Category Archives: Exploring

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A Little Fall of Rain…

28 Monday Jan 2019

…can hardly hurt us now. Unless it puts a damper on the entire day! Today dawned overcast and drizzly. On our way to breakfast a few blocks away it changed from a mist to a downpour. We didn’t let that stop us from enjoying Chocobar for breafast. Daughter tried the Grilled Cheese and Chocolate sandwich, and allowed me a bite. I am a fan! We made a few purchases which she ran to the flat while I waited for the car. We set off for Playa Mar Chiquita beach hoping to spend some time in the sand, sun and surf. There was a small craft adivisory in effect, and the rain never really let up. We did walk the beach collecting beach glass and shells, and enjoyed watching the waves roll in.

It was a little too overcast and rainy to really enjoy the beach, and both port-a-potties (our last choice for a restroom, but it will do when desperate!) were locked. The next logical option seemed to us to be be the Bacardi Factory. Neither of us really wanted to spend the money to do the actual tour, but we did opt for the welcome cocktail. It was fun, but a lot of folks seemed to have the same idea.

We headed back to the flat in what looked to be clearing weather. A snooze (afternoon naps should be manadtory work breaks in my opinion), a shower and we were ready for dinner. Tonight’s restaurant, El Jibarito, was literally around the corner. We shared an entree of chicken in garlic sauce, and she had beans and rice while I indulged in mofongo de yuca – basically deep fried cassaba. It was delicious!

We ended the evening listening to live music just down the street, and across the street when we got home. Neither of us said a lot tonight…I think we are lost in our own thoughts and trying not to leave too much of our hearts here in Puerto Rico. That last part is nearly impossible.

I did have to chuckle tonight as the two ‘mainlanders’ thought 72 degrees was chilly, and one of us actually wrapped herself in the blanket before coming outside. I don’t know how we’ll get through the rest of winter, but now that I know summer exists somewhere before it hits Georgia, I think I can survive.

Posted by | Filed under Bacardi Factory, beach, Chocobar Cafe, Exploring, ocean, Old San Juan, Playa Mar Chiquita, Puerto Rico, Vacation 2019

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Au revoir, Canada.

15 Sunday Jul 2018

Tonight is our last night in Canada…ça a été un merveilleux voyage. It has been a wonderful trip! I can now add driving almost completely across Canada to my completed travel list. It will take some time for the past week to settle in my mind and memories. We have had wonderful conversations with Canadians across the provinces, and we truly appreciated their hospitality and kindness.

The other thing I completed this trip was driving across all 4 time zones and back. We crossed into Eastern Daylight Time today a little after 7PM. It’s nice to be back in my “home” time zone, but tomorrow we’ll be back in CDT once we get back to the US.

Today we opted to pass on breakfast at the hotel and get a jump on the drive. We stopped for lunch in Kenora, ON. Lake Kenora is one of the largest lakes in the area, and a big vacation destination. Beautiful area, and when you’re essentially landlocked, this is a great spot to spend a hot, summer weekend! (The cooler temperatures we anticipated have eluded us. It has been in the upper 80’s – low 90’s every day.)

Scenic tours by seaplane

I took a break from driving for a bit and was able to get a few photos as we passed Lake Peggy.

The traffic was about typical for one of our roadtrips. Getting back to Atlanta traffic will be a shock!

We landed in Thunder Bay, Ontario a little after 8PM. We unwound, attempted to find a place other than the restaurant next door that was open, but ended up back at the hotel restaurant. Oh well! When it’s 9:30PM and you’ve been traveling for 8+ hours, just about anything will satisfy hunger.

Au revoir, Canada. Merci beaucoup. ‘Til we meet again…in Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island if I plan things right!

Posted by | Filed under Canada, Exploring, Inland waterways, Lakes, Manitoba, Ontario, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg

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It’s not the yellow brick road or the yellow mustard road, Toto. It’s the canola road.

13 Friday Jul 2018

For two days we have felt like we were following the yellow brick road, but it was a beautiful crop of yellow something that stretched for acres. It looked remarkably like mustard, so that’s what we thought it was. We found out tonight from our wonderful waitress that it is canola. Yellow and blue canola is one of Alberta and Saskatchewan’s main crops. File that away in the memory bank for future reference! It was still a beautiful sight today on our way to Regina.

We started the day with a short walk through Medicine Hat. A quaint town with great shops, restaurants and public art work. It was a bit warmer than usual, so our walk was rather limited. We stumbled upon the Inspire Cafe for what we hoped would be a late breakfast, but it turned out to be an early lunch. Mom had tomato garlic soup and a curried egg salad sandwich on raisin bread. I had curried lentil soup and fried egg and cheese sandwich. We got there just before the lunch crowd arrived, and they were doing a very steady business when we left. Great art work on display and for sale around the cafe, and artists’ studios/work areas beyond the cafe.

We finally stopped at the stop light near this hotel so I could get a picture. We passed it at least 3 times on our back and forth to various places yesterday, and it made me smile. I can just picture the 1940’s – 1950’s, maybe even 1960’s, when this would have been one of the top spots in the area.

We crossed into Saskatchewan a little while later, and decided a stretch break was needed as we approached Swift Current. We parked the car and began walking down Center Avenue when I spotted a gift store. We meandered the store for a while, and I found perfect mementos for several on my list. It was early afternoon, and a rather warm day for these parts, so we opted to hit the car and continue our drive.

A bit west of Swift Current we spotted what initially loooked like a herd of goats on the side of the road. As we got closer, we both did double takes, and it took us a moment to realize it was a herd of alpacas. Given it was still 80+ degrees fahrenheit, we opted not to stop and check out the alpaca goods for sale. A short bit later as we approached Lake Chaplin, we saw what appeared to be mounds of snow. I knew in this heat it definitely was not snow, but neither of us had a clue what the piles of “white stuff” were. I surmised salt or lime as a small tractor to my left was making its way up a pile. Mark that down as something to research when we get to the room tonight…

We stopped at the Tourist Information location outside Moose Jaw for a rest stop and information on Regina. Canadian tourist/information stops are such fun. Each one we have stopped at has information about the surrounding area (think school project, state fair type displays), and a variety of local goods for sale. A great place to get a feel for the area, decide if you’ll stop and for how long, or just sample the local fare and keep going. We learned the piles of “white stuff” by Lake Chaplin were potash. Canda is the world’s largest potash producer and exporter, and the bulk of the industry is in Saskatchewan. Potash is one of the main ingredients of fertilizer.

We each picked up a few gift items, and decided it was time for a bit of local gelato. We both opted for Saskatoon berry. I still need to taste an actual Saskatoon berry before we leave – it looks a bit like a blueberry, but the gelato was definitely sweeter than that. Not sure if that was due to added sugar, or if it really is that sweet. I did buy a rather pricey jar of mustard believing that the yellow fields we were passing were, in fact, mustard. Oh well. I can make a lot of mustard sauces over the coming months if needed! A stop here is not complete without a photo of Mac the Moose.

We arrived in Regina early evening. The hotel had glasses and bottles of wine 50% off, so we opted for an elevator ride to dinner tonight. We shared a bottle of montepuliciano and a charcuterie plate, reminisced about the past 2 weeks and many decades, and had fabulous conversations with our waitress. Definitely a day and night for the memory books.

Before we head out of town tomorrow we plan to tour the Legislative Building and Queen Elizabeth II’s Gardens. We will cross into our 4th Canadian province sometime tomorrow.

Posted by | Filed under Alberta, Alpacas, Canada, Exploring, Medicine Hat, Mustard, Potash, Regina, Roadtrip, Saskatchewan, Swift Current, Travel

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Geez Louise! Lake Louise

11 Wednesday Jul 2018

A peaceful night’s sleep with the fan blowing and the window open. The early morning bird calls were a delight as we generally don’t get to hear them when on the road. We packed up, loaded some of the car, and hit breakfast. Breakfast was described as a “light affair” when we checked in. That definitely described it. Three kinds of dry cereal, various bread and bagels for toast, hard boiled eggs, thin sliced Canadian bacon (may have been ham), and two kinds of thin sliced cheese. Coffee was watery, but did the trick. We loaded the rest of the car and struck out for Banff National Park and Lake Louise.

It was a cloudy day that turned into a gray and overcast day, but the mountains were still glorious. Fortunately there were more opportunities for photos today. We crossed through Robert’s Pass between Revelstoke and Vernon. It’s interesting that the highest peaks in the Canadian Rockies are shorter than the US Rocky Mountains. They seem so much larger, but I think the vastness of the space between them makes them appear taller. The hairpin turns through Canada are much easier to drive than those in Colorado.

Mom got to see a few trains along the way today as they paralleled the road, as did several rivers. We fortunately stopped to purchase our day pass for the park before we arrived which made entry much easier. The area is well marked for the most part. Lake Louise Village is the first thing you see, and it looked more like shopping and dining than an actual parking area for the lake. As we continued up the mountain, gut instinct said I should have continued straight rather than going right. A quick U-turn, and we were face-to-face with a wooly marmot. I thought it was kind of him to stand up and pose for me to get a few pictures!

We parked the car, found the rest rooms, then followed the crowd along the pathway. It truly is more glorious in person than in photos. (Aren’t most places, though?) Despite the crowds jockeying for position for photos and selfies, there was a palpable serenity to the place. The vast expanse of mountains and glacier, and the calm green of the lake . Even the canoes on the lake seemed to float as they paddled along.

We walked the pathway around to the Fairmont Lake Louise Chateau, and checked out the shops inside. We admired the flower gardens in front of the hotel and took a last look at the lake.

Just as we began our walk back to the car, it began to sprinkle. By the time we reached the car, it was a pretty steady rain. We couldn’t have timed it any better!

We drove through the town of Banff, but didn’t get a chance for photos. The sky was threatening more rain, there was no parking anywhere nearby, and it was very crowded. A cute little town, though.

The terrain flattened quickly, and we were back in rolling hills and farms. About an 75 minutes later or so we were checking into tonight’s lodging in Calgary. On our way in to town we passed the Calgary Flames stadium and the Olympic ski jumps. Reminded me of watching the ski jumpers practice in Trondheim, Norway just over 2 years ago.

We lost an hour today as we crossed into mountain time zone. Waiting for dinner to be delivered, then calling it a night. Tomorrow we are off to Medicine Hat. I think we will both be a bit glad to be out of the mountains for a while!

Posted by | Filed under Alberta, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Rockies, Columbia River, Exploring, Lake Louise, National Parks

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Why fly to a wedding when you can drive?

30 Saturday Jun 2018

So, my nephew is getting married next weekend in Seattle. When the date and location were announced last year, a little thought bubbled in my head. We did want to get back to Montana and see Glacier National Park…I wonder if Mom would want to drive to the PacNW with me instead of fly? Surprise, surprise, she was all for it. So, here we are at the end of Day 1 on our 4th official roadtrip.

5 years ago when we started these adventures I wasn’t blogging about them, but I was posting regularly on my personal FB page. Today was a bit of a walk down memory lane, but we created a few new ones, too. GPS routed us to US Route 36 rather than I-70 this time. (No wonder I couldn’t find the spot where the very kind MO State Trooper pulled me and 5 or 6 other cars over for exceeding the speed limit! For those unfamiliar with the story, I got a warning only after he’d ticketed every other car. Today I was barely over the speed limit and on the lookout!) We enjoyed a beautiful drive through northern Missouri farmland and watched the flat prairie become rolling hills. Across the mighty Mississippi, a different view of Hannibal, across the Missouri, and on to Independence, MO where we finally got to visit the Truman House and Museum. When we came through in 2013, the museum was closed for the day. We promised to come back and see it some day. An incredible place to visit if you have any interest in politics, history, or small town America. We didn’t go to his official Presidential library, but the visitor center and “Summer White House” provided an insight into a President I didn’t know much about.

What would he think about 5,000 miles in three weeks?!

I believe I may have said similar things to my father over the years!

We departed Independence and hit Kansas City just in time for rush hour. Rush hour in KC is like driving I-285 in Atlanta on a Sunday morning. Traffic moved along smoothly, until we found ourselves on the Kansas Tollway. The speed limit was 75 MPH (normally not a problem for me), but cars zipping in and out of lanes at that speed or greater is not my idea of a relaxing drive. Tomorrow we will set the GPS to avoid toll roads and highways!

We were checked into our hotel by 5:30 or so, rested a bit (by rested I mean got the road buzz to stop), and headed to dinner. I was in the mood for a burger, and I have learned the best burgers are found near good beer. We opted for Lawrence Beer Co. near the University of Kansas campus. A fun place, although very loud if you want to sit inside. We opted for outside seating, despite the near 100 degree heat and heat advisory in effect. Live music on the patio, lots of cute kids running around, good food and a few really good beers. The sun was behind the trees soon after we sat down, and there was a beautiful breeze blowing.

Tomorrow morning we get to visit with a former shipmate of my Dad’s from Hawaii days and his wife, and then we continue west. Perhaps we will find our way to Oz somewhere along the way!

Posted by | Filed under Exploring, Independce, MO, Kansas, Lawrence Beer Co, Lawrence, KS, Missouri, Roadtrip, Summer White House, Travel, Truman House

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Hawaii History

23 Friday Sep 2016

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Today was Hawaii history day.  Our first stop (after coffee, of course!) was Iolani Palace. We had to drive around the block a few times to find the entrance to the parking lot we’d spotted, only to find it was 30 minute only parking. Knowing that wouldn’t be near enough time, we found a public parking lot a few blocks away.  We were able to get into the 10:30AM tour without a reservation, and had time to watch the video beforehand. I didn’t realize how much of Hawaiian history I had forgotten, or perhaps not been exposed to.  Either way, each stop today was a stark reminder.
Iolani Palace is beautiful, and the tour (self-guided audio) does a good job at explaining the history of the monarchy and the history of the palace. We put coverings over our shoes before entering the building, and toured the first and second floors.  The basement is a gallery of photos and the kitchen. King Kalakaua built the palace in 1882 and had electric lights, a telephone and indoor plumbing long before it was fashionable. His sister, Queen Liliuokalani was actually imprisoned in a room within the palace.

This was built for King Kalakua’s coronation

The latest in high-end fashion footwear!

Glass imported from England and etched in San Francisco

Hawaii was a very cultured and civilized society prior to the arrival of missionaries and US troops. Queen Liliuokalani and her sisters were guests at Queen Victoria’s jubliee celebration, and Hawaii appealed to Britain for sovereignty prior to annexation by the US. Despite attempts (by outside forces and monarchs) to stifle the Hawaiian heritage and traditions, they continue to this day thanks to the efforts of many.

On our way back to the car we stopped at the Kawaiaha’o Church. We’d passed by the cemetary on the back side on our way to Iolani Palace, but we took the time to look around the church grounds and inside on our way back.

I wasn’t aware of the Vermont connection with Hawaii until today.

I had to take a picture of the pipes for all my organist friends!

D. looked at me askance when I suggested we walk through the cemetery to the car. I avoided the temptation to wander the rows of headstones, however. (I love meandering old cemeteries – you can get such a feel for an area through the history told on old headstones. Another “pasttime” I learned from my parents!)

Our next visit was Queen Emma’s Summer Palace. As we got out of the car we both commented on the cool breeze that blew through the trees – I’d also have chosen to go inland and upward to escape the heat of Honolulu, too! This was the family retreat, and there were many items belonging to Queen Emma on display. 


I had a wonderful conversation with two members of the Daughters of Hawaii. This organization runs the Summer Palace. We talked at length about growing up here many years ago, and how at home I have felt these past two weeks. They both said the island was calling me home, and I shouldn’t fight it. No debate as to whether we can or should, or even how…just do it, and if it is meant to be, it will be. (I can just imagine the look on my other half’s face when he greets me at the airport at 7AM on Saturday…Honey, I’m moving back to Oah’u, are you coming with me?!) D. will confirm that I have talked about moving back and feeling the “pull” since our first day. She will also confirm I have hatched many a plan as to how I can make the move work!

From the Summer Palace we ventured to The Bishop’s Museum. It has areas that are interactive, and of course I channeled my inner child and played! If you want an intimate view of Hawaiian history over the centuries, spend a day here.  We had limited time, so we did just one building. Incredible facts, figures, photos, relics and more about Hawaii history.

We had hoped to return to Lucky Belly for lunch as we were very close to Chinatown. Alas, the clock was ticking, and we had just about an hour before we had to return the rental car. Last stop for the day, Punchbowl and the US National Cemetery of Hawaii. As with all national cemeteries (at least in my experience), it is a place of reverence, awe and beauty. May those laid to rest in these sacred places know eternal peace, and those who visit and tend to the sites find comfort.

View from the drive into the cemetery

We dropped the car off with 5 minutes to spare, and headed back to our room to start the packing process. We struck out for a final walk on the strip and decided to finally stop at Sky Waikiki, a rooftop bar and restaurant, just below Top of Waikiki, a revolving restaurant. I do recall vague stories of my parents and friends being at Top of Waikiki, so it seemed appropriate that I check it out. We shared a truly delicious appetizer of Big Island Smoked Pork Pizza. I had to sample it before taking a picture to ensure it was photo worthy and worth recommending – a big thumbs up to both!

View from the Sky Bar

This is also apparently where they had the premier party for Hawaii Five-O recently. This was the hallway from the street to the elevator up to the 18th floor.

A quick trip next door for last minute office gifts (we can’t go back completely empty handed to those who covered while we were gone for 2 weeks – they might not let us go again!) and a stop at the poke bar, and we headed back toward the room.

A visit to Hawaii wouldn’t be complete without a shave ice, and we finally indulged! 

It has been a wonderful visit. Hawaii, we leave you our aloha, and we take with us hearts full of aloha (and stomachs full of poke and suitcases full of gifts). Mahalo nui loa. Until we meet again!

Posted by | Filed under beach, Diamond Head, Exploring, Hawaii, Hawaii beaches, Honolulu, Iolani Palace, Kamehameha, Memorials, Oahu, ocean, Pacific Ocean, poke, Polynesian, Punchbowl, Shave Ice, Sheraton Waikiki, Sky Bar, Top of Waikiki, Vacation2016, Waikiki

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Waikiki explorations

21 Wednesday Sep 2016

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After the long day yesterday, we planned a “down” day today – nothing specifically planned. We woke leisurely (well, leisurely for us, at least) and were downstairs in search of coffee just after 8AM. The line at the coffee shop in the hotel was long and didn’t seem to be moving too quickly, so we headed out to the strip. The next closest also had a good sized line, so we opted for our “secret” spot inside the Waikiki Shopping Center. A small line that was moving quickly, and we soon had coffee and breakfast food in hand. As we’d already ventured outside and onto the strip, we decided to wander down a few streets we’d been meaning to visit. 

We wandered around the side streets near the hotel, then made a trip to the UPS Store so D. could ship items home. (Her Christmas shopping is done, I think.  I have made a very large dent in mine.) We opted for lunch at Duke’s. We have grown to like that place! This time we ate in the dining room, and had a beautiful view of Diamond Head. 

With no other plans for the afternoon, we set off exploring again. One of the stores we passed had license plates lining the stairs and walls up to the store.                                                                               

We walked further off the strip and found some fun little gift shops, including one that sold sorbets and gelato. Pineapple coconut gelato?  Don’t mind if I do!

There are a lot of fun little shops and buildings once you get off the main street in Waikiki.


A trip back to our hotel to drop off purchases and figure out the plan, if any, for the remainder of the day. We rode up to our room in an overcrowded, overheated elevator, which did not help my energy level. Before I knew it, and despite my initial efforts, I was soon taking a short afternoon nap.  D. went out to explore further while I caught some Z’s. 

We knew the hula show at Kuhio Park was on again tonight, and we both definitely wanted to catch it. A quick text to friends, and we had plans to meet up at the park. On our way we passed the Moana Hotel, as we have several times this week. I had missed this sign until tonight.


We arrived early with our tatami mats and managed to get front row seats for the show. Definitely better than last week’s when we sat on the beach wall!

We were treated to another beautiful sunset before the show started. 

Tonight was a trio and one dancer – Joan “Aunty Pudgie”Young and Puamelia. It was a very interactive show with the audience, and very educational, too.

The traditional conch shell blowing at the start of the show.

Joan “Aunty Pudgie” Young

Hula Kahiko – ancient hula performed with chant and traditional instruments.

Hula ‘auana – modern hula danced to popular songs. She is using ‘Ulī ulī, feathered gourd rattles


A fantastic show, and they even sang one of my favorite songs. You can see the video here.  

A walk through the farmers’ market at the hotel across the street after the show where we purchased banana lumpias, fruit for tomorrow’s adventure, and a few gifts. We walked to Kings Village where we’d walked earlier in the day, and I finally found my Hawaiian quilt. I had seen one earlier in the week in a different store, and when I went back today it was gone. I saw another possibiity earlier today, but it just wasn’t the Right One. The one in this store was perfect – just the right color, and a very traditional pattern. 

Next stop was a Japanese noodle restuarant for dinner, but the line was a bit long, and the restaurant rather tiny. We ended up back at the Hula Grill as there was no wait for a table, and we knew the food was good. Tonight I had the sashimi, and I was lucky enough to get a bite of opah (moonfish) shared with me. SO good!  D. and I shared a hula pie for dessert, said farewell to our friends (they depart tomorrow), and headed back to the room to call it a day. A final check of the pedometer says I hit 19,955 steps today. I debated walking in place for those extra 45 steps to make it an even 20,000, but it was close to midnight, and my feet screamed No! That, and I was distracted by hearing geckos on our lanai for the first time tonight.

The photo really doesn’t do it justice. It was 2.5 oz of the freshest ahi, seasoned to perfection.

Tomorrow we are off to Kailua Beach and Waimea Falls. Starting the day with some R&R (because we just need a bit more!) and some exploration in the afternoon. Hard to believe we have only two more days to see, do and eat everything we haven’t yet. Fortunately, that list is rather short.

Posted by | Filed under Diamond Head, Exploring, Hawaii, Hawaii beaches, Honolulu, Hula, Oahu, sunset, Travel, Vacation2016, Waikiki

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KAH-may, HA-may, HA

20 Tuesday Sep 2016

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Today started extra early as we were up at 4:10AM in order to leave no later than 5:15AM for the airport. Our flight to Kona, Hawaii departed at 6:50AM. The nice thing is there is very light traffic at that hour. The bad news is, street signs in Hawaii are small and not where you expect them to be coming from the mainland. We have learned to look more at eye level, but when both of you are essentially still waking up and require corrective lenses for reading, well, let’s just say it makes for some funny conversation in the wee morning hours! Fortunately we have driven the route before, and we were able to find our way without any trouble.

The plane left 10 minutes early as all passengers were on board and ready to go. I have to give a shout out to Island Air. They have been phenomenal both times we’ve flown with them. Extremely friendly staff, on-time (usually early) departures/arrivals, and some of the best pilots.  Even coming into Honolulu with flash flood warnings they managed to minimize the impact of turbulence, and some of the best landings I’ve experienced. (Granted, it’s a small prop engine plane compared with a large body jet, but I think the lighter planes are harder to land. My pilot friends can tell me otherwise if they disagree.)

Anyway, we landed in Kona, grabbed brochures and maps of the island and boarded the rental shuttlebus.  The driver gave us a brief “tour” on our way to pick up the rental (well, gave D. the tour as Iwas on the phone with my other half.) He commented “welcome to the moon” and showed us the way in and out of the airport before dropping us off.  A wonderful example of island hospitality.  We opted for the convertible this time, and we were off and exploirng within an hour of landing. A quick stop in town for coffee and essetnials, and we were on our way.

We took the route across the island as we had to be in Hilo by 12:45PMfor check-in.  The Big Island is a study in contradictions. We passed obvious lava fiels, followed by lush green rolling hills.

As we drove along Saddle Road, we passed a flock of wild turkeys.  I’ve gotten used to the free range chickens, but the turkeys surprised me. We both commented along this stretch how clean and fresh the air smelled. No regrets to having the convertible so far! 

We stopped at Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii. It stands at 13,802 feet above sea level.  When measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over 33,000 feet tall, making it taller than Mt. Everest. At 13,000′ elevation, it’s a bit chilly. Add to that some sprinkling rain on occasion, and it makes you happy to arrive in Hilo.

Mauna Kea

The clouds were so low we could almost touch them!

We arrived in Hilo with time to spare, so we drove around town a bit and visited the Wailoa Cultural Center and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Vietnam Memorial is a sacred, somber place. The inscriptions in the granite gave us goosebumps, and every tree on the walkways up to the memorial was planted in honor and in memory of those Hawaiians who lost their lives in Vietnam.

The various water levels during storms.

Why is he running toward the water if it’s an evacuation? The “End Tsunami Evacuation Area” sign has him running away from the water.

We got a good giggle on the way to the Hila Airport as the Garmin told us to turn onto “KAH-may, HA-may, HA” Road. D and I looked at each other quizzically, realized she was trying to say Kamehameha Road. It really has been an adventure listening to the different navigation systems attempt to pronounce Hawaiian words. None do well, but Garmin has probably come the closest.

We checked in for our next flight of the day right on time, got our safety briefing, and headed out to the tarmac where our helicopter awaited us. There were four of us on our helicopter, and I think we were all too awe-struck to be very talkative. There really are no words to describe what we saw. The volcano cone is where you can see the lava bubbling and boiling. The lava tube is underground, but you can see where the steam escapes as the lava flows at approximately 35 MPH out to the sea.

Macadamia nut orchards

Looking into the volcano cone

You can see the steam rising through from the lava tube as it travels out to sea.

The steam caused by the molten lava hitting the ocean.

Lava flow that has covered a road

Over 100 homes were wiped away when this lava stream occurred 20 – 25 years ago. And yet there is still green to remind us that life goes on.

From there we flew to PeePee Falls and the Wailuku River, and Rainbow Falls. Amazing to see the falls from this level!

Wailuku River and falls

Rainbow Falls

A quick pitstop, and we were on our way back to Kona, this time on the southern route.

Turtle sculptures and garden at the Kona Airport

The weather was a little iffy at this point, so we left the top up, but the windows down. Still a beautiful drive. First stop, Ka’u Coffee. Great coffee and macadamia nuts.

One of my favorite trees! The trumpet flower.

Next stop, Black Sand Beach. 

We wanted to stop at Pu’unaloa, and the green sand beach. Unfortunately we learned it was an ATV/off-road or 4 mile hike in. We also realized we were going to be cutting it very close for our return flight, so time was of the essence. Time to snap photos as you ride!

The sky looked like it was on fire as the sun completed setting. This was one of the most incredible sunsets we’ve seen.

Art work in the Kona Airport told some of the Hawaiian legends.

Our flight left early again (thank you, Island Air!) and we had an easy time back to Waikiki.  We dropped things off in the room, then headed to Hula Grill for dinner.  I had  poke tacos, and D. had crabmeat and macadamia nut wontons.  I remembered to catch a picture before I got too hungry. Both were very good, and the service was great. This is upstairs from Duke’s, and if you get a table on the balcony you can look out onto the beach. We opted for indoors tonight as we really just wanted to crawl into bed at this point.  It had been a long, yet incredibly wonderful, day.

It is beyond bed time at this point, and I can barely keep my eyes open. Fortunately tomorrow is a down day with very, very little on the agenda. Amen for that! 

Posted by | Filed under beach, Big Island, Black Sand Beach, Exploring, Hawaii, Hawaii beaches, Kamehameha, Kona coffee, Lava, macadamias, Mauna Kea, Pacific Ocean, Paradise Helicopters, Pele, Rainbow Falls, sunset, Travel, Vacation2016, volcano, Waikiki, Waikulu River, Wailoa Cultural Center, waterfalls

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Exploring Our Own Backyard

29 Monday Aug 2016

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After our big trip this summer, we really had to spend some time unpacking and settling into our new location. That meant my weekend trips to somewhere new were on hold for a bit.  But that hasn’t stopped me from venturing close to home and seeing what I might find!

We have this very small park about a mile from our house.  I drive by it twice a day at a minimum, to and from work.  I have always noticed the signs for a trail, and each time think, “We really need to explore that some day.”  Well, someday was just recently, and I am glad I did!

The first visit I took the 4-legged companion with me. She’s always up for exploring, loves to walk, and is really good on her leash. We set off down the trail, and I was immediately in love with this place. You wind down a ways from the parking lot, then you come upon this incredible wooden boardwalk that takes you across the creek.

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From the other side, the boardwalk ends, but the path continues to parallel the creek.  The path is almost completely shaded, which was a plus because it was late afternoon both times I’ve visited. Every so often the tree canopy parts and you get a bit of sun, but you really don’t need to bring sunglasses on this walk. There were platforms where you could stop and watch the creek lazily roll by, a covered picnic table, and lots of nature to admire. I saw so many butterflies my first visit. Not a lot of wildlife on the ground (which was ok with me – I’m not really interested in meeting a local snake on my walk!) I can imagine during the mornings and at dusk in the fall and spring you might be lucky enough to spot a deer, however.

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I went as far as I could with my 4-legged friend, and only had to carry her a little bit of the way home. It was about a 3 mile round-trip walk, so I cannot complain. She was a trooper, for sure! My second favorite sighting on the first visit was the bat houses. There are several built underneath the power lines.  That explains why we can sit outside and not get bit all over.  I was so happy to see the use of natural mosquito control over spraying.  I have always wanted to put a bat house in my backyard. At least I know they are nearby!

A few days later I was lucky enough to take my other half out to show him my “discovery.” We walked quite a bit further and found even more “treasures.”

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I think this tree trunk is the perfect hiding spot for fairies!

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About a quarter mile further from where I turned around on my first trek, we came across these two buildings, or what used to be buildings.  We’re not sure what they used to be. I think possibly a mill of some sort as it is right next to the creek? And there is a smaller foundation just up the hill from it which may have been the office? I love that the foundations and remaining structures have been reinforced with steel framing.  This will ensure it doesn’t topple and injure someone, but also preserves a piece of local history.

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Next time I go for a walk here I am going to check the map on the “visitor center” and see if it gives any information on these buildings. (It’s not manned, and is essentially the restrooms, but visitor center sounds so much better!)

We haven’t yet gone the full length of this trail, but we will keep at it until we do.  It’s supposed to connect with the Silver Comet Trail, which is another local attraction I’m itching to explore. That will likely require a bicycle tune-up (or replacement) to do it justice. And fall is perfect for bike rides!

Posted by | Filed under Atlanta, bat house, creek, Exploring, Georgia, Heritage Park, hiking, Mableton, Nickajack Creek

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