Ghosts and Surfers

On Sunday morning, after a fantastic 5 days travelling around Hawai'i together, I left Anitra at Hilo Airport, to begin her journey back to Washington State.
My plan was to drive back to Kona, spend the night at Patey's Place and return the car the next day. No driving distance is that far in Hawai'i, so I made a few stops on the way.
First I went to Akaka Falls, it was very early (around 8am) so I had the place to myself. I was enjoying this until I took a photo of one of the Banyan trees in the park, when I looked on my camera display, there appeared to be some kind of cloudy "thing" in the middle of the tree. Rather than believe it to be my flash, I decided it was a ghost in the tree and ran along.

Akaka Falls

There are a lot of Mongoose here. Admittedly until last week I thought a Mongoose was a type of mountain bike, but apparently it's also a small cat like carnivore. I believe the British are also to blame for this infestation on the island (they were brought in to kill rats eating sugar cane), along with the mosquito problem. The latter only thrived after wild pigs (brought by you know who) destroyed fallen trees and created hollows where rain collected, perfect for mosquitoes to multiply. I'm still amazed as I travel to so many countries on this trip and hear of another British invasion, I mean expedition. I spotted a mongoose on the trail, so not only ran (from the ghost that is) but stomped. As we all know mongoose are afraid of noisy hikers. This is the Hawaiian State flag. It will be lovely to find a country without a footnote in British history, alas I think it's unlikely.
I continued driving to Waipio. Anitra had recommended a visit and she was right. Waipio Valley is at the north of the island. The view from the overlook is the sort of landscape I'd always thought of when I heard "Hawai'i". I decided to hike down to the beach. It's a popular destination on the island, so I was able to get some advice from a guy at the information stand before I started the hike.
There is a road down to the beach, but it's only suitable for 4 wheel drives, our little Chevy wasn't up to the task.

View from Waipio Overlook.

The road down was really tough. I understood it would be steep, but hadn't expected it to be so unrelenting. Finally at sea level the road turns back on itself, towards the ocean. The road here is particularly ragged. I watched a truck approach one of the many, huge puddles, afraid I was about to get an unwanted shower, I took shelter in the trees.
The driver shouted out to me, he was friendly and just wanted to let me know he wasn't about to charge through.
Down at the beach (which was full of surfers) I saw the guy again. He introduced himself and his dog as Marcus and Jeremy. Okay the dog wasn't called Jeremy, but I can't remember his name. Marcus offered me a ride back to the top of the lookout in an hour, I gladly accepted.
Marcus reminded me of David Carradine, a grizzly looking old surfer, but friendly enough.
When he'd finished surfing Marcus introduced himself and Jeremy again, I think he had a problem remembering names, I can't imagine what that's like. I took a seat upfront with Marcus and Claude jumped in the back with the surf board.
As soon as Marcus was on the dirt track he noticed two other people hiking up the hill. He pulled over and kindly offered them a lift too. I was glad of some company, Marcus's behaviour was growing strange. A few moments before he shouted "POY" out of the window. I had no idea why and really didn't like to ask.
The two hikers where a grandfather and granddaughter team. I gave up my seat (I had to be dragged) and stood in the back with Alison. I guess because the incline is so steep, Marcus started collecting huge rocks and loading them in the back of the pick up with Alison and I. The rocks where huge and it took all of Marcus's strength to lift them. Occasionally he would lift one and dance around, shouting "red ants, red ants!"
Alison and I clung on to the pick up for dear life, as Marcus accelerated up the hill. He managed to stop again for another hiker, but the rest of the way I heard him shouting at startled hikers, "sorry no room!"

Marcus and Jeremy

Tomorrow I'm taking a flight to Maui. I don't have any definite plans, although I'm staying here and will be taking advantage of the free tours of the island.