Today started earlier than usual. I was on the clock by six. We left Midway for a two-day dive venture to Kure then return to Midway on Tuesday. Since today was departure day, the early wake up was to get started checking important items. I also wanted to see the sunrise at Midway as I have done so in all the places I have visited.
I am going to leave the photos in tact because I did not have time to take new ones. You can display so many ocean pictures so I did not take any of a sunset over the fantail. Besides different photos of the ship, I will always leave posted the memorials for Pearl Harbor. I am a Navy vet and retired from the Naval Reserves. Our ship is home ported at Ford Island.
Photo 1 is a Hawaiian Monk Seal, which is an endangered species. This seal was lying asleep at the end of the pier. The rules at Midway are you must stay 150 feet away when you spot them. We did not have 150 feet radius to walk away from him. I think they know the rules and purposely lie themselves near us to see if we will walk 150 feet away from it. Right after this photo was taken, the seal let out a big yawn and shooed the flies away with his flapper. They know when to tease your photo taking chances too!
Photo II is the north-south runway that is no longer used. Vegetation has taken over and you can find bushes growing through cracks and vines taking over the runway. Big yellow X painted on the tarmac is the only thing that reminds you that it was once used for aircraft.
Photo III is where Doc and I wound up being Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble when our golf cart ran out of juice. This pillbox was on the beach and is nothing like what you see in the movies (is anything like you see in the movies?). It was small and full of sand. When we arrived here, it was the beginning of high tide so when the wave hit the beach, you were surrounded by water which receded quickly. You can lay on your belly or squat while in the pillbox. There is no standing room in here.
Photo IV is the inside view from the pillbox. You can see this pillbox from the ocean so I can imagine what it was like being in this when enemy planes were flying in to bomb the island. There is not much of a view here, except for the ocean, and during war, enemy ships, and amphibious craft head toward you while you are their target. It was literally a sore thumb.
Photo V is an abandoned power plant that was shelled by Japanese cruisers in December of 1941 when the Combined Fleet with the carrier strike forces were heading back to Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor and six months later strafed by Japanese aircraft. This site was suggested to me by an acquaintance in Washington State who used to live at Midway back in the late 50’s. The building is falling down and you see no entrance signs along with concrete debris littering the building.
Photo VI is moonrise over Midway. As I said yesterday, full moon and its rising is beautiful when you are on a tropical island.
I may start putting up photos from the past such as Nuku Hiva and Galapagos. I do not have too many pictures of Kwajalein as that was an Army base and it looks like any other Army base. That was the next stop after port call in Samoa or in some years, Apia port call canceled and we went straight from Hawaii to Kwajalein. “Kwaj” reminded me more of Dugway than a tropical isle in western Pacific. In fact, I used to call it Dugway surrounded by water. It was not in a derogatory sense as I enjoyed my time at Dugway and in many ways wished; I never left but a desert atoll.
Now it is countdown until we get back to Hawaii. We will have a three-night stay at Midway next week but as I told R, it is not home. He agreed as we went on finishing dinner.
My mind is tired, as today was a ten-hour day beginning at six and ending at 16:30. It was non-stop until quitting time. Even then, there were still issues left but that can be taken care of tomorrow morning (Sunday).
Not much to say and I am going to hit the rack. I have to get up early again tomorrow to inspect a repair before the boat hits the water.
I bid you goodnight from NOAA Ship Hi’ialakai transiting from Midway to Kure.
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