The TRIP - Day 9

June 21, 2009

I received phone calls from 3 wonderful daughters and a great son-in-law today wishing me a happy Fathers Day. I opened the card that Suzanne sent me with instructions not to open it until Fathers Day, which I had had for about three weeks. I have some very special daughters.

We went to church at a store front Baptist church. Since it was Fathers Day, the preacher talked on fathers. The service was very good. Afterward, we talked to the pastor who told us that he has been doing a beach ministry for 30 years, and that they have had the building for about 3 years. We planned to go to the service on the beach next week.

Beach Ministry Community Church

After the service, we went to lunch and for a short drive. We, then, sat on the beach for awhile enjoying the sun.

Larry on the Beach
Wanda on the Beach

Gloria on the Beach

A Critter on the Beach

We went to a very nice restaurant for supper and then a short walk on the beach.

The Four Tourist at Dinner

The View from our Restaurant at Sunset

Before going back to the condo, we stopped by the grocery store for some supplies.

The TRIP - Day 8

June 20, 2009

We got up and began packing - mostly Gloria. I've learned over the years to stay out of her way. She likes to do things her way, so I just stay back.
After packing up and putting everything in the car, Larry and Wanda wanted to sit by the pool for awhile. So, at this moment, they are sitting out in the sun and Gloria and I are sitting in the shade catching up on our journals.

Gloria Working on Her Journal

The rest of the day was mostly sitting at the airport or flying. However, it was not without incidents.

When we got to the airport, we got in line.When we got to the front of the line, the airline rep looked up our tickets in the computer and couldn't find us listed. Gloria showed showed her our itinerary. The lady looked at it and said, "You have your reservations on Hawaiian Air. This is Interisland Air." OOPS! After getting to Hawaiian Air, we got our boarding passes, and everything went OK.

We flew to Honolulu and then on to Maui.

Getting our car was a story in itself too. We made reservations with Aloha - the least expensive that we could find. Aloha, we understood, doesn't have a site at the airport. They had left a key and paper work with a person at a taxi stand.

We finished the paper work and went for the car. The paper work indicated that it was in section A space 24. We were at section P. A medium walk. So, Gloria and I went off to get the car while Larry and Wanda sat with the luggage.

We got to the end of the parking lot, but didn't see section A or any numbered spaces. We could see all of the other rental care companies a little ways off. So, we headed over there. We first came to Avis and noticed that there were spots numbered A1, A2 .... We walked over to A24, but it wasn't our car.

Gloria got to looking at the paper work and noticed that it said that the spaces in the parking lot weren't numbered; you had to count the spaces. We walked back and found section A and finally found our car. However, I had to pay for parking.

Everyone was hungry. Gloria looked in her guide book and found a pizza place - Pizza in Paradise. So off we went. We got to this hole in the wall, Micky and Bills style place. The pizza was very good.

Pizza In Paradise

The next stop was Walmart for supplies. Then off to the condo. By this time it, was getting dark. The roads were not as winding and hilly as on the Big Island; so, the trip to the condo was enjoyable. When we got there, the manager, Blue, was not there, as we knew she wouldn't. The key was at a prearranged place.

We parked and put the luggage on a cart. when we got to the elevator, only one person could get on with the cart. Gloria was the first one on the elevator; so, she went. The rest of us stayed behind. A few minutes later the door opened, and Gloria and the luggage was still there. She said that she couldn't push the cart off the elevator from where she stood. (It was a small elevator.) We pulled the cart off and she went up by herself and sent it back. I got on with the cart, and we were able to get the cart off and sent the elevator back for Larry and Wanda.

When we got into the room, it was hot and stuffy. We opened up the windows and started fans that the found. There was no air conditioning. The condo did cool off and sleeping was OK.

View From Our Condo to the Right

View to the Left

View From a Balcony to the Right

The day that gave the appearance of being rather routine and boring turned out to have some interesting turns.

The TRIP - Day 7

June 19, 2009

Gloria and I got up at 4:45 AM to go deep sea fishing. We were on the Billfisher II with Captain Howard and First Mate Eric.

However, there was a problem; the captain had not received notification of our reservation and had booked a 6 hour private charter. He asked the man, George, if he minded if we came along, and he said no. The captain gave George a discount on his tour.

George and his wife Fern were a very nice couple. He is 88 years old, and his wife, we guessed, is no younger than 77. She had gone zip lining the day before. Gloria and I both said that we hoped that we were as vital as this couple when and if we make it that old.

There were six poles which Gloria and I were assigned one each and George got 4. The rule stated that you got to land any fish that were on your pole, But, George told me that I could have the first fish even if it was on his pole because it was my first time deep sea fishing.

After about 45 minutes, a fish hit on one of Georges pole. George told me to take the chair which I did. I figured that reeling in a fish was easier than I first thought or it was a small fish. Well, it was a small one about 30 lbs. But, it was still fun.

Me Reeling in my Monster

After that, it was troll, troll, troll. The First Mate changed bait several times, but there were no strikes. It was disappointing that we didn't catch more, but it was fun anyway.

Me with the "Monster"

We pick up Larry and Wanda in Kona and want back to the condo for the luau that night. We had very nice seats – up close (which we payed extra for). The food was OK. The show was very good.

Two Happy Luau Attenders

The Entertainment

Afterward, we returned to the condo to prepare to leave for Maui the next day.