Passion. It's exciting and fun to live within the depths of this emotion. Exploration. It's a path where I try to remain.
Day to day demands of life can interrupt or sidetrack us from where we'd like to be. Our journey is not always filled with passion or exploration. But with that mind-set, I try to set out each day.
Today, I found it out on 'The Second Sandbar'. I've enjoyed my little series of videos, entitled, 'Another Walk with Mike'. I naturally do these things, regardless of if a camera is present. It's my drug. It's clean. But since I've begun cataloging some of my excursions on film, an added dimension has been established.
I feel a sense of contribution. I feel an extra sense of worth within myself. It may sound grandiose or at the same time, trivial, but it is how I feel.
I am at a certain place in my life. I am searching and I am finding. On my journeys I receive something from Nature. It completes me. But, most often, when I am in the throngs of exploration, I am by myself. And during my quest, a multitude of stimuli abound and I am excited. But, something is added when I shoot and then share video of my excursions.
As a boy, on a skiing vacation with my family, I was in love with the activity of sliding down the white powdery slopes. But I missed something. I wished that I could share the experience with my friends back home. I was incomplete. I needed the added dimension of give and take with those I cared about. I wanted to see joy in their eyes just as I felt it in within me. I needed that connection to lift the experience to another level.
I think it is that feeling, that emotion, that propels me to want to share my videos. I empty my emotions out during my quest, my exploration.
It also buries my head in the sand. It provides me a diversion away from the pain of not having my son, Evan, and my darling little princess, Mikelynn. It passes time and helps me to not dwell on my misfortune, the absence of what truly makes my heart beat soundly.
And my videos also connect me with my little wonders. I call them and say, "Daddy has a neat new video for you", and I hear their voices, their excitement.
I tell them that when we are together we can make some videos of our own, and their minds race at the possibilities. They conspire and they imagine. And they imagine life with me. And I smile.
And I think, what can my next video entail? Where can I take the little ones so they can be a part of something great with me? What experience can we imprint on our minds, in our souls, and digitally online? I think of how they can one day look back, just as someone will look back at a photo album, and my children will see and remember a journey taken with me. And they will be proud of having done so. They will bask in the glory of having had me as a Dad.
Again, grandiose? Well, with only one shot at life, I'll shoot for that. I'll shoot for sharing. I'll shoot for creating. I'll shoot for passion and exploration and learning, and I'll shoot for love.
I loved my trip out to the second sandbar. I hope you did too.
Replies
33Beach Fanatic
Nice!
Beach FanaticAuthor
Nice!
Thanks rheffron. It was nice to get out on the water. With all of the spring winds and the resulting unusual stained waters, it was nice to see the clarity we know and love to return recntly.
And with the water being at a good temperature, it's easy to slide into the blue and sight-see. I dread the idea of the jelly fish finding their way back here. They really put a damper on my excusrions last year, and stopped me from getting down into some special moments.
The purple flags had been up recently, supposedly due to the man-of-war coming in. But as a diver told me, with the man-of-war will come clear water, and he was right. As soon as I saw the purple flag down and the waves not crashing, which would be trouble for my sit-inside kayak, I was into the water.
I've enjoyed the second sandbar since visiting the area as a kid. I use to swim out there, and still do, but it's nice to have my kayak with me. I remember times when I was young where I'd be out there, with no fins, and run myself rugged, exhausted from my swim. Then, coming in, espeically with the undertows which I didn't completely understand at the time, there were several times where I nearly didn't make it back.
It's great that the flag system exists now, even though not all heed it and result in inevitable deaths. When I was young, I never knew about the tide that would get caught between the sandbars and the resulting issues with that. My kayak sure gives me a helping hand out there with that though.
Beach Fanatic
Thanks for that trip Mike....been a while since I've been there. You share so much with us....we are blessed!
SoWal Insider
Very nice Mike! Thanks! I really enjoyed that. Do we not live in an amazing part of the world?
One of these I'm going to get out there and do that......now.....who's gonna come watch for the sharks?!
One of these I'm going to get out there and do that......now.....who's gonna come watch for the sharks?!
Beach Fanatic
thanks mike for another enjoyable journey! Keep the camera rollin'!
Beach Fanatic
Awesome! What kind of camera do ya use?
Beach FanaticAuthor
Very nice Mike! Thanks! I really enjoyed that. Do we not live in an amazing part of the world?
One of these I'm going to get out there and do that......now.....who's gonna come watch for the sharks?!
No, I worry about that too. Sometimes, especially with the contrast between above and below the surface that I had while shooting this video, underwater can be so calming, so quiet. Almost like the womb I guess.
But then, out of nowhere I get a feeling and my eyes begin to dart around. Especially because at the beginning of my snorkel I had gone pretty deep and got a nose bleed that never really let up. I just went with it.
But last year I had an occurence where a huge tarpon passed right by me. When I initially saw it out of the corner of my eye, I just knew it was a shark. It did make me get out of the water though
Beach FanaticAuthor
Awesome! What kind of camera do ya use?
It's nothing special. Really, kinda a cheap digital camera as far as its technical features, like a 3x zoom, which is horrible for close ups of nature. Obviously it cost more due to its underwater capabilities and for the money you get less camera, but the ability to go underwater is there.
But it is an Olympus 850 SW. I can't recall the price, but I think it was somewhere just over $200. I also got a float with it that connects to the camera. This is in case you drop it so it doesn't fall to the bottom. My brother had an underwater camera that fell below its allowable depth and was ruined, so I splurged an extra $20 bucks and bought the float attachment. Worth it for sure.
Even if I didn't go below the surface with it though, I was determined to get one that could get wet after ruining a few cameras and phones since moving here.
Beach Fanatic
Great video Mike.
Meow
...that was a funn trip, Mike!I think you are one of the best ambassadors for the area! Please keep sharing your walks with us!
Beach Fanatic
Another great video Mike.
Beach FanaticAuthor
I think you are one of the best ambassadors for the area! Please keep sharing your walks with us!
Wow, Miss Kitty! That sweet comment made me growl (purr was too feminine of a word to describe my reaction
Seriously, that was a very sweet. Blushing is funn :roll:
Beach Lover
Mike, your videos are both entertaining and inspiring! Even though I have very little "free time" I'm feeling challenged to get out more and enjoy this special slice of paradise known as SoWal. My occasional "walks" somehow don't measure up to the "adventures" you take us on every week.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Mike, your videos are both entertaining and inspiring! Even though I have very little "free time" I'm feeling challenged to get out more and enjoy this special slice of paradise known as SoWal. My occasional "walks" somehow don't measure up to the "adventures" you take us on every week.The kind adulation feels so good to me, I can't tell you. As a boy, I dreamed of after school walks in the woods. Or in class, I drew maps of my favorite fishing hole at my great grandparents home far away, on the border of Louisiana and Texas along the Sabine River.
I daydreamed. And it is like a dream to go out into Nature and experience her in such splendid ways. You know, I cover a lot of ground. And I see salient features that stop me in my tracks. The other day I was just off 30-A, actually in one of the communities there. I was headed back toward the woods and from a stand of trees, a beautiful deer popped up right next to me. It was gorgeous. I don't get everything on film, unfortunately.
But there were people on their rear balcony and I wondered if they had any clue the deer had been there. So much of nature is so close. In fact, as I am writing this, I see a skink, with a pretty blue tail, walking by my refrigerator. I honestly don't like that, even though I am a nature lover. But I don't want to trap it or kill it. I've had them in here before and finally managed to get it out by bringing some furniture outside that it hid in.
Anyway, thanks so much for your kind words. So many of you are making me feel uplifted. One thing about my journeys, I don't run into many people on my quests. Today, I met a nice person who I met here on sowal who gave me tickets to an LSU event. I also visited a friend who owns a store here and we had a nice conversation.
But since moving here a year ago I've not quite established a strong network or feeling of community. Partly because I do things in nature where, quite simply, I don't run into anyone. And partly, because I don't have a job where I'd run into a lot of people.
My point is, it's nice to receive adulation and have comments sent my way about my videos. It gives me a sense of community and involvement. I think that the Internet and sites like sowal provide an avenue for that sort of expression, that in the past, was not available. I am grateful.
If anyone out there has some interesting things they think I might be interetsed in, regarding exploration or excurions, feel free to enlighten me. Maybe I'll make a video of your suggestion.
The title to my next video is, 'Girls in Bikinis'.
Just teasin' But that would be fun. Seriously though, I hope to take my kiddies further east to some terrific springs and if I pull that off (finances matter) I'll be sure to video it for you guys. Peace
Beach Fanatic
you should drive over to the st. joe bay and explore. especially during scalloping season, your kids would probably enjoy that. not sure when the season may be. there is a bp station(scallop cove i think) right when you get onto cape san blas and a fishing store right next door, they can tell you what you need to know i'm sure or try bluewater outriggers too (behind mcdonald's in the piggly wiggly shopping center). there are a couple of options.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
you should drive over to the st. joe bay and explore. especially during scalloping season, your kids would probably enjoy that. not sure when the season may be. there is a bp station(scallop cove i think) right when you get onto cape san blas and a fishing store right next door, they can tell you what you need to know i'm sure or try bluewater outriggers too (behind mcdonald's in the piggly wiggly shopping center). there are a couple of options.
Years ago I had someone suggest that I go try scalloping. I'd like to do more St. Joe bay, the state park there and St. Vincnet Island stuff in the spring. Although if scalloping, I guess it would be fine in the hot sun, having the water for relief.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Beach Lover
That was fabulous What is a skink?
What is a skink?Beach FanaticAuthor
That was fabulous
I'm about to head out the door. But without getting into detail, a skink is a type of lizard. Some can be very colorful. The one I have here has a beautiful blue tail. Common to this area is a five lined skink, or six. Too fast too count.
SWGB
That was fabulous
They're often mistaken for snakes, but they are lizards.
Beach Fanatic
Great video! How long of a rope do you use to tether your kayak? I've always wanted to hop off the kayak and explore when I'm out there, but wasn't sure of a practical way to manage the kayak while underwater.
Regarding the Titlieist, Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld was known to use the Atlantaic as a driving ranger, which caused some trouble for a whale passing by...
Regarding the Titlieist, Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld was known to use the Atlantaic as a driving ranger, which caused some trouble for a whale passing by...
SWGB
Great video! How long of a rope do you use to tether your kayak? I've always wanted to hop off the kayak and explore when I'm out there, but wasn't sure of a practical way to manage the kayak while underwater.
Regarding the Titlieist, Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld was known to use the Atlantaic as a driving ranger, which caused some trouble for a whale passing by...
Hey that guys a marine biologist!
Beach FanaticAuthor
Great video! How long of a rope do you use to tether your kayak? I've always wanted to hop off the kayak and explore when I'm out there, but wasn't sure of a practical way to manage the kayak while underwater.
Regarding the Titlieist, Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld was known to use the Atlantaic as a driving ranger, which caused some trouble for a whale passing by...
How long is my rope? Well, it's the longest piece of blue rope that I found in the back of my truck, combined with a little piece of yellow rope I found lol I guess it was about 10 feet if I would hazard a guess. I would think it would be better with a couple more feet, but then again, with the sinus pressure, I have difficulty going much deeper anyway.
But that is enough for the second sandbar, even less probably. Regarding the golf ball, it wasn't an abberation. I've found a numer of nice balls out there in the gulf. I assume either a rich person just enjoys doing it, or swims out on occasion to gather what he can find, which I assume would be most of them.
Which reminds me. I need to practice hitting out of the sand. I'm already pretty good at hitting into it
Beach Comber
I'm usually just a part-time lurker dreaming of the day when we get to move to SoWal, but I had to post and say thanks for this and all your other videos. "Another Walk With Mike" is my 8-year-old daughter's new "favorite show." Almost every night this week before bedtime, she'd say, "Can we pleeeease watch 'Another Walk With Mike'?" It's comical. She especially likes the snorkeling ones (since that's her all-time favorite activity), but she enjoys the narrated "episodes" most of all, I think. She wants to be an oceanographer or some type of scientist/naturalist, and we all love SoWal better than just about any place in the world, so these posts have been such fun to watch. Thanks again -- I'm sure she'll be tickled when you have a new video. You have a fan! 
God bless...
God bless...
SoWal Insider
What a great video. I just loved it. Thanks Mike for another exciting adventure. Wish I had all the sanddollars that you uncovered. Keep the videos coming.
Beach FanaticAuthor
I'm usually just a part-time lurker dreaming of the day when we get to move to SoWal, but I had to post and say thanks for this and all your other videos. "Another Walk With Mike" is my 8-year-old daughter's new "favorite show." Almost every night this week before bedtime, she'd say, "Can we pleeeease watch 'Another Walk With Mike'?" It's comical. She especially likes the snorkeling ones (since that's her all-time favorite activity), but she enjoys the narrated "episodes" most of all, I think. She wants to be an oceanographer or some type of scientist/naturalist, and we all love SoWal better than just about any place in the world, so these posts have been such fun to watch. Thanks again -- I'm sure she'll be tickled when you have a new video. You have a fan!
Wow, thank you so much. That brought water to my eyes. I just got back from a visit with my little ones, ages 7 and 9 and they will be here on the 9th-26th.
Thank you so much for sharing this with me. You can't imagine what that means to me. I miss my little ones too much and having you write this to me was profound.
I will have some great, I hope, snorkeling videos for her in the middle of the month. Let her know it will be coming. It'll be before the 20th.
Wow! Again, you just made my day with that. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. :roll:
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