Home again...

Tuesday, January 26. Rain, all day long.

The flight home last night was smooth, and fast. Five hours and ten minutes as apposed to the over six hour passage on the way there. There was virtually no way to sleep for us, the iPads, books and whatever slowly passed the hours. I think I may have nodded off for a few minutes several times, but nothing really. Fellette had less luck than I did.

The arrival proceedings went well, just long.... We were in the house shortly after 9:00 and immediately sat on the couch and had a cup of tea. We did nothing until after 12:00 when we had lunch, soup, and then we came to life a bit.Fellette unpacked and sorted out things while I got the office affairs sorted.

I was outside twice, once to the shop and once to get the mail, Fellette never got out at all. Lazzzzzy day indeed. Obviously no pictures. 

On a positive note we saw that the crocuses are poking their heads above the saturated soil.

So long folks, see you again sometime, hopefully.

Mission accomplished...

Monday, January 25. Cloudy and Robbie Burns Day.

We came here to relax, albeit briefly, and we have accomplished that, we can go home knowing that at least we did that while we were here, if nothing else.

Today was to be the 'last' of many things: the last sunrise swim, the last breakfast, the last shave and the last of everything before we head for home and the Great Gray of January in Vancouver.

While we were at the beach I got an email from good friend Gerald Tottman who is vacationing up the road eight miles with wife Karen and her parents. We settled that they would come for a visit after lunch. Gerald and Karen stayed with us here in 2009, so I was told today. The date I could not recall, I blame it on so much happening in the intervening years that my shrinking brain cells cannot put it all in order any more.

I do remember that we had many an interesting talk on long walks covering every conceivable subject. Gerald and Karen come here on a sort of regular basis, at the invite of Karen's dad, who lives in Calgary. Gerald was very helpful in Canada Ticket's formative  years and guided me through the minefield of the parking industry. To this day Wally has an excellent rapport with Gerald. They life on Salt Spring Island and have three children. Great afternoon with them.

Fellette did two loads of wash, and dryer, we packed the cases in the locker and it is ready for the next visitor in the family, whoever and whenever that is. Fellette does the packing, always has, and performs miracles in getting everything in with no wasted space.

Off to return the rental car at 8:00 tonight, [10:00 Vancouver time] and start all the proceedings for settling in for the six hour night flight to home. We have reading material, snacks, and iPads to entertain us. I hope to get a couple of hours sleep tonight, although that is one thing I have never been good at: sleeping on a plane at night.

When you are doing what you are doing tomorrow at 7:30 am Vancouver time, think of us going through customs and immigration and then driving home in rush hour traffic. Such is the price of 12 days in paradise.

**  **  **

I may or may not publish a travel blog tomorrow folks. If I don't, I hope some of you read snippets of it, at least I like to think so anyway. See you next trip, whenever that is.

**  **  **

A lady from Michagin took this picture for us this morning, without being asked, 

she just volunteered.

My younger wife returning from the swim.

The budgie family in the roof tiles above our balcony entertain us at mealtime.

Th family locker.

The family chest.

This is for everybody to use, plus two more chairs.

The sitting area, facing the garden view.

The guest bedroom, unused this time.

Our bedroom, full of packing stuff.

Karen and Gerald with Fellette. Gerald used to stay with us sometimes, at Autumwood, when he moved to Salt Spring and came to Vancouver on business trips. 1996/7?

Church Day for us...

Sunday, January 24. Muggy!

An early rise and a short quick bowl of granola and off the pick up the girls at 7:00 and get off to church at Mackena. The ladies were waiting for us and shortly we were at the appointed place and got a good seat. Not too full at 7:30 in the morning.

It was the usual one hour service and lovely Hawaiian hymns that Fellette seems to have mastered over the years nicely. The pastor was back today after eight weeks off for what I believe was prostate treatment. He looked a bit wobbly.

After church we lingered at the church grounds, had coffee and just took in the relaxed and peaceful feeling of the place. Jan in particular seemed to want to stay somehow. She lost her husband two years ago and is still in serious mourning but tries not to outwardly show it.

We drove around some rather nice areas with them after church which they really appreciated and then came to our place for a cool drink.. We had a great time ourself because we could tell it was such a different day for them and really enjoying everything we did. They are somewhat intimidated by all the comings and goings here, both being recent widows. She had an accident shortly after coming here and that also shook her confidence somewhat.

I later drove them the 300 yards home as it was now the heat of the day. We had a light lunch and spent the rest of the day just enjoying what we have and our ability to grow old together. But, not too old and not too fast though.

A very relaxing day, only one left. We fly at midnight tomorrow

To celebrate his 84th birthday some gent had oranges for refreshments after church, delicious.

Dorothy, Fellette and Jan. [Short for Jeanette.]

Outside.

161 year old building. It has had many renovations and was sadly neglected after WWII.

There have been many renovations over the years. The walls are coral two feet thick.

The service is half, Hawaiian, half English

Wow, a photo of the author and his much younger wife.

As they left the condo.

Fellette at rest!

I have turned into a vegetable...

Saturday, January 22. Hot.

An early am swim was in order again today. It is light out then, around 7:15, but any photos taken are somewhat dim as there is no real sunlight, just ambient light from old sol, poking up over the volcano at 7:47.

There was a couple on the beach waiting for the sun to come over so I approached them. I told then that he makes his appearance at 7:47 plus or minus a minute this time of the year. They thanked me because they had been waiting there since 7:10. [It was now 7:40.] He asked if I knew how long it took the same sun to go below the horizon after it first touches the horizon. I guessed 1:30 seconds, the answer: 2:20 seconds. Of course depending how far the horizon is from your position. They waved as they strolled off at 7:55. Such are things that really matter here.

After a shower, breakfast and a bit of nothing, we went to try and catch up with a friend we met about 25  years ago on a ship sailing between Athens and Mombassa.  He was a doctor and her a nurse in San Francisco. He was an emergency room doctor the last several years of his working life and a was a great photographer and we did many shore excursions with them. He was using a gigantic wooden box camera that took unbelievable panorama picture long before their time. I carried his wooden tripod that weighed maybe 20 pounds. 

We kept in touch all those years, we visited them in California and they came up here, once. He passed away some three years ago and she moved to Maui to be near one of her sons. It so happens that she lives about 300 yards from here in a very nice detached home in a new subdivision. We had a short chat this morning and made arrangement to take her and her visiting bridesmaid, [from 55 years ago], to the church at Mackena tomorrow morning: pickup at 7:00!

After that, a run to get some BBQ chicken that they were selling from a street vendor, they had fired up their wood BBQ at 7:00 this morning and we checked them out on our walk back from the swim. Then to the drug store for some foot ointment and then zero, nada, I have turned into a vegetable and just want to sit and enjoy the vitamin D, read and play sudoka or scrabble. It is too hot to do much else.

We ventured to the poolside in the afternoon for a couple of games of scrabble and then a light dinner, [more chicken], then to bed for another fabulous sleep. Speaking of sleep, we only have two more and then a night on the red-eye: my favourite place in the whole wide world. NOT!

The top of the crater as we walk down to the beach.

The beach beckons.

My mermaid, just out of the briny deep.

Some Hawaiian family was down early staking out tables and setting up for a large family party today. The bouncy castles and other inflated things  for kids arrived at 8:00.

This vagrant was not up yet. There are a few permanent residents here. I often wonder about their life and what series of events led them to this lifestyle.

BBQ chicken on the main drag, only on weekends methinks.

It was the absolute best BBQ chicken we have ever eaten! Bar none.

Half a big chicken: $10.00

Botanical Moment: Vegetarius Canadianus.

Paia day...

Friday, January 22. Some cloud, sometimes.

We buzzed over to Paia this morning. Paia is by the airport, sort of, and it was and still is a Hippie's Town: long hair, alternative lifestyles and all that goes with it. It seems to be improving, in appearance with some new buildings. It is stuck in the past, but needs the tourist dollars from us conventional people so the shopkeepers can lead their drop-out lifestyle. So much for that, merely my thoughts though. Nice place to walk through and then get on with your life.

We had lunch in an upcountry town called Makawoa, which is a rural cowboy/working-farm place, also sort of stuck in the past. Nice to see how there is not a lot of tearing down of old quaint buildings going on. One out of control building fire wit a good wind and one side of the street could disappear in one night. Back home around 2:00 for a rest, some scrabble and some reading before a light supper, then a bit of TV and another good sleep, I hope. 

**  **  **

Do you think that there is a possibility that Trump could actually become president?

This is the last sugar mill working in Maui, between the airport and Kihei. It is destined to be decommissioned and there is some thought that Hemp may be the new crop, or one use, for the 36,000 thousands acres that is now in sugar cane. 

Over past Paia watching the daredevil surfers battle the waves out there.

Three years ago today, same spot, same stance with friends Don and CJ.

Some groovy places to be seen today, remnants of the past.

Looks like a 1940 theatre to me!

Right in the centre of things.

Up-country a bit, tin roof and rust, priceless.

Could that have been a bank in 1940?

It looks ready for a shoot-out in a western town.

Some people get tattoos in Maui. 

Tattoo came from the Tongan word tatau meaning to strike twice. 

At least that is one suggested origin.

A property-line fence, kind of common here.

A Tibetan Buddhist church is in Paia, no doubt the preferred house of worship to many of the residents here.

The aisles of a very popular organic food store here. Full of people who are very particular about their foods, pricey as they may be.The building appears to be from the 1930s.

Botanical Moment: Droopus pendulusis.

[Just kidding, I cannot find the proper or popular name.]

Exterminator day...

Thursday, January 21. Cooler in the am.

Today is the day that the condo is scheduled for a minor baseboard and crevice treatment by the local exterminator. We had to be out by 9:00 am and  we were. We took the car and chairs etc down to Keawakapu beach down the road a mile. There was hardly a car at the lot so off we went with all our chairs, hats, water, etc. We had the beach to ourselves at that time of the day.

This is the beach that cousins Peg and Gord used to come down to daily when they were staying at the resort just above. I remember frolicking in the water with Gord and Jim Cutler as Gail and Fellette chatted with Peg sitting on the beach. It seems a lifetime ago but was only about 7 [?] years ago maybe.  

We set up our camp and hiked the length of the beach to the front of the hotel in front of Maui Hill, where we stay. A coolish wind was blowing today and the surf was pounding, often rather threatening. Back to our base camp on the beach and some light reading for a while and then a bracing dip, the water seemed cooler and the wind did its job in cooling us off. Shorty, back to the condo, now freshly sprayed.

We had a relaxing afternoon and got cleaned up and went to dinner at the Five Palms, below our resort. This is a tradition with us and have some great memories with friends and family there, Fellette gets to put on a Muumuu and I clean up a bit. Best dressed folks in the place tonight! We must try to keep the standards up!

**  **  **

We were staying at Maui Hill when 9-11 happened, with Alicia, who was four and Auntie Myra. As a matter of fact we were staying in the unit above us when we got a call from Wally at 5:00 am telling us to turn on the TV. It was a spooky week without any planes coming or going but we did get home.

Also during that trip our mother had a collapse as well, she had cancer and passed away some time after. We had also finished building the log cabin at 100 Mile the week before we came here and were physically exhausted.    

Memories...

Some beach eh? Once when we were here there was not a grain of sand, only lava. A heavy storm had taken all the sand away in one night. It takes days and days and weeks to gradually rebuild it with the sloshing of the waves. I remember we came down, as today, with all our stuff and was speechless when I saw the beach, I could not believe it.

Set for the morning, chairs compliments of Wally and Katrina.

They sling on your back and look like an Army Flamethrower Backpack, all the rage here right now. Tommy Bahamas.

Red hot Mama Glasses. On the beach this AM. 

We left them on the rock where we found them

A lumberjack, Maui style. He has all the logger's apparatus and climbing spars etc., but only takes a machete up with with him.

My much younger wife, dressed for dinner.

Her older husband, not ready for dinner as he still has his slippers on!

My bride, ready for dinner.

Inside the restaurant.

The sunset tonight.

Two years ago today, on a different Island, Easter Island to be exact. 

We sure cannot complain about lack of adventure in our life, that's for sure.

Wow, two lazy days in a row...

Wednesday, January 20. Hot.

We decided to forgo a before-breakfast swim this morning. Instead we headed up the road 20 minutes, parked and explored for the first time what they call The Kealai Coastal Boardwalk. It is between the road and ocean on the way to Lahaina.

For years this marsh was a four-wheel driver's playground in the dry season, and a gooey wasteland and eyesore in the wet season, [now]. They first posted signs to try and keep the drivers out, then fenced it and eventually turned it into a bird sanctuary and preserve. At great cost I might add. It  has a very tranquil feeling and rather strange with so few people there to enjoy it.

The views are outstanding and it seems that it attracts a different type of person: birders, strollers that arrived just to do that, stroll amongst mother nature without disturbing anything at all. The water is very shallow, mere inches and is teeming with gad-zillions of tiny fish ranging to minuscule up to sardine size. There was various species of small birds walking the pools looking for snacks. The morning was not like chasing Lemur in Madagascar, or hiking Kilimanjaro, but it fills the bill very nicely for us on this quickie rest-and-regroup vacation. 

My much younger wife suggested we wear our bathers as she figured there would be good spots to cool off. She was right, of course! The water seemed to be a degree or two cooler [?] and fit the bill perfectly without the crowds at that time of the day, about 10:00 am. Maybe it was just the heat that was burning through our shirts from the back. No complaints though!

The rest of the day we spent resting, scrabble, sudoko, reading and thanking the Lord that I can relax and laze without guilt! [For a few days at least.]

In the background you can see three stacks. That is where electricity is generated from oil on the island.  On the hills to the left you may be able to see some of the 32 windmills that generate about  15% of the electricity here.

Tranquility in a busy little island.

An almost good picture of a stilt of some sort. The sun made it difficult to centre the mirror image of this critter.

Quietly waiting for dinner!

Remnants of a tank trap. No doubt built in 1941/42, after Pearl Harbour. Apparently army duty here was not very attractive: hot, in the bush, poor accommodation, isolated, no recreation or leave, and very spooky as they were expecting an invasion. Good swimming though.

That is a squatter's tent there. Beautiful spot. He even has a clothes line out. I wonder what the story on him/her/them is? It looks like he has been there for some time.