Running Boards on and Adjusted

I've been taking the truck back and forth to the dealer and the tinting shop to get detail stuff taken care of, so I haven't actually got the surf mobile put together yet, but yesterday I did get the runnign boards adjusted to the full outward position.  I definitely like these bars a lot better than the options from Honda.

For sure the feel on the Ridgeline is different than the Tacoma.  The Taco was definitely taller at the nerf bar and the cabin step in, but I don't miss that - I think it will just take a bit of time to have the change become the new norm.

I plan on reinstalling the roof racks later today and taking this setup out for a spin with the longboards tomorrow morning!

Just About Done Outfitting the Ridgeline

I ordered a set of running boards for the Ridgeline.  They came in yesterday afternoon save and sound.  I on the otherhand got caught up in some particularly nasty traffic and didn't get home until late afternoon.  I still set out to get the running boards mounted.

They were pretty easy to install.  These will make loading and unloading the surf racks a lot easier.  The door sills seemed a little bit drawn inward - to the point where loading the racks made you feel like you were leaning backwards.  I'll get the racks re-installed later today and take a picture with just about all the aftermarket adds installed.  I'm happy with the level of protection this vehicle has from scratches, salt spray and UV/IR radiation.

Sailing Day

La, Marlon and Noe had a sailing day this past Saturday.

I was able to stowaway on Noe's Catalina -

Fun day in the sunshine!

Why I Haven't Been Posting

We've been busy with a few things other than playing in the water.

Marlon had a busy weekend with the Hawaii Youth Symphony...

And we traded in the 4Runner for a Honda Ridgeline!  The 4Runner was a great vehicle, but we really just needed a truck - especially with all the work we are doing around the house (not to mention a truck bed and roof rack is way better for carrying SUPs and surfboards).

We liked the 4Runner a lot - BUT WE LOVE THE Ridgeline - dare I say even more than we loved the Surf Taco...  So much easier to load cargo into this vehicle - and now I don't have to get nit-noid and anal about picking dirt out of vehicle carpet (whew says everyone in my family)

Marlon and I got the top rack set up.

This week I'm getting the rustproofing-tinting-paint protectant-and other stuff done.  The running boards will be last and that should be next week.  After that the new surf mobile will be fully operational!!!  I love having a truck again (and this is a great one)!

First Fishing in Awhile

The weekend is here - Marlon and I checked the tides and the surf report - then decided it was probably best to go fishing.  We were at the flats with spinning gear just a little bit after dawn.

I was using the TFO Mangrove rod that I recently rewrapped - everything is back to normal with this rod!

And after a long period of seeing fish (lai, kaku, and others) either just following the bait, or even stealing rigging (the kaku), I finally got one to take and fight!

Small is better than none!!!  This guy was released to fight again another day (when he gets bigger).  Fun day!

Heeia

I had a few minutes to burn on Sunday - always nice to check this spot out!

The sandbar looked super crowded...

The General Store was closed - but here's when they are open

Eats and the cash layout

Lastly - if you have a few dollar bills laying around...

SUP Surfed Mokes and Flat Island

Saturday was a small surf day.  Got a few at the reef approaching Big Mokes - tried getting one in between the islands (but the swell was too small) - and I finished off by snagging several at Flat Island.

The tide was super low and several coral heads were sticking out of the water.  Definitely an incentive for wisely choosing your waves.

The GoPro was acting up so I didn't get any photos of wave riding.  

Fun session filled with microwaves (though I wish some swell would hit soon)!

Custom Trimaran

Randy Smyth from the Gulf Coast of Florida was sailing his custom trimaran in the Everglades Challenge and had a capsize that was unrecoverable.

Pretty cool!

Nice Hawaiian Outrigger Sailing Canoe Story

https://www.patagonia.com/blog/2018/02/a-thirty-five-year-voyage-back-in-time/?utm_source=em&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=030918_RainJacket-W&ett=1564500414

Great story by Nick Beck from Kauai!

Surfing Despite the Heavy Rains

And I went surfing on Saturday evening (while La and the kids were at a band competition for the local middle and high schools), and again with Marlon on Sunday evening.  I did not take any pictures (so this recent one of the two Firewires is just for filler).

The waves were waist high and clean on Sunday.  The tide was at a funny level where it causes the waves to fizzle out halfway from the break to the shore.  Normally if you play your cards right, you can get a wave from the outside and ride it all the way back to the beach.  Anyways - awesome fun!!!!

Trimaran on H-1 West

On the way back home from the fish shop, the kids and I saw this on the freeway. 






















Not sure if there was an issue or not, but the towing vehicle was stopped in the space between the on ramp from H2 and the Westbound lanes of H1.  The boat had "Ewa Beach" stickers on the back for its registry location. Pretty cool!!!

Fish Shop Window Shopping

I took Marlon to orchestra practice this weekend and on the way back, Noe asked to go to this Fish Shop.

Lots of cool fish - makes me want to setup an aquarium again.  But then I remember how many other things I'm not doing (keeping up with plants, home improvement projects, surfing, kiting, fishing, ceramics, and others)

Still - it's nice to look at these guys!

Anniversary Breakfast with Bonzers!

La and I celebrated our 17th Wedding Anniversary last weekend - we went to breakfast at her favorite breakfast place - Cafe Haleiwa.  The Campbell Brothers were present and running around, and they had a collection of bonzers on the rack next to our table.  How nice that we got seated where we could eat great food and admire some really great surfboards!!!

Awesome breakfast burrito!!!

Re-Guiding the Second Rod

After finishing the TFO Mangrove (and it's been a couple of weeks as of this writing - I'm behind a week) - I got to work on fixing the Nitro Graphite 13'.

This one went pretty quick (after all the practice with the TFO).

Re-eyed Rod

The last post I made on going fishing with the kids had a note about my favorite spinning rod losing the rings in a couple of the eyes.  Well, its been several weeks but I finally got the motivation to redo all the eyes on this rod.  I decided to redo all of them since these were the second and third rings to pop out.

I paid a visit to Brian's Fishing Supply and bought a full set of titanium ringed guides.  Hopefully these will holdup for a while.

I spent the last few nights removing the old guides and wrapping the new ones on one by one, and I put the epoxy on last night.

And since I'm on a roll, I'm going to do the same for the 13' Nitro, and redo a few of the wraps on the Epic Fiberglass Fly Rods I put together.