A Whale of a day

Thursday being rained out at the golf course, we went in search of sun. Steve needed sun. We drove to Wailea golf course to the Sea Watch restruant. If you remember this was the scene of the crime. (aka Wedding). They have a real good breakfast there. Steve enjoyed it as he found some sun on the patio. We had a recreation of the wedding photo.

From there we drove further south to Makena. There we found a beach of lava with sun on it. We enjoyed this for a while then went to the Maui Prince hotel. Really nice place with a bar and pool. We rested there for a bit then slipped over the hill to the beach in front. Was a very nice sandy beach. Lots of folks enjoying the sun. This also happens to be Makena beach where we were to get married. Sure was a good thing it rained that day. Sea Watch was much better. I'm sure that if we had gotten married there instead we would retrun, but we would have to bring our own dinner and drinks.











After our day we went to Jane and Larry's place for dinner. Jane had every thing just right. Larry cooked the chicken and we all had a wonderful evening. Jane and Larry are such good hosts.



So today is Friday and it's Whale watch day. We drove to Lahania to the docks, where we boarded the Spirit of Lahaina for whale watching. Nicely kept 65 foot catamaran. We were out for about 2 1/2 hours. We saw lots of whales. Mothers and babies. One pod of three or four guys after a girl. The boat can not get closer than 100 yards to the whales, so if they come to you then you are in whale jail and can not move. This happended to us at the end. Was kind of neet. We could even see the whales under the water.



Back at the dock it was off to Kimo's on the waterfront. We had a good lunch and shopped, well the ladies shopped, on the way back to the car for the return to Kihei. We did loose Jane on the way. We all looked but we did find her in the end.







We found a real neat turtle for Kelsey. It was had carved by a Hawaian guy that had been doing this for 20 years. He learned the craft from his father, who learned it from his. He even put Kelsey name on the bottom.

We got back to the condo where now Steve and Mad are napping, Sue is reading and I blogging.
From here Friday is rest, Saturday is golf, Sunday is Superbowl and Moday is reality. Only problem we have is what to do with Sue's bird. He/she is now coming right on in and saying where is my crackers. We even took a picture of thier dish and the bird woman behind bars.

Rain Snow Cold is this Maui

Yesterday was fun. Steve, Mad and Sue went for their beach walk. I was just starting out to meet them when my phone rings. Seems the wind was blowing bad and they could see a storm approaching so they slipped off the beach to Big Wave, a restaurant on the road. So I have to go rescue them. So we had breakfast and drove home. From there we just sat and looked at the ocean. The Bird lady of Menehune Shores was right on task. They even come in the door to remind her to feed them.

About 3:30 we went to Leilani's on the beach for my official birthday dinner. We had a couple drinks in the beach bar then went upstairs to the dinner place.

After dinner shopping was in order for the girls. I've noted Blue Ginger before with me in the Man seat. Steve got to use it this time.

Today we were going to golf with Mad and Larry. That's where the title for this blog comes from. The mountain has a cap of snow. Its raining like the devil and its cold, by Maui standards that is. It actually got down to 58 degrees last night. I know all those stuck in Seattle have no sympathy for us at all. I wouldn't either. I think we had better get out the guns. The natives might come after Steve and Mad. Steve said he personally ended a drought in Tahiti

Windy Two days

Sunday found Mad and Steve settling in. They all went for a walk on the beach and I stayed home It was windy and I have had enough sand in my eyes, so I blogged as usual. We mostly spent the afternoon having Pu Pus and relaxing.

We all went to Gian Don's for dinner which ended up being Pizza. I was happier than I look.

After dinner we came back home and watched the Celine Dion CD of her show in Vegas A New Day This was the show Sue and I saw two years ago. It is also the same show that we were suppose to see four years ago, but Celine got sick.

Monday I abandoned everyone and went golfing with Larry at Makena South We played with a friend of Larry's named Ken. We also got paired with a couple from Provo Utah. He played and she went along for the ride. Ken, Scott and Vickie were all fun to golf with. Afterward we had the customary beers.

I took this picture at Makena beach. This was where the scene of the crime (wedding) was suppose to take place four years ago, but it rained that day so we moved to Waliea and the Sea Watch.

Got back to the condo and cooked steaks on the roof in the rain. Steve and I had to hide in the elevator room to keep from getting wet.

You remember the Bird Man of Alcatraz. Well I live with the Bird Woman of Menehune shores. Sue has spoiled a whole bunch of birds. They are really getting fat. This one is her best friend.

One of my birthday cards sort of sums up NASCAR. I love it. I might make this a permanent part of the blog. One of those pictures on the right.

I'm beginning to think that maybe Steve and Mad brought a plague to Maui. Its been windy and cold every since they got here. I think this is the last straw and here is the proof. Our beloved Volcano Haleakala covered with snow. This can not be happenings in Maui. It must be a disease imported from Seattle.

Steve and Mad are here

A morning of anticipation. Steve and Mad were due in on Hawaiian flight 29. So we sort of hung out for a while then went to breakfast. Stopped at the store and came home. Left here and sat at the end of the runway looking for Hawaiian Airline planes. We think this might be the one they were on.

So we then split to the terminal with our leis in hand. It's not easy picking people out of a crowd even when they do stand out with the white hair and all. Seems that we were looking in the wrong part of the terminal. Well, Sue finally saw them way back behind the carousel. We presented them with their lays and hugged hello.

Steve took off to get their car and we looked for luggage. This took a bit and Steve was back with the car just as we found the bags. I took the scenic rout home. They might never find their way back to the airport. But they did see a lot of sugar cane and the plant where they make the sugar. They are staying here at Menehune shore where we are at. They have a very nice room. For those with interest here is there room 521, and here is ours unit 217. This pictures of our unit look like some are the one we are in and some must be another unit. At any rate the layout is the same.

They settled in and we had a afternoon libation and visited. After that we all went to dinner at Aroma D'Italia Ristorante in Kihei. Good spaghetti joint.

After wards they gave me a spumoni slice for my birthday. Really nice lady that worked their. For those who remember she reminded me of Grandma Marchesini. Lousy picture of me. We then came back here and yakked up a storm.

Easy Friday

Yesterday Sue, Larry and I golfed, yes again, at The Dunes at Maui Lani. We golfed there a couple weeks ago with the Homers from Vancouver. We had a good time as usual. Larry did great and shot 93. Sue was "It" for the day and paid.



I like Saturday in Maui as I get my weekly NACAR fix. There isn't a track anywhere around here but they fill a page with NASCAR stuff every Saturday. I wish the Seattle Times would do the same. In case anyone gives a hoot. That's Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon on the top picture and Kevin Harvick on the bottom.






Today Mad and Steve arrive. We are going to surprise them at the airport and Lay them. We will pick up a couple leis at the store on the way. Sue is out for her walk. I'll meet her in a bit. Then we are going out to breakfast for my birthday. I'm officially an old fart now. 62 I could retire, but Sue says I have to keep working until I'm 83. Now I can get my golden age senior passport to all the National Parks.

Submarine fun

Haven't posted for a while. Monday was just a rest day. We went to the grocery store and a drive down to Sea Watch. We wanted to check the dinner menu for when Mad and Steve get to town. While were there we had a drink and watched the birds. They sure know how to find food.

Tuesday we went to Pukalani Golf Club for more golf with Larry. Chris is gone now so there was just the three of us. It was a really windy day. Made 350 yard holes into the wind play about 600 yards. Larry had the rough day this time. I was so-so. Sue was steady. We all had a good time.

After we got back we went to Moose McGillycuddy's for Tacos with Jane and Larry. This was the same place as Freds, they share a kitchen, where we had tacos with Nixons. They call it "Kiss My Taco Tuesday" We were disappointed as Moose's menu has completely changed since were were there last week. Dinner was good and it was happy hour. What more can you ask.

Wednesday was the fun day. Larry and Jane picked us up at 8:30 AM and we drove to Lahaina. We were going out on the Atlantis Submarine. Be sure and check out the Atlantis link tells there whole history. Yes a real submarine. Sue and I have done this before. I have gotten the tickets from the Lyons Club auction we go to in March. Anyway it is a fun adventure. They pick you up in a boat at the Lahaina harbor and take you out to the Submarine.

Waiting for the boat in Lahaina Harbor.

They have a tender on scene called the Roxie. They go through a lot of fun stuff like oogga horns and dive-dive stuff. Once on site the sub pops up out of the water right between the boats. That's the tender Roxie to the left.

There are people in the sub so we all have to scrunch up to the forward end of the boat while the folks on the sub get off on back end of the boat. Then we board. The cabin has seating port and starboard. It's kind of a tight fit but once seated you look out ports that are about 2 1/2 feet. Jane was a little worried but once settled all was a-ok. They go through the dive dive thing and blow ballast and down you go. They travel back and forth between a couple reefs. When on the reefs there are lots of fish to see. They have a narrator who tells you about all the fish and throws in a joke or two.

One of the more interesting things you see is the wreck of the Carthaginian. This was a sailing ship that use to be tied up to the Lahaina dock. I was aboard it about 15 years ago. She originally came from Germany as I remember. anyway the Atlantis folks bought it before it sank at the dock. It was really in bad shape. They got all the permits and stuff, cleaned up anything that would pollute and scuttled her in 95 feet of water. They did this in December 2005. Sue and I saw her on our first sub trip in Jan of 2006.

It really had not changed much. I was surprised. I expected barnacles and lots of growth, but there was little as you can see.

They then take the submarine down to the bottom. This was a depth of 132 feet for our trip. They say the sub is capable of 300 feet. They actually sit it on the bottom. Then it's up you go. They get to about 60 feet then blow the ballast and the boat goes up fast and pops up for the next folks to see. Same stuff we board aft while the other folks are crunched forward. Then they pull away and we watch the sub go under. Was a whole lot of fun.

So all good trips to Lahaina should end at BJ's for a Nooner and beer. Was a nice view out the deck. If you read the Carthaginian story in the Maui News link above. It mentioned a sail boat that went aground a few years back in front of Lahaina. It is right across from BJ's.

All in all it was a great day with good friends!