LAST QUARTER 2017

AUTUMN

                This fall was frightfully busy!  Gil returned from his win in Kona in September to practice with a 12 man team for the Molokai Hoe in October, the most important race of the year.  The Kauai Team brought home Gold, again.  Good on ya, boys!

Molokai Hoe - 42 miles from Molokai to Waikiki (a little bright on the beach!)

Gold

                Back home, the training started in earnest for Tahiti next summer, weights and paddling 3-4 times per week.  He repaired the club’s V1 which is a long outrigger without a rudder.  These are used in World Masters (this year NZ) and World Sprints (2018 Tahiti).  He practiced with this one until his arrived and he picked it up at the Harbor, a pretty sexy number I must say.

Club V1  (Va'a one man)

New V1, just off the barge 

OREGON, Again

                While we had spent some nice time in Oregon during the summer, we returned to Ashland for Gil’s mom’s birthday October 30^th.  That close to Halloween, it always plays a part in her celebrations.  She had us and the entire Oregon family in attendance, three sons plus Raymond in Switzerland on the phone, two grandkids with spouses and 4 great grandkids.

Birthday Girl in her spider crown with Gil and Dennis

A little overwhelmed with all the people, gifts, comotion - she loved it

Little guys couldn't stay out of the leaves

The other “children” also playing in the leaves

                The autumn leaves were stunning from the moment we arrived, a prop plane into Medford having been on the ground in Santa Rosa during the severe fires there.

Medford

Straight up into the trees

Road trip  

I finally succumbed to FB and found an old friend online.  We drove two and half hours to meet her half way from their home town near Eugene.  I worked with Marcy for 8-9 years but it had been many more than that since we had seen each other.  Really nice.

                We really enjoyed the lake with Denny and Darlene, both kayak and boat, at the end of the season (see my B&W photos on FB :)  Then we helped pull the boat out. 

Pelican (courtesy of Darlene)

Pulling the boat for the winter, harbor closed next day

WINTER ON KAUAI

So winter means short days, this year quite chilly with socks, long sleeves, and windows and doors often closed – brrrr.  But the best part is that the albatross return.  The adults to mate, nest and rear one chick per pair while the juveniles practice their dance moves and try to hook up with others.  Quite a charming business all over the north shore. 

A non-nesting pair practices nuzzling behavior

Another pair practicing

Likely younger birds checking each other out

A record of 58 nests in Princeville this year, friend Mary Fran has two nests in her yard.  When they sit on the nest they are in a bit of a trance; they are so truly gorgeous.  These are not typical nesters, the male got confused a few years ago and switched mates so both females have nests - unknown yet if both are fertile but it takes two adults to feed one chick so they won't both make it.

First Mate

Second Mate

HOME FRONT

Though retired, Gil has helped a couple friends out with problems.  Not uncommon, things come in multiples and two of his projects were decks.  Oh, poor baby, such conditions!

Deck for MF

Deck for Jack

Flora

                In our Be Still tree (type of oleander) we have numerous orchids but this one takes forever to open and then lasts and lasts, looking like fireworks!

Gil trimming the Be Still so we can walk under, note spikes of the orchids long before it actually bloomed (the white Phalaenopsis or butterfly orchid is going off here)

Rain is what makes this happen

Antler orchid

Since we don’t have any large animals here, we take antlers where we find them

                Maybe no large animals, but winter is also large waves.  Keep in mind these were taken from about 230 feet above the water.  This is three frames of one wave rolling in (one second total).

 

Oh Mamma

                While Gil has been focusing on his racing skills I have been trying to shape up for an upcoming adventure of my own, Yellowstone National Park in the winter.  It has been a bit of a frenzy acquiring all the gear and clothing I’ll need only temporarily.  Friends have come to the rescue and I have it all packed (had to check out the luggage size and weight as both the yurtlet I’ll be in and the snow coaches have limited room.  My sister-in-law and companion in arms, Darlene, will meet me in Montana.  More to follow, fingers crossed!

                Part of my gear gathering is, finally, a new camera.  However, that was a nightmare debating this and that, buying and returning just to settle on the new version of my old standby.  Some of my experimentation below.

Ahukini or Hanamalu Bay where I usually get perspective

                Frustrated with the weather, I went to the south side and hiked five miles along the sand beach.  Crazy lithified sand dunes with breaking waves and an occasional White Tail Tropic bird entertained me.

Heading back, the haze is actually mist in the air from the crashing waves hitting the cliffs

The Neighborhood

                So while we have reliable guests returning in the shape of albatrosses, our human neighbors are in flux.  Our backyard is contiguous with four others to some degree.  One is in refurbishing mode with hammers and drills and rap music, one has been for sale and is in escrow (we are hopeful of reasonably quiet folk), one is a vacation rental (nuff said), and the previously solid best folks on the corner have moved to Oahu; Howard to a care home and Jennie with her daughter Korey.  The future house ownership remains an unknown, but they are sorely missed!

Jennie and  Erica at Lava Lava on our way to the airport.  Be happy Jennie, we love you.

(Daughter Erica runs the Yellowstone yurt camp I am off to in February)

Time for the holidays, home this year.

A Postcript

In the very early hours of Christmas Day, 

 Gil's mom crossed over.

Off with angels and loved ones,

Survived by four of six sons:

Gilbert, Dennis, Michael and Raymond,

their children and their children's children

Well done