Here is me at the finish line in Hawaii Kai. We ended at Kona brewery it was pretty cool. The race was so fun, when I was starting I look around and there is at least 100 people around me. We started out by rabbit island and headed around Makapu'u. People were flipping all around me, because the water was like a washer machine. It was so exciting! I was with the big dogs now so it was all about survival. I finished 10th overall for the women and 3rd in my age group, I was pretty happy, I had a fairly clean race with only flipping once, and I know what to expect for the next race. The ladies that won were ripped and in the 40-50 age group. That means when I retire at 38, they better watch out. What a cool scene, you get exercise, sun, see whales, dolphins, turtles, and are amongst some of the coolest people. I almost forget I am racing!
 

Nothing better than a perfect kiting day at Kailua and that's exactly what we had today. In case you weren't aware, Oahu has had a spell of "winter" weather over the past several days. Winter in Oahu involves clouds, some rain and artic nighttime temperatures of less than 70 degrees. I actually had to wear a long sleeve shirt on my bike commute to work on Thursday. After enduring two days of this horrendous weather it is nice to get rewarded for your "suffering". My boy Jeff Casey hooked me up with some sweet pictures today because that's how he roles. Thanks Jeff. Spring's racing in the morning and it's here first A race of the year. She's going to move up since she won her last race. A races are usually 2-3 miles longer than the B races. This one's from Makai Pier to Hawaii Kai about 9 miles. She's been training with a bunch of older Hawaiian guys lately and they've taught her alot. I'm sure she'll unleash tomorrow. We'll keep you posted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin at his finest! I was telling him we got our first rose! All our plants are growing like crazy, we got a warm spell, that just set everything off. Everything should be nice and grown in by the time we are leaving to go back to Tucson. I am going to miss the green! 

Came home from work today to find an envelope full of Hillbilly Proud goodies in my mailbox (DVD, map, stickers). Hillbilly Proud is a multimedia company my friend Keith McCoy owns back home in West-by-God. Check out the link. I'll be pimping the new sticker all over Oahu. Thanks man, I hope all is well. 

We went camping again this weekend on the East side at Bellows. We hung out with some friends that we have not seen in a while. Stacey & Ethan and Jesse & Suzy. We had fun playing volleyball on the beach and hanging out with the Vanagon Club. There was two others with VW's so we were all parked together, it was pretty funny. This is a picture of the sunrise behind rabbit island. 

Had an awesome day with my little bro Billy, we met through Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Honolulu several months ago. We're finally hanging out more now that the holidays are over. We where originally supposed to surf this morning but Billy called and wondered if I wanted to go riding with him, of course I was game. I was pretty excited about riding since I dont think I've been on a dirt bike since I used to race about 18 yrs ago. We drove up to his Uncle Joe's and got the bikes, he had an RM80 ready for me to ride, thanks Joe. This was the exact same size bike I used to race when I was 15. They seemed so huge back then. We went over to some trails and rode for about 2 hrs. Definitely a fun day, thanks Billy. Here's a shot of me and Billy ragin. 

Billy 

Me and Billy. 

It was a perfect day for Springs race. It started in Waimanolo and ended in Kailua, about 5 miles. Spring was really wanting to do well today because she wants to upgrade from novice B to open class so that she can race the long courses. She ended up winning the novice B class and got second over all for the short course. It was a sprint down to the line. This is a picture of Spring and her friend Val battling for the win (the two in the middle), Spring got her only by about a half boat length. After the race we went to barbers for a surf session, it was small but we had fun. We're having people over tonight for BBQ so I better get grill started. 

Everyone at the finish. 

View of Diamond Head and Honolulu from a trail by the house. 

Me kiteboarding at Kailua. 

Mts by Kualoa Ranch. 

Sunrise this morning. 

Ocean right beside of the campsite. 

Just got back from our camping trip last night. Our friend Jeff Casey met us up at the site in Kahuku. There's always alot of obnoxious high volume conversation when Jeff and I get together because he is one of the few people that is as loud as me, always a good time. I can't believe we've lived here over two years and never camped at this campground. That side of the island is really beutiful and there aren't that many people. Our site was right next to the ocean and you can build campfires, we're definitely going to go back. We left this morning and went to Kailua for some kiting. This has probably been the best week I've ever had for kiting, I made it out 4 times and hopefully we'll be out again tomorrow. Spring's boat race is tomorrow at 10. It's from Wiamanolo to Kailua. She says she's ready to rock. 

Bring on the 4 day weekend!!! Just had a sweet kite session, the wind has been awesome all week. Hopefully it stays good through the weekend. We're camping at a new spot in Kahuku this weekend and Spring has a race on Sunday. Should be a good weekend, we'll keep you posted.

Sorry...I have been playing so much that I have not even remembered the camera. Kevin had to work all week, so I just sat home on the couch and ate bon-bons. Not........... Monday, surfed and ran with my neighbor Buffy. Tuesday took my boat out from Hawaii Kai and left my bike at the boat house near Waikiki, went down wind (although no wind) for two hours and then rode my bike back to get the van, with my friend Val, she just got a new bike for Christmas. Wed, I went to Yoga and then lifted some weights, first time in a long time, I am really sore. And then later that day took my boat out on the West side for the first time and did some sprints. These kids ran up when I was done and asked if they could try it, it was really cute. That night we went to Vanessa's going away party to Alaska to join our good friends Ben and Lisa. We saw alot of good friends and ate alot of good food. We will miss Vanessa, we have been getting to know her better since Ben and Lisa left and she is so fun. Thursday, a bunch of paddling friends were on the trail, Kooliouou before the sun was even up. I ran all the way this time, it is so steep that your calves just start burning and forces you to walk most of the time, but I felt good after eating all that food at Vanessa's party. Today, last day of vacation before school starts on Monday :( I plan on going to yoga and relaxing at the beach and maybe do some surfing, but pretty small. I accomplished everything I wanted to on vacation and gearing up to go into my last semester. I am so excited.

This is a picture of how the outrigger canoes were once made. I have another race coming up on the 15th in Kailua. I hope to do good so I can move up to the long course category. 

Happy New Year!!!!!!
We hiked down to some tide pools below Makapu'u lighthouse today. It was pretty rainy on the windward side but it cleared enough to get some sunshine. Here is a shot of Hilary, Spring, Dom (aka banana hammock), Dan and Vanessa. It was a good way to start out the new year.