Much to my chagrin, Saudi Arabia is a dry country. This doesn't really "fit" with my "lifestyle". So when I returned to Oregon to kick off the Best Summer Ever tour, I had my fill of IPAs, gin & tonics, and scotch.
Although I give thanks to these nectars of the gods, I was ready for a detox. Tim was my guy as we teamed up for a holistic, healthy, and clean style of living while I crashed at his place in Maui. He made some killer smoothies, breakfasts, and dinners. His fridge was packed full of spinach and other green grub. What a guy!
I don't have many photos of this trip, but it was swell. I got to see Dad and stayed a few nights with him to kick off the vacation-in-a-vacation. Can't help but wonder if I'm going to look like him when I'm older...
And I got to see Matt and Lacey too! They made me an awesome birthday dinner on the 1st and took me out to surf. They are some of the most positive people I know. Matt even has a frickin' truck.
Maui is loaded with fun stuff to do and see, and I was hell-bent on diving, surfing, hiking, and snorkeling. Tim is certified so we partnered up for our marine adventures.
This first video made me laugh out loud when I watched it later. I was looking to record then go back and screenshot a photo of us. Because bubbles can mess up a shot, after a 3-2-1 countdown we'd hold our breath. I forgot to tell Tim ahead of time. Haha he cracks me up.
Tim and I went on four different (awesome) dives together. We saw a grip of cool stuff. Sharks. Turtles. Octopuses. Rays. And there were fish down there too!
And I've never seen four together before...
It is worth giving Tim extra props for hanging out with me during my visit. He took a good chuck of time off to roll with me during all these activities. I'd follow him to the end of the earth. Or at least through a rock with a hole in it.
Our diving adventures were diverse in nature. On one dive, we pulled off the road and hiked to the water with all our gear. It was awesome. It was all awesome. Best Summer Ever.
Another one was off a sailboat. Tim has thousands of friends in Maui and these dudes let us accompany them as we sailed to an artificial shipwreck.
Sharks are always awe-inspiring, I think. They are the ultimate predator. No significant changes in their evolution for hundreds of millions of years. No need.
Tim and I are both creatures of habit, and when we find something we like we tend to stick with it. After our dive days we would roll through this hippie vegan joint and slam water while filling our bellies. It was an attractive place, to say the least.
And, as mentioned, my 34th birthday fell during my stay in Maui. Matt and Lacey dialed it in with a huge birthday dinner.
The Maui section of the Best Summer Ever was really incredible. I met fantastic people while exploring the beautiful Pacific ocean waters (including a night dive & sparkling bioluminescence). Matt and Lacey's birthday dinner was thoughtful and a treat for the taste buds. Reconnecting with Dad was long overdue. And, of course, Tim's hospitality was unrivaled.
One of the highlights, however, was watching Tim perform on the tour boat. He crushed it, as I'm assuming he always does. He was friendly, personable, charming, and his music was smooth all night. No surprise his audience loved him.
Best Summer Ever.