Makes you hungry just looking at it, doesn't it?

Just in case you missed someone finally saying what's needed so badly to be said for so long:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the-republicans-are-the-problem/2012/04/27/gIQAxCVUlT_story.html

A little bit of Wailuku, on Maui.  Not currently in an economic boom.

Always read the fine print.

Happy parking.

Why drive with two hands when there are photos to be taken?

The north end of Maui is mountains.  If you want to drive around the north end, you're going to be driving along their seaward slopes.  At first, this isn't too bad.  A nice, little, 2-lane highway takes you up and down, switchbacking toward, and away from, the sea.  Very scenic.  And, really, a fun drive.  Like a roller coaster, except that you're in control of the speed.  Then, suddenly, a sign announces, "End of State Highway", and you're on a 3/4 lane (as in it sure doesn't seem to be wide enough for a car) "road".  This 3/4 lane road carries traffic in two directions.  Going clockwise around the mountains (the direction I was travelling), you have on-coming traffic on your left, and a wall of lava rock on your right.  Travelling counter-clockwise, you have traffic on your left, and a deep stretch of air, ending in the blue Pacific, on your right.  If you think about it, you'll understand why it's much, much better to be travelling clockwise when you meet on-coming traffic.  Much better.

Still, on the off chance that you actually get to take it in, the scenery is pretty darn breath-taking.

There's going to be a brief burst of tropically-oriented travel shots over the next few days, then it'll be back to grime-as-usual.  Although, just to stay in character, there will be some tropical grime tossed in.

What you won't see are any decent pictures of whales.  Going out on a sailboat to see them up close was my big accomplishment on this trip.  Seeing them, just to be clear, wasn't the accomplishment.  It was overcoming my intense fear of seasickness.  If you've never experienced it, you may be thinking, "What?  Seasickness?  He's afraid of seasickness?".  On the other hand, if you have, you understand completely.  And, not only did I get myself onto the boat (a 36' sailboat), I didn't become seasick, despite our venturing into some pretty hefty seas.  Dramamine, folks.  "Better living through chemistry" has always been my motto.

And, yes, we did see whales.  Big ones.  Up close.  Having a whale that's bigger than the boat you're on come swimming alongside said boat, just under the water, makes quite an impression.  It also encourages a sudden hope that telepathy actually works as you try beaming intensely friendly thoughts at the visitor who could effortlessly put you and your companions into the sea, far from shore.

Just to be clear, we were following all the usual whale-watching restrictions.  We sailed out to where they were, but kept back the required distance.  Of course, if the whales get curious, well, they'll come to you, and there isn't anything you can do about it on a sailboat.  The whales are faster.  Much faster.  Which is why, to return to paragraph 2, you won't see any decent pictures of whales over the next few days.  They came, they saw, they left.

Must be April 13th.

Gone till April 13th (I think).  Till then, keep up the good work.