The View From My Chair

Wonderful Wednesday

Woke up at 7 and checked if towels were being set out on the front row chairs. It's a game to get front row loungers facing the ocean. There are only eight, and we have to have two of them.

Gary made it out there in time, but then the Maui rain came so we stayed up in the condo for a bit.

Gary was not able to run - just too slick when wet - but he did make a run by car to the Farmers Market for fresh bagels. Yes!

We spent the morning on our lanai looking down at our towels safely securing our front row loungers...and getting just a wee bit wet. It continued to rain off and on all morning and few dared to chance it. We opted for our lanai where were still getting some great sun. It was literally raining, no pouring, if you were looking towards the resort, and pure sunshine towards the ocean. Only in Maui!

Gary did some work on his laptop and had to check in with the office where there was an issue needing his attention. Perfect timing.

After lunch we finally claimed our loungers and finally enjoyed some sun. The wind was incredibly strong and there were constant clouds coming off the mountain full of rain. We would get dripped on, but just as quickly it would dry.

We were able to get in lots of sun and visit with several new front-row friends.

At 5:30 we went in to start dinner. Gary made some great steak which we then put on our salads. He also got some amazing corn at the Farmers Market that he grilled. We haven't had corn since summer...and it was amazing.

The resort provides several grills for guests to use, and we try to use them as often as possible. There was an amazing Maui sunset as we enjoy a great dinner....and a great Maui evening!

Unbelievable that back home there is a Northeast wind blowing and 5 inches of snow. So glad I'm takin' one for the team in Maui!

Out and About!

We had an invitation from one of Gary's former clients to visit them while we were in Maui. Since they are leaving for the mainland on Thursday we decided this would be the day. It also gave us the opportunity to explore a part of the island we are not familiar with.

Mid morning we left for central Maui driving through the amazing field of sugar cane. Taking as many back roads as possible we wound our way through the cane fields near the Kahului Airport.

We chanced by the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum and decided that may be a great stop when Taryn gets here. The museum is housed in a 1902 mill superintendent's house and sits directly across from the working factory that has been producing sugar all these years. I think it will be very interesting to learn about the process of making sugar.

We drove up to the little town of Makawao, otherwise know as the "cowboy town". We had decided to do lunch there but were not truly understanding how small the town is. It became apparent once we got there that even finding lunch may be a problem.

We had read about a bakery and thought we would find a nice sandwich to split. No such luck. While we did find the bakery, it was nothing more than a bakery. we did observe people walking out with box after box of cream puffs and decided they must be quite something, so we snagged a box to take with us to Leib & Peg who we planned to visit later that day.

Our only options for lunch were a Mexican joint or and Italian joint. we went Mexican and actually got a very decent burger there to split.

We then drove back to Wailea to our friends. Thanks to the GPS we drove right to their door.

Leib & Peggy retired here just a year ago and have a magnificent home in a very affluent neighborhood of Wailea. We really enjoyed our afternoon visit with them and touring their most beautiful home. The cream puffs, by the way, turned out to be excellent!

As it tuned out they cancelled their evening plans and took us for dinner at Tommy Bahamas, which I always thought was a clothing store. Guess what? Tommy Bahama's is both a store and a restaurant!

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and visit there, and didn't get back to the condo till after 10 PM. It was a great day out and so nice to see Leib and Peg again.

Farmers Market

Last year we discovered this great little Farmers Market just up the road from our resort. It is only open three days a week and you had better be there early if you want a favorite item because they sell out very quickly.

We were there early so we could secure our favorite fresh pineapple bagels and passion fruit cream cheese. So yummy for breakfast.

There is also a great selection of organic fruits and vegetables and we stocked up for the week on all our favorites.

We spent the day in the sun relaxing and watching the whales breaching right off the shore from us. This morning they were so close it was incredible.

It was much warmer today with less wind. We have to be pretty vigilant on the sunscreen. A bad burn can be miserable this early in the game.

The waves are crashing on shore and the sight and sound is amazing. They are definitely bigger this year, and word is the other side of the island is experiencing incredible surfing conditions.

Tonite we went in to town for dinner, enjoyed some shopping and then went to the Hula Grill for dessert.

A Perfect First Day

This was a perfect first day. Gary went for a run and I had breakfast and coffee ready when he got back. We ate out on the lanai and were finally able to get the pictures posted tonite.

After that it was all about getting out in the sun. Gary secured two ocean front lounge chairs for us and we couldn't wait to get out there. We have a system after last year and it worked perfect. And that’s where we spent our day. It was so relaxing.

The couple next to us was from Ohio and it was fun to spend the day visiting with them. One of the couples we met last year is back and Gary spent some time with them. They live in Chicago and had quite a bit to say about Obama and Chicago politics. Won’t got there – I’m on vacation.

There were whales breaching just off shore which is always a thrill to see. It wasn't too hot - mid 70's - which is a perfect way to start in the sun, and there was a constant wind off the ocean which made it so comfortable.

We made an amazing dinner at the condo, watched a picture perfect sunset and plan to find some dessert after Amazing Race.

Breakfast on the Lanai

Lovin' Maui!

Guess what? We're in Maui! For the next two weeks it's all about sun and fun. I do love Maui, and I love what we do in Maui - relax!

Altho it is always less than relaxing getting here. Gary worked an insane amount of hours to make it happen. I don't know how he did it either.

Our goal was to leave by two on Friday, but it was nearly five. Oh well. We did something a bit different this time and got a hotel near the airport where we could park our vehicle and that worked well.

Unfortunately I messed with the clock radio before we went to sleep which resulted in me waking frequently worrying if our alarm would truly go off or not. In fact I didn't sleep much at all. We did get a wake up call and made it to the lobby to catch the 6:20 shuttle.

It was shocking to be greeted by an entire group of people dressed in their most Hawaiian clothes. Can you picture it? I think there were four different groups all going to different locations in Hawaii, but all flying out on Alaska. The only way we could get in the shuttle was for the entire back row of wives to sit on their husbands laps. It was too funny.

Once we had checked in Gary wanted a Seattle's Best Latte which meant a jaunt to the opposite end of the terminal, but a small price to pay for a "good" latte. I opted for Starbucks.

Lattes in hand we headed to security...and then realized we couldn't take our coffee with us. Dumb! Thankfully we had enough time to enjoy our coffee before going thru. But best was that right next to our gate was a Seattle's Best. Now we know.

As we boarded our flight we noticed two smiling faces already seated. Bill and Linda Bode were on their way to Maui and will be staying right down the beach from us. Actually there are many Lynden people here right now.

We landed in Maui just after noon, and Gary went for the car while I got the luggage. It is only 75 degrees but feels so good.

I love Maui, and love that I know where I'm going. It now looks and feels familiar to me.

From the airport we blitzed thru three strategic stops - Costco, WalMart & Safeway. All three were crazy busy and it was quite a feat to maneuver thru them.

The drive across the island over to Ka'anapali is one of my favorites. The road gets unbelievably close to the ocean as it gently weaves along the shore. It's a beautiful, peaceful drive.

By the time we hit the Safeway in Ka'anapali Gary was fading fast so he kept food cool in the car (ha) and closed his eyes while I did the final shop.

We found a great new-to-us restaurant in a funky old warehouse. The menu looked great and right before we ordered our waiter informed us that all the food was half price. It was really good too. We loved the beachy atmosphere and decided we'll take Taryn here when she comes next week.

I was so anxious to get to the condo. Our unit this year is much closer to the ocean which is so sweet. We also have the larger unit and it's so spacious. What fun! Only my kids will appreciate this, but I even have my own vacuum! Yeah

It will be a resort day tomorrow as we get into full relax mode. Our first Maui gold pineapple is on the counter, and we'll be starting our day with Kona coffee and our favorite fresh pineapple bagels as well.

Being on vacation is so sweet!