Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

It is 2,250 miles of nothing but open water between our last port, Hawaii, and Nuku Hiva. It is winter in Hawaii and Summer in Nuku Hiva, What a beautiful island. Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick, said that Nuku Hiva was a, "country that no description could fit the beauty."  So there's that.

My knee is better and I walked the entire village and found the police department. Not very large, as you might imagine. I met Patrol Officer Mary. She looks like she could whup your butt; however, once we somewhat communicated she was a real sweetheart.  She knew as much English as I know French, which is to say almost nothing.

We struggled with the language thing but, again: its the same job here as most places.  You have to watch your back. We traded shoulder patches. Her's is pretty cool.

Officer Mary

Just getting off the ship by tender and then walking around Nuku Hiva presented hundreds of photo opportunities. Here are just a few.

Drumers

Dancers back on ship before departure.

Day 32 @sea

I was just out on deck looking out over the Pacific, horizon to horizon. We are not a huge ship but, we are cutting through only 3 foot waves at 20 knots. It creates a stiff but not unplesant breeze. 

There are no other ships to be seen. Non for days now.  Flying fish randomly lash out of the sea.  The occassional dolphin will pace us.

I am always my most content on the water and its moist air. These tiny waves would drive us off my lake back into a slip at the marina.  Here, we slice ahead effortlessly.  Our white frothy wake is a mile long. Here, so different from my lake, it is very much the same feel.

There are no mountains within almost a thousand miles. At least none above the surface. Here, so far away from my usual relatively dry exisitance, it is easy to understand that this sphere is covered mostly by water.  It is the volumn of it that is so near incomprehensible.

I am not posting any pictures here. Volumns would convey neither the enormity or its majesty which is its core. It is not my little lake but, it is the same. How could I not be anything but happy?

This Morning a Pollywog.

This afteroon a Shellback.  We crossed the equator way out in the middle of nowhere in the Pacific Ocean.  King Nepture turned up with his Queen and full Court to administer the ancient rights and ceremonies.

I kissed a fish, and I liked it.

No longer a mere Pollywog, I am a hardened Shellback for now and evermore!

Pollywog

Shellback

Hilo, Hawaii

The big part of today was flying over a volcano. This is the Kilauea Volcano that overflew with lava forcing the evacuation of parts of Hilo. I was told earlier that land was cheaper here on the Big Island. Hard to figer that one out.

That's not green grass in these photos. Those are trees.

Lava channel to the sea.

Those little white squares are houses.

Honolulu Police Ride-Along

I used to do ride-alongs: Salt Lake City PD, Los Angeles Sheriff's Office and Seattle PD.  I also had a few ride-alongs in Memphis and the UPRR Police. I had  French Railway Police officer and a Japanese Police officer ride with me. Today I rode with the Honolulu Police.

It was yet another beautiful day in Hawaii. Officer Fujimoto was my escort. I don't know if he drew the short straw or what but he is a good young officer.  He worked out of HPD's District 1 - Central Honolulu or D-1 3rd trick car 172.

There were several calls but, for the most other units were taking his calls and the dispatcher pulling him because he had a rider - me. However; he didn't seem to mind and we taked about police work and issues in Hawaii vs. railroad police of which he hadn't heard -  there are no railraods in Hawaii except a few small plantation railroads.

Of coursr, there are a lot of rules, paperwork and a background check before you can ride. One of them is, no taking pictures on calls.  I have a few around town and a few with him. He drove me back to the ship and the boarding crew thought they were bringing a drunk back to the ship, One Oceania crew-woman ran up as I was getting out the front seat of the squad saying, "Jim, are you alright?" I was thinking, what could she have done - knock the officef down and yelled for me to run?" Boy, I tell you these Oceania people all go the extra step.

 Shaka sign - aloha, hang loose.

King Kanehameha

Mission Church

 Even Elvis made an appearence. Just before I took this photo two older women were hancing in front of the King and was hunging his legs for a while.

The Last State, Hawaii

Three days in Hawaii!! I have been in every state in the U.S. except Hawaii but, now I'm here and have completed that set. The ship is about the largest that can port in Nawillwill . I'm on a photographers' tour today, then Honolulu the tomorrow and finally Hilo on the big island the day after.

The day couldn't have been any better. Mountains, beaches, rain forrests and weather. There was rain but, it only seemed to rain while we were in the van and then mysteriously disappear when we'd stop to take photos.

We were on the island of Kaua'i, known as the garden island.  Everything grows everywhere. One valley already has its normal yearly total of rainfall: 1000 inches of rain. Yes, a one followed by three zeros.  There have been a lot of landslides. Kaua"i is the northern and western most island of the Hawaii chain. It's breath-taking.

Here are just a few of the photos I took.