BloKarts

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Saturday we had a chance to try BloKarting. This was another trip won through the Schilling Center. Two hours of playing on the BloKarts AND transportation, all at no cost- what a deal!

We meet up at the center on Kadena at 3pm and they drove us and four other people to a field south of Naha. The driver said it was an hour drive, but it ended up only taking half an hour- which was a good thing since the van had the heater on and it was blowing extremely hot air along the floor. It was hot enough we had to lift our feet up on to the seats. So we were glad the drive was relatively short.

BloKarts are three wheel carts with a large sail to catch the wind. Here the guys were assembling one of the carts. They are very compact (have cool little storage bags) and put together quickly. Matt pitched in and helped put one of them together.

Our driver translated the directions of how to get into the carts, steer, and what to do if the cart tips over. From what we could gather, the group of locals have the BloKarts and they allowed us to borrow two of them for the evening. The locals set up the carts, showed us what to do, then pretty much sat back and watched. They were out in the field for a little bit, but I don't think the wind was strong enough for them to really enjoy it- they were too "hard core"!

David was the first to give it a try- he was a bit nervous!

You steer with one hand and control the sail with the other- very simple. Here David has the sail loose after just completing a turn. Ideally, you run 90 degrees to the wind. We were limited on what we could do since we had extremely little wind to work with.

Unfortunately, with the wind not being strong it was hard to get the carts going. For part of the time, we had to push start the carts after every turn. The wind did pick up for a bit later on, then died completely before we were supposed to be done. When we weren't in the carts we were helping out pushing the guys who stalled. Here our Tour Guide helps Matt get going again. The Tour Guide was very nice- and kept apologizing for the lack of wind. He got a real work out helping all of us on the go.













Here Matt is helping me get ready for my first turn behind the wheel. The gloves are to protect your hands if you tip over, and also when you use your hands to roll the back wheels in an attempt to get rolling again.

And I am off and on the go! I was lucky enough to catch some of the best winds of the evening. These carts are a blast when they get going! Matt took this picture (after wrestling the camera from David).


Here is Mike giving it a try...






One of the guys who came with us said he had gone last year and the wind was so strong they were up on two wheels most of the time. Sounds like Fun! He didn't ride the carts as much as the rest of us- I think he was spoiled from last time.

Even with the light winds, we had a fun time. I would definitely like to give them another try with better wind conditions. In some areas, they rent out the BloKarts to run along the beach...that looked like fun!

The Last Week or So in Review...

Mid November

It has been another busy week around here...mostly the routine day to day stuff that keeps your running around crazy but at the end of the day you wonder "WHAT exactly did I do all day??"

The boys had a short school week- just three days of school this week. David had a five day weekend, while Matt had a four day weekend (and yes, David did rub in the fact that he had an extra day off!). The schools combined Veteran's Day with Conferences so it ended up being lots of days off. Mike worked both Saturday and Sunday but had off Monday and Tuesday. A relaxing time, even if it did rain cats and dogs for much of it. When it rains here, it can really come down! Within minutes the water can be rushing down the street in front.

The boys and I stayed close to home due to car troubles, but I did take the boys to go PaintBalling on Sunday. We woke up to more rain on Sunday, but the boys insisted on going anyway since they were meeting friends. The start ended up being delayed over an hour due to the rain and lack of people. Weather ended up clearing for the afternoon and more guys showed up so the kids had a great time.








Matt started wrestling practice this week- he has been looking forward to it! He really likes the coach (a woman- can't remember her name as I have only heard it a time or two). This morning (Saturday) they had a three hour practice....Matt came home and crashed on the couch. Of course, getting up and being at practice by 7:45 am may have had something to do with it too!

David is disappointed in the fact that he will probably not be playing Tackle Football this year...and maybe not for the next three years. The only Tackle Football program for the younger kids here is put on by the Air Force and this year they didn't have enough interest to fill the teams...so they canceled to program. This unexpected announcement (made at a parent meeting) was not well received! They are still putting on Flag Football. David agreed to play Flag but is devastated that Tackle Football appears to be out. The only hope is a group of parents trying to put together a Tackle Football "Okinawa Youth League". We signed David up, but it is extremely doubtful they will have enough kids to fill out the teams needed.

One other recent "Happening" around the Payne household...
David attended his first DANCE! He was extremely excited- worried for a week about what to wear even. Since Big Brother attends dances, it was huge for David be able to go to one. Very amusing to listen to the brotherly advice being given before David left. Matt even walked him over...and Mom forgot to take a picture of her handsome man on his way out the door...Anyway, David had a great time, even if he said he didn't dance.

Another noteworthy news item- David made The Honor Roll! For him, this is HUGE!! David is rightfully proud of himself. Three Cheers for David on a job well done.

A Midnight Run Under a Full Moon

Thursday, November 13

Ahhh...the glory of a midnight run under a full moon! It was simply wonderful. The weather has been cooling and two nights ago it was just too beautiful out to resist (besides, Mike was working the night shift- I'm always restless when he works nights). I went out for 3 or 4 miles (just on base), then came back for Ty...he had been giving me the oh so sad puppy eyes when I left. He was in doggy heaven- especially when I took him down the side road to the water treatment area and let him run off leash (shhh...don't tell!). Felt so wonderful out- cool (but still humid- that's a given!) with a slight breeze and the world lit up from the full moon. Add in the bats swooping low overhead and the run was just perfect.

An added bonus was the fact that this was the first pain-free run I've had for months. I have been dealing with "Plantar Fascitis"- which is the inflammation of the tendon on the underside of your foot. About a month and half ago I thought I had just bruised my heel, but as the weeks went by it continued to worsen. A trip to the doc confirmed that it was Plantar Fascitis and he recommended lots of Motrin and stretching. Even with that I have been sidelined from running. I was spending time on the stationary bike in the gym...not my favorite! I was finally working my way back onto the treadmill (softer than the pavement), then short runs back and forth to the gym.

I can tell I'm not completely healed yet...the last two days my foot has been sore (maybe the fact that I keep forgetting the Motrin and haven't taken the proper time to stretch has something to do with it??), but at least not the exteme pain I had for awhile.

Can't wait to start hitting the road again...there are trails to run and roads to be explored...

Torii Station- Day 2

Sunday, August 10

We headed back to Torii Station (with all of our snorkel gear this time!) to give the Water Slide another try.

It was open and in full swing- and not nearly as crowded as we thought it would be. Guess there are some advantages to getting a late start in the day...everyone else must have gotten worn out and gone home already!

We wasted no time in trying out the water slide- what fun! Even though it isn't huge, it's a blast!
Hummm...which is better?? Feet first? Or head first???




After an hour on the water slide, we decided to hit the water again. Spent a lot of time just swimming around and enjoying the water. There was not a lot to see off of this beach...although it must be a popular hang out for those water snakes because this time I got to see one! Almost ran right into it as a matter of fact. Took me quite by surprise...it looked rather amused at how fast I turned and swam way. We did see countless sea cucumbers as well as some other sea critters. The water is shallow WAY out- a nice beach to get a feel for snorkeling again!

This is definitely a beach we will be heading back to time and time again...

Torii Station- Day 1

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Not long after we arrived on Island, we heard about Torii Station. This was our first real outing on Okinawa! Torii Station is a base here on the West side of the Island, about 20 minutes North of us. It is a small base, but it has a wonderful beach with lots of white sand. A boardwalk stretches down the beach and chairs and umbrellas are available to rent. One of the coolest features of this beach- a water slide. A FREE water slide!

We left for Torii Station on Saturday afternoon. We found it after a few tries- but in getting lost we found another wonderful little beach. (that will have to be another post!)

We arrived at Torii Station excited to give the water slide a try...only to find that the water slide was closed that day due to a "Scheduled Power Outage". Humm.

Moving on to plan B, we checked the beach and decided to try out the water. The boys had been smart enough to bring their snorkel gear so they were all set. The water was WONDERFUL! So nice and warm! I have never been in the ocean so warm, not even in Hawaii. The air and sea temperature were about the same- close to 88 degrees. Matt and David shared their masks with us so we could see under the water and we decided we were definitely coming back the next day, not only try the water slide, but to snorkel too.

David was enthralled with the sea cucumbers- they were EVERYWHERE! We knew a lot about them since he had just done a marine biology report in the sea cucumber. We got to experience their defense measures first hand when one of them spewed sticky white strands all over my hand. (actually cuierian tubules they expel in a process called evisceration) Yucky stuff- Very thin and very strong. Like spider webs on steroids! I had a heck of a time pulling it off my hands




Matt was lucky (??) enough to see a sea snake. (picture from Google Images). I have since seen one...and they do NOT thrill me! They move very quickly through the water. They are poisonous but not supposed to be aggressive- but can be very curious.


We stayed until the sunset, and what a glorious sunset it was! We didn't come out of the water until it was almost dark.

Thank you to all our Veterans

HAPPY VETERANS DAY

Thank you to all our Veterans- those who have served their country and those who continue to serve.

God Bless You All.

Taiko Drummers at Chili's Fest 2008

November 1, 2008

David and I ended up back at Chili's Fest Saturday evening. Matt was meeting a group of friends at Kadena to watch a movie so Mike, David and I decided we would watch the movie too (rather then drop him off, go home, then turn right around and pick him back up.).

All was well through the previews- then the movie started. "Traitor"? I thought the movie was supposed to be "Tropic Thunder"?? We didn't really even check before going in- we went off of what Matt said they were watching. Turns out it was Traitor, which was not a movie David and I wanted to watch (the other kids didn't either, but they stayed anyway). The movie theater folks were nice enough to give us vouchers and David and I went back down the street to Chili's Fest.

We arrived just in time to watch the Taiko Drummers. This was a great group and they put on an awesome 45 minute show.
The drummers put their whole body into drumming- it wonderful to watch.

He is one of the guys who whistles. The whistle was loud enough to be heard clearly over the drums- pretty impressive, if you ask me! He was off the side of the stage and the only reason we could see him was because we were on that side. It was interesting to see how they whistle- the knuckle of their forefinger in the mouth and the rest of the fingers spread across the face.
On YouTube, there is a good example of the whistling (starts about 20 seconds into it). The singing is similar, but different than what we have heard so far here. example of whistling during taiko drummers
or cut and paste: http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=C4-WRSKx6mM&feature=related








This lady had a contagious smile- you couldn't help but smile while you watched her!










Many of the performers were young- but all were energetic.





At the end they invited the audience to come out and join in- even on the huge drum on the stage. Everyone had a great time.


The shisa dogs roamed the crowd, gobbling the unawares...
Here, one of the Shisa performers head off-stage.

After the show, David and I wandered backstage to watch the group gather up and load their stuff. The leader of the group saw us and motioned David over to the Shisa costumes. He took David's camera, arranged the masks, shooed away the people behind him and took a few pictures. So nice! I was very touched! We had been trying to stay out of their way as they cleaned up, but he saw that we were interested in the masks and took it from there. That is so typical of the people here.

After the show David and I hung out while we waited for Mike and Matt be done with the movie. The singer Ashanti was performing next so we thought we would catch a bit of her (even though we didn't really know who she was). Unfortunately, she was running 30 minutes behind schedule. I had a perfect spot just off the stage- but was bummed when they announced "No Photos". You could use your phones to snap photos, but they threatened to stop the show if anyone took pictures. My camera is not exactly inconspicuous so I didn't even try. It was apparently a "Contract Issue" that they do not all photos. Not sure why the photos are such a big deal, especially with the phones and iPhone taking such good photos these days. We stayed just long enough to watch her opening song, then left.