Normal is Relative

Chalk another couple adventures up on the board, folks! The past few weeks have been filled with fun activities and promotions! First, we'll cover the business aspect. I am now a proud server at the Maui Brewing Co. When I arrived for my last day of training, the manager on duty said "soooo we need to fill a shift that didn't get covered... good luck!!" So I was tossed to the sharks and made it out alive! I actually really enjoy serving too. I get to chat up a bunch of people from all over the world and serve them delicious food and beer! Booyah!

Now on to the good stuff:

The first set of pictures is from Honolua Bay. My friend Rory said it best, "I have a love affair with the Bay. It's a love/hate relationship. Some days I love it and the bay loves me and everything goes right, but the days that the Bay hates you... uhhhh... it HATES you."
There are several different breaks going from the behind the furthest point and then wrapping all the way around into the bay itself. Each break is different and has its own personality as well as regulars. There's an etiquette. There's a pecking order. There are hand made signs saying "No SUP access" (Stand Up Paddleboard) and "No Snorkel Access." It is best to heed such signs... even better to not piss anyone off.
Intimidating, yet irreplaceable. There is no substitute for the experience of Honolua Bay. One of my fondest memories and the most therapeutic days of surfing I've ever had was about 3 weeks ago. I came down my hill, board in hand, and gave the hitch-hiker's salute. Within 10mins I was picked up by a family headed just over a mile up the road to drop their son off at school. I hopped into the tailbed and assumed I'd be jumping right back out to thumb it more. Once at Maui Prep, the parents invited me up to the front and asked where I was headed. I asked them not to go out of their way once I found out they were only going a little further; the bay was about 10mins out of their way. The father said "Don't even think of it! I haven't driven up that way in so long I'd love to bring you up!" The wife asked at each overlook whether this was the stop or not (not in an irritated way but not the friendliest either) until the husband said "Enough! We get there when we do!" And he surely brought me the whole way there. Off the paved road, cresting the hill down the red, dirt road and past the line of trucks of the dawn-patrol surfers.

After several Mahalos and some smoothing over with the wife, I was ditching my sandals and sweatshirt at Rory's moped and taking the foot-worn trail down to the water. Walking gingerly on the lava rocks I waited for the waves to break at my feet before jumping off the small point and paddling out. There were a few people out at the point and I joined the lineup without a word, but a for a few knowing head nods. We sat and stared out to sea waiting to see some peaks of the swell, finding whales spouting and breaching instead. Turning around to look back into the mountains we watched a rain cloud swirling around the peaks like smoke around a chimney. The clouds slowly dropped and crossed over the tops of us. A light rain began and and as it passed several iridescent rainbows formed off the coast. After a few rides I was sitting beside another guy and in the 8feet between us, a huge sea-turtle popped his head out of the water to take a curious glance at the strange figures floating above the reef. I wish I was making this up. I can close my eyes at night and picture this morning; fall asleep with a smile on my face.

This is my love affair with the bay.

Second Adventure:

Rob, Travis and I (friends from work) decided to make the trek over to Big Beach on the other side of the island. Having never been, I was eager for the trip. En route, Rob explained the difference between Big Beach and Little Beach. Apparently when you crest the lava rock-dune that splits the two beaches, clothing becomes optional. We joined Rob's friends for the Sunday Volleyball Festivities. Holy shit, these guys were good. Holy shit. I went there thinking it was going to be the usual "hit the ball a few times and hope for the best" kind of game... oh no. Ohhhhhh no no. This was like watching professionals. Some of the spikes these guys sent over must have been setting some sort of record for the fastest moving volleyball of all time. But the one game I played I did more good than harm for my team so I count it as a success.

Travis and I wandered around and decided "fuck it, we're here...let's go look at Little Beach." Coming down the backside of the divider we could hear the harmony of "Ommmmmmmm" and when we saw the 8 60+ year olds meditating in a standing circel, au naturel for the world to see... I knew this experience was going to be comparable to my first time in Provincetown. I said to Travis after we made the walk to and from the end of Little Beach"I think we took a schlong turn somewhere, but I think this is the breast beach I've been to yet."
We stayed for sunset and then on our trip home, stopped at Monkeypod (restaurant/bar) for a brew and some food. All in all, a good trip!

Latest Adventure:
Waking up at 5am to Jon telling me to wake up, I did my best not to roll over and fall back to sleep. With a slight hangover and a pissed off stomach, we got in the car and headed to Kehei to meet up with MEAT. Our goal today: Pre- Run to the Sun trail run up the backside of Haleakala!
The morning sun had yet to pee over the peak of the mountain top and the wind was howling as we started off on our run. As we got trekking I could tell a pit stop was going to be in my near future. After said stop was made it was clear sailing. We started in the Kuhla forest and ran up on the Skyline trail. The trail was actually pretty good running until we hit the switchbacks. The turns themselves were shitty footing and near vertical transitions into the next traverse. We felt this run. Both Jon and I were not feeling too great by the turn around.
We almost made it to the very top at the radio tower, but I had work in the evening and we decided to call it. Throughout the run, I couldn't help but appreciate and love the flow of conversations ranging from life-goals and dream jobs to nutrition/foods and everywhere between. Matt is eclectically knowledgeable dude and is full of fun facts and insight. When one of is starting to hide in the pain-caves of our mind, one of the others seems to be coming out of hibernation and continues to chat and keep the morale. Luckily we had views and beauty all around to keep our attention as well. Runs this long and challenging are a battle physically and mentally and without company they can turn into a miserable effort very quickly. Once we turned around I realized how hungry I really was... discussing food the majority of the way back didn't help either. When we got back to the car, Matt surprised us with some delish root beer!! What a treat!

However, on the drive back down I got car/altitude sickness... not fun. My stomach was deciding whether I should burp or barf. Not fun. Also, both Jon and I forgot our wallets so we had to wait until we got all the way home to get some real sustenance in our bodies.

Another beautiful day in da kine though. So glad for everyone I've met out here! I've reached the 3month mark out here and I'm looking forward to what the next 3 will bring!!