Roosters and a Herd of Cats
First stop is Ohau - Malaekahana Beach Campground. This gem of a campground is on the north east side of Oahu on the beach with a variety of camper and tent sites and mini cottages.
In a nutshell
I picked up my rental car with an app which facilitates travelers connecting with individuals, avoiding car rental agencies - like an Air bnb for cars. It took me about an hour to get to the campground from the airport in Honolulu. It was a full day of travel from the east coast, arriving around 6:15 as dusk was setting in. I searched for the tent site and the car struggled in the wet dirt and almost got caught in a puddle - all the while coaching myself in the third person that it would be okay. I found a grassy spot and pitched my tent, knowing once it was dark there would be no chance of finding my spot. The security guard flashing his beam into my tent didn’t agree with my thought process but allowed me to wait until dawn to get where I was supposed to be. With some help from a fellow camper, I found my site - 1D at dawn. 1D was great - plenty of room, among trees, near bathrooms, shower, toothbrushing station and a short walk to the beach. What a great campground - less than $10 a night for my tent site. There were visitors from around the world - vintage VW camper, pop-up campers, tents, tents with lights - some solo and others with families. Every child I saw was full of joy - they were all so happy. What could be better than a break from electronics and school on computer? Roasting marshmallows, feeding roosters, natural distancing, outdoor showers, and the beach. The waves were perfect for kids and beginners of all ages. The campground rented all the boards - paddle, boogie and surf. The only time we wore masks was when we were in the office - two people could enter at a time, fully masked. This was where I got my hot water for tea or oatmeal and people rented equipment.
My last day of work after a 30 plus year career was Friday. My first full day in Oahu was the following Thursday and my mind was still busy and kind of in shock. What am I doing? I don’t know. I tried to just go with it and it kind of worked - am I denying all my emotions about leaving my career? I think so - but that’s probably for the best right now. Camping was teaching me a few lessons - lessons about “stuff”. I was forever rifling through my bags looking for this and trying to remember where that was. And my car key - I was a nervous wreck that I would lose this key! Any time I shut the door I had to look at my hand - see the key and maybe even announce that the key was in my hand - before I shut the door or even scarier - the trunk! I am certainly capable of any horror when it comes to misplacing things - keeping my key safe was my new job haha.
I’m comforted by my tent - whether an afternoon read or settling in for the night - it’s a very relaxing place to be. I listen to the sounds and reflected on the sites:
The white noise of the rhythmic incoming and outgoing waves from the shore.
Roosters crowing - with an occasional call and response at night. like, “Hey, Joe - is it morning yet?” “Naw George - a few more hours.” “Okay thanks Joe, Nite.” “Nite George.” and then Aunt Frieda would pipe up - “Go to sleep boys.”
And then full on cacophony at dawn - like a Bugs Bunny orchestra. In fact, some of the roosters really did seem like Foghorn leghorn - strutting around acting like big man on campus.
The full blown crowing of the rooster reminds me of the “Odd Couple” opening - Da Da Da Da Daaahhh….. and it starts me humming the opening to the 1970s show. Made me smile. (Sorry if you don’t know that reference to Oscar Madison and Felix Unger, two divorced men who were friends from childhood, a slob and a neat nick - seeing if they can live together without driving each other crazy.)
A herd of cats - wouldn’t let me near them - traveled in a pack. A jar at the front desk supported their feeding.
The moon reflected on the tree leaves - each one illuminated - shadows cast.
Outdoor showers, book reading and yoga at dawn (in my tent because the ground was moist and I had no mat)
I ventured out and explored - white sandy beaches that didn’t seem to have an end to them
Frothy crashing waves, surfers and masterful boogie boarders
A Thai food truck -green curry with tofu and veggies on rice
Two synchronicities - letting me know I’m in the right place at the right time (still pondering them)
And am protected
A mental note to come back one day
with my kids
for that campfire, disconnection from mainstream life, boogie boarding
and that green curry on rice. And next - the big island where I’ll settle in.
