Sunday times.

Sunday Lunch at the Windmill in Linton. Sausage, chips and a rocket salad, washed down by half a John Smiths, Ladies and Gentlemen, it doesn't get any better than that.

This scene reminds me of a painting by Constable, but instead of a classic painting it was just a field on a post lunch walk with my bro through Hettchel Woods.

Here we are playing silly buggers with the self-timer.

Caught in the act of jumping for joy.

Good grief it's pretty here.

Later in the afternoon I ran into this octopus tree and I want it to be friends with the rainbow eucalyptus.

Test driving the senior transport!

First Class Virgin.

With the UK being my destination, I always enjoy the departure lounge part of the journey, as the ratio of British to US accents starts tipping in favour of the old country (and that mysterious 'u' starts reappearing in my spelling).

Having been born in the sixties in the UK, the class system is still on my hard drive. Standing in the Virgin Atlantic queue (who's directive was 'Upper Class'), the fist 20 years of my youth arose to remind me I was sneaking into an area where, according to my accent and upbringing I didn't belong. Luckily after 28 years of living in the US I didn't give a shit and felt completely deserving! Yet I did ponder later 'would I have felt that way had the airline not been British'?

When the stewardess asked me quietly “Is this your first time in Upper Class”?, I blurted “yes, it is, does it show”,?! “no, no”, she assured me as we chuckled, “we ask everyone, so we can familiarize you with the in-flight chair and entertainment system”! Phew, and I thought she had spotted the impostor! (With apologies for the blurry turbulence enhanced picture-hic!).

The green and pleasant land.

How to pick up girls from Leeds...

Tempting Heathrow.....very tempting.

I had partaken in the joys of free beer and Earl Grey at the Upper Class lounge at LAX. However, I had also found myself behaving like an urchin from the street, 'steeling' a complimentary granola bar and apple for the harsh reality when 'poof', 10 1/2 hours later at LHR I'd be back to my regular middle class life.

As fate (or karma) would have it, about an hour after landing and whilst awaiting the 15:30 train to Leeds, I found myself at a waiting-room-less Kings Cross Station, sitting cross legged on the floor and eating my stolen apple. A first class act all the way.

Lahaina Pali Trail

"That thing is so ugly", I remember thinking when I first drove by the net curtain that hugs the cliffs as you drive toward Lahaina. However, over the years I've come to appreciate this chain link armor that protects the main artery road, connecting the West side to the North Shore.

It's quite a feet of engineering, bolted into the side of the mountain and draped lovingly over the voluptuous curves of the hill side.

Inspired by a bunch of friends hiking into the crater this weekend for an overnighter, I decided a good walk in the wilderness was on the cards, (or perhaps I just needed the validation that I'm not a strenuous hiker chick?).

" The Lahaina Pali Trail is an old Hawaiian horse and foot trail built in the early 1800s. The trail was used as a more direct route across the arid southern slopes of the West Maui Mountains, connecting Lahaina and Olowalu with Maalaea and Wailuku. There are two trailheads that zigzag up the mountain, crossing ridges and gullies to the 1,600-foot ridge."

The views were amazing, nice downwinder on a flat day.

My goal was to reach the 20 wind turbines at the top of the ridge. As I huffed and puffed my way up the hill I decided this was close enough to tick the 'I got to windmills' box!

The turbines spin independently of one another, but for a few joyful revolutions these three were in perfect sync. It was a 'Christopher' moment of pleasure....(the protagonist of 'The Curious Incident Of The dog In The Nighttime').

It's a wonderfully baron and wind swept place and for the most part I had the journey to myself.

Shade was in short supply so these kiawe trees were more appreciated than those whose thorns stick in my feet at Kanaha.

The 10:00 am snorkel.

Not to be outdone by the tourists on the 'Four Winds', upon returning to my truck I pealed off my sweaty gear in favor of a clean bikini and was in the water within minutes. Ahhhhhhhhh never had a quick dip been more appreciated and as the hike was rated 'difficult', I'll also say deserved! Thank f**k I didn't hike the crater (but damn I hate missing out on a good time)!

Book Club Bliss.

'Tis that time of the year (again) when the annual migration of avid readers descends out of the clouds and into the bliss that is the cabin at Poli-Poli.

Nancy to Sharon, "honestly-it was this big"!

The evening light at the cabin was ridiculously gorgeous. Not having seen each other for a few months as women do, we clucked and hugged, convened around the BBQ catching up on each others journey..... so far and fully appreciating our surroundings.

I'd say gratitude was the common feeling among us as we nestled in to our electric free cabin life. We had nutritious and alcoholic provisions for days and like a well trained regiment, we all got on with what had to be done, chipping in, doing our part and allowing the gathering to naturally unfold.

Bloody hell girls, it doesn't get much better than this. Oh wait......there was the satellite and shooting star watching, 'Thriller' at dinner dancing and enough laughter to sustain everyone until our October meeting.

The walking stick.....

All feeling rather pleased with ourselves having just picked this upcoming sessions books. It'll be out little way of helping the economy, Amazon here we come!

The French Connection.

Having ridden up from sea level at 6:30am on Sunday morning, the first aid station for Cycle to the Sun is at 3,200 ft. It's lovingly run by Jami & Nancy, this year sporting the apropos theme of

the Tour de France.

It's good clean fun to wake up early, put on your best Le French togs and hand out libations with a friendly 'Salut'. Our aim was to add a smile to the faces of the 170 Mesdames et Messieurs that found it in themselves to ride to the top of Haleakala.

No baguette was safe.....!

Our host and hostess demonstrate the versatility of this long and narrow loaf! Note; the lady in the background was simply a well dressed impostor.

Later, inspired by all that stamina I went for a short ride from my house. One of these days I'll have to try a road bike because it's inconceivable to me how people can ride for so long.....praps I should take heed of these wise words from MC Spandex!

Au revoir.

Soft pedaling,

All forms of transportation have their perks and for me, my bike provides the freedom to explore, while getting a workout and the joy of being able to carry my camera. Tootling along the road to Hana I jumped off when the urge grabbed me for a closer look at nature's fantastic creations.

'ohhhhhh look down there!"

Sean Penn said of Alaska, "I'd never seen anything like it, it was like nature on steroids". I say Hawaii is a bit like nature on pakalolo.

I rest my case.....

These old irrigation ditches divert water from the East Maui water shed to quench the thirst of the sugar industry and upcountry residents like myself. The first 17-mile leg of a 74-mile ditch system was organized in 1874 and as we all know everything is connected. So the consequence of me having water in my taps is that native species that lived in the once abundant streams and taro farmers and residents of East Maui are (to put it mildly) parched.

Drat and double drat, what happened? I was having such a nice time showing you nature and all of a sudden man comes along and puts his big foot in it and I can't help but tell it like it is.

OK-wait, here's a nice bridge that man built so we can do some things right.....right?

....though you have to admit it pales in compassion to this bamboo forest. When driving I always anticipate this vista as it never ceases to take my breath away. With pedal power I was able hop off the saddle and really take a moment to soak in the wiggly panorama. BTW, did you know the word 'pedal' has it's origins dating back to the 17th century and comes (of course) from the latin word 'pedalis' or 'a foot in length'.

Okey-dokey now everyone take a big inhale of the delicate fragrance of the lovely ginger which accompanied me, along with the aroma of squashed guava whose pulpy roadside guts will make a delicious meal for someone I'm sure.

As I headed home I thought "you know you're in Hawaii when...."

Giraffe views

At 3pm on Friday I sent an e-mail to my business partner "is it ok if I sneak off"? I typed, "of course", came her generous reply and 10 minutes later I was laying here on the beach reading and wondering why I don't play hooky more often?

Majestic Maui.

Now, let's get down to the serious business of giraffe drawing. There's a comical website that was created out of a bet between friends, a gauntlet was thrown that one million Giraffe's can (or cannot) be created and collected by 2011. Nothing can be made on the computer, infact that's part of the goal..... to pry us away from our screens and play the old fashioned way. Here's my entry along with another goody, another and yet another. Check out the statistics and random Giraffe selection of bottom their site, good clean dumb fun and yes, I know I have too many brushes. Just one more........PS

Tropical Depression.

"Ok-my emergency bag is packed, I've got adequate supplies, the decks are cleared and the server at work is backed up", I said to myself on Monday "now", I thought "all I can do is surrender". I'd been a busy bee (ok possibly a bit manic) as slacking off was just not my thing when Hurricane Felicia, wait Tropical Storm Felicia, wait, Tropical Depression Felicia was heading Maui's way. Friends were not sure whether to mock me or feel sorry for me......they all veered toward the former.

Talking of mocking and depression......"In my world hell has officially frozen over", I said to the lady from whom I'd just purchased my latest pair of sandals. Not exactly CFM's but my feet love them.

Anyway-there's nothing like dodging a weather bullet to make you grateful for where you live...... and for your Birkenstocks.

Birthday felicitations.

I like back stories to iconic photo's, here's a good one from the Beeb. Even better, here's the real deal to match the sound track that's now playing in your head.