Ferry To Molokai

Up again early.  This time 4:20 so we could leave at 5.  Our first stop was Denny's.  Cameron had a big plate of pancakes.  We forgot how much we miss Denny's.  Yummy breakfast.

We LOVE Denny's.

In the car and headed to Lahaina.  We had to be there by 6:30 to check in for our ferry ride to Molakai.  We found the dock and checked in.  The girl handed me plates of fruits and muffins for each of us.  We didn't know they gave us breakfast.  We watched some surfers and found crabs on the rocks until it was time to board.

Full belly makes a boy tired.

Cameron and Grandma hanging out under the tree.

It was a funky tree too.

Pointing out crabs all over the rocks.

I love this kid so much.

There's an icky crab.

Love the American flag shirt and being in America.

The ferry arrived and we got on.  We went to the upper deck.  As we started cruising along an announcement came on saying if you are on the top you might get wet.  Oh great.  The ride was great for about the first 20 minutes.  Then it started getting rougher and water was spraying us.  Cameron was enjoying it. Tom and Judy went down below.  About 2 minutes later I went down too.  It was getting pretty rough.  I found a chair and parked myself.  By now we were bouncing around pretty good.  I was taking some deep breaths and praying I would fall asleep.  I was beginning to think I might puke.  I was looking around trying to figure out what I would do if I did puke.  I wasn't sure where the bathroom was or if I would make it there.  There was a huge guy sitting in the front with a garbage can next to him.  I figured if I did puke that was where I was going.  Thank goodness I didn't puke and I did fall asleep.  I woke up to much calmer seas.

Here comes the ferry.

They brought people from Molokai.

Luckily we had rafts if we needed them.

Getting on the ferry.

Whoa, full boat.

Hoping this adventure was fun.

Tom and Judy were ready for adventure too.

Todd and all his friends.

Cameron hanging out in the back of the boat.

This is when he saw a flying fish.  Todd saw one too.

So far so good.  This is when it was still calm.

Cameron loved the boat ride.

Still looking calm and relaxed.

Back up on top to get a much needed drink of water and to sit with the family.  About 10 minutes later we arrived at the dock.  Unloaded and found our tour van.  Loaded that up and our guide started giving the speech.  We ran to the bathroom really quick.  I went in the men's bathroom to be faster because our guide wasn't overly happy we needed to go.

Off we went.  Our guide warmed up and became friendlier.  He thought he was pretty funny with all his corny jokes.  Our first stop was an overlook.  There were two paths.  The first one took us to the overlook and the second took us to a phallic looking rock.  It is said that if people are trying to get pregnant they go to this rock to pray.  Supposedly it helps.

This was our location.

It was nice to look over.

Cameron wasn't too impressed.  All the scenery was starting
to look alike.

Here is the rock.

Hopefully it doesn't make anyone pregnant in our group.

Nice.

Back on the van.  Next stop was the coffee place.  This was where they roast the coffee beans.  We didn't see any of that.  We just saw the coffee shop and gift shop.  There were a bunch of elders sitting around a table playing their instruments and singing.  There was also a group of kids who were from a school and it was a Hawaiian immersion class.  These kids were singing Hawaiian songs. Fun. We bought a couple drinks and a big pretzel.  Judy and Cameron both bought something in the gift shop.

Go Big Green.

The coffee joint we stopped at.

Here is the elderly band.

I'm not sure what all these people were lined up for but Todd
took their picture.  Found out later this was a picture of a picture.

Back on the van.  Next stop was the macadamia farm.  This guy was a piece of work.  He looked like he was a hippy and may still have been strung out on pot.  He showed us all the parts of the nut tree and what to look for in nuts.  We then got to use a hammer or an ancient nut cracker to get the nuts out of the shells.  Cameron enjoyed this part.  They could also try the honey or honey mustard dips that are also made from the parts of the tree.

This was the nut guy.

This is where we were.

Cameron was listening to every word.  I was
trying to figure the guy out.  Strange dude.

Grandpa Tom watching Cameron smash the nut.

Trying out the ancient nut cracker.

Grandpa trying the honey and honey mustard.

Cameron eating another nut.

Back in the van.  Next stop was lunch at Peddlers Cove.  It was a nice little bar.  We could choose a hamburger or chicken sandwich.  They were good.  We were at lunch for 50 minutes.  Back on the van.

This was a nice bar.

Next stop was a church.  It was a small little church.  Our guide sang a song and explained the church.  We then were back in the van.  Off for a drive to an area by the water.  Cameron enjoyed this part because he could climb around on the rocks.  Back on the van.

The church we visited.

Cute little church.

Cameron with St. Damien.

This church needed a cleaning on the outside.

Neat.

More ocean he can't get in.

Climbing on the rocks.

Grandma and Grandpa were troopers on this
boring adventure.

Cameron needed to climb off some boredom.

Such a cute kid.

Taking a little break.

 

We drove back to the town which took 45 minutes or so.  Once there our guide dropped us off at one end and we walked down the street looking in shops to get to the other end.  We went in the gas station to get an ice cream cone, then walked across the street to go to the bathroom, and then back on the van.

Don't get too close to the tree.

Enjoying his ice cream.

We drove across the street and got dropped off at the ferry again.  This was a LONG day. We were all in and out of consciousness on the van.  There was a lot of driving around with a lot of information.  It wasn't the best tour we have ever done.

Back on the ferry.  We immediately found seats below because one of the guys said the ride back is usually worse.  Oh great.  We started off and it was ok for about 5 minutes.  I was trying to go to sleep.  My eyes were closed almost the whole time.  It was much rougher.  There were a few times it felt like we were going to roll over.  Cameron and Tom rode in the back where they were getting sprayed.  Cameron stood holding on to the rail and a pole the hole hour and a half ride.  He thought it was fun.  I didn't feel as sick as I did in the morning.  I think starting down below helped.  Glad to be back on land though.

Grandpa was ready to ride.

Grandpa holding on to Cameron for dear life.

Trying to get comfy before we started moving.

Pretty.

Once it was calm seas Cameron went back on top of the boat.

We decided to go to Famous Dave's for dinner.  Problem was it wasn't open.  We walked down the block and found a pizza joint.  We decided to eat there.  We sat in a high table and could see the ocean.  Good pizza.

Back in the car and I drove back to the hotel.  Once there Cameron wanted to swim.  We headed to the pool at 8:00.  It would have been perfect if there wouldn't have been any wind.  He didn't care. He sat in the hot tub for awhile too.  Back up to the room.  Showers, got packed up, and off to bed.  We stayed up until 9:30.  Whoa.