Day 7, 17Nov 2009

...9.21 miles from Camp Mokule`ia to Yokohama Bay Beach Park...

In 6 days, we've covered almost 80 miles and while muscles are aching, spirits are soaring for those of us who revel in the "natural" experience one encounters when you get to the end of the beaten path...where the maddening crowd stops, turns around and returns to civilization...but for some peace and the quietude one encounters in undeveloped nature...you decide to continue. Today's nine miles will be the shortest leg of the ten days, but it will be the most physically challenging and visually stimulating as we hike off-road 4x4 vehicle and hiking trails instead of paved road sides and sidewalks. Indeed, there will be a short dangerous passage on the west side, but no tour bus/commuter traffic jams today, at least not the automotive technology type. The majority of today will be spent within the confines of the Ka`ena Point State Park as we traverse the trail that connects the end of the pavement in Mokuleia to the end of the pavement on the extreme north end of Yokohama Bay Beach Park. We will, for the most part, be within a stone's throw of the ocean as we walk along the far west end of the north shore of O`ahu, take a left at the light house ruins/navigation aid on the point, and begin the southern pass back down the west coast of the island that runs along the makai side of the Waianae ridge that in 3 more days will have us walking back on to the state capitol grounds where we began this exercise back on the 11th. The breakfasts provided by the H5 support staff have been top shelf, but the accommodations at the Camp Mokuleia Episcopal Camp and Conference Center Dining Hall were over the top.[Day_07.01] The Fireplace took me back to almost 50-year old Boy Scout Summer Camp memories. [Day_07.02] There was the morning ritual of words from Utu... [Day_07.03-05] ...then Day 7 walkers begin to challenge their foot wear... [Day_07.06&07]...while the scenery continues to steal our attention from blisters and chafe. [Day_07.08&09] Robert and Kaui lead Gary and Suzy... [Day_07.10] ...while Kimo and Cece standby with refreshment as Kenny, (???), Tom, (???), Pete, Ivan, Gene, and Mike pass by...and the group presses on to the last couple miles of pavement before the real fun begins.[Day_07.11] Arlene leaves a Ho`okupu provided by Pat.[Day_07.12&13] Kris and Marlani seem to enjoy the effort....[Day_07.14] ...while Utu is batting "clean up" again. [Day_07.15] [Day_07.16] Then... ...as suddenly as it should be... ...the asphalt ends... ...and the 4x4 vehicle trail begins. [Day_07.17] [Day_07.18] The new surface is a refreshing change from the previous 6 days/80 miles, but I got some catchin' up to do. [Day_07.18a] Sharon took this and sent it to me later. She caught me off the bike for a moment with Pete and Tom on the Ka`ena Point rounding trail. But Pete, Tom, and I don't have to watch out for cars, trucks, and buses today... ...but these two, plus whoever belongs to that right leg, have joined us for today's walk and I wasn't nosey enough to find out who they are. Anybody you know? [Day_07.19&20] The motorized 4-wheeled vehicles turn around here, the gate to the bird sanctuary. [Day_07.21] Yes, the bike made it through the square hole. [Day_07.22] The bike has allowed me to be everywhere, and there; several times each day as, for better or worse, I've made the documentation for this blog an exercise in spontaneity. In the previous week, I was constantly back-tracking to find/get more shots to inspire content. There hasn't been a lot of back-tracking today, but just like the foot hikers; at this point, the bike passage got a lot more challenging...and dangerous. [Day_07.23-25] Kenny and the two unknown-to-me begin the walk through the bird sanctuary right after I came in. The sign written in both English and Hawaiian...I guess for those who were born and raised on Ni`ihau...tells of the mission of the preserve and speaks of the various species the preserve wants to...preserve. [Day_07.26] This one tells of the two birds that are the primary interest of the preserve...that I managed to get shots of both while not entering the prohibited areas. [Day_07.27] This shearwater was casually evading the mid-day sun at the crest of his hole... [Day_07.28] ...while this albatross watched me closely appearing content on its nest. [Day_07.29&30] We arrived at the end of the earth Ka`ena Point style... [Day_07.31&32] ...that's at least Pete, Kenny, and Tom there... ...noted the former concrete beacon pushed onto it's side... [Day_07.33&34] ...and then marveled at the fact that we could both look at the north(left side of picture) and west(right side of picture) shores...without turning our heads! [Day_07.35]But we kept moving... ...till this plank became a part of the hike/ride! [Day_07.36] Kris is kicking back while Kaui walks the ledge. Here you see Utu, the gate keeper, personally insuring that no one..., NO ONE, ...was going to regret, nor forget, this little 'leap' of faith. [Day_07.37] By the time I took those shots above, he'd already personally handed me and my bike...and everyone else on this jaunt in front of me...to the south side of this chasm. For those of you thinking you're thankful for not submitting to such foolishness and definitely won't think of doing the 6th annual WtT next year because of this little test; no, don't think of it. While waiting for the stragglers, we discovered an alternate passage up the slope that eliminates this scene. The last half dozen found it very acceptable so unless you insist otherwise, next year all the less adventurous will be accommodated without unnecessary stress......and continue to see such as this as they walk on...[Day_07.38-40] ...and on...[Day_07.41-43] ...and on...[Day_07.44] In these last 3 shots, Arlene, Gary, Suzy, and Uncle Robert take the newly discovered uppper bypass trail and carefully walk the ledge that allows them to avoid walking the plank. Arlene taking a pix of... ...me taking a pix of... In the study of the efficiency of algorithms, when writing a 'program' using a computer language, this is called an "endless loop." Some computer scientists say it is to be avoided but I claim it depends on the goal of your algorithm. [Day_07.45&6]That didn't distract us from further considerations...[Day_07.47-49] (Utu trails the last to have cleared the plank.) ...and other 'views'...[Day_07.50-52] ...however, like all good things that eventually have to end...[Day_07.53] ...the 4x4 trail becomes paved as we reach the north end of Yokohama Bay.What a day![Day_07.54-56] We gathered at the south end of the beach for our evening stay. Meal and praise and worship were provided by Nathan and Gavin and others from "The Gathering Place of Hope." The sunset was...[Day_07.57-59] [Day_07.60-62] ...and if that's not enough... ...how 'bout a minute and a half actually watching the sun set at Yokohama Bay as we saw it...?[Day_07.63] Finally...I thought this thing was supposed to be green? [Day_07.64] ***** Now go to "blog archive" in the right column and click on "Day 8, 18 Nov" under the "November(11)" heading.