I'd kind of already planned this, but it still comes as a surprise to me when I find myself in a sleeping bag in the driver's seat of a car on the side of a random highway on the remote island of Molokai. I'd arrived here with no accommodation booked, and that's precisely what I got. Why was I expecting more? Well...

I started the day off with a fair bit of pain in my ears, most likely due to a bit of free diving that I did while snorkelling yesterday. Not sure how serious it is but I need to see a doctor and my insurance details are stuck back on Maui. I'd already taken the boat over here by that point and I was left hanging around Molokai's main port from 8am until my hire car was ready at 3:30pm. That's a long time when the best entertainment on offer is a deserted baseball field.

I thought I'd get some breakfast and hang around in town where I'd bumped into a couple of friendly locals. They weren't doing much (neither was most of Molokai's population) so they said they'd cruise with me for the day. I took various painkillers to kill my earache to no avail. I offered the couple a trip to the east beach in my hire car and they said I could probably crash on their sofa. Bonus!

So we drove out there in the afternoon, took some photos and enjoyed the evening sun. I was given some local knowledge and all was well. I dropped them back at their place, they went in to smooth things out so I could stay. The bloke came out with a couple of vicadin pills to help kill my earache, then went inside. I never saw them again! I'd taken half a pill and rested until one of them came out, then when I heard the sound of dirt and then a stone hit the top of my car, I decided I'd outstayed my welcome. Yeah, I watched the Top Gear USA special too.

So here I am in a dirt lay-by just off the highway back towards Father Damien's peninsula, which is where I'm headed tomorrow. My ears are hurting like crazy and I have a whole day to get through tomorrow before I can see a doctor. Fingers crossed.