August 9th Day 50

Today was a day that was really meant to tie up all the loose ends before Russ and Sally leave. I started off the day doing the Gump survey which was cool. I ended up seeing an octopus in really shallow water right at the end of the site where we exit the water so I was able to take some really colorful photos. We proceeded to clean one of the boats while we were in the water and then did fish survey data entry until lunch. After lunch, we used some of the cages I made right after I got here to Moorea to replace the cages that were in the field. Those cages were brought back and the tiles inside these old cages were moved to new ones to ensure that they will last another year out on the fore reef. We finished that early and I washed Russ's car before I was able to wonder off for a bike ride to drop off my postcards in Maharepa. It was cool to ride around Cook's Bay and bike through what I have driven through dozens of times. I stopped to take pictures along the way there and back. When I was riding back I found a spot right at the point of the bay that looks directly at the setting sun. I stopped there and took a bunch of pictures of the sun low in the sky and during the sunset. It was absolutely incredible to see the sun set on the open ocean like that. It was the first time since I have been here that I have actually seen the sun set because Gump is situated behind Rotui mountain which blocks the setting sun. It was cool to get pictures doing full manual with my camera because I really was able to get a feel for how to take the picture I wanted and how I could capture the scenery exactly how it looks to the naked eye. With the shots I too, I certainly had a sense of accomplishment when the sun went down because I really feel like I am starting to get a hang of landscape photography. On my way back to Gump it was obviously getting dark. I sped along to try to get back before it got completely dark and to my surprise I was pursued by a dachshund mutt about 100 yards down the road for riding by where I presume it lived. It was funny because when I first saw it, I figured I could outrun it no problem but it kept up barking and growling at me the whole way. After I got away I could do nothing but laugh at what I had just experienced. "Only in Moorea," I told myself. After I got back to Gump I did some more work on my application and waited for dinner. Tonight we had meatloaf with macaroni which actually turned out really well. Afterward I spoke with Erica about more details concerning our trip and then decided to work a little more on my personal statement before bed. Now that I am tired I am going to call it a night. Until later.