Hawaii day 6 2013

Monday January 14, 2013

Started out sunny but breezy.  We wanted to try snorkeling at Macena Landing, but when we got there the wind was such that the waves that were breaking onto the rocks where we wanted to snorkel so we decided to try Ulua Beach again.  Same thing when we got there so decided snorkeling wasn't to be today.  We had planned to go to Wailea Shopping centre afterward so it was off to the shopping centre.  Very upscale and always interesting, but the art stores are way above our budget.  After spending time talking to the art dealers and admiring the products in the store, the call of coffee was too great to stay so we headed back to the condo.  After coffee Linda packed us a lunch and we headed off to see the Iao (I think its pronounced "ee-oh) to see the needle rock.  As always a nice leisurely drive on the highways.  It only took about 1/2 hour to get to the valley.  In this valley king of Hawaii slaughtered the Maui men using cannons taking from European ships, in his second attempt to conquer Maui and unify the islands.  The valley is a narrow opening in the hills where there is a rock which looks like a needle standing upright separate from the surrounding hills.

When we crossed a bridge over the stream which comes down from the needle there were some young men who were jumping off the bridge and rocks into a very shallow water of less than 3 feet deep.  Lots of guts but maybe short in the common sense department.

  After climbing up to the observation platform, 133 steps which is child's play to some to the stairs we had to go up in Europe this fall, we started taking the paths which follow the river.  There was a young family on the path, and the dad was shaking a tree bringing yellow fruit down along the path.  He told  us it was guava fruit and broke one open to show us and gave us one to try, not bad, but later we were told the red ones that looklike strawberries are much better.  On the way back home we stopped at a craft market.  Some crafts but more things made in China for sale which looked Hawaiian. That was disappointing.  As soon as we got back to the condo we got ready for the beach.  We covered all the b-b-b-b-bases being beach, beer, books and boogie boards.  While the snorkeling wasn't on, the boogie board riding was a blast, and having a beer afterward was just perfect. The high breaking waves were perfect for a long fast rides to the shore.  We both thought it was fantastic.  We had booked a restaurant for dinner as kind of an anniversary outing.  We wanted to watch the sunset first before going for dinner.  After getting dressed we were ready to head out.  I looked at the sky and the storm which we watched most of the afternoon up Lahanai way looked to be moving down towards us, so I asked if Linda thought we need to bring our coats.  She didn't think we needed them.  As we walked along we both agreed that because of the clouds moving in there wouldn't be a sunset so we decided to go to the restaurant and see if we could get in.  Not a problem, but as soon as we sat down the heavens opened up.  We think that maybe twice before we have seen rain like that, once during the tornado in Edmonton, and once in Mexico, but nothing like it ever in the lower mainland.  The restaurant is covered but open.  Shortly after we sat down the rain and wind were so bad they came around and told us the restaurant was closing.  As we left the puddles were so deep the water was over my shoes.  We tried another restaurant and was told it would be at least 20-30 minutes so we decided to hoof it back to the condo.  Within seconds we were soaked through and the coats wouldn't have helped.  Water on the streets was up to the curbs, and this was maybe 10-15 minutes after it started..  As we turned up our street water was shooting up in the air over a foot out of the street storm drains.  Crossing streets leading onto the main road was like crossing previously dry stream beds during flash flooding.  The amazing thing was that we each had small part of our clothing still dry when we got back to the condo.  So instead of a nice dinner at a restaurant it was a microwave dinner.

 A couple drowned rats!!!!!!!

More Maui

January 14, 2013

The beautiful weather continues. It is 7:00 am and just light.  The walkers are out in droves as usual.  We will be off snorkeling soon.  This morning we plan to go to Makena Landing.  It is one of the beaches we checked out the other day.
Yesterday  I woke up with a sore throat and felt tired.  Add that to the sore toe I had aquired the day before and it didn't bode will for Sunday.  We stayed in the condo, I slept and Roy read until about 11:00 when I finally woke up.  We headed down to the beach and when we got there decided we should try snorkeling there.  Roy went back to get our gear and because my toe was still really sore I sat and read.  We think I bruised it on a rock while getting into the water the day before.  I sat and waited and waited and waited. Finally I told the two men sitting near us that I was going looking for my husband and if he came back to tell him what I was doing.  He did come back - they told him I had gone for a walk so he was looking for me on the beach.  The reason he had taken so long was that he had got us a huli huli chicken.  The people were on the corner selling them and were close to selling out so he went to the condo for money, back for a chicken, back to the condo and then back to the beach.  We always like huli huli chicken so were glad we didn't miss out.
Back at the beach I found Roy walking down the sand looking for me (I had gone for a walk) and he was  worried because he couldn't find me.  All was well, the lost was found and we went in the water.  There weren't that many fish but they were different and the rock and coral formations were very cool.
I discovered that my toe didn't bother too much on flat, even surfaces and hadn't hurt in the water.
In the afternoon we wandered up to make dinner reservations for tonight at Bistro 808.  It wasn't open so we went to Whalers and the bathing suit store and I got another bathing suit.  Now I have two new suits.  I cannot believe the elastic went out of the two I had so quickly.  We visited the hot tub in the evening.  My last visit I think.  Too many people using it!  The chicken was divine served with pasta and marinara sauce.
Another good day.  Only one whale sighting and it was far away but striking at sunset.  Oh yes, we took our sippy cups to the beach, as we do every evening, for the sunset.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Damn, Saturday already.  Time really does fly when you are in Maui.  Yesterday we began the day by going snorkeling at Ulua Beach.  There were more fish than we had seen on previous visits.  It was rather exciting to have them all swimming around you, even swimming up and looking at us through our goggles.  The whales sang the whole time.  I know I spent a lot of time not breathing, just listening.  It is breath taking music. We spent quite a bit of time in the water.  Of course, it took me ages to get all my equipment organized to my taste but it was worth it.  No leaks in the goggles this time.  We were there by 8:00 so were back to the condo in time for a breakfast of ham, eggs and toast on the lanai.  Lovely.
Kamaole beach in the afternoon (our beach), but though the wind was up it wasn't good for the boogey boards.  The waves died too soon.  We swam a bit and read.  The water seemed cooler but it was probably just our imagination.  Another tremendous whale show (yesterdays was so good) .  It is awe inspiring to see a huge whale leap right out of the water and splash back down into the water when it breaches.
Roy BBQ'd steak for dinner.  Candle light on the lanai (we spend almost all our condo time there).  We were in bed early; either it's the fresh air or the time change but we play out early.  Watched 1/2 hourof the Dakar first.
On to today, Saturday:  We were to White Rock beach by 8:30 to go snorkeling.  We checked  places to snorkel yesterday after we snorkeled.  It is a beautiful beach and we tried both ends of the beach.  Yahoo! Finally saw a GREEN SEA TURTLE but only one.  We were led to believe there would be lots of them.  There weren't as many fish as yesterday but the coral formations were more interesting and bigger.  Some divers were disappointed to only see one turtle too so guess it wasn't that we were not observant enough.  What a great way to start the day!
Back to the condo for coffee and toast.  Roy is carving now and I am going to work on my Grandmother's Flower Garden hexies before lunch.

Linda didn't mention that the beach we went this morning to snorkle is called White Rock.  Sounds familiar.  The beach is surrounded by multimillion dollar homes and is not too busy we are told because tourists think the beach belongs to the people in these homes.  Actually there is only a small entrance place to this beach and most of open land to the beach has no trespassing signs on it.  It is a lovely beach and we first snorkled on the north end of it and then walked down with our gear and snorkled the south end.  There are major rock out croppings going into the water at both ends which the coral hook up to.  Another beach we found yestday (Friday) was little beach.  There is a small opening in a high rock wall and a very small sign at the entrance.  The only way we noticed it was because some people were coming out with swimming gear.  The beach is less than 75 meters across with high natural rock on 3 sides.  The beach is sandy with only a small sand entrance into the ocean.  A beautiful secluded spot with only a very few people there.  There were some Hawaiian young men picking a typle of mussle off the rocks and they offered us some.  When we declined they said they were great raw, but better on the BBQ.  To demonstrate they cut the meat out of a couple and ate them.  Enough about yesterday.  Today after we had lunch we decided to a shopping area which we have seen but never been in.  First though we stopped to get Linda a new swimming suite. The one she used yesterday afternoon, the elastic had gone and she was concerned she might be swimming in her birthday suit.  It only took a few minutes and she had one.  Next stop Boss Frogs for a new water proof packet.  I put the car keys in the one we bought last year, and when we got out of the water today, there was water inside and Linda found a hole in it.  If the keys are damaged it is $250 to replace the key.  Fortunately being a belt and suspenders guy I put the keys in a ziplock bag before putting it in the water proof packet so no damage done.  The shopping area was kind of neat, it was a bit like a farmers market without the produce.  Linda was able to get a cover up to wear to the beach, which she wanted. We might go back a purchase some spirals, they were spectacular.  After getting back to the condo we got ready and headed to our beach.  We spent the rest of the day swimming, reading and walking on the beach.  We stayed until the sun went down, another beautiful sunset with a huge crowd sitting and watching.  While we were watching 2 whales put on a show breeching and putting there tales out of the water.  The crowd cheered and clapped. Home to make supper and have a snack of poke while we waited tomorrow is a new day and the Dakar is on.

Maui, January, 2013

Here we are again, in Maui at the Kamoale Sands in condo 4-203.  It is so fortunate that 3 years ago we met Sandy and Dennis, they own this condo.  We had rented the condo two doors down from where we were staying.  Their condo has become our Maui home.  It is well appointed is in a wonderful location.

We got off to somewhat of a rocky start on this vacation when the border guard at Sumas asked for printed documentation of our flights and accommodations.  I went to retrieve it from the trunk of the car only to find it missing.  We just barely had time to go home for it but what else could we do.  Back to the Canadian crossing; thank goodness we didn't think about the liquor we had purchased at the duty free!  Back we went to Mission for our papers that I believed I had left on the kitchen table after confirming our flight on the computer that morning.  Just after we went past Clayburn Road, Roy said, "didn't you put those papers in the backpack?"  I had! Back to the US border.  New crossing guard - didn't give a hoot about papers!  We hadn't needed to bother as all the info was in our phones.  Just time to get to the plane, check in, fill our water bottles and get a lunch to eat in flight.  Whew!

The flight was bumpy at times but we got to Maui without mishap, picked up our rental and set out for Safeway where we bought a weeks worth of food and then to Kamaole Sands. We enjoyed our dinner in the condo and strolled down to check out the pool before sinking into our comfy bed in a very warm bedroom. 

The morning sky promised a sunny day and that was exactly what we got.  Off for a walk on the beach.  I will let Roy tell about the rest of the relaxing day,

We walked along the beach south for  total of about 45 minutes.  Once we passed Kehei Surfside  resort we took off our shoes and socks and walked in the surf.  At one of the resorts along the beach  there were men trimming palm trees.  They don't climb up using their bare feet like the movies, instead they use a moveable platform.  Very cool.   After our walk we went back to the condo for coffee and toast. As with all unknown coffee makers, it takes some fiddling to finally get it to operate.  The jury is out on the taste of the coffee, Costa Rica, but different than we are use to.  We decided to go and get our swim fins before lunch. First stop was Whalers to get a lighter to ignite our candles and some post cards for home.  Next stop, USPS for some stamps (the price is going up shortly) for the post cards.  The Quilt shop is almost next store to the post office so of course it was an obvious choice to stop there, kind of like a tool place you have to stop.  I spent some time in an antique shop while Linda browsed the Quilt shop.  It is a really cool shop, but Linda didn't buy anything.  We really like the Boss Frogs dive shop where we bought our masks and snorkles last year so because it was on our way back we stopped there. Brent wasn't there this time and there was quite a line up so we left and went to the Boss Frogs closer to  our condo.  We were almost the only people in the store and the clerk was good and we rented fins and they were 2 for 1 so was a good deal.  Its amazing how good the drivers are here.  We had to make a left turn onto the main highway leaving Boss Frogs with an endless number of cars coming from both directions, but soon people stopped and let us in.  I don't know if it is just more laid back or the 20 mph speed limit, people seem to be more considerate, we see that all the time.  Had a nice lunch at the Condo, partly with last nights dinner before lathering up and heading to the beach.  The beach was hot and sunny with lots of people enjpoying the water and sunshine.  We sat and read for a short while before taking the plunge.  It seems cold to get in and over the shock it is possible to stay a long time.  There was a nice breeze blowing in from the north west creating some some waves to we got the boggie boards into the water.  Only managed about a half dozen good rides before the wind died and with it the good waves.  Still great to be back into the water.  Once out and sitting on the beach, Linda saw a whale breeching about 1/2 mile off shore.  We finally figured out there was a pod and they kept breeching one at a time for about 15 minutes. Great sight and we didn't have to pay for the privilege of wathing. The sun was getting very hot so it was time to head back for a sun break and shower.  During the last couple of years we have not spent much time at the pool so this time we planned to take more advantage of the facilities.  We packed a barley sandwich into our travel mugs, grabbed our books and headed for the pool.  One thing about the pool it is a good place to watch people.  We watched about a 5 year old boy carrying a 2-3 month old baby and we though he was either going to strangle the baby or drop him as the baby slipped lower and lower.  Fortunately the baby's mother took him/her before he slipped out out the brothers grasp.  Sunset was coming fast so we packed up, nipped up to our condo, dropped off our books etc., refilled our mugs and headed back to the beach.  There are more people down at the beach watching sunset than during the day on the sandy beaches, very relaxing.  Dinner outside on the lanai, we just love it.  A bit of traffic but small price to pay for being here.  All for now, soon to bed for a new day is approaching.