Coaching for Pizza: The Search for the PERFECT Farmers Market, Beach Time and Seeing Old Friends

Thursday, May 13, 2021

The Search for the PERFECT Farmers Market, Beach Time and Seeing Old Friends

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Another fun filled day that included a lot of much needed walking, roaming the Maui Upcountry yet again, some windy beach time and, best of all, a fine dining experience with some good friends.

Mark and I started the day with

walk of a little over two miles

from our condo to this beach

It was early, so not many people were

ready for the beach including us

We may have to return later this

week to this seemingly quiet beach

After our walk and a solid breakfast at the condo prepared by Susie with Laurie's help, we opted to drive back Upcountry in search of the perfect Farmers/Crafts Market.

At our first Market stop I spied

this intriguing sign

The purported Market here was not in session but some food trucks were including this one . . .

. . . I had to try it

It was run by a Cuban-American lady from Miami who moved to Maui seven years ago and opened this lucrative business in 2016.

Her Cafe con Leche mixture was spot on!

I liked her shop's motto, "I'm not addicted to Cuban coffee, we're just in a committed relationship."

Undaunted by our initial failure at finding an operating Farmers/Crafts Market, we headed towards the village of Makawao which the internet said had one today.

We did find a Farmers Market

on these hallowed church grounds

The view from the church

This driftwood sculpture can

be yours for a mere $2,000 USD

This 178 year old church is

of historical significance

The view farther Upcountry from

the Po'okela Church

What kind of animals are those in the distance . . .

. . . ah, they are horses

Makes sense, the Upcountry is also known as Maui's paniolo country. Paniolo is Hawaiian for cowboy.

At the church market, we were told of another competing market just a few hundred meters up our pleasant country road.

It was held at the Oskie Rice Arena

built for all things rodeo related

Oh, my . . .

After our madcap morning of mostly looking and little buying, we headed home to spend some time at one of Kihei's many beaches.

It started out well but . . .

. . . within 30 minutes the wind

started to roar

Sand was flying and so was a cartwheeling umbrella, so there was only one thing to do.

We moved off of the beach and

relocated on the grass park

just above the shoreline

Better location and much safer!

In the evening we had a dinner date with old friends at the Humble Market Kitchin, and yes, that is the correct spelling according to the management.

A wonderful Hawaiian sunset

during the cocktail hour

In the middle are Verne and Deb Merrill who we have known since our days coaching and teaching at Thousand Oaks H.S. in the early 1970s.

I was coaching Freshman baseball in those days and Verne was our star pitcher with a good command of his pitches as the team captured the Oxnard Union High School District Championship that year.

Deb was our star Stat Girl with the club and the rest, as they say, is history. They will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary later this year.

About six years ago they acted out their dream and moved to Maui where they are still excited to be living. There is no looking back for them.

My view as dinner was being served

The food at this restaurant located within the Wailea Marriott complex was simply amazing!

Blake was our Bus Boy and had

a magnetic, positive and fun loving

personality that added to the meal

With Verne

Before moving to Maui, Verne and Deb were extremely active in the Newbury Park community. They were the linchpins of several youth sports programs, especially the Pop Warner teams.

Besides that, Verne also coached at NPHS and was an amazing videographer whose videos of our games were always produced professionally and quickly after our games.

The Newbury Park community became a bit poorer when they moved to Maui in my opinion.

News from the Net . . .