Hooked on Science

My pandemically-induced ‘MAD’ scientist look. #dataisreal #sciencetellsthetruth (at Sewalls Point, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB851E5lA41xy1l5pvdN9f6wi1g1FlP3Xthz9w0/?igshid=azq733sayo22

A food web doodle semi-subconsciously sketched at some point during the formation of the #foragefish research program (FFRP). (at Fort Lauderdale, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx3MglwFNO3kkUIjAebVqvDm9coCDwtn1BpvVs0/?igshid=vmj1tl4v4p4b

In the spirit of all the #starwars quotes being rehashed this holiday season, this one rings especially true for the Matterhorn: "Impressive...most impressive." (at Matterhorn)

Skiing the Alpes is a breathtaking experience especially when you can share it with such excellent friends. Oh and yes, the Matterhorn is a truly humbling peak. (at Matterhorn)

Spartan Race Miami synopsis: The 100lb atlas cement ball sucked, the 1/4mile bucket of gravel uphill through a water filled ditch sucked, the 30' rope climb - nerve racking, & the 1/4mile barbed wire crawl sucked too! Not to mention the umpteen different walls you had climb over...but still was a friggin' ass kick-in' good time! (at Vista View Park)

Mr. Snook, denizen of Hell's Bay, oh how we enjoy our tangles. (at Everglades Natonal Park, Flamingo)

Admiring the Panama Canal, a marvel of old school engineering, with old friends and new ones. Not as wide as I expected & bemused to find out it runs north/south not east/west...geography fail 🤔 (at Canal De Panama Exclusa Miraflores)

Great diving in historic pirate waters! I've now speared these invading marauders in 4 oceans: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Atlantic, and Caribbean. A truly amazing and infamous fish. #lionfishhunting #gcfi68 Thanks Gabriel & @diveadventure! (at Isla Grande (Portobello - Panama))

Well the 'Smokies' lived up to their namesake. 20 miles in 2 days along the #appalachiantrail in some 5+ inches of rain compliments of #hurricanejoaquin...all to shake hands with this fly-fishing life-lister little fella...a native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)...beautiful isn't it? (at Big Creek Area, Great Smokey Mountain National Park)

Jumbo's anyone? Managed to keep my fingers and noodle this big guy out of his hole. #floridastonecrab (Menippe mercenaria)...come Oct 15th these claws will go for $30+ @ #Joe's on Miami Beach. #sustainablefisheries (at Biscayne Bay)

'Grandad' from tiny obscure Jennings Creek not even a 1/2 mile from a super Walmart...first tangled with him (and happily lost back then) in 2012 during my Cairo sabbatical when I was teaching at #WKU...now it comes full circle (won this time - albeit less happily). Sometimes losing the magic of the past is hard. (at Bowling Green, Kentucky)

Ha! Suck it, Martha Stewart! Only 31.5 lbs...😏 Big Creek here I come... (at Asheville, North Carolina)

In prep for my #waterworld hike to the NC #appalachiantrail tomorrow, I gotta fit all this into that blue backpack. Any ideas? #hatepacking (at Asheville, North Carolina)

Yup, can't wait to bring Joaquin with me to see the fall colors of the Great Smokies this weekend. I'll be in that little pale purple part in NE Tennessee - 5" plus...maybe I should bring my dive gear? (at Asheville, North Carolina)

Happy Labor-less day! Taking time to notice small wonders, feel the breeze, and listen to sea.