My mortal enemy... The Tabano!

This is what causes us the most pain in all of Argentina... The mighty (bastard) Tabano! It's the biggest horsefly you've ever seen (this one is actually pretty small). They take CHUNKS out of you, not just little bites...

Lunch Time!

I took this photo thinking there was a small fly on a Daisy. When I loaded it into the computer, I discovered that there was a tiny white spider eating the little fly! Amazing!

Aphids and Spiders, Oh My!

The poor roses in front of my cabaña – they have been infested with Aphids, and a spider who watches over everything. Anyone have any suggestions, sans pesticides, for removing Aphids? I would love to hear them!

New Videos Posted

I’ve been hard at work! I’ve posted a few short videos of my adventures so far in Argentina.

http://www.youtube.com/nwislandguy

1 in a million Blue Freshwater Crab

While out fishing a new stretch of Pichi Leufu, I looked down and to my amazement I saw a little blue dot creeping up the river. I looked closer, and found a bright blue freshwater crab! The blue is caused by the same genetic mutation that gives us albinos. And in the freshwater crab world, this is a one in a million crab!

Bimbos Everywhere!

Another case of "lost in translation"

Stitches!

Here’s my arm with the stitches!

What a pool!

This is at the Bariloche equivalent of Parks & Rec. For some reason,
it's closed on a beautiful sunny day...

Rock & Roll

Here's the little hitch-hiker I've been carrying around in my arm for
the last week!

I'm not pregnant!

Had my first ever ultrasound yesterday, and I’m not pregnant! Wait – in a weird way, I guess I am... I have to have a ‘c-section’ of the arm to get the piece of rock removed. The shard is at the top of the picture between the small ‘+’ signs, and the dark band below that is the shadow the fragment casts through my arm on the ultrasound. Off to the hospital I go!

Virgin of the Lake panorama

The Virgin of the Lake lookout on Circuito Chico Road. This pano was made up of 46 images, and the final output was over 400 megabytes! Click on the picture to see the whole thing, and remember to scroll to the left and right!

Special souvenir from Argentina

Well, it looks like I get to bring a special souvenir home from Argentina this year! I DO  have a piece of rock in my arm, about 5mm across - see the little white speck? Fifty dollars was the cost for a consult and x-ray. Tomorrow I get to go have surgery to remove the shard...

Guard dog at Río Pichiléufu

Maybe I should stay away from rock cutting machines...

Rocks fight back...

A couple of days ago while hunting geodes and agates, one splintered
and shot me. Two days later it is becoming apparent there might be a
piece of rock stuck deep in my arm. Tomorrow I will go to a hospital
in Bariloche, Argentina - where the doctors speak NO English, and try
to explain why I want an x-ray and if there is something there, I'll
have a nice, unique, souvenir from here - stiches, a scar, and a
pieceif rock that tried to kill me!

Hopefully my only souvenir will be the x-ray!

Beautiful rose in front of our cabaña in Bariloche

Geode hunting in Argentina

This pile of geodes is a naturally occuring pile! Amazing - they were
everywhere!

Ruby Beach Thanksgiving '09

SanFran for Dad's birthday

Traci & I overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

Lago Mascardi

Best veggies in all the world!

For about 5 bucks we got two of the biggest salads ever and the
veggies really are the best tasting Ive ever had!

Villa Tacul

As we were driving along, we saw a little road that didn’t seem to lead anywhere. We decided to try it out, and before we knew it, we were at a beautiful park with lots of small, empty beaches. No people at all. And the magnificent lake. Really a treat, where most of the beaches of Bariloche are swarming with thousands and thousands of people!

Full moon rising over Lago Nahuel Huapi

A little blurry, but you get the idea!

Bariloche sunset

My first night in Bariloche the sunset was amazing and so are the roses!

(I'll start posting photos taken with the Nikon soon - for now enjoy
the iPhone photos! Not as good, but better than nothing!)

Gallerias Pacifico

This is a giant cathedral-like shopping center in downtown Buenos Aires.

Somewhere over South America

On my way to Buenos Aires I peeked out the window.

Merry Christmas

San Juan Island Winter

Lime kiln lighthouse on San Juan Island

Holiday Season in Friday Harbor

Headed to the desert!