Kauai

It’s hard to believe it’s been more than 7 months since my last traveling adventure. No wonder I was starting to get antsy.

Here I am now, in Hawaii for seven nights. I’m on the rainier of the islands, Kauai, just a hop skip and a jump from the supposedly wettest place on earth. It’s been overcast mostly, with a few sun breaks, definitely not shorts and tank top weather and certainly not sunbathing weather. But it’s been nice to relax, read my book and watch waves crash. The best part of the wintery weather is that it makes the sea very volatile and actually fun watch. It also makes it harder to spot whales coming up for air since they make a whitecap and the choppy water masks them. But I still sit on the balcony and watch, read and watch some more (view from my bedroom above - on a rare partly clear evening... no whales).

The first day I arrived was uneventful. I arrived late in the day, ate too much, and was asleep by 8:30 (two hour time difference from WA). I slept well to the sound of crashing waves (at right) and was rarely awake enough to appreciate the ripping sound of the 30 mph winds assaulting the house. I was up by 6:30 the next morning and went to a nearby grocery to pick up some toasted coconut Kona Coffee. Yum. I’ve never been a fan of flavored coffee but something about coconut makes me a little crazy. That day it was rainy and bleak so Irv, Sue and I were homebodies. I did manage to get a run in, heading to the Princeville hotel (a huge behemoth on the shore with fountains and excess everywhere).

After the run it was too rainy for much else so we pretty much sat around and read. I took a humongous power nap and read some more. I also played with the dogs from the condo next door, Champ and Peanut (at left).

The next day (yesterday) involved a bit more adventure since the clouds were less threatening and we even had some sunny breaks. First Sue and I went to see Anini, one of many beaches close by (with Champ in tow). There we had marvelous fish tacos, spicy carrots and mediocre beans. We then drove the length of the beach (and pointed out what is rumored to be Cameron Diaz’s new cliff-side house). Sue also showed me some of the more rural properties (one large lot owned by the neighbors – Champ’s parents). Reminded me a lot of the mountains north of Chiang Mai.

Later that day Irv and I hit up two beaches, Hanalei (where Puff the Magic Dragon frolicked in the autumn mist and rock stars make their homes) and Lumahai (where rip tides claim swimmers and unsuspecting tourists). Hanalei had a few surfers and a gorgeous view with very nice walk-able sand (many barefoot runners passed us by). Lumahai, on the other hand, had ginormous violent waves and the sand was deep and foot-sucking! I took a couple videos of the waves (if only my videos had sound) and we ogled at the area where Detroiter, Mitzi Gaynor washed that man right out of her hair in South Pacific. We also stumbled upon a local farmer’s market (left) and picked up some yummy coconut and Rambutan (lychee-like) fruit at my request and bought apple bananas, Irv’s favorite. On the way home we stopped by to admire the Taro fields (below).

After all that trudging through the sand I thought I’d be beat, but I ran again, this time in the opposite direction and toward the taro fields. After that we all had a delicious meal of avocado veggie salad (pictured) and steak and mushrooms. I crashed early once again.
Today I anticipate numerous adventures. Perhaps a return to Hanalei to shop, or to the lighthouse in Kilauea. Hard to believe it’s half over already! I'm hoping for at least one sunny day to add to my freckle collection, but the R&R alone is pretty damn nice.