One-armed traveler

Back from a wonderful week of work in Baja, helping out with an Animal Planet film. We shared air and sea with mantas, whales, sea turtles, sharks, sea lions, reef fish...and even an intertidal rattlesnake.

It’s good to work with people who are both skilled at what they do and palpably passionate about it.  It seemed that the entire Animal Planet film crew, the community of Cabo Pulmo, the Ellis Family (on whom the show is based) and the animals themselves enjoyed the week.

From there I came north to Los Angeles to co-host the Ocean Revolution film festival at the Watershed Expo. Working with Bill Macdonald and Captain Charlie Moore is always fun. They combine the grassroots approach with science and expeditioning in a way that appeals to me. And they have such amazing friends.

I also connected with two men whom I’ve known of but whose paths I’d yet to cross: Kip Evans and Philippe Cousteau, a couple of kindred ocean spirits.  It was good to share stories, meals and laughs.

On the last day of the Animal Planet shoot I took a fall while rock climbing up to a waterfall. Dislocated shoulder. The hike out was the most painful experience I can recall. So the combination of gravity and stone on bone has caused me to slow down for a few months. Typing with one hand. Appreciating my otherwise good health. Relying on friends to help with simple tasks. Contemplating the beauty and fragile versatility of the shoulder joint.  I can’t wait to get back in the water though.