be the November Elections. Over a dozen States are on the record with reported major voting fraud issues occurring during the 2020 elections. Yet no significant prosecution, anywhere. How odd. How can this be? Sigh. ☹

France outlawed Mail-In Voting in the 1970’s as being too readily subject to voter-fraud. They conducted their last recent election entirely with a hand-count. In recent weeks Germany announced a re-vote for ~6 million people in one District because of known Polling Machine irregularities.

German Works Council Election Procedures: Changes to Upcoming Elections in 2022 - Ogletree Deakins

The US has a storied history of serious Voter Fraud issues dating back >100 years. I have seen countless Polls overwhelmingly agreeing the US simply needs Voter ID laws to have safe(r) Election Polling.

Yet Voter ID is currently politically framed as Racist, so cannot be allowed. Go figure.

And I expect there will be rampant, approved mail-in requirements and voting misdeeds in many US States and Districts come November, regardless of the outcome. Why would anything be different? 😉

On the Global front we still have Leaders who need wars (that end well) to buoy up their numerous Domestic problems. Putin is in trouble and needs a soft landing and historically corrupt Zelenskyy is spoiling daily for bigger and better action.

Biden has his proxy war and is rattling his Sabre, threatening an imminent Nuclear Armageddon to his citizenry. Despite major depletion of US Weaponry (to Ukraine) and Strategic Oil Reserves (to China and hopefully, Domestically) he has still somewhat prepared, as his HHS has stockpiled nuclear warfare treatment Nplate drugs at $1.2k each. Sadly, for you and I these only have a shelf-life of 18 months and he only bought ~250k units. If he knows something we do not, we are in trouble. 😉

Lastly is Premier, Xi. He is right now entering a new phase of Government Control which brings him unprecedented and unchallenged powers. He is already leaning in to take territories from Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and others; even claims in the heavens (Mars and Moon colonization) are freely mentioned. China believes this now-open New Era is where they will fulfil their promised destiny and Xi is the accepted and anointed one.

NOTE: The New Era is defined as the next 30years, which is to include the successful realization of The Chinese Dream.

And all this comes when US overseas image is at a low. The UK’s Telegraph newspaper (THE major National publication) wrote an October piece referring to Biden’s weakness, endless failures and ways as being more than simple mental decline and senility, referring to him as also being historically evil. This from (a, THE?) major overseas ally and a FRIEND. Ouch.

So, what might actual ENEMIES think, say and be prepared to DO? Historically it is always the weak and inept who become inevitable active targets and victims. ☹

Well, so much for these reflections.

In all honesty they are (just some of the) things that cannot responsibly be simply, totally ignored. These are the troubling chickens in our lives that can come home to roost. Some are much more likely, serious and immediate than others.

We live in sad and dangerous times, both Locally, Nationally and around the Globe.

But nobody should dwell incessantly on such matters. It serves no purpose if no immediate action is required or yet relevant. So, time to move on, but still sleep with one eye open…

Do you track both the small AND large issues that might impinge upon your World? Should you?

It can be miserable to follow all such issues relentlessly but keeping an eye on REAL liabilities that can enter your lives is usually wise.

As for myself, I will now change my immediate focus and prepare for a trip out East to enjoy a Wedding in North Carolina with some Family friends. 😊

Here’s to wishing you similarly pleasant distractions!

Ian R. Mackintosh is the author of Empower Your Inner Manager Twitter@ianrmackintosh.

Family Outings In Alaska, Two Weddings Redux & A Sad Goodbye

Posted on September 11, 2022 by ianrmackintosh

It has been a busy month or so since my last posting and much has occurred.

I recently returned from a three-couple outing in Alaska. This offered an Alaskan introduction to four travelers and a third consecutive annual vacation visit for me.

Alaska changed throughout these COVID years. It has become a recently more favored escape and experience for those seeking simpler ways and contact with a larger outdoors.

Although I have travelled there for short visits in the past, my first significant holiday was in September of 2020, when the State was an early opener for vacation travel during the pandemic. And much has changed.

2020 saw small crowds and State entry burdened with new and imperfect (Covid-related) entry requirements. By 2021 the word was out, and crowds increased with residents needing to financially recover from pandemic-depleted recent times further compounded by lesser recent seasons of Salmon runs; it was busier and more expensive.

But this year (2022) the season ran with even greater attendance and enthusiastic tourism than the prior two years. The peak Summer season, running into September and quickly to Autumn was busier again. Indeed, my own bookings were necessarily made a full year earlier, immediately following my 2021 visit.

And it was well worthwhile. 😊

Alaska is about grand displays of nature, hikes, outdoor living, simpler more independent times, hunting and fishing.

So, let me describe our outings and experiences…

After separate flight arrivals in Anchorage, our three couples (two from NorCal and another from Sweden) picked up a pair of vehicles (SUV’s) and gathered at an overnight Airbnb on the local outskirts of the City.

We shopped for a few essentials that night before turning-in quite early. The next day we found a great local eatery before heading down to the Kenai peninsula.

The journey out to Fosters Alaska Cabins (outside of Soldotna and Kenai) provided great phot-ops for our new visitors during the 3-4 hr. drive-time South. Expansive views of gigantic, U-shaped canyons were all along the way, passing narrow-gauge railway, tributaries and glacial run-off rivers at almost every turn.

We stopped for an hour or so at a Wild-Life conservatory (AWCC) featuring Bears, Wolves, Musk Ox, Deer, Reindeer, Moose, Buffalo, Porcupines, Foxes and much more. The various herds generally contain a dozen or more animals; Elk were in rut with the males separated, again strutting about menacingly as I have witnessed in previous visits. (NOTE: The park is well outside of and South of Anchorage, passed Beluga Point).

After sampling drinks, reindeer hot-dogs and similar we got back on the road in our 2-vehicle convoy.

Following another communal stop for meal and souvenir viewing we ran the last hour down to Soldotna and proceeded to our destination camp.

Upon arrival we checked-in, unloaded luggage into a couple of cabins and then each had ourselves fitted with the waders and boots we would use for the duration of our stays.

Dinners in our camp are large, substantial smorgasbords where guests congregate to feed each night. Ladies first, sit where you please outdoors or upon under-marquis seating, with an eternally open bar. Our first night of this was a great introduction and orientation for our group.

Following or during the feed, details of the next day’s trips for each party were reviewed. The dinner and clarification of the pre-arranged upcoming outings is a nightly ritual.

Some evenings featured singing by local performers. Those remaining following dinner gather around or near the open propane firepit, sipping on drinks, often making song requests for an hour or two.

After our arrival meal we headed back to our cabins for an earlyish night’s rest in preparation for our first outings.

And the first day did not disappoint.

As on most days we split into two groups. This day half of us (3 of our group) headed pre-dawn down to Homer Spit where we boarded a 40’ power boat for a day ocean fishing Halibut and Silver Salmon.

We pounded our way out for an hour or more on the Gulf of Alaska, ringed in the distance by five visible volcanos. There was a little rain, but four of the 6-person total passenger group sat inside, unconcerned about the risk of seasickness.

Most everyone aboard got their 2-fish Halibut limit (one OVER and one UNDER 32” in length) and their accompanying exhausting experience of the serious workout involved in hauling them up from the deep. Following this, we that cared fished for and caught a few Silvers for our 3-man group.

It was then time to forge our way back to Homer Harbor; the journey and fishing had left us all somewhat wet and definately chilled. The lady captain and male crew performed admirably, keeping everyone happy and having all the fish filleted by the time we tied up at dock.

The second part of our group had departed camp a few hours later (also to Homer) where they took the comfortable 49 North Boat Taxi to the State park for a subsequent hike. They had their fun and returned before the fishing group to the Homer Spit and made the traditional round of tourist trips to the famous Salty-Dawg Bar, wholesome restaurants and stores.

After stashing our catch in a cooler, we finally reconstituted our total group, then had a couple of drinks at the Dawg before heading back up the road to camp and the usual evening arrangements.

The next day, two of us set out early on a 50-minute float-plane fly-out to the Kustatan River for Silver Salmon fishing. It was a new adventure for my partner on the trip.

We checked-in, located our plane dockside, climbed aboard and flew out. It was great trip with fine photo-op views, always ensuring a fun adventure. There was just one problem: the landing area was heavily fogged-in.

Normally the plane drops its floats into a narrow river, with wingtips reaching out to the banks either side and swings its way along a short course to a preset stop consisting of manageable mud banks and a couple of wood duck-bords where passengers can clamber out. But not today.

The fog was heavy and persistent. It hung like a curtain some 400yards before the viable touchdown spot, flatly carpeting the entire region. Despite our making multiple passes to get in during 30 mins over the landing site, we were consistently met with an impenetrable wall that just would not move, so we were forced to repeatedly pull out of approaches.

Inevitably, after <2.0 hrs. we touched back down on the small lake from which we had departed earlier. Some 30mins later, subsequent flights verified that nothing would be getting into the Kustutan any time soon; thus, our fishing trip was cancelled.

So, we rushed the few miles back to camp to rejoin the rest of the group who had slept-in prior to leaving for a Sockeye Salmon introductory (“Flossing”) fishing trip. We reconfigured our arrangements so that the two younger couples went out together and my wife and I picked up a separate last-minute arrangement to go flossing later with a new local guide.

In summary, the team of four had a phenomenal time with the group limiting out their couple of dozen salmon. The two girls were novices and enjoyed major success; I do believe the more experienced men were even a little envious of their catches. The guide was excellent, put them in the right spot at the best time and taught them well. 😉

As for my wife and self, things were not so great. We arrived later in the water and the best spots and time was gone. I got a few Sockeyes yet needed to work extraordinarily hard for that catch. But it was fun and always is. 😊

The highlight of dinner that night were the tales of fishing success and new positive experiences that were had by all. So ended the second day at Foster’s Camp.

The next day was a group trip (3 couples, the six of us) down to Seward for a ferry ride. The journey to and from the Port is spectacular and often forgotten as a treat within itself.

We checked-in on-time after our 2-SUV journey down. The giant, 1-year-old ferry we boarded sparkled in its pristine white and blue colors, all immaculately wiped and spotless throughout its decks, café, seating and glass-windowed viewing areas.

After slipping dock lines and sliding out of Seward we were gone about six hours. Along the way we saw several whales, many seals, puffins, innumerable sets of rafting otters and an endless coastline with massive U-shaped Valleys truncating at the water’s edge.

And the highlight of the trip was a 1/2hr stay, in-close beneath a 0.5mile wide glacier that terminates its 10+ mile length into a spur off the Bay of Alaska. It is one of seven such edifices that originate from a massive, plateaued ice field that enjoys its own climate at about 1000 feet or so higher.

It is a spectacular sight and was an important photo-op for all aboard. Despite the chilled air the passengers posed relentlessly (as we did ourselves) for group shots and videos as large chunks of glacier growled and occasionally broke off, generating small tidal waves that dispersed into the ice flow below.

As much was filmed and photographed of this glacier as there was of the surfaced whales we had cautiously shadowed earlier, capturing their antics for 30 mins or more.

It was an enjoyable day out and we all returned weary and relaxed as we reentered Seward, then disembarked for a pre-arranged Dinner booking at a large local restaurant.

When we arrived back at camp there was a familiar pair of local singers still there, entertaining a small group (of <10 guests) around the firepit beneath the marquis. I listened for a while, confirmed the next-day arrangements and then retired early for the upcoming morning’s adventures.

The following day, three of us (myself, younger son and his significant other; they both in from Sweden) headed out at dawn for a float-plane trip up to Crescent Lake, >1 hr. flight-time away.

I arranged for the lady to take the co-pilot chair as my son and I took our seats in the main cabin with the other 6 or 7 passengers aboard. The flight out garnered some of the better happy-face and mountain landscape pics I would capture on the entire trip. And we landed on the starkly emerald-colored, isolated lake just as planned, beaching up behind another flight that had arrived minutes earlier.

There are only 6 guides allowed to work this lake and 3 were on the beach after we landed. We quickly split into 6 or 7-person groups, boarded our flat-bottom, motorized boats stationed near the landing area and dispersed about the lake.

Our day featured (almost) “Snagging” for Silvers and Humpies down in a corner of the Lake, shortly before it gently spilled into a sluggish downhill river. The fishing was productive for all; I picked up the 7 or so bright red humpies I mostly cared about while others targeted and captured the 3-fish limit Silvers they wanted. Our group had a few Silvers we brought back, too.

Alaska Magazine | In Defense of the Lowly Pink Salmon

Most of the day fishing involved keeping tabs on a nearby group of 4 brown bears (an underwater swimming Mom and 3, 2-year-old Cubs) who constantly threatened to cross over towards us from 150 yards away. Fortunately, they harried the opposite bank of a dozen anglers and a couple of guides all the time and never became sufficiently interested in us. But again, they were so close we were easily able to watch, photograph and video all their mischief and antics.

Last year (2021) I had seen these same bears and as many as a dozen more. This trip there was just “Swimmer” and her 3 boisterous cubs.

After all the fish were had we took off by boat following these bears, taking pics and videos from close range but keeping safely behind them as they quickly progressed unimpeded by any fishing groups down the bank towards the plane landing area.

I managed to fish alone for Dolly Vardens (like Rainbow Trout) and picked up a dozen in the very place the bears were gamboling 3-4 mins before we beached. And this, as the guide filleted the fish, my son tried for more Silvers and the others in our small party looked on, drank and ate while watching for a surprise visit from bears. Finally, we piled back in the boat and moved on.

After a subsequent, quick (< 5minutes) stop required for me to pick up a 19” Lake trout (using newly harvested Salmon eggs) lingering beneath a floating filleting station, we rounded a couple of bends and beached again to await our incoming float-plane transport out.

There were soon perhaps 20 of us on the beach awaiting fly-outs. No bears arrived and a few of the anglers started fishing with snagging rigs while we waited. I must have seen ½ dozen more silvers caught and filleted during the 30 mins or so we stood about and chatted.

A couple of planes arrived. We all quickly helped load gear, bagged fish fillets and snack coolers then scrambled along the plane’s shore-side float, clambered up the fixed boarding ladder, dove into the cabin and fell into our window seats.

Within the hour we had taxied, taken off, run low out through the blustery, tree-spotted Valley, then crossed the large expanse of water to the mainland, while passing over a few solitary oilrigs in the brown silty waters ~2000 feet below.

We banked sharply into the Lake landing site and within an hour we were back in our own cabins at camp.

The second group (3 persons) of our party rose later that day and had gone on a guided and guarded short hiking tour through bear territory to Russian River Falls. They did not get along too well with their guide that day and thus had not enjoyed the fun and adventure anticipated.

Much as they wanted to ditch the guide, they realized that the other hikers they saw that day were well-armed (lots of bears are around) and so them wandering carelessly unarmed and w/o even bear-spray was perhaps very ill-advised. They did not immediately enjoy the trip, sights and experience as was hoped. It happens. ☹

Dinner that evening was quite a contrast. My Swedish guest saw her flight, fishing, bear viewing and boating as “one of the best and most memorable days of my life.” Great to have such a unique, wonderful experience while capturing so many pics and videos for memories.

The Hiking group even seemed to reflect that there were perhaps some special memories to their day, too.

And so, another day in Alaska passed into history and personal memory. 😊

The following day the Swedish couple in our group began their trip home to work responsibilities.

My eldest son and I took a 2-seater, side-by-side ATV trip into the Hills around 1 hr. drive South of Soldonta, towards Homer. We passed through an old Russian Village with a small, highly ornate church at its center, before taking off on our remote, guided trek.

Alaskan Back Country Side by Side ATV Adventure with Meal 2022 - Denali National Park

The hills were strewn with brilliantly purple Fire Weed and we ran by deserted trapping cabins and the few remote ruins, all the time travelling on regulated State land. If I recall correctly, for some reason the Government owns >40% of all Alaskan Land. Such massive ownership is typical of many Western US States.

After driving outbound some ~90 mins on moderately tricky trails we reached a halfway point and turned back. Our ATV’s front LHS tire was already running low air pressure when we had set out, and by the time we were 5 miles short of reaching our SUV and trailer, that tire broke its seal, and we ran off-trail.

As no tools of any form were brought along by the guide we staged the vehicle slightly off-trail and returned in the guides (fortunately) 4-seater ATV to our vehicles just outside the Russian Village.

We settled with the guide, and he told us he would return later with tools and a spare wheel to recover the vehicle. It appears that as the weather was starting to turn (colder, wetter; with the Fire Weed dwindling, changing bloom) and the region is so remote, it was unlikely anyone would need to pass the abandoned ATV in the immediate future, certainly not for a day or two.

So, off we went North, back to camp and dinner, with another fine tale to tell. 😉

The following day our NorCal couple (my recently married eldest son and bride) packed up their SUV and headed up to Anchorage and their flight out. My wife and I took a break, just doing laundry and lunching out before the routine evening camp dinner.

The next day I fished alone with a familiar guide. We had planned to fish the Kasilof River, but the Silver runs were not yet really happening there. In fact, other than on fly outs or in the Gulf, they were pretty sparse with the major runs still yet to come in after the Sockeye flow gave way.

So, we fished the tail-out of the lake by the Lower Kenai. It was painfully slow progress and as you can only run a single rod when alone, it is impossible to quickly check out optional lures when pulling plugs. Some of the other six boats we saw that morning also only caught an occasional Silver, despite each being able to run at least four rods.

Eventually we hauled out and headed back down the Kenai River and I picked up a few Sockeyes flossing to add to the single Silver caught at the Lake. So, it was somewhat productive, and provided additional meat to add to the freezer. But it was a good day, and I spent more time with a familiar guide and friend.

The following day was my last fishing on this trip with another guide known to me and hailing from Oregon. Ryan had moved up with his whole family this year for the Summer guiding season in Alaska.

This time I was targeting my favorite, Rainbow Trout. It is all catch and release, but great sport.

The fish were spread out in pockets and so are not easy to find until the Silver Salmon runs are in full flow.

But Ryan found the fish and I had a big day. I took a spectacular 25” Rainbow, a couple of 24 inchers with about 45 total brought to the boat, mostly in the 19-22” range. I lost a 28-29” monster who was a little too smart for my skills; he made my 25” fish look like a tiddler and me feel like a complete novice. 😉

The day demanded a lot of judgement and realignment to the quite different trout nymphing techniques used in Alaskan waters. It took a few hours before my skills really began to set back in with subtle back-handed casting and drift-mending adaptations. In the end I was even able to pick up some nice Rainbows in hard-to-manage, low expectation areas. 😊

And then the fishing was done, and nothing was left but satisfied bragging rights, organizing fish shipments and arranging travel home.

There was about 130 lb. of fish shipped back. Mostly Sockeye, but a smattering of Silver Salmon and some decent Halibut. The freezer is again adequately filled after being only recently emptied of the few last 10’s of pounds of fillets which were still in prime condition from the similar 2021 haul.

But we did not get out Scot-Free.

A few days before we left my wife contracted Covid and it was a full three days later before I finally tested positive. This played havoc with our return. Fortunately, my case was VERY mild; no temperature issues at all and I was testing negative again within 72 hrs. Lucky me!

We both hit the PAXLOVID 5-day course treatment along with a recommended battery of supplements and vitamins. As my own case was so surprisingly short-lived, we were both simultaneously ready for travel and returned home.

Noted lessons learned and worth noting, re: HAVING COVID…

If a standard Covid Lateral Flow Test (CLFT) shows a PALE (Positive) line that takes a while to appear, your case is likely less profound and symptoms less debilitating. The Viral Load you carry is LOWER and most likely you are less infectious, supposedly “only to perhaps pass it on to a Spouse.”

HOWEVER, if you have a DARK RED (Positive) line that appears within a few minutes, the opposite is basically true, and you might even be classed as a “Super Spreader.”

Medical professionals have elsewhere offered these pointers. Your guess is as good as mine as to their efficacy. 😉

Now changing subject…

Since my last posting there a have been a couple of (shall we say), Phase II wedding celebrations to attend. Let me explain…

Inevitably many people still got married during the Pandemic which caused attendance at events to be somewhat to severely limited as folks were either reticent to travel or Covid restrictions remained profound and ominous in the vicinity of the event.

So, some couples choose to have belated, secondary events in more convenient locations and at a (sometimes) much later time. Both thwarted guests and newly married couples often favor a celebration redux. Hence, I attended a pair of such events in recent weeks…

In the first case it was the reception redux locally for friends and neighbors who did not attend my eldest son’s wedding in Kauai, last May. There were a few speeches, great food and a fine turn-out.

The second reception was a celebration of a friend’s eldest son’s marriage which occurred quite quietly during the very early depth of Covid restrictions (mid-2020). This event was a full-blown wedding / vow redux, and the couple now even had their new baby in attendance.

In both cases it was great to see the joy and closure that both events brought to guests and couples alike. People always have fun on such occasions, but it was precious to witness the obvious happiness and satisfaction on the faces of all those privileged to attend. 😊

Perhaps such Phase II events in convenient secondary locations will become increasingly commonplace and traditional? Certainly, the Pandemic has already affected many other aspects of life.

Then next of course there is the Local, World and Domestic News that has flooded in since my last BLOG.

Only the most noteworthy is worth mentioning. So let me begin with firstly a couple of simple Local observations…

Not greatly mentioned is the fact that the entire San Francisco Bay turned a vivid reddish brown for over a month. The effect began in early August and was only diminished and constrained to mostly the Alameda estuary by mid-September. It was recommended the fish caught were not eaten.

An algae bloom not seen for almost 20 years has again returned. The effect was initially quite alarming since the muddy redness deepened as the days warmed and it spread so extensively throughout the entire Bay.

Many of the local Ducks (mostly Mallards and Canadas), Herons (mostly Night Herons, some Great Blues and Egrets) and Cormorants temporarily quit affected surrounding marinas and headed for cleaner fishing grounds, only slowly returning as waters became clearer.

In Monterey Bay, the great Blue Herons nesting in the +80’ high Eucalyptus above the bridge running through the Santa Cruz boat harbor have already produced a new generation for 2022. The birds and their young still frequent the nests and caw loudly to all who will listen.

On the World front…

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom passed away, aged 96 years. The Country, Commonwealth and many around the World mourn as a new King dutifully awaits his Coronation. And the outpouring is staggering. Sadness of loss remains palpable, yet a new, continued and stable era is anticipated and quickly needed.

Reports from Ukrainian front-line soldiers suggest they lack basic weapons, ammunition, communications, transportation and manpower. As many $100B’s in weaponry and other forms have poured into the Country, one must wonder what is going on.

The day before Ukraine was invaded the President (Zelensky) was considered to the be the head of the most corrupt Government ever known. One day after the invasion he was being hailed as a modern-day Churchill.

The US is reportedly severely depleting their military reserves by channeling much advanced weaponry, ammunition and funds to the Ukraine. Similarly, many European Countries are contributing the same way. So, something smells bad, here. Things do not stack up.

On the COVID front there have been >10 Countries that I have personally seen officially reporting Government-recognized problematic findings from the impact of Vaccination. These include the likes of Germany, Denmark, Israel, the UK, Turkey, Japan and more.

Other than Media reports offering 11 dubious (non-Vax) explanations to now routine and numerous, so-called sudden adult deaths, there is no similar mention or reporting in the US at all and certainly nothing hinting at any problems whatsoever with vaccinations. No wonder there are conspiracy theorists running wild. 😉

The US Domestic front inevitably remains very bumpy…

FBI whistleblowers are coming out of the woodwork and uncovering the obvious current bias and politicization of the Bureau that we have already been increasingly witnessing for decades. They say heads will roll. Time will tell… sigh. ☹

The border crisis continues. In early September, the Administration acknowledged that around 2 million illegals had entered the country under Biden’s reign. Independent bodies are already on record stating that with known missed encounters and existing official recordings the number already greatly exceeds 5 million, with no end in sight. Someone cannot count.

Gas prices in California can now be found in the $5.50/ gal range. We are supposed to celebrate this progress down from >>$6.00 / gal. I recall quite recently when reaching $4.00 / gal was considered disastrous.

Most of the price reduction we are seeing is driven by a great fall in demand driving down pricing. Folks cannot afford gas prices and so are finding other ways to minimize their budget expenses by limiting personal consumption. Another inconvenient truth.

Why high gas prices are more about Wall Street than the White House

The situations we create and to which we are offered delusional or deliberately misleading insight are almost comical. So, let us not dwell on any more of such frustrating News and simply move on…

We are heading into Fall (Autumn) around the Northern hemisphere. The News channels and Media offer their own spins on the reality that they wish us to accept. And this remains our choice, at this point.

As you can see from above, I have personally experienced and fortunately enjoyed several happy, convenient diversions during the last six weeks. I recommend you similarly find a path for distractions.

And as for the News reported… keep questioning what is offered and try to look behind just some of the screens. 😊

Ian R. Mackintosh is the author of Empower Your Inner Manager Twitter@ianrmackintosh.

Finding Joy In Travel and Reviewing World Events

Posted on June 15, 2022 by ianrmackintosh

Well, it is 100 days into the Russian invasion of Ukraine and News outlets seem to be switching their attentions elsewhere. And I will follow suit and move to happier events to begin.

In the past five weeks I was fortunate to travel up to Northern California and then out to Hawaii.

The trip North took in Shasta City and trout fishing on the McCloud river below the dam, followed by a couple of days drifting the Lower Sacramento around Redding and Red Bluff. This was shortly thereafter followed by a visit to an old stomping ground of mine to Kauai, Hawaii; this latter journey being prompted by the spectacular destination wedding of my eldest son to our (now) new daughter.

Let me just concentrate here solely upon the locations themselves and primarily provide insights for travelers to local destinations and activities.

So first came the early May drive North to Shasta.

The drive itself was warm enough but weather up there was still colder as my youngest son and I headed Northbound along the the I5 corridor, paying an arm-and-leg at fueling stops along the way.

Before reaching our destination, we passed Shasta Lake; it seemed even lower than during my prior visit late last year. At best guess the vivid orange banks were exposed >>50 feet below the vegetation line and several fingers of the basin were now completely emptied of all water.

The boat sheds had been moved with new ramps installed, enabling boaters to reach the shallow Lake, gain access or launch.

We continued North, then checked-into the Shasta Inn late afternoon as snow was beginning to fall. This was a troubling proposition given our fly-fishing plans for rainbow trout the following morning. ☹

We hit the Black Bear diner for comfort food and then retired to our cabin/ room, watching the picturesque snowfall through the window while laying on our beds enjoying fishing programs on the TV.

The next day was a pleasant surprise. Before we had left the snow had melted away around the SUV, so we dressed quickly and warmly for wading and headed up the higher elevation of the McCloud Dam to arrive before the sun could reach down to the river at the base of the gorge.

The water-level in the reservoir was at a low and barely reached the spillway gates. So, we each geared-up and went to our preferred and separate hunting grounds.

I hiked into the thundering dam outlet pool to then fish 100 yards further down, against the cliff-face beneath the spillways’ end. My son took off on higher ground along the blocked-off mile-long, rock-littered road toward Ash Camp to then clamber down towards the deep pools and swirling waters offered a mile downstream from where I was installed.

Oddly, the day was warm. I picked up a few strong, vividly patterned Rainbows and then climbed the rocks back onto the spillway itself and picked my way across its empty base. From there I descended back down and into the river, winding my way several hundred yards further to the sharp left bend below.

The day became warm. The sun shone, I shed much of my gear as I fished the bend, basking in the surprise warmth and sunlight while picking up three more fish.

We met up mid afternoon back at the SUV and then went our separate ways to finish the day. The deeper pools continued to be hard to exploit and my own attempts had yielded a little less than typical in the colder weather. But we were fishing and thoroughly enjoying our unexpectedly warm surrounds in the lush McCloud river gorge.

That evening we went in search of new places to eat and ended up back at the Black Bear. Like most places in CA, things close early and staff shortages abound following Covid closures and constraints. The diner attracted more than its share of locals and so we ate there again; good wholesome food and plenty of it.

There was no snow that evening when temperatures dropped. So, the following morning we donned our lessened gear for the warmer day and repeated the prior days action in largely the same places, fishing till early afternoon when we packed-up and wound our way down from the dam to the freeway which sped us within the hour to the much warmer climes of Redding.

The deep pools of the McCloud below the dam remain difficult to fish, a true enigma. The pockets are filled with trees and branches deposited over decades; tight-line nymph fishing is ideal, but the constant snags and associated reties make it a tedious (and expensive) proposition.

Nevertheless, by late afternoon we had checked-in at our Redding hotel and were off to my favorite eatery (Kahunas) for Mongolian BBQ and Sushi.

The next two days we drift fished the Lower Sacramento with my favorite guide Jason from River Pursuit out of Red Bluff. The river is historically low with minimal water release, and we first worked nearer the Redding area. The second day we fished further South by Red Bluff in the Canyon.

The waters are loaded with Sucker fish in places, but we snagged very few of these and the pair of us combined probably hooked into over two hundred rainbows during the two days. A couple of carp joined the ranks but most of the many trout ran 15”-19” with the majority on the larger side.

Both days we beached the boat for a lunch of hot-dogs, soda and to afford Jason a break from rowing. The fishing was spectacular; mostly we were regular nymphing but also caught on dries and tight lines.

There were few other boats to be seen; the solitude, warm days and focus of the fishing were constantly refreshing. The views were green, lush and impressive, but our attention was constantly and heavily drawn to the waters and the bite.

This trip I realized more about the subtleties of fighting fish that jump (Trout, Salmon, Bass etc.) with barbless versus barbed or treble hooks whether using dry flies, nymphs or lures. There is always something to learn and such massive experiences quickly speed the process. 😊

Eventually this fishing outing was sadly complete. So, we quietly and reluctantly drove ourselves the five hours home to Santa Cruz, CA.

What a great outing.

The next few days were hectic as clothes, shoes and goods were picked up and packed for the wedding-centered trip to Kauai.

So, as a fun break to the preparations we first made a two-man trip down to Moss Landing and Phil’s Fish Market. What a great recent local find this has proven for our family. Excellent food, friendly, lively atmosphere and sensible prices in a now Covid-free setting. Hard to beat outstanding Cioppino, inexpensive quality wines and beer for an afternoon outing.

All this is secreted in a picturesque working harbor on the Monterey Bay and situated just 30 mins drive South of our house. 😊

And then on to Kauai. I was last on that particular Island some forty years ago. I recalled the exquisite quiet, deep red earth, rough roads and the golden bay sands laid out before the Kauai Surf Hotel.

Of course, all is now much changed. The Hotel has long-since fallen in two major hurricanes, the population has grown, and more tourists now visit. Everything moves on, as it must, but Kauai remains favorite over my (also ageing) recollections of other subsequent visits to Oahu, Hawaii and Maui.

The flight over was on-time and the approach built with excitement as passengers pressed to the windows for views of the Island as we descended towards its shores. There were smiles everywhere as new visitors marched from the plane through the airport while bathing in the welcoming warm air.

We bustled swiftly through the open-air Baggage Claim, fought for our rental cars at Dollar and headed quickly for late-night shopping essentials at Safeway on the way to our apartment.

And at Safeway, we met the chickens. And we met the cockerels. And everyone was enchanted as photos were had. 😊

Googling commenced as the shopping went on. Chickens are everywhere, especially on Kauai. The politicians in Honolulu have plans to sterilize and diminish the population, but to be honest, I like ‘em. They show up everywhere and seem charming to me, even when they opportunistically wander into open-sided restaurants in search of scraps. 😉

We had a ground-floor apartment to the North in Princeville overlooking the ocean, about 45mins up the East coast from the Lihue Airport. It stood 100 yards off a golf-course and 20 yards from a steep drop to a narrow bay. All of Princeville is apartments and houses centered around a lush golf course (Links) that partially sits upon cliff tops.

The lawns that run to the cliff edges were intermittently populated with the endangered indigenous Nene Geese and mostly-white, stork-like Cattle Egrets which were brought in during the 1950’s to control the insects around local herds.

We had a beautiful place to stay and many more to visit.

The local store was (Foodland) five minutes away in an extensive open-air Mall area, which supplied most our needs, including great Sushi, Pokes, Vegetables, Local Coffee and all that a Safeway has to offer, plus beach-related supplies and sundries.

Eating-in is convenient and there are many great options. This is helpful as often the restaurants can prove a little pricey and are limited (coming out of Covid) by opening hours, demand and staff shortages. And naturally, prices for most goods are generally above mainland offerings as one would expect on an island.

Goods are flown or container-shipped into the larger Island ports then often transported less expensively by barge to smaller Islands with shallow-draft harbors, like Lihue on Kauai.

Then there are the outings we tried…

First up was a fishing trip on a forty-foot powered catamaran out of the small boat commercial harbor just South of the Lihue Airport. Well, our party of two were out on the water Northeast of the airport by 0600 with a skipper at the wheel and a single crewman setting all the rigs.

A trip like this is not for the feint-of-stomach on such exposed waters. It was not particularly rough for early May but was a vigorous trip on the windward side of the Island. I sail, so no problem. It IS however a problem for most of those less familiar with ocean waves and swells, with or without some of the many sea-sickness aids available today.

As for the fishing… we had at least six lines out for the two of us. After about an hour we heard, “Fish on. It’s a Marlin. She’s takin’ a lot of line.” And before the rod could be handed to me in the fighting chair, “She’s off.”

We trolled around with half-a-dozen other vessels by a buoy set up about 90 mins out to attract fish, while following clues from Goony, Shearwater and occasional Albatross activity, before eventually heading further North another hour looking for bites. I got to eat my fill and drink a little beer, but that was IT for the fishing.

We were back in and tied up by 1.00pm and headed home to the apartment after a stop-off for a couple of beers in a Mexican restaurant where we were charmingly entertained by a few chickens wandering in and out, looking for scraps.

Next up we tried Bike Rentals out of Kapa ‘a, 30 mins South of Princeville. There is a paved, flattish, 10-mile ride out, all along the coast. Nice journey. We favor NON eBikes, so the outing is inexpensive and not too demanding. It is clear where the trail ends (it just does, with rocks barring the way) and there are plenty of outlook stops to rest or picknick. A recommended trip for all ages with a million photo-ops along the way. 😊

We even stopped off in Jimmy’s in Kapa ‘a, just off the Bike trail for a beer and Pina Colada before we returned the bikes. Friendly staff, hot food and welcoming atmosphere if you are inclined.

A couple in our group rented snorkels and fins in Hanalei for nominal fees (<$10.00 each per day) and had an exciting time viewing turtles at Anini Beach just a mile or so from our apartment. Quite private and great fun for all. The swimming is NOT demanding but weaker swimmers and children really should rent lifejackets and wear them. Remember: stay 10 feet away from the turtles and no touching these >2’ wide, ambling behemoths.

Needless to say, the water is clear, the skies brilliant blue with the air warm and enticing. What is not to like? What is better than a restful, post-swim lunch and nap upon a quiet beach?

And what would a trip to Hawaii be without the hikes? There are countless to choose from with trails running back into an interior of lush green tropical forests, canyons, towering volcanic peaks, streams, rivers and waterfalls. Truly a paradise to explore and enjoy.

Both locals, tourists and travelers will quickly suggest and offer their favorite spots to explore.

Then there was the dining out. There are sandwich, drinks, restaurants and food shacks scattered around all the populated areas. Inexpensive breakfasts and snacks can easily be found. There’s always visitors and friendly locals with whom to chat and share a tale. And on the Island the smaller shops, stores and shacks are commonly brightly colored and cared-for.

Everything runs on Island Time. Rushing to get things done is not a priority. A common sign hung on business doors is “Open till Closed.” And they mean it. If things are already booked-up, folks just close and leave. If staff is short (as it often is, following recent Covid re-openings) or unavailable, restaurants and shops close early or just do not open. By mid-May it was common to see restaurants stop serving by 8.30pm and empty by 9.30pm… even on Saturday and Sunday.

Kauai is now quite different from my long-ago visit in the early 1980’s. Back then there were many rough, red-dirt roads. The ONLY traffic light on the island was in a sugar-cane planation to manage trucking operations. You could only reach Hanalei by Gondola and the road out there was referred to as a donkey-track, by the locals.

The locals like to talk about those times. They enthusiastically recall them from their youth and wanted to hear my own stories from back then. I spoke with a few who truly lit up as they shared their own recollections and listened to what I could tell.

It is simply different now. The main road almost rings the Island, running from NNW, across the North shore, down the East coast, along the Southern Shore and up the West coast falling short at the rugged and impressive Northwestern Na Pali coastline.

The Island looks like a slightly squashed donut on a map… as the crow flies it is about 30 miles from the most Northerly to most Southern point and maybe 35 miles from East to West. The main road basically circles the outer edges of Kauai so the journey from the most Southern to Northern point is about 45 miles by vehicle.

There are commonly traffic lights, now. They even often have 15-minute traffic delays between Kapa ‘a and Lihue, which locals and GPS systems steer around using the few inland roads.

And with these changes comes opportunity and business. Tourists, visitors and an increased population. Yet when I spoke with locals, they often seemed sad at what was lost, more than enthusiastic about what was gained.

I have since heard that locals are now aggressively attacking local officials complaining of the high tourist activity and associated traffic access into quieter towns like Hanalei. Residents in many ways enjoyed the peace and seclusion that was afforded during two years of Covid-related quiet.

Then there is Hanalei itself, just 15 mins West of Princeville where we stayed. It is entered down a steep (recently repaired from a major collapse) road, passing over a one-way bridge that runs alongside a meandering river which rambles to the nearby coast.

I ate out in Hanalei several times. The main street sports a few hundred yards of restaurants, colorful, busy shops, a church or two and a public school that enchants the gaze of bustling tourists. Architecture is picturesque and almost colonial in appearance.

One evening we ate as a group of four at the Dolphin Restaurant, opposite the Postcard restaurant and nearby a large Kayak-renting center. What an interesting and lively place to eat. One of our party wanted to try Sushi, so we hit that adventure and accompanying wine offerings hard. What a great meal.

The place was pricey, hard to get into and the staff were effective, polite but overworked, understaffed and a little stressed. In all honesty their business was most likely relatively quiet a month earlier, but the post-Covid ramp-up hit them hard. They ARE one of the best places to eat yet they too stop serving by 9’ish each night. But it WAS a great night out and I can highly recommend the Dolphin. 😊

On another afternoon we (as a wedding party) rented a large beamy powered catamaran sailboat out of Port Allen to run in the lee of the Island for a four-hour trip up to the Na Pali Highlands, returning outside the harbor for sunset views and phot-ops.

After my previous offshore experiences that week I was suspicious of how well the forty or so folks on this boat would fare, even though we were protected from larger waves after rounding up the more heavily sheltered West Coast.

In all honesty most people fared well. Just maybe half dozen folks later commented on being a little queasy and only a couple suffered greatly. The crew managed their guests well, by metering drinks early-on and serving the excellent, on-board-prepared steak dinner late in the trip.

The Na Pali coastline is huge and precipitous with waterfall outlets etched into then light brown cliffs, a unique sight, well worth the journey. We encountered spinner dolphins along the way, viewed the forbidden Hawaiian Island to our West and ran at around 20 knots Northbound and the same again on the softer return journey with the kinder, rolling following sea.

And we were back for sunset, where the colors in the sky proved particularly spectacular as the spinner dolphins returned and put on a brief closing show to entertain us all.

A final outing was made by me with an old family relative; it was a geezer trip. We had searched all day, finding only sold-out and absent kayaking renter facilities, until we took a chance and ran back North to Hanalei, nearby the aforementioned Dolphin restaurant. Et Voila!

We booked a couple of single kayaks in intermittent rain, and I was soon thereafter off on my first ever Kayaking run, up-river. I clumsily zig-zagged my way between tropical riverbanks for an hour or so, enjoying the occasional downpours that conveniently cooled-off my overworked, unskilled efforts.

By the time we turned back downstream I would mostly steer in a straight line and used far less energy as a result. I could also competently pass other canoes without fear of my colliding with them. 😊

It was great fun and something I will likely repeat back here in the safety my local Santa Cruz harbor, for learning purposes. Although I thought my arms would explode because of my unskilled thrashing, they did not, and the next day did fortunately NOT bring any of the expected aches and pains, either. 😉

As I neither flipped the kayak nor crashed into the bank (or anyone else) I can safely recommend that anyone can try this. It is a fun, healthy activity for all the family. But everyone needs to wear a lifejacket when participating.

Our final day on Kauai featured a run up the famed Waimea Canyon ahead of a late-day flight out. This is a journey I have made before, but we struck out this time.

The Canyon provides massive wide views of the lush surrounding cliffs and a river nestled down deep in its gorge.

After lunch in the bustling bay-side Waimea town, we headed uphill and inland to enter the side of the canyon on the West. There are spectacular walks and serious hiking trails penetrating high into the Waimea Valley Park and Canyon on both sides.

As we entered, our first stop (at 1200’) displayed the yawning Canyon entrance to our right and the open flats running to the coast and open deep blue Pacific on our left. Quite a phot-op. Unfortunately, on this day we subsequently ran into mists above this height and saw little more but cloud all the way to the top.

The Waimea Canyon and Park are a must see for visitors to the Island; just be aware of the cloud-cover on your chosen day. 😉

Finally, after visiting friends in their local beach-side vacation rental in Poipu we dashed back to the nearby Lihue Airport, dropped off our Dollar SUV rental, rushed to check in for the flight and then just caught last drink orders (by 9.00pm).

The flight left on time and by 0600 the next day we were deposited as a somewhat saddened and disheveled group into the SFO terminal.

But it was a great trip. We will certainly visit Kauai again. 😊

I have generally and deliberately not mentioned the Wedding I was attending on Kauai and all the directly associated Ceremonies, Blessings, formalities, emotions, treats and special surprises that accompanied these very precious and memorable events. This would require a mighty book in and of itself. 😊

Suffice it to say that the Wedding and Reception were held privately in the Botanical Gardens which are a twenty-minute drive South of Princeville on the East Coast of Kauai. The location is prized for destination Wedding Events and provided an idyllic surround and setting for the beginning of my son and his new wife’s life together; they present as a very fine couple. 😊

The recent return to our Santa Cruz (CA) home has yielded a couple of pleasant surprises. Weather has been warm and welcoming with the Summer Holiday crowds still not yet arrived en masse.

There have been a few local visitors…

The occasional Humpback can be seen from the Northern shores of Monterey Bay, nestled beyond the kelp-line between Capitola Village and towards the crumbling Cement ship at Seacliff, just a little Southeast of where juvenile Great Whites typically congregate. The Whales’ presence is given away by occasional spouts and birds massing to grab spare fish thrown off from expansive feeding activities.

And as I write the Sooty Shearwaters have made a seasonal return in their hundreds of thousands. These birds dive tens of feet beneath the ocean swells, grabbing from the massive shoals of smaller fish. They travel the world from Australasia in a figure-eight pattern on the wing and ocean for 8-9 months a year, only coming ashore for three months or so to breed.

While here they run East-West along the Northern shore of the Monterey Bay. Their narrow flight path is just beyond the kelp, running from towards the tip of the Santa Cruz Pier, passing Pleasure Point and as far East as Capitola. They fly in a tight band some 50-100 yards wide, miles long, just a few tens of feet above the waves, constantly searching first East then returning West. And the cyclic procession is endless.

If you board a boat that sails through the flock, you are entertained and bombarded by excited, noisy chatter and seemingly frantic activity; Shearwaters are wholly unconcerned by vessels either drifting or charging through their flight path.

And as they busily proceed East and West with the sun beginning to set, constant evening flights of resident Pelicans pass Westerly overhead, lazily heading in drafting formations towards their favorite nightly roosts.

Strangely, locals strolling the beaches and cliffs often do not seem to even notice this mass of life surging out to sea just a few hundred yards offshore. The countless Pelicans and other seabirds overhead pass largely unseen, too. There is so much all about us that proceeds largely unaccounted.

And now I should fall to responsibly recording some of the more notable News Events occurring since my last BLOG. There is quite a list…

Iran has dismantled twenty-seven UN monitoring cameras ensuring there will be no tracking of their Uranium Enrichment activity nor even the current location of their centrifuges. They claim the UN has no right to monitor and scolded the US for their concern and comments. This should end Iran’s hope for a revitalized Nuclear deal with the (US and) World, but with blundering-Biden policies, who knows?

Adding salt to the wound North Korea (while managing a major domestic Covid outbreak) has announced it will be joining the China and Russian Block with Nuke testing.

China has now eased the massive personnel Covid lockdowns in Beijing and Shanghai and is finally experiencing some encouraging growth after previously disappointing results, which were further hampered by decreased World demand.

Most fiscal growth in China is stimulated by massive local Government funding fueled by regional Land-Sales (which provides >50% of all local Gov. revenues) and business-friendly policies. However, Land-Sales will ultimately prove finite and the central CCP has now seized the collection of all these land-revenues and is meting the monies back as it deems fit into the local regions. This chokehold is feared capable of subduing successes the previous approach had made to local economic recoveries.

The US has well-publicized and massive Inflation, Supply-Chain and other Fiscal problems now broadly accepted as being the result of bad Administration Policies. The bigger problem is that if the US has economic woes the rest of the World suffers similarly and sometimes even more-so, as a result.

Basically, the US recognized foolishness and disarray is victimizing more than US citizens. At this point the argument can be made that Domestic Biden insanities are bringing harm across the entire World.

Those dependent upon Market funds (401k’s, IRA’s, Investments and other financial Instruments etc.) to finance their lives are experiencing typically 25-30% losses in value over <18months of the new Presidency. Those without such investments are looking into the teeth of massive cost-of-living increases with even less protection. ☹

The US uses the “Basket of Goods” method of measuring inflation. This highly questionable scheme was adopted by Bill Clinton, copying the same method used by the British. It has enabled inflation to be regularly CLAIMED as ~3.5% for decades within the US.

The big issue is that this method ignores major economic factors such as cost of housing, gas etc. altogether, and is manipulated by removing from consideration any items that experience large price increases. Yup, the number is basically cooked. So, if this massaged and manipulated number has currently ramped-up to reportedly >8.5%, you can image what an honest view might look like. ☹

My own crude assessments suggest that real inflation is clearly running >20%, but probably <30%, for just the last year, alone. If you are not scared by this, you should be as there is nothing in the works to check this ramp-up of inflation, nor the confidence-stimulated free-fall underway in the Financial Markets.

Amazingly the Administration recently opined their concern that associated continued Low Polling might cause parallels being drawn between Biden and Carter. Honestly, with the articles, numerous Polls and (even) declining Democrat Leadership support it is staggering there is no realization that this particular horse has LONG-since left the barn. 😉

Then there is the tragedy of Gun Control shenanigans.

Without arguing one way or the other just let me offer that most guns and weapons have been made in largely the same way for around ONE HUNDRED YEARS. In the past guns had LESS not MORE controls on their access than now. Something changed and it was not the guns. Logically we would be wiser to understand and chase the root causes rather than just the guns themselves…

Around 60% of all gun-related deaths are historically suicides. If we are looking for a substantial impact upon gun-related deaths, we might want to at least CONSIDER Mental health issues; they are front and center in total death-count and in the specifics of most all Mass Killings.

Also, there is a great irony in that it is mostly Politicians and Parties that ultimately publicly debate, publicize and fight about Gun Control. Let me explain…

Citizens seek their Second Amendment rights to be upheld so they may Hunt, Defend Themselves, Family, their Property and so on. But almost every gun owner with whom I have ever spoken holds one thing in common, and that is their great distrust and lack of faith in Government. They often believe self-protection is required from their own Political Leaders who cannot ultimately be trusted.

Naturally in all discussions and debates on this subject, such leaders NEVER state this fundamental point. Why would they? And right there is both the sad irony, and an inevitability. 😉

The Southern Border Illegal Immigration crisis continues, but the DHS has a new shipping plan to disperse such immigrants. It is sarcastically called the Abbott Plan. Since border facilities are filled to overcapacity, the DHS has begun shipping excess people to cooperative LA from whence they are quickly released on their own dime to move on, untracked and certainly unlikely to show for further processing.

When LA overflows the intention is to then start using Albuquerque facilities, followed by Dallas then Houston and wherever else then becomes necessary.

The Head of DHS (Mayorkas) was just recently before Congress where he asserted on questioning that maybe as many as 1.6-1.7 million illegals have been processed through on Biden’s watch. During April alone ~235, 000 entered the US. Like many I have regularly seen these numbers, month after month. I would say a realistic number is >> 2,000,000 but less than 3,000,000 would be more accurate.

And these are the numbers of JUST the people found and processed. The real number with Open Border Polices could be staggering. The COST and social impacts that continue to be understood will be staggering.

Nancy Pelosi made nearly $100 million between 2008 and 2018. The average senator made around +$150k/ year during this period ($174k in 2021). Technically there is nothing to be seen here, since trading on Insider Information (the Speaker, bringing or NOT bringing issues to the floor of Congress) is not officially illegal. But trading on Political position (Hunter and Joe, take note) is just not kosher and needs investigation and updated Laws.

The Administration is being sued by a group of Medical Doctors for hiding and making unavailable known-good COVID cures and treatments. This is especially troubling as Government-driven Lockdowns during the pandemic are now proven to have caused many unnecessary deaths per a series of related articles and studies appearing around the World. These facts are IN.

The New Zealand Labor Government is officially now taxing Cow and Sheep farts in the name of Climate Change. This was DONE, despite NZ being 90^th in carbon emissions and this consequently having zero Global impact. It does, however, punish and discourage their farmers and meat industry while driving up food prices (and Government revenues).

Early June Polling surprisingly shows that support for abortions is falling…

The likely leftist SCOTUS leaker may have seriously misjudged the mood in the US. The potential overturn of Roe V. Wade only returns powers of decision to what is (per Ginsberg and many other legal authorities) a more correct legal basis, ie. to within individual States.

Although Polling is around 50-50 (a surprise in itself) for the overturn, the pro-abortion polling apparently craters after the first Trimester. Another surprise. It seems this leak may NOT provide the Voting support bonanza that Leftists had hoped.

Whistleblowers confirm that the FBI is purging Conservatives; hardly a surprise in the wake of left-biased actions taken in the last decade. This is not the bureau once loved and trusted. But was it EVER really trusted, given positions and actions taken even as far back as HOOVER?

The word is that there are now “thousands of FBI whistleblowers coming forward” denouncing the actions of senior officials they who they say have been acting alone. Time will tell. Post mid-term election results might well facilitate the threatened ground-up shake-out at the Agency (or, NOT?).

Early leaks of the CA Study due later this year regarding Reparations suggest this will indeed go forward. The on-going recent outflux of wealthy Californians will likely continue as many will resent being tapped for funding in a FREE State (no slavery ever there), where neither they nor their families ever owned slaves nor facilitated that industry.

California wants to lead the way on Reparations. I suspect it will go forward and anger the very many in their population who never even migrated to the State nor indeed the US until well-after Slavery was banned Nationally. But that is CA. 😉

And I must close with something about Joe Biden again being Number 1. It seems he is well on-track to most certainly easily beating the most embarrassing Presidential Record Ever: Let’s Go, Vacation Joe!

Well, those are some of the News snippets worth leaving on record.

As for myself I am glad for my recent vacations and breaks, but after keeping up on current events, am already waiting for more. 😉

Again, during these troubled times I recommend to you and yours that you prepare for and enjoy the upcoming Summer Holidays. It is just too wearing to stay abreast of the News without taking a break.

So, find ways to put the media onslaught behind you from time-to-time to enjoy the positive relationships and experiences that present themselves in your life.

Ian R. Mackintosh is the author of Empower Your Inner Manager Twitter@ianrmackintosh.

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