Blog Entries

Making Stand Up Paddling History

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:00:00 +0100

We are officially the first (and as of right now the ONLY) people to have stand up paddled all the way from Koror to Peleliu. We paddled nearly 30 miles on Friday, May 22. (Our route is shown in white on the map below.)

This is something we've though [...]

Welcome to the Bizarre World of Palau

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0100

This is the most unbelievable place ever. I know - you think I'm going to talk about the ocean life, the corals, the amazingly clear blue warm waters, the perfect stand up paddling conditions, and the totally unique picturesque Rock Islands. But NOOOOOOOO. That's not it at all.

For a few days about a month ago we we [...]

Debbie has done it now!

shauna@standuppaddlepalau.com — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0100

Our friend Debbie arrived a day ago and she has never snorkeled or been on a stand up paddle. Well, here is proof that Debbie enjoyed her day paddling today...

Debbie was standing up paddling away today, the weather was great - a few clouds and not too hot! Snorkeling was an adventure as well... Check her blog for more in the days to come...

My Mom has survived her Visit - Barely

shauna@standuppaddlepalau.com — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0100

Ok, so my mom came to visit and the only thing she wanted to do was see a crocodile. Well, ok, that may not be entirely true, but this croc sure did want to see her. :)

Here is where she sat so as not to get in the way of the food the croc was trying to eat.

Back on December 20, 2008, I started the Great Basil Experiment of 2008. We bought a little planter box and followed the directions on the seed packet perfectly. I figured with the HOT, humid weather of Palau, that the basil would stand a better chance if kept inside. I got all excited when my first basil shoots erupted from the soil. I had visions of pesto in my head as I watched them grow bigger each day.

First we got a boat ride from Koror, through the Rock Islands to Peleliu. Godwin, of Dophin Bay, is a great driver, guide, and all around good guy. We dropped us off at G [...]

A Day of Discoveries

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0100

Last week we arranged for a boat to take us and our buddy Fuanes out to the Rock Islands for a bit of paddling. Shauna and I hadn't ever been to the Western Lagoon so that's where we headed first.

We paddled around Soft Coral Arch and Natural Arch. The winds were [...]

Stand Up Paddling is Taking Off in Palau

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:00:00 +0100

We went from being pretty great bloggers (a post everyday or every couple of days) to those sucky sort of bloggers who have nothing new to read. Sorry about the lull in the action. It's not that we've left Palau, and it's CERTAINLY not that there's nothing new to post.

We've actually had quite a bit happening. We've taught a few people to stand up paddle.

< [...]

A Trip to Yap - A Step Back in Time!

shauna@standuppaddlepalau.com — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:00:00 +0100

We took a trip to Yap over my birthday weekend. Going to Yap is definitely taking a step back in time as you will see from these pictures. At the very end is a link to a video, so make sure you get to that point as it is VERY cool. :) Or at least, we think so...

Here is where we stayed at a place called The Pathways... If you got [...]

A video you may NOT want to watch!

shauna@standuppaddlepalau.com — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100

Ok, so here's the video Rachel created earlier today. We got a call from a friend, like I mentioned in my last post, and some fishermen from his village caught this in the area we paddled yesterday. Sounds like they will be off eating this soon...

Are there REALLY crocs in Palau?

shauna@standuppaddlepalau.com — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100

Oh yeah... some fishermen from the Fuanes' village caught this baby just out where we went paddling yesterday. Kinda freaky... I'll post a video your children shouldn't watch a little later and update this post if it actually uploads. :) So, until then, have a look at some pics...

Turtle Watch 2009

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100

We were talking with our friend Ron Leidich about stand up paddling a few days ago. Ron is "the man" when it comes to paddling the waters of Palau. Though he doesn't stand up paddle, he does kayak and runs the best kayak tours and expeditions in Palau through Paddling Palau and under Sam's Tours. When I say he's "the man" I merely mean that he knows the best places to paddle, the hidden gems and places to explore, and is an expert on the flora and fauna. He takes his kayak groups to the best p [...]

Hiding Out in a Cave

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100

Ahhhh, the weather is back to "normal." How can I even say what's "normal" though? We've been here all of 7 weeks. Even if I combine that with the month we spent here in May, I don't think I'm really qualified to say what "normal" weather is here in Palau. Nonetheless, the weather is back to what we saw the most of when we arrived, AKA "normal."

The sun is out, we've got some high clouds, and occasional rain showers. It's been great for paddling [...]

Adventures in a Palauan Beauty Salon

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:00:00 +0100

Today we are on a Rainy-Day-Schedule. Since we couldn't go paddling today, and we had already played several rounds of Heads Up, 7-Up, Simon Says, and Duck, Duck Goose, we decided this was a good day to take care of some other business. Little did we know what adventures awaited us.

On the walk home from our workout, we saw there was a normal looking (aka: western looking) hair salon that opened at 11. We decided, against, our friend, Erin's advice , to go and get our hair [...]

Can't Take it Anymore!

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:00:00 +0100

We're still in the middle of a bunch of less than perfect paddling weather, but we just couldn't take it anymore. We took our chances and headed out to explore the far end of Nikko Bay on a couple of cloudy, wet days.

The first day, Christmas Eve, was all about . . .

exploring caves - some so small we had to paddle o [...]

A Loop Around Pinchers

rachelf0505@yahoo.com — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:00:00 +0100

It's been a bit windy for the last few days so we haven't been out paddling. Yesterday we went in search of Ngatpang Waterfall. I say "search" because we went out looking for it a few weeks ago and it eluded us. Not so yesterday. We found it.

Our last t [...]

In need of some... information

shauna@standuppaddlepalau.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:00:00 +0100

Ok everyone. We've been shopping here in Palau for the last month and there are just few items we need help identifying. And if you can identify them, perhaps you can share a Vegan recipe for said item. I've numbered them to make it easier for you.. Just add a comment here with what each one is and the best way to prepare it (vegan-style).

Picture 1

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