Tag: older content

A warm, sunny beautiful day with a leisurely boat trip. Image 1: a ‘swarm’ of dolphins (sub adult males socializing)

Well well, who could ask for more? The sun was shining today. Not a cloud in the sky. The air temperature was warm, but not too hot and not muggy. The water was clear and warm. The waves? What waves! Our boat glided effortlessly along the water’s surface as we were surrounded by dolphins. It was like a dream.

IMAGE: #032 Atokake – ready for a smooch!

I was a bit wobbly when I woke up this morning. My sleeping habits are still out of whack which does not help with the fitness thing. The research can sometimes feel like triathlon training – carrying heavy awkward equipment up and down a mountainside interspersed with frantic swimming episodes. But even though I was tired, today turned out to be a perfect little day.

No dolphins today, but plenty of good food IMAGE: Local kids performing a rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I can’t believe it. I thought I had escaped the worst of the jetlag by getting some good nap time on the plane, but I slept for 13 hours last night! Just as well, as I did not get the Bat Signal for any trips today. I have one scheduled for tomorrow morning though! This evening I went to a little festival at the local gym.

I’m back! And a dolphin trip to boot! IMAGE: #040 Mituhoshishakure showing off a young calf to the adoring crowd

So yes, the ferry was cancelled! After dropping off the poisonous gas enthusiasts at Miyake-jima, our little ferry sailed right on by Mikura and on to Hachijo-jima. The weather was terrible again some more, so the captain decided not to dock. Ugh! I knew I was in for a long day. Most likely we would go back from Hachijo to Tokyo since the weather was not improving. Then from Tokyo back to Mikura for another attempt.

Back on the ferry – where I could be for a long long time IMAGE: My new home?

The final leg of my journey back to Mikura has commenced. I am waiting here in Tokyo for my ferry out to the Izu islands, including Mikura. I’ve been informed that the weather is terrible out by Mikura, so the chances are pretty good that the ferry will be cancelled by the time our ferry approaches the island tomorrow morning –so we won’t be able to dock.

Justin’s mysterious adventures  Image from the Danish Film Institute website http://www.dfi.dk/dfi/english/featurefilms/702.htm

So I’ve been gone from Mikura for almost a week now, and I am ready to get back in the water with some dolphins! I took a short trip over to Ireland to record my voice for an animated movie currently in production. It was rather unfortunate that I was on the other side of the earth when I got the call that I landed the part, but it was an opportunity not to be missed.