Hey guys,
Well, guess what I got another FLAT TIRE today! We went and did the Volcanoes Nat'l park gig and checked out the steam vents and the caldera and all that fun stuff. There was alot of sulfur coming off the volcano and the gas it produces is both noxious and obnoxious (smelling) so we didn't hang around all that long. Also, some of the roads were closed due to the gas, so that was a bit limiting. As it is now, the only flowing lava is in a remote area where there is no access except by air, and no lava is currently flowing into the ocean, so that's not as exciting as it might be.
On the way back home we dediced to drive up Orchidland road and when we got to a place to turn around all of the sudden these two dogs start running across the property towards us. Im thinking OH, nice doggies they must think their master is home and are coming to greet him...NOT! These were hard core attack dogs and looked like about the meanest dogs i've ever seen. We were in the van and had the windows rolled up by the time they got there, but DAMN, they were jumping at Heidi and then started biting the tires of the van! I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but the same tire that the biggest nastiest dog was biting is the one that got a flat. Heidi was like "be careful" to not hit the dogs as I was doing my 3 point turn to get out of there, and I was like "Hell with that! We outta here!" It would have done those dogs some good to get a little hit from a car. So, when we got back to the gas station after we got MORE icecream for the girls (and us of course) a blg 'ole flat tire. Lucky for me, I'm now an old pro at changing minvan flat tires, so we were out of there in about 10 minutes. Back to the airport to switch out the van again! First I got a mean old local gal named "Pinky" (true story) and she was slamming the pen down, telling me to fill out this and that...eww. I just HATE that treatment. Finally, a nice person at the counter came and took over for her and we were all good after that. I wonder if I'll see any additional charges on my bill from that...who knows.
So, here's another funny story. Over at Kalapana yesterday we ran into an old haole dude selling organic fruit for $.50 a pound which we bought about 10 lbs. of. I asked him about this fruit that I saw some Locals harvesting off a tree and he let me know that it's called Noni fruit and is medicinal, which of course peaked my interest. Apparently Hawaiians have been using it for hundreds of years to cure things ranging from cancer to chronic pain. He showed me how is smells like dirty socks and how a "naturopath" was eating the thing like an apple recently but looked really "healthy." Then he pointed us to a factory nearby and we stopped off and got the speil and I walked out with a 32 oz bottle and some caplets. So, here's the funny part. This stuff is about the nastiest tasting stuff on the planet...sort of a "no pain no gain" thing I guess. I gave Heidi her shot of it this am and she characterized is as "Like drinking a fart." (her exact words, my friends.) I sort of have to agree with her. She looked it up on the web and found that it is sometimes also known as "vomit fruit." LOL. So, i'll be having my second shot of the day here in a bit... hell, it was $8 for that bottle and i'll be darned if I'll let it go to waste! Hopefully it will cure my chronic pain in my hip.
Oh, and did I mention how prophetic Jim Kelley is? Our place here is completely surrounded by Coquee Frogs. Now the rumor has it that the chirping is only done by the males to call out to the females to come "spend a little quality froggy time" with the Mr. The first night I was listening to them (pretty much all night) and it seemed like one by one they "hooked up" and quit chirping kookee kookee. But there was this one dude...man I actually felt bad for him. Like the desperate guy at the bar, holding out for the last available gal and she takes off with someone else...yet he stays, thinking that, against all odds, someone will show up at the last minute to appease his male yearnings. Well, I don't think he did, 'cause it seemed like the chirping never ended until he dragged his sorry ass all the way back to whatever hole he crawled out of in the first place. Now i'm not being mean, I really heard from our waiter the other night that they live in holes in the ground and sleep there during the day. Another thing I noticed is that sometimes they make a different jittery noice, which all I can assume is that the are giggling with the girlie frog that they hooked up with, or they are laughing at all the other males that are still chirping. To me, the untrained ear, though it would seem like all the guys are saying exactly the same thing. Now, most of us would have to harken way back to a different age, but ladies, wouldn't it have been BORING if all the guys that walked up to you in the bar said EXACTLY the same thing, like "Hey Baby, i'm not just hot i'm Kookee Kookee." Jim, did you already know the Coquee Frog had infested the Puna area of the Big Island?
Peace out. B.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Big Island Hijinix.
Wow, lots of fun stuff to post in here tonight...
We arrived on Wednesday and got to the house with no problems. We should have gotten more packing done the night before we left and ran out of time to get the house somewhat in order, left a few things and we were all tired from the travel day, but we made it and here we are. We went out to dinner in Pahoa on Wednesday night and were VERY pleasantly surprised by the restaurant we went to. It easily rivaled if not surpassed many of the fancy restaurants we have visited in Honolulu or here on the big island in some of the Kona side resort communities. I think the place is called Keolos or something like that. The prices were reasonable by resort standards, but probably exorbitant by Pahoa standards...if you were here, you would understand.
The next day we decided to head over to the lava tree state park via lunch in Pahoa. So I stop in the little market/deli in town and order some lunch to go and what a town. The best I could describe it would be something like Boulder meets skid-row. A host of gnarly looking characters wearing shirts like "I don't make enough to kiss your ass" (true story) or just a big Pakalolo leaf and a full head of at least 5 or 6 teeth, but compensating with shoulder blade hair and spider web tatoos. Sweet look bra.
If you read the other blog, you probably know by now that I got a flat tire at. We pull into the "parking lot" of the state park which has moon crater sized potholes and gigantic ruts in the concrete. YET there is a fricking batallion of state maintenance dudes renovating the BATHROOMS! "YO, Keoki...over here bra...fix this fricking volkswagon sized hole in your parking lot, I can pee on the moss rock." Oh well...so I swerve a bit to miss the giant rut and psssssssssssssssst...immediate flat. 2" cut in the sidewall of the tire from a wayward piece of lava. That stuff is SHARP!
So I call the guy at Dollar rent a car and he was USELESS...though he tried not to be and was friendly...but STILL! I barely had any cell service at the location, which causes all kinds of havoc when you are trying to navigate through "press this buttone then that button" hell. But the dude was like "um ok, you need to locate the nut on the floor so you can lower down the spare...It should be between two rear seats. NOPE. Uh, ok, then try in between the two second row seats..." Me: "is it under a panel?" because there is a plastic panel here." Um..yea, maybe. can you Pry off the panel?" Me: "With What?" Him: "um, well, do you have a screwdriver or something" Me: "Dude, I'm in Lava Tree State park, with almost no cell service, a completely flat tire and and I need some critical info here...like where is this "nut" and no I don't have a screwdriver." Him: "um, yea...ok, well does that minivan have stow and go seating, because I can pull up another manual for that...Me: CLICK.
Oh well, i'll call handy dandy Amex...they'll help, right? Last time I got my statement they said on it "Oh, and remember, when you rent a card with "THE CARD" you don't need additional insurance coverage, we've got you covered. And, i've been spending a few hundred grand a month with them in media so, yea...I should be ALL good, right. So...after a couple lost signal bummers, I finally got someone in roadside assist and she said "Great sir, I can help you!" Me: "GREAT! Please write down my number NOW so when we drop you can call me back! I'm in Hawaii at blah blah blah... " "Oh, is that a rental car?" Yea. "oh, well, normally we pay the First $50 of service...but since its a rental car, we don't pay anything. But, I can call you a tow or someone to help you.." Great...I can do that too and I don't have to try and be on hold forever either. um hmmm...yea, thanks um yea...ok buh bye..
I finally figured out where the "nut" was...up between the two front seats. Got the tire changed with the help of a very nice guy named Bill and we were on our way back to Hilo to exchange the car in the matter of about an hour or two.
Lots more fun to write about, but now i'm tired.
more soon,
B.
We arrived on Wednesday and got to the house with no problems. We should have gotten more packing done the night before we left and ran out of time to get the house somewhat in order, left a few things and we were all tired from the travel day, but we made it and here we are. We went out to dinner in Pahoa on Wednesday night and were VERY pleasantly surprised by the restaurant we went to. It easily rivaled if not surpassed many of the fancy restaurants we have visited in Honolulu or here on the big island in some of the Kona side resort communities. I think the place is called Keolos or something like that. The prices were reasonable by resort standards, but probably exorbitant by Pahoa standards...if you were here, you would understand.
The next day we decided to head over to the lava tree state park via lunch in Pahoa. So I stop in the little market/deli in town and order some lunch to go and what a town. The best I could describe it would be something like Boulder meets skid-row. A host of gnarly looking characters wearing shirts like "I don't make enough to kiss your ass" (true story) or just a big Pakalolo leaf and a full head of at least 5 or 6 teeth, but compensating with shoulder blade hair and spider web tatoos. Sweet look bra.
If you read the other blog, you probably know by now that I got a flat tire at. We pull into the "parking lot" of the state park which has moon crater sized potholes and gigantic ruts in the concrete. YET there is a fricking batallion of state maintenance dudes renovating the BATHROOMS! "YO, Keoki...over here bra...fix this fricking volkswagon sized hole in your parking lot, I can pee on the moss rock." Oh well...so I swerve a bit to miss the giant rut and psssssssssssssssst...immediate flat. 2" cut in the sidewall of the tire from a wayward piece of lava. That stuff is SHARP!
So I call the guy at Dollar rent a car and he was USELESS...though he tried not to be and was friendly...but STILL! I barely had any cell service at the location, which causes all kinds of havoc when you are trying to navigate through "press this buttone then that button" hell. But the dude was like "um ok, you need to locate the nut on the floor so you can lower down the spare...It should be between two rear seats. NOPE. Uh, ok, then try in between the two second row seats..." Me: "is it under a panel?" because there is a plastic panel here." Um..yea, maybe. can you Pry off the panel?" Me: "With What?" Him: "um, well, do you have a screwdriver or something" Me: "Dude, I'm in Lava Tree State park, with almost no cell service, a completely flat tire and and I need some critical info here...like where is this "nut" and no I don't have a screwdriver." Him: "um, yea...ok, well does that minivan have stow and go seating, because I can pull up another manual for that...Me: CLICK.
Oh well, i'll call handy dandy Amex...they'll help, right? Last time I got my statement they said on it "Oh, and remember, when you rent a card with "THE CARD" you don't need additional insurance coverage, we've got you covered. And, i've been spending a few hundred grand a month with them in media so, yea...I should be ALL good, right. So...after a couple lost signal bummers, I finally got someone in roadside assist and she said "Great sir, I can help you!" Me: "GREAT! Please write down my number NOW so when we drop you can call me back! I'm in Hawaii at blah blah blah... " "Oh, is that a rental car?" Yea. "oh, well, normally we pay the First $50 of service...but since its a rental car, we don't pay anything. But, I can call you a tow or someone to help you.." Great...I can do that too and I don't have to try and be on hold forever either. um hmmm...yea, thanks um yea...ok buh bye..
I finally figured out where the "nut" was...up between the two front seats. Got the tire changed with the help of a very nice guy named Bill and we were on our way back to Hilo to exchange the car in the matter of about an hour or two.
Lots more fun to write about, but now i'm tired.
more soon,
B.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Skunked!
Hey All,
Well, it's fishing...not catching. I went out offshore with Harrison from Hidden Hawaii Inc. and we dragged our baits all day and never hooked up. It was not for a lack of trying...we went out to the bouy offshore and then trolled all the way up to off of Maile point. It was fun to see Black Rock, the Radio towers and some of the old reference points we used to use back in the day when I fished with my dad out of Wianae Harbor in the late 80's...before GPS.
Harrison is a really nice guy and would recommend his company to anyone that wants to come over here and go fishing. He's got three different boats, a 46 Bertram out of the AlaWai, a 67' Buddy Davis out of Ko'Olina and the 25' Donzi that we went out on. His website is www.hiddenhawaiiinc.com if you want to check it out. They also have other types of fun stuff to do like their own dinner show, "pipe buggys" which is like 4 wheel drive dune buggys and mountain bike tours off the beaten path.
We had a lot of good time to catch up and get to know each other better, so it was interesting to talk with him about lots of things. People ask me about fishing all the time...what's so great about dragging lures around all day? Well, it's not just about hooking up with fish and fighting them and having a stocked freezer or a big fish taco party. It's also about the companionship, the chance to be out on the open sea, seeing the beauty, the birds, the whales, etc. Great times all around, no matter what. On a long day out there, when the fish are not biting, those are the things you hold on to and really do cherish. Harrison offered to take me out fishing again free of charge when we get back from the Big Island...now that is Aloha!
Wow...but early though bra! Harrison said "Get a good nights sleep" but how do you exactly do that when you have to leave the house at 4:45 am, and you don't sleep the night before very well anyhow...all that "alarm clock" anxiety...am I going to hear it, etc. LOL. I don't think I've EVER had a good nights sleep before a fishing trip.
And check out the sunrise photo...that right there is amazing. Bigger one below the posts.
Peace.
B.
Well, it's fishing...not catching. I went out offshore with Harrison from Hidden Hawaii Inc. and we dragged our baits all day and never hooked up. It was not for a lack of trying...we went out to the bouy offshore and then trolled all the way up to off of Maile point. It was fun to see Black Rock, the Radio towers and some of the old reference points we used to use back in the day when I fished with my dad out of Wianae Harbor in the late 80's...before GPS.
Harrison is a really nice guy and would recommend his company to anyone that wants to come over here and go fishing. He's got three different boats, a 46 Bertram out of the AlaWai, a 67' Buddy Davis out of Ko'Olina and the 25' Donzi that we went out on. His website is www.hiddenhawaiiinc.com if you want to check it out. They also have other types of fun stuff to do like their own dinner show, "pipe buggys" which is like 4 wheel drive dune buggys and mountain bike tours off the beaten path.
We had a lot of good time to catch up and get to know each other better, so it was interesting to talk with him about lots of things. People ask me about fishing all the time...what's so great about dragging lures around all day? Well, it's not just about hooking up with fish and fighting them and having a stocked freezer or a big fish taco party. It's also about the companionship, the chance to be out on the open sea, seeing the beauty, the birds, the whales, etc. Great times all around, no matter what. On a long day out there, when the fish are not biting, those are the things you hold on to and really do cherish. Harrison offered to take me out fishing again free of charge when we get back from the Big Island...now that is Aloha!
Wow...but early though bra! Harrison said "Get a good nights sleep" but how do you exactly do that when you have to leave the house at 4:45 am, and you don't sleep the night before very well anyhow...all that "alarm clock" anxiety...am I going to hear it, etc. LOL. I don't think I've EVER had a good nights sleep before a fishing trip.
And check out the sunrise photo...that right there is amazing. Bigger one below the posts.
Peace.
B.
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