Mike DeGruy will be missed :(

My heart broke when I read the news a few minutes ago that Filmmaker Mike DeGruy died in a helicopter crash in Australia. I was waiting for my son to come down from his friend's apartment where he had been watching the Superbowl, and I was browsing through the Huffington Post app on my phone, and I saw a story about filmmakers dying in a crash. You never think you will actually know the people...And when I saw his name, my heart skipped a beat and my jaw dropped. Not Mike! Mike is so alive, so vibrant, so funny, so kind. Mike had a head full of silvery grey hair and a smile that lit up a room - or the boat in this case.

I met Mike when Discovery Channel sent me to Australia in 2008 to blog (Expedition Shark) during the filming of their Shark Week documentary, Mysteries of the Shark Coast.

I remember clear as day. Here's this world-famous and Emmy-award-winning filmmaker, and he was so kind, and so interested in my thoughts and views. That first night, we spent a lot of time talking about evolution and Christianity and the book I was working on (in fact, the dialogue is in my first chapter lead!), and I was likewise fascinated by his gnarled up arm. "What happened, shark bite?" I joked - since we were about to spend the next 10 days diving with sharks. "Actually... Yes." he replied. Then he told the tale of how he was attacked by a shark in Enewetak atoll when he was diving, and barely made it to the boat to be rescued. "What kind of shark?" I asked. "You don't want to know," he said. "Gray reef sharks." I didn't "want to know" because they were the very sharks we would be diving with for the next ten days... along with whitetips, silvertips, and the possible tiger and hammerhead (both of which we did see while there).

I kept in touch with Mike now and then because my ex-boyfriend Sean and I had talked about producing a documentary based on a story Sean knew about in the Solomon Islands and Mike was interested in producing it. After Sean and I stopped seeing one another I'd check in with Mike now and then by email to say hi. Our paths never crossed again but I deeply admire him and his work, and especially the sunshine with which he lit up a room and the kindness he showed me. He was one of a kind. I treasure the time I spent on that boat - it was the absolute BEST assignment of my life, hands down. You can read my experiences from the Discovery Channel blog here (Fear) and here (the rest of the Expedition Shark blogs). I also blogged about it on my Bohemian Adventures blog here (shark reflections), here (shark mysteries) and here (i love my job!).

And so life passes... my deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. He left the world a better place for his passion for the sea and the work he left behind. Tell someone you love them. Life is too short to waste. Make it count. As I wrote in the first blog of my series, Fear:

"The reality is, everything in life carries risks. Driving in my car, living in a city, bearing children, flying, crossing the street. One thing I know for certain: I risk that when I am born, I will die. But this I also have found to be true. Life is best lived in service of those who can not speak for or easily help themselves – and that includes marine wildlife."

And one thing we can say for sure, Mike lived his life - his career - in service of marine wildlife and other conservation issues that he and many others felt passionate about saving. And the world is definitely better for it. I leave you with some of my favorite images of Mike.

The guys were playing around with one of the sharks caught for research, which they kept in a kiddie pool! This is Sanjayan, Richard and Mike.
What a fun time - they climbed right in with the shark!
Mike had the greatest smile and laugh!All geared up and ready to dive.
They captured a very small juvenile shark in what they discovered was probably a shark nursery in the lagoon at the center of the atoll (Osprey Reef). This was a night dive.
Mike holding a coconut rattle, used to call in sharks.
Mike and Celine Cousteau on board the Undersea Explorer.
One of the few photos of Mike and I together (on my camera, anyway, since someone else had to shoot this from my camera!) You will be missed!

a few of my favorites

Sunrise on North Padre Island
Copyright (c) 2006 Wendee Holtcamp

Just a super quick update. I am so close to being done with a full draft of my book. So close that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but it's still not done which frustrates me because I was only one half-chapter away when I got back from Montana and I have not had time to just do that single half chapter!! I understand why, just basically getting caught up at home, spending time with my beautiful awesome kiddos when I can, some time with Doug, and then writing several Animal Planet blog posts so I can have a week to focus - this week. And here it is, Tuesday!

I wanted to link to some of my favorite Animal Planet Animals in the News blog posts in case you haven't had a chance to read them.

Massive oil spill off Australian coast puts marine life at risk - The news in yesterday's post horrifies me because some 400-2,000 barrels of oil per day are spilling into the Timor Sea off Western Australia and it's been going on since August 21st. Yet it's barely made the news. WWF-Australia made an expedition there to survey the damage to wildlife.

Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" may kill animals- I like this post because it reports on something that, once again, has only started getting the public attention it deserves. It's a frightening story that we all should be aware of! My friend Sharon Wilson who writes the Blue Daze blog has been a longtime advocate of drilling reform in the Barnett Shale of Texas.

Open Season on Gray Wolves - I like this one because it's based on my recent visit to Yellowstone National Park and seeing the wolves in the wild, then I give an update on the first wolf hunting season in recent history.

Costa Rica’s “Leatherback National Park” threatened - Discovery Channel sent me to Las Baulas National Park in 1999 for a totally amazing expedition Love & Death on Turtle Beach! Now the national park may get downgraded by Costa Rica's own government.

Meatless Mondays - I have enjoyed writing about food/meat issues on the blog, which is something "animal" related that I never originally intended to write about. But as I come across story ideas, more and more I realize that food issues affect us all, and actually a lot more than many other wildlife or animal stories. I am trying to do "meatless monday" which means no meat on Mondays, and it's embraced by the likes of Paul McCartney and many others. The goal is to help curb global warming because meat production is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gases. This post gives the facts about meat consumption as gathered from various sources, and the low-down on meatless Mondays.

Good year for endangered coho salmon - Again part of this was based on my visit to the Pacific Northwest and I really like writing about the places I visit, and learning more about the salmon hatcheries and the endangered species of salmon that live there. I like to choose sustainably harvested seafood and this blog has helped me learn a lot in that regard. According to most seafood watch reports, Alaska salmon is mostly ok, farmed salmon is bad to eat, and it depends on which precise river drainage in the Pacific NW you get your fish from on whether it's sustainable or not...

That's all for now! :) Visit and leave some comments, if you get a chance!

Glasshouse Mountains

We spent the day yesterday at the Glasshouse Mountains, near Beerwah, which is actually very close to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo (we drove past it) on a "bug catch" event which Jenny oversees for her work. It was a drop-dead gorgeous sunny day, just perfect temperature. I shot some photos of the University of Queensland students who were out there doing this voluntarily for a class, and hung out with Jenny, Don and the little ones. Then Don and I went with Brooke and Abby to Montville, to check out the shops, and then can back to get Jenny and head home.

Today I've been writing and then we went to see Chloe's school performance, where she was both in the senior band & also in a play with called Shiv'r Me Timbers. It was very cool because at the end, two of the kids came out and talked about the theme which was honesty, and how that is a virtue that includes not lying or cheating and living in integrity which meant accepting the truth even when it wasn't easy. That's a pretty profound thought to teach primary school kids.

I leave tomorrow morning at 11am - a 12 hour flight to LA then a 3-hour flight to Houston. Prayers appreciated! I am so stoked to get home. Godspeed. Love to all!

A view of the Glasshouse Mountains from a lookout on Mary Cairnscross Road, near Montville. They were named by Captain Cook, after glass houses in England.

A closer-up view of the Glasshouse Mountains.

A close-up of a scribbly gum. The scribbles are made by the larvae of a moth which eats underneath the bark.

Don, Brooke & Abby having a picnic lunch

A view of the bush - Eucalyptus forest

Brooke finds a caterpillar!

A dried Banksia flower. Lorikeets and parrots love these.


Catching flying insects with sweep nets in the bush at the Beerwah Scientific Reserve.

At the end of a long day, they collect night time insects using lights and a sheet.

Photos Copyright (c) 2008 Wendee Holtcamp

Tabletop Mountain

We went on a walk up Tabletop Mountain this afternoon, which is really more of a steep hill,not far from Toowoomba. It's pretty steep at first and goes through some scrambly rock beds and took about an hour or so. It was a good strenuous hike, and not too far.

A view of Tabletop Mountain from the lookout point in Toowoomba.

Part of the trail to the top involved going over these very rocky bits!

Rin and I on top of Tabletop Mountain. We had fun taking a bunch of self portraits. :) They have sunspots though... in one picture it was my "third eye"! I love this one!

The trail to the top of Tabletop Mountain.
Fields of grass on top of Tabletop Mountain.
I look like my leg is cut off - but this is me at the top of Tabletop Mountain! Joy! :) At the top of Tabletop Mountain, joyful Rin!

One last thing - check out this page, Right Brain vs Left Brain, and tell me what direction the lady is spinning for you. Some people see her spinning in first one then the other direction, but others she always goes in the same direction (at least for that day!). For me, she has always gone to the right and I can not envision how she could possibly reverse and spin the other way. It makes sense though because I'm totally in my emotions at the moment, emotional and creating and writing... so I guess when I'm back into my more scientific rational mindset she will switch!

Crow's Nest Falls

Lounging in the sun at Crows Nest Falls in the most perfect beachy spot.

Rin & I - longtime friends reunited! We are at Crows Nest Falls National Park on the search for rock wallabies! Unfortunately we didn't see any, nor any koalas, but it was super great to get outside and get some exercise and be inspired by the beautiful Australian bush.

Me and Rin, with shades!

A shot of the main pool area of Crow's Nest Falls National Park. You can't really see the falls - well I didn't see them at all. Apparently there's been a severe drought here in this area of Queensland for several years and the water level is way low.

Raku created this mound of sand/dirt with the grassy stuff poking out of the top and I said, that reminds me of the coconut man in Castaway (or was it a volleyball?) so I said, we need to make a face.

I laid down in the sun for an hour in a star shape which I felt like doing because I read this yesterday in If the Buddha Dated, "That's how you came here, like a star without a name" (Rumi in Say I Am You). The angle is pretty funny as I look like I don't have an abdomen! The other funny thing is that when I laid there, one of my initial thoughts was, "I'm glad I'm not being crucified."

The sun was absolutely amazing. It filled up my spirit so much. After all the freezing weather, and the intensity of emotions, this was just what the doctor ordered! I was at such peace. I bought this necklace at the Sanctuary Retreat - one of the girls who worked there makes jewelry. It's so bold and strong and reminds me of the watery earth.

Raku and I spinning round and round in circles. This felt so great. In yoga, this is supposed to balance the chakras or somesuch... whatever, it's just plain fun!

A spotted velvet gecko Raku found in the rocks at Crows Nest Falls National Park. Amazing how camoflaged it is! It was hiding in a crevice with a skink, but I didn't get a good shot of the skink.

Rin at Crows Nest Falls National Park.

A flowering acacia.

The Burtons :) Cam, Rin, Hagan and Raku

A cassowary eating fruit off a tree in Mission Beach near the Rehabilitation Centre run by Australian Rainforest Foundation. It was once thought that cassowaries only ate fruit that had fallen to the ground but scientists (and me!) have now documented them eating off of trees directly.

A cassowary in Mission Beach at the Rehabilitation Centre. Not a great photo but you can get a good view of the wattles. They kind of look like testicles, don't they?

explorations of Darling Downs

Copyright (c) 2000 Wendee Holtcamp
An algae-covered West Indian manatee looking very much like a rock at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Florida.

I've spent the last couple days revising my introductory chapter for my book, then I need to get into the new ones. As everything, it's going slower than you think it will. But it is coming along and I'm excited about it.

This weekend Rin and I are going to explore a bit of the area. We think we're going to go out to Bunya Mountains National Park which is an area where Aborigines used to gather from all areas to harvest the Bunya pine nuts. This is a link to a Bunya Mountains website for accomodation but it has better photos than the actual Park Service website. Probably on Saturday we're going to take the kids to Crows Nest Falls National Park, where a lot of rock wallabies hang out. It's more of a dry scrub forest, with a lot of rocky outcroppings. I'll post some pics when we return! Now, I better get back to my book writing!

Mission Beach

All photos Copyright (c) 2008 Wendee Holtcamp
This was the sunrise the first morning I got to the Sanctuary Retreat, and wrote the entry describing my amazing glorious morning!

Not a great photo but this was the view out my window at the Sanctuary Retreat. Amazing!!!!

Native Australian water lillies. Notice the dragonfly! I thought these lillies are so beautiful!

The cassowary love spa. Cassowaries will come and play in the pond - they love to play in the water. Adrian Walker (see below) showed me this pond and said he's seen a male and female in there together and calls it the love spa! Ha ha!

Rainforest seeds collected by C4 (Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation) for planting in their nursery, and then used to reforest rainforest.

A cassowary walking by the Sanctuary Retreat. It isn't a good pic (out of focus)... but you get the idea of what they look like. This isn't a tame bird - it's completely wild. I got some better ones today but haven't had time to upload them.

A large pile of cassowary poo.

Fan palm in the rainforest.

An amethyst python - a little guy (about 5 feet long)

Adrian Walker, a local naturalist in Mission Beach, who helps people with their "snake problems," by catching them and releasing them back into the wild.