Back to Big Beach

Friday took us to lunch at Eskimo Candy in Kihei, where you pick your fresh catch.  Today, it was served with kimchi.  We followed up lunch with an 88 degree afternoon on Big Beach in the North Equatorial Zone.  After working on the side of a volcano in the mid 50's all week, this was a much welcomed change.



The most beautiful beach I have ever stepped foot on.  Isolated,
with a cinder cone on the beach and Haleakala in the background.

Haleakala in the Clouds from Big Beach

 

Back Home for Sunset


 

Mail Run and Mick Fleetwood, just another day on Maui

So, today was my turn to make the mail run for Haleakala.  It's not just a little skip and hop to the post office, but a trip from headquarters at 7,200 ft. all the way down to Makawao at 1,500 ft.  They sent me in a big dually pick-up, which should have been my first hint.  Anyway, when I arrived at the post office front desk, I asked for the Haleakala National Park mail.  A man came from the back and said, "I'll meet you out front."  About 5 minutes later, he comes out a side door pushing one of those large mail buggies full of boxes, packages, and letters.  When we were done loading, the truck was almost full.

Afterwards, the morning coffee had set in and I thought, "I'll never make it back up without finding a restroom," so I headed to a hidden away one Star and I had previously found.  I looked up to see another man entering at the same time as me, and there was Mick Fleetwood!  Now I have never met Mick, but I have followed Fleetwood Mac closely over the years and was positive on my identification.  As we went in, I smiled at him, stuck out my index and second finger and said, "Hey, Mick."  He stuck out the same two fingers back at me and grinned.  We took care of business and left without either of us saying another word.

Absolutely the closest I have ever stood to a musical legend, and to think, it was while using a urinal in a public restroom.

I don't use the word "awesome" in everyday language like people tend to do today, but let me tell you one thing.  Mail duty at the park is AWESOME!

On the way back up at about 4,500 ft., I pulled over at a lookout, lowered the tailgate, and ate the egg salad sandwich Star prepared for me this morning.  A couple of tourists stopped and asked some questions, and as I sat there eating, I thought, "Pinch me, is this real?"  Afterwards, I snapped these shots from my lunch spot.

 

 



A time for thanks, remembrance, and celebration

to all the influential mothers in my life.  The best parts of me are directly attributable to these incredible women.

 

Aunt Marilee, InaMae, and Mom

Aunt Marilee imparted to me my adventurous spirit with her tales of travel, and sent me regular "care packages" throughout college.  InaMae, my mom's mom, took me in many summers during my childhood and also reinforced in me a sense of adventure.  Every time I hear the name Lake Jocassee, I think of InaMae taking me in a boat to the Jocassee Gorge before Duke Power flooded it with over 400 feet of water.  And of course, my mother, who not only encouraged me from birth to go after your dreams, but practiced what she preached by earning her college degree in her 50's.


MaMa Rankin

 No grandchild was loved anymore than me by my Dad's mother.

Marsha Carter and Mom

 Marsha Carter was a teacher and mentor to me and helped me realize my dream of being an engineer, and of course, she was my mother's dear friend.

My Sis, Jill, with Thom and Mary

 

The Mother Star
 

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it's off to work I go...

It's a magnificent 25 minute drive from our little house straight up Crater Road to my office which sits at 7,200 ft.  I start with the windows down and the radio blasting music, but by the time I am halfway up, the windows go all the way up as temperatures start dropping.  Overall, it's not bad weather up there.  It was 62 degrees this morning at the house and 49 degrees at the office.  The nicest part of the day seems to be from sunrise to 11am, while it is still clear and warming up (low 60's today).  Then, the trade winds start picking up moisture from around the volcano and the clouds slowly start to build.  By the time I left at 4:30 this afternoon, it was back down to 52 degrees, rainy, and completely socked-in.  I was greeted back at the house at 5pm by Star, sunshine, and 68 degrees.

The people at the park are fantastic.  I couldn't ask for better co-workers.  They have been friendly, welcoming, and full of advice.  Plus, there are plenty of fascinating projects awaiting me.

Here are some random photos from my workplace at Haleakala National Park.

Time for these guys to hit the trail and deliver supplies to the
backcountry.

Camera hogs...err, mules

Greenhouse where indigenous plants are raised to be
transplanted in the wilderness.
 

Our work compound

My office is located in here along with four others.

View back to Park HQ's and up the volcano from my office

 

I went to leave the office today, and right outside the door was
the famous (and endangered) Nene Goose. When I asked if I could
 take his picture, he honked and struck this pose for me.

Star's moving out...

It was our last day before starting my new job, and Star was getting stir crazy keeping her ankle up.  So, I put her in the car and down we went to Paia for lunch and then out to Ho'okipa Beach to watch the surfers.

For lunch, we stopped in at the Fish Market and had fresh catch snapper.  Star's was charbroiled, and mine sautéed in a butter, wine, and garlic sauce.  It's a very laid back, causal joint right in the middle of town.  $22 a plate and worth every penny.

 Afterwards, we headed out to Ho'okipa, where if you are lucky enough, a parking spot will open up for you right behind the beach.  Today, we were very lucky and found a level spot with a shade tree directly in front of our parking space before the deep sand.  Star has improved greatly with the crutches this week, but not enough to navigate the sands of these beaches.

The temperature was in the upper 80's, but just right beneath our shade tree.

What a great day!