Aloha everyone,
Today (Wednesday) was relatively uneventful. Just trying to get all my personal stuff caught up and balance that with working. Still trying to get in the right sleep mode, but I’m soooo tired right now I think I’ll be sleeping like a rock tonight.
Aloha!
Day three….
Today I picked up my Jeep from Hilo. My friend Odie - who I met when Rhonda and I were here last January - gave me a ride to the other side of the island. Cool guy and great waterman. He makes SUP paddles that are awesome and also works for one of the large resorts north of Kailua as an outdoor adventure director (he takes tourists out on the ocean for paddling, diving and anything else you can think of to do in the water).
The drive to Hilo and back is awesome. There are two ways to go: past Waimea and down the north coast of the island or through the ’saddle’. We chose the saddle route because it’s about 20 minutes faster and takes you through some really rugged countryside. The trade winds howl through the saddle towards the top and you can feel your vehicle being pushed side to side by them. I’d guess there were gusts of about 30 kts. There are several calderas (little mini volcanoes, or vents, as they are properly called) that were really cool to see close up on the way. The road used to be one lane. Now its two, but in really bad shape. The state just received a few billion to refurbish the road and so between Hilo and the top, it’s really nice, but the rest of it reminds me of driving through remote baja.
The job is going well. Today I got a centrifuge up and running. It’s used to seperate the algae from water after harvest. We had a work meeting in the late afternoon at the home of one of my coworkers and watched an awesome sunset from his lanai while talking about the future of our 3-man engineering group. Great stuff!
I hope all is well with all of you!
Aloha friends and family!
I made it! I’m here on the big island, awake at 5am (still on west coast time).
Yesterday’s trip was relatively uneventful, with the most difficult part being my departure. It was really hard to leave, as Rhonda and I won’t be seeing each other everyday anymore until December when she moves over. We have trips planned and booked to see each other every two weeks until she comes out at the end of the year, but when you grow as close as we have in the last 9 months and become best friends as we have, you get a bit of seperation anxiety. We all know what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but I can’t wait until she gets here to share in the fun and adventure of this new lifestyle.
The first thing I saw at my new pad (home) was a gecko at my front door to welcome me. There are plumerias blooming every where, and the ocean is just accross the street, so I can jump in any time. I’m just down the street from downtown Kailua-
kona, and can walk to the restaurants and stores. I need to do some cruising around to figure out the market situation, but the one I went to last night to pick up breakfast food was pretty good. Ultimately, Rhonda and I will most likely be living out of town towards the Palisades and up the volcano a bit in the cooler elevation, but it’s still good to be here in town as I get settled in.
Today is my first day on the new job. For those of you who don’t know or need a reminder, I was hired as a systems engineer to help with the design and assembly of a pilot production plant that will grow algaes for use in the production of biofuels. Time to save the world! My new office is located about 200 feet from the water’s edge just west of the airport in Kona. Once the facility is built, I’ll be part of the staff helping to support the development of this technology.
I’m excited and I hope that all of you can live vicariously through me as Rhonda and I begin our new adventure!
Lots of pictures and stories to come!
Aloha!
Aloha Friends,
Here’s the latest news: I’m moving to the big island of Hawaii on August 3rd. Cal me a lucky dog, but I accepted my dream job earlier this month. I’ll be working for a company that is partnered with Shell to produce algae for use in making biofuels. Not only do I get to save the world, but I get to work about 200 feet from my favorite place - the ocean. The facility is located right next to the airport in Kona, and I’ll be living nearby in Kona somewhere (TBD).
So, my truck is on its way, all my belongings are on thier way, and I’ll be leaving this Sunday to start work on Monday. Another piece of great news: my grilfriend Rhonda (who many of you know about, and some don’t) will be joining me there in December. Rhonda is a ‘waterwoman’ and paddles, dives, SUP’s and will try anything you can do in the ocean. She’s also the team leader for the San Diego Team Luna Chix (any of you women interested in helping with fundraising for the Breast Cancer Fund should contact her to get involved).
Come see us in the islands when you’re there!
More soon…..
