Workin Man

I officially got hired this week.  Minimum wage job, but at this point it's nothing to scoff at.  I was holding out for a position at Wells Fargo, a collector.  Basically calling people up and trying to get them to pay their overdrafts.  Unfortunately, it looks like they are going in another direction, whatever I didn't really want to travel an hour to get to work anyway.

This other job is much closer and the hours are better so that's where it's at.  Only problem is the pay, barely enough to live on.  It is however significantly more than what I am making now, which is nothing.  At least I'll have enough to go out from time to time and really start to get into Portland.  There is a lot to do here and I want to do it, not just try and get by.  I do have to shave everyday for this job, not cool.

It will be kind of weird working again it has been a while since my last regular job, almost 4 months.  It is seriously gonna cut into my internet trolling, not to mention the amount of time I have for working out.  I have been working out a ton since moving here.  I'm taking about 3 boxing classes a week, plus two weight lifting sessions and a H.I.I.T session.  Best shape I've been in since HS.  I think I can keep up my workout regimen, but it's gonna be tough.

Anyway, thought I'd flash you guys a bit of an update on what I've been up to.  Not that there is anyone out there reading this, but hopefully some day.  Gonna split for now, but I'll be back, unlike the first incarnation of this blog.  Originally a travel blog started when I was in Hawaii, over two years ago.  I thought about deleting those old posts, but it's important not to forget where you come from right?  I'm gonna be posting up a bit of everything on here; my attempts to cook, workouts, random rants, new music I find, maybe even some writing if I can get my shit together.  In short a bit of everything from the life of a regular guy in 2013.

The Hike part 2

Ok so i have let this go for way to long at this point, but i figure id at least put out the second part of the hike even if i don't make it to other equally interesting events on this fantastic trip to Hawaii.

So after I rehydrated Elyse, Dave and I headed down to the calm pond on the inside of the break. It was amazing the water got probably waist deep at the most and you could easily navigate the rocks with out ending up in the water. We were able to see, some small fish and even and eel that was trapped in one of the smaller pools in between the rocks. After checking this out for a while we realized it was beginning to get dark so we headed back up to the three sided shack where all of our equipment was. We made as much food as we possibly could while fighting off the hoards of cockroaches, this was a clear indication that we packed to much food as we all ate until we were stuffed and still had to pitch a bunch of the left over food. Also if your going to make natures burger with annies mac and cheese make sure you have enough water or else it will get really meally.

Oh i almost forgot the little asian lady that visited us in the 3 sided shack. We had seen her walking past us while we where headed to Ka'ha, and she arrived back at the shack probably an hour after we did. She was very pleasant and extremely energetic, said the phrase praise the lord a number of times and wished us a good journey to the top tomorrow morning. With that she sprinted up a rock covered cliff forging her own path, that we decided immediately we would not be taking the next morning. We went the marked way.

We woke up the next morning bright and early to see no clouds in the sky, which meant a lot of heat. We packed and left as fast as we could, leaving the site at about 7 30, after dave had tried some of the cockroach invested leftovers and elyse and i had brushed our teeth. We had about 3.6 miles to go 2.2 of which were straight up and we wanted to do it before the sun got to high in the sky. The first leg was surprisingly difficult as we didnt realize that the whole 1.4 miles was over lava rocks and on a steadily increasing incline. My spirits we significantly lifted from the day before as I didn't drink at all last night and had gotten myself sufficiently hydrated. My blisters on my pinky toes were still aching, but i decided best not to talk about it cause it wasn't going to get any better anyway. Besides Elyse was a bit underhydrated and need the encouragement as we began the climb.

The first leg took us about an hour and we sat looking straight up Hailina Pali. A brief drink and some more breakfast bar and we were off slow and steady as the switchbacks were visibly but hardly a easy walk and footing needed to be considered before taking most steps. Stops were numerous because of the difficulty of the climb and the need for waterbreaks. By 10 30 it was hot and getting hotter and we could see not only a spectacular view, which no camera could properly capture thus there are no pictures, and the top. We pushed on till about 10 45 reached the top, only to realize that we were not at the top. There was a shelf about 100 yards long that receded back of the face before we reached another small cliff face we would have to walk before we made it to the top. This was a challenge. Elyse and I had to stop about 100 yards from the top of the trail which prompted dave, who had already made it back to the truck to come back looking for us. From the top of the trail which met up with the beginning of the trail we got a nice perspective of our entire trip and a look in to what we had accomplished.

On a hysterical side note dave found an orange tank top near the top of the Pali and brought it back to the truck, which had a note stuffed into the driver side door. It was from the woman we had met, congradulating us for making in to the top and asking for someone to call her if we found her orange tank top. We left that job up to Dave.

The Hike

Last weekend we embarked on a three day hike with Dave Bouck through the Ka'u Desert and up Hilina Pali. Elyse and I were a bit naive when we were packing as neither of us really understood the mission that we were taking on. I ended up bring a heavy rain jacket as well as sweat pants which weighed down my pack enormously, which I most likely would not have packed if I realized we were in a goddamn desert. We also brought more food then we possibly could eat and a 5th of Sailor Jerry that went almost entirely untouched all of which just weighed us down.

The first day was a 5 mile hike out to Pepeiao Cabin, we left at about 4 30 pm, about 2 hours after we meant to but we had about 2 hours to get to the cabin and we figured that was plenty of time. If Dave had been on his own he may have made it, but Elyse and I were doggin' it a bit most likely because before 5 30 both of us had twisted our left ankle and I had stomped on my sunglasses. We did reach the cabin at 6 30 just minutes before it was too dark to see and the 10 minutes of rain started. In fact it was so dark we lost the trail and tromped across the field separating us from the cabin.

The cabin was heaven compared to setting up the tent on the trail which we almost did, 3 beds and a roof were excellent. We feasted in order to lighten our bags and Dave tested his steripen, which is used to sterilized the nonpotable water. It worked and he didn't die which we were happy about. I drank a bit of the Sailor, signifcantly more than Dave and Elyse...that did not turn out well. Our second day of hiking came almost immediately to a halt as we had to stop to help Dave look for Nene, a hawaiian goose, and some vegetation. After an hour of looking, there were no Nene and a lot of grass, and we were on our way. It soon became apparent that the second day was going to be more difficult than day 1, as we began the decent of a slopping cliff face down to the ocean. It took us until about 12 30 to reach the ocean, which looked beautiful and tempting as the temperature was approaching 90 degrees, but it was...unreachable. The next phase of the hike took us about 2 hours, and was unbearably hot. The drink from the night before kept me dehydrated no matter how much I drank and eventually I began lagging way behind. Dave continuously tried to predict that the next ridge would be the last and we would be at our destination. He was wrong everytime. Ka'aha once we got there was very nice, with a bit of a shelter and a place where you could even get in the water. I decided my time was best used sitting, unmoving in the shade drinking water for the next 2 hours, i felt much better after getting hydrated. This is getting very long and there is still much to come, I'm thinking a two parter is best....

The Park and The Tour

Having asked Mae for a ride to meet up with Dave the process of getting to Volcano National Park had suddenly gotten much simpler. Catching the bus was proving to be relatively difficult as we did not know where exactly we were supposed to be and at what time as the bus schedule seemed a bit inconsistant. Now however our problems were solved and we were off.

Seeing Dave was excellent, the first familiar face we had seen since being on the island; he felt the same way but it had been three months since he had seen someone from home. After a trek to see the source of the vog we landed at Dave’s house, which he shares with several other park volunteers, whom we got to know over beer and a large spaghetti dinner. A bit too large actually I never really recovered from dinner and found myself nodding off occasionally during the conversation of how best to bring down Wal-Mart amongst other things.

We were off early the next morning to catch the bus into Hilo, we grabbed a bite to eat at Bear’s Café and then took a quick look about town. Downtown Hilo is pretty small so by 11 we were ready to meet with Sailor Joe, a friend of Mae’s and go on what he had previously described as the “Waterfall Tour.” We met him at noon next to the Japanese garden behind the fish market and we were off. Joe is an ex-officer in the military and approximately 70 years old is a real character, with great stories, jokes and zest for life. We spent the next two hours before Joe’s haircutting appointment going on hikes at Akaka falls and a semi hidden cove a bit north of Hilo. I can’t remember the name of it just now. After Joe’s hair cut and a bit of pokah, raw fish native to the area (I may be spelling that wrong but it tastes delicious even if it is a bit pricey) we headed to Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls is famous for the rainbow that appears over it just about everymorning. On this day however we were unlucky as the persistant drought had all but dried up. Joe gave us a ride back up to Mt. View where Mae had made us a fanastically larger dinner, which once again put me on my heels. Dave, Elyse and I were all passed out by 10 pm as we had to get up earlier to meet Mae at the farmer’s market in Volcano.

First Week in Hawaii

The first week in Hawaii is wrapping up as we are off to see Dave Bouck, he’s been on the Big Island for about three months now and is as excited about seeing us as we are for seeing him. The first week on Mae’s farm, officially called Moon Garden Farms has been great. The weather has been warm and sunny the entire time, which is beginning to worry the locals as the require catchment for their water supplies and are beginning to run low. For the last four days or so we have been pretty much staying on the farm and getting projects done for Mae. Working outside in such great weather is amazing, it reminds me of The Shawshank Redemption when Red quips that “May is one damn fine month to be working out doors.”

Our living arrangements our interesting to say the least. We live in a storage container outfitted with a bed that is roughly shoulder high. It’s been freaking Elyse out slightly, as it creaks a bit when we are in it. Mae has a large farm house with rooms that she rents out. She has four people who rent from her, two are never around except for maybe once a month or so and are therefore completely irrelevant. Wendy and Raynetta are at the house all the time however and add an interesting dynamic. Wendy is a Thia massuse, and a wonderful chef, but fails to exert much personality. Raynetta, I may be is a small, very active women who is pleasant but often unseen. Then there is Donna who lives in Kona but stays at Mae’s house often to get away from the persistent vog. Vog is volcanic smoke which has high concentrations of sulfur dioxide and his extremely tough on the lungs when in it is breathed in. There is also Gail who lives next door and visits almost everyday bringing along her two dogs, one of which runs of batteries, to join Pebbles and Tess, three cats wonder about the property but are rarely seen. So living here on Moon Garden Farms is Elyse, myself, three to six older women and an assortment of animals. It makes for an interesting day, especially if you steal the lone television to watch football all day, you may get some steely looks.

While on the farm we spend our days working for the most part as Mae has a seemingly endless list of chores for us to work on; which is fine by me as she is giving us room and board and for the most part the work is enjoyable. On the days we do get out exploring Hilo has thus far been our most common journey. There is a nice little down town area where shopping is easy and food is plentiful. After two hours or so the novelty begins to wear off and you begin looking for more secluded and less well-known areas of the island. That is what we are hoping to accomplish by meeting up with Dave as he is working and living in Volcano National Park. We will continue our island adventure Saturday when we meet with Sailor Joe, a friend of Mae’s who is going to take us on a “Waterfall tour” of the south eastern part of the Big Island.