Monday, November 17, 2014

17 November - Relaxing in Hilo

0600 position 19-44N 155-03W. At anchor in Radio Bay, Hilo.

After we got the boat tied up and put away and had breakfast we tried to
head over to Customs to check in. The port security changes since 9/11
have really messed up Radio Bay. We couldn't get out of the Harbor on
foot from the dock we were tied to. It is all fenced off for harbor
security. After tromping around on shore and finding ourselves trapped,
we launched the dinghy and paddled over to a little park on the south
shore of the harbor where we could get out. We walked over to customs,
did our paperwork, and returned to Moku pe'a.

Julius and Susan from Emerald Steel were at anchor in the harbor when we
arrived, and they paddled over for a visit. They recommended anchoring
vice tying to the dock since you have to dinghy ashore to get out anyway
and one of the boats tied to shore got a mouse infestation. That was
enough encouragement for us, so after filling water we moved out to an
anchorage next to Emerald Steel.

Lori arrived on schedule at 130PM, rented a car, and found us with no
problem. It was wonderful to see her again.

After we got Lori settled in we dinghied over to Emerald Steel for a
visit. It was fun to tour their home made steel Spray replica. They will
be in Hawaii for a year or so, and I believe we were successful in talking
them into spending some of it in Kaneohe Bay. Their voyage north wasn't
as pleasant as ours taking 26 days in lots of adverse winds.


We went to Ken's Pancake House, Aaron Phillip's favorite diner, for dinner
and then back to the boat where I finally was able to get some sleep.

Yesterday we took a road trip up to the hot spring/tide pool on the Kau
coast and to the volcano where we hiked across Kilauea Iki.

There are small craft warnings in effect and the forecast is for strong
trade winds and a big north swell the rest of the week. This throws a
monkey wrench in our planned leisurely cruise home. Our planned
anchorages in Nishimura Bay and La Perouse Bay won't be any fun in the
strong winds and big swell. Lori isn't interested in survival cruising
either, so she is planning to fly home. Tony and I will sail directly to
Kaneohe staying well east of the channels which should keep us out of the
strongest winds. It will take us a day and a half to get home. We're
planning on leaving Tuesday morning and should arrive at KYC late
Wednesday afternoon.

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