Day 6, 16Nov 2009

...11.16 miles from Waimea Bay to Camp Mokule`ia...

The bedrolls are gone, the dining table is up, breakfast at Sts Peter and Paul should be served momentarily.[Day_06.01] Suzy said Shaka stole a kiss from her last night... ...he caught her with her guard down... [Day_06.02] Hey...it's a dog's life! [Day_06.03] [Day_06.04] Utu gives us our daily bread and... ...we're off... ...except for this guy. Some of us need a little more prep time. [Day_06.05] Utu and Mac at the top of the drop down to Waimea Valley... [Day_06.06] ...Suzy, Robert, and somebody else about half way down. [Day_06.07] [Day_06.08] One last look at Black Rock... [Day_06.09] ...and the Sts Peter and Paul church spire. [Day_06.10] Keith takes a last look too. [Day_06.11] A lone walker moving toward Hale`iwa. [Day_06.12] Suzy and Robert just before the Hale`iwa turnoff. [Day_06.13] [Day_06.14] The memorial at Hale`iwa Beach Park to the 16 sons of Waialua/Kahuku who gave their lives in combat in WWII. [Day_06.15] Gene, Mike, and Ivan glancing off of Hale`iwa Beach Park as they head into downtown. Utu and Mac... [Day_06.16] ...'n Tom, Gary, 'n Pete almost to Hale`iwa town. [Day_06.17] You have to look REALLY close to see Utu and Mac just right of the bridge. [Day_06.18] [Day_06.19] The three musketeers, Tom, Gary, 'n Pete; cross... [Day_06.20] Utu bought a round of shave ice for the gang at Matsumoto's before we posed for this class picture. [Day_06.21] The place was busy when we got there... [Day_06.22] ...but we got in line behind Utu and Mac... [Day_06.23] ...and then joined the crowd on possibly one of the most famous store fronts in Hale`iwa town. [Day_06.24] Under the stupor of the Matsumoto experience, we head north out of town to our night's lodging, Camp Mokuleia. As we pass Ali`i Beach Park, Utu brings up the rear of seven of us while Cece stands by with fluids. [Day_06.25] I pedaled ahead to see what was in store. At Mokuleia Beach Park, I saw what appeared to be several kite surfers out. This guy was getting ready to launch... ...but this guy gave me the closest view I've ever had of the act... ...for 72 seconds. [Day_06.26] Further down, at the far end of Dillingham Air Field, are the non-powered fixed-wing, or "glider", businesses. In 1975, I logged an hour and a half of glider pilot training in one of two aircraft, this one or it's twin. They've been repainted in the last 34 years, but like me, are still here. [Day_06.27] Farrington Highway ends a couple miles later. Tommorrow, this is where the most interesting...and challenging...part of the 10 days of walking will begin. This is as far as I go today. [Day_06.28] The entrance to Camp Mokuleia, where we will be spending the night; is right across from the near end of Dillingham Air Field where all the sport parachuting businesses are located. These "sky-divers" were making an entrance just as I approached the camp gate. [Day_06.29] Steve had already arrived with the Evans bus. He and Keith are attaching one of the "Walk the Talk" banners on the front fence. [Day_06.30] The ocean side of this facility owned and operated by the Episcopal church fronts a protected cove that allowed us to get salt water into our ears and sand into our swim suits. While the access to the ocean appeared safe, the flotsam on the beach speaks to the fact...we're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy! Gary, Pete, Tom, and 2 others(?) are on the left immediately behind our cabin...Arlene and someone in a hammock and someone playing a guitar are on the right side of the tree. [Day_06.31] The girls(Samiana, Denzie, Cece, Suzy, and ???) say, "cheese" for Uncle Robert while ???(Cece's dog) wonder's what I'm up to. [Day_06.32] Roz came runnin' up to me with a shot she'd taken with her phone camera, showed it to me, and says, "Ben go take this shot." Apparently, she was the artist. [Day_06.33] Several times during these 11 days, our meals were provided by the churches that are providing the hospitality for that night's stay. Steve Obara, in addition to being the Evans Project bus driver, is the most frequent chef the rest of the time. While tonight's hospitality can only be described as "luxuriously extravagant" for those of us who Utu has distracted from the "crap" that passes for most of our current existence to be on this 'walk'...Steve was in the kitchen. That hamburger you see with a couple of my bites already removed...word's cannot appropriately describe the experience. I question that it was even beef that was used to make it...it was just so 'different.' Calling it "luxuriously extravagant" is merely standing in the doorway to the room of awareness that possibly might lead one to be able to describe what an incredibly delectable experience it was to eat...hey, the chicken was good too! [Day_06.34] ***** Now go to "blog archive" in the right column and click on "Day 7, 17 Nov" under the "November(11)" heading.