Up and Riding

Up early on Day One on Oahu. Luckily, the Walmart on Keeaumoku is a 24-hour deal, so I was able to do my household-setup shopping at 5:15a. After unloading supplies back at the hale, I returned the pickup, making a stop at 7-Eleven to get a bus pass for April. Sixty bucks for the month will be my commuting expense. Of course, had to get a musubi since I was there. Only on the island for 19 hours and I already had three musubi, which works out to 1,383 musubi/year, if you're keeping track. It's a good thing.

The Bus ride back wasn't too painful. Took about 40 mins, including five minutes of walking at each end to get me home.

I put the fin back on my 10'6 Siempre and walked down to the beach. It's about 15 mins to get from the condo to Kuhio beach to paddle out. I paddled out between Queens and Canoes, taking my time; sitting up a lot and looking around at Diamond Head and out to sea. I have a long way to go to build up my underused paddle muscles.

I drifted Ewa-way, paddling occasionally. Watched the catamarans come out from the beach and through the waves, eventually shutting down their motors, raising sails, and setting off on port reach as tradewinds filled in.

I paddled out a little further and then over to Pops; spotting two turtles on my way. Caught a little inside wave and went left. Popped up and was surprised at how the muscle memory works. Cross-stepped to trim, carved two slow, easy, forehand turns and dived off as it all crumbled into nothing.

Worked my way slowly back into the beach in front of the Royal Hawaiian. I've not seen Waikiki so crowded in my experience. It was packed. Lots of families. Spring break, I guess.

Kris sent me with our Sunbeam Express Steamer and I looked up online how to do rice. It didn't look like it was going to work until right at the end of an hour when the rice blew up and it came out perfect. Had a lunch of brown rice and fried spicy Portuguese sausage.

I was whipped, feeling out of shape, shoulders burning. Napped a little at home and then walked over to Ono Seafood on Kapahulu. Great poke! Got both shoyu ahi and spicy ahi. Drank a coconut juice on the walk back, threading my way past turtle doves and minahs on the grass near the golf course.

The poke was truly ono! Ate a bit of both and stashed the rest in the fridge. Browsed the online recommends for a happy hour, but ended up going to sleep before 7p, after working on a crossword puzzle. Great day.