A Little Slice of da Harbor...: Tropical Excursions

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Tropical Excursions

I had a couple once-in-a-lifetime events this week. Things I never thought I would do, not even in Hawai'i.

The first was a snorkel at Pu'uhonau o Honaunau National Historic Park (aka Two Step). It's south of Kona off of Highway 11. Popular spot, and I can see why. We snorkeled at Kiholo Bay last week, but sight distance was limited due to fresh water mixing with salt water and dark clouds. This day's adventures were taken in the sunshine and clear water.

I felt so amazing swimming with these fish. There's nothing quite like it. I could tell they were used to people. They just went about their business, eating off the coral.

Since I do not have the technology to record what I saw, I found someone on youtube who did. Thank you itchykat!

See someone else's video here.

That's pretty much what I saw. A few other types of fish as well. One of the coolest parts of being in there was floating between rock crests. The waves would break above me and toss me around with their current. Thank goodness for flippers!

Yesterday was an adventure of a lifetime. Kilauea Mountain is active on the island, and lava is running down into the ocean. We started a hike at 3 am over hardened lava to get to the fresh flow.

Three year old lava flow... our terrain in the dark

We hiked for two miles to the ocean's edge, where neither one of them seem to mind each other's presence. The lava flowed in bright orange, and the waves crashed over it. Hawai'i gets bigger as this outpouring expands, and it gets smaller as these massive chunks crack and fall into the ocean.

Here is a video as I walked over it. Don't worry, Mama and Papa! I survived!

And here is an awesome one that Aaron shot. I have never seen anything like this before. It was hot!

As the sun came up, we were able to see the terrain we were on beyond our headlight range. That in itself was an awakening experience. I know a guy who gives great tours if you ever want to go!

Besides that, I have some neat pictures of rainforest trees. Enjoy!

Aloha!

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

“If you’ve never been there, you wouldn’t understand” is a quote printed above an outlined picture of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on a t-shirt sold in gift shops in the area. Some people cock their heads in bewilderment of what this could mean. Well, if you’ve never been there (to da U.P.), then you wouldn’t understand.

It’s simple really. Where are you guaranteed to see more trees than people on any drive or walk? Where can you sit in a bar in April and know everybody’s name? Where can you wear flannel and Carharts anytime of the year without a flinch from a passerby? Where can you end most of your sentence with the colloquialism eh, eh? Where can you go to truly get away from the civilized world? If you answered “da U.P.” to all of these questions, why, you must have been there.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula makes up one third of the state’s land mass, but only 3% of its entire population. It’s no wonder the average number of people per square mile is 19.3. Nineteen people per square mile! Its lack of inhabitants combined with a plethora of wilderness, unique geographical features and an abundance of water is a big part of what makes the U.P. so unique. In fact, it was included in the Sherman Travel worldwide “Top 10 Places to Go in 2005."

And unique in itself, at the most northern tip in the Keweenaw Peninsula sits the little village of Copper Harbor. “Tops in Michigan,” “the beginning of the road” and quite frankly, the hardest place to leave once your soul has found its peace. It’s the least visited and most revisited place in America. Returning visitors make an appearance at least once a year, no matter what gas prices are. And when they’re back at home, they dream of their next visit to the end of the world.

Why would people want to return to a place where their cell phones don’t work and they can’t get a Big Mac for at least 54 miles? Once you drive through the one and only blinking stop light in town, you are 99% guaranteed not to see any authorities. The town can take care of itself for the most part, and people respect each other and each other’s property.

To the local residents and the handfuls of returning tourists (of which some have been adopted), Copper Harbor is the only place where they can be themselves -- completely and shamelessly (at least until the next morning). Fashion does not exist, but comfort is a must. Possessions mean nothing, but attitude means the world. Loitering is encouraged, and talk is ceaseless. Fresh air is plentiful, and serenity is down the block on Lake Superior’s shore. Ahhh.

Only 90 people can bear to live there year-round (good thing because the post office only has 130 mailboxes), but the population peaks around 250 in the busy summer months when people reopen their business or their summer home.

Copper Harbor and the rest of the Keweenaw Peninsula average 270 inches of snow each season. Whether it falls consistently throughout the winter or all in one dump, it’s guaranteed to fall if it isn’t drilling sideways. Only four businesses stay open through these long months because sometimes, there’s just nobody there.

U.S. Highway 41, which runs all the way to Miami, Florida, begins in Copper Harbor, and yes, it gets plowed the whole way up. A half mile north, six miles east and five miles south of this landmark puts you in magical Lake Superior. I know it’s magical because I’ve caught myself and many other people staring, mesmerized by its pure vastness, undulations and crashing waves.

When you can enjoy every breath of Lake Superior air, wear clothing soley for funtion and not mind seeing the same people day after day after day after day, then, my friend, then, you’ll understand.

A Little Slice of da Harbor...

Copper Harbor, That is!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Tropical Excursions

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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