February 12, 2022-Hawaii: Flight to San Jose

 

Title: February 12, 2022-Hawaii: Flight to San Jose
Hike Info : Description :

Hike Info:

Type:Airplane

Description:

I think both Sherri and I were a bit excited about today. Neither of us slept really well, but got enough hours to give us rest. We got up around 6:30 and put the finishing touches on getting ready. Kevin makes it looks like we were never there-stripping the sheets and arranging the room we slept in for the guests after he leaves. He is pretty efficient that way.

At 8am, we are being chauffeured by Kevin and David to the Kona airport. We arrive without incident or seeing a final whale. It has been a good time in Hawaii. We quickly pass through the TSA line-they have a new scanner which makes it so you do not have to take anything out of our backpacks. Makes it so much easier. We wait around for about 45 minutes before boarding our flight.

At exactly 10:10, our SouthWest flight leaves the gate and we are on our way back to California. The flight to Honolulu is only about 50 minutes, leaving us about two hours to lounge around. We devour one of our peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches while we are waiting. There is a whole long line of people coming into Hawaii having their COVID status checked.

About 12:30, our group starts boarding and a little after 1pm we begin a long taxi before taking off. I do a lot of reading during the flight, finishing up James Lapine’s Putting It Together and consuming Michael Lewis’ The Fifth Risk. After awhile, I switched to looking and describing the pictures we have taken over the past ten days. Between David, Sherri and myself, we took over 350 pictures-a lot less than our Death Valley trip. Still a substantial number to go through.

The plane lands about half an hour early. That is good. Also when we call up the parking shuttle, the driver is already at the airport picking up people. So we get right in and over to our car by 9pm. We take a round about way to get to the hotel.

We are back at the Holiday Inn Express where we stayed before going to Hawaii. Before we left, David had confirmed that we were getting a king size bed and that my name would be on it. This did not happen. The person who checked us in-David had already checked us in. But the hotel did not have our name. So they called David who authorized us to stay. We got a room, but instead of a king, there is two queens-not the end of the earth, just not expected. The darkening curtain would not lower all the way. Rereading this paragraph, I am being too hard on the hotel. It is a comfortable room, one which we will sleep well in. It just was not what we expected after the excellent night we had before going to Hawaii.

It is 9pm in Hawaii or 11 in San Jose. So it is time to go to bed.

February 11, 2022-Hawaii: Two Step

 

Title: February 11, 2022-Hawaii: Two Step
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type:Snorkeling

Description:

Two Step area

I got up at 6:30 and ate breakfast. David made Sherri a croissant and egg sandwich which she devoured-I being the stick in the mud have my granola. We left the condo at 7:30. In Kona, we stop by the Kona Beach Hostel. David’s friend Paul and his girlfriend Kim is staying there. Kevin, Sherri and I talked about the varied COVID responses. Some seem to be more effective, others less so, depending on ones philosophy, and then there are the ones which are hypocritical. David has gone with Paul, so he missed out on this discussion.

Returning from snorkeling

We get to Two Step around 8:45. This is the first time Paul and Kim have gone snorkeling, so they get instruction, along with gear from Kevin’s place. Shortly afterwards we go into the water. Today, instead of being the clear water like it was Monday and Wednesday, there is somewhat limited visibility under the surface-not as bad as it could be. We can still see lots of fish. We even come across some butter fish.

I turn around and realize that Kevin, Paul and friend have started in. When David surfaces, I point to where they are going, so we go on in. It does not seem like anything is terribly wrong, just the supplied equipment seems to be not quite right. Paul is willing to go back in, so the four of us go in. We head back out towards the reed, but on the bay side. Kevin and David spots an eel and shows Paul and I. There is always interesting stuff we see under water’s surface.

 

 

Kevin goes on in, and shortly afterwards, so do the three of us. We shed our equipment and talk for awhile at the bench. Paul and Kim are going to go on to explore the island. We will head back up the highway. We stop at Costco. But there is a long, long line to get into the building. We are not sure why people are not being allowed in. But we decide that we do not need to go in. And continue on our way to the condo.

The afternoon is spent packing for tomorrow’s trip. Also David and I exchange pictures. And of course, we are becoming experts on the Olympic sport of Curling. Also started reading another Michael Lewis book, The Fifth Risk. I figured I needed something on the plane.

I think David and Kevin want to send us off right. They have made another supremely wonderful meal-BBQ chicken, veggies, and baked potato. Can it get any better? Actually yes. Not only that, we packed it all to the beach by Mauna Lani,resort called the Puako Petroglphs Park. Yes there are petroglyphs. While waiting for the sunset, we eat in a little awooded lcove. A mongoose came and tries to join us, but David drove him off. Wonderful time. Then we got a splendid sunset to end our last day on the Big Island.

We came back to the condo, which is feeling like home these days. We watched a bit more Olympics, ate some more of David’s birthday cheese cake. Then went to bed by 8pm. Tomorrow we leave around 8am.

 
Extra Photo's

Title: February 10, 2022-Hawaii: Scratch on Snorkeling, But Go to Wai’po and a Book Group

 

Title: Title: February 10, 2022-Hawaii: Scratch on Snorkeling, But Go to Wai’po and a Book Group
Hike Info : Description   Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type:Car

Description:

I think I may be a bit apprehensive about going to Puako again-David and Kevin may be a bit as well

First beach entrance at Puako

. Last night’s sleep was a bit interrupted. But I still got about 8 hours of sleep and an hour more of laying in bed. Also before going to Puako, I felt a bit jittery. Taking my blood sugar reading it is low. So I start scarfing up a mochi, then some macadamia nut cookies and a glass of milk.

By the time we get to Puako, I am OK blood sugar wise-we will see how my mind works when my toes touch the water. But when we get to the first beach access, there seems to be some pretty rough water out there. Everybody is more cautious after last time, so we do not go into the water here. But we continue on down to an access spot close to the Catholic Church. At first, the waters seem to be acceptable, but then on a closer look, there was rough water with even bigger waves. So snorkeling today is a scratch.

David and the malasadas

We head back to the condo, where we have breakfast. Then we pack up to head over to the eastern side of the island. We go through Waimea again-we got our ice cream here earlier. Then on to Tex Drive-In. This was on our list of places to go. Why you might ask? For the malasadas, of course! Not only that, Kevin notes that we on a select items, if you buy a lunch, you will get a second one free. So we get a hamburger Loco-Moco (after reading the background, I might not have ordered :-) (Kevin gets two beef curry stew rice bowls.) The Loco-Moco is OK, nothing compared to the malasada.

 

 

 

 

Waipo'o Overlook

 

 

 

We then take off to the Waipi’o Overlook. It is only about a twenty minute drive. The view, as we have been here before, is really awesome. You look up the coast-this is where they filmed parts of Waterworld. Then looking up the Waipi’o Valley is good, with its lushness. We spend about 25 minutes just gazing on this.

 

 

 

 

 

Brothers: David and Gary

And then we return back to the condo by 12:30. While I do not think I have done much today, I am tired, so I go upstairs to take a nap. Then I work on getting my questions organized for tonight’s book group. I come down around 3 and putter around for awhile-watch a bit of the Olympics. Sherri has gone out for a swim in the pool. Around 4pm, Sherri and I have the second Loco-Moco bowl. The bowl is a bit degraded, but still edible.

And then 5pm comes around; 7pm PST. Our book group gets started and we talk about Michael Lewis’ book, The Premonition. Sherri and I are on Zoom, most of the rest of the group is in person. It works out fairly decently-just a bit hard to guide the discussion remotely. Kevin and David take off to give us some space-there is not too much private which is said in book group. We end up at 7pm after a good and vibrant discussion.

David and Kevin come back a bit later. I think we are all ready for bed. Tomorrow is our last full day on the Big Island. I suspect my body is ready for a return to my ordinary life. Still it is a place I enjoy and I hope to enjoy this last day as well.

 

 

 
Extra Photo's

Beach at Waipi'o

A plantation in the Waipi'o Valley

We were fascinated with this "Waipi'o spider"

The Waipi'o Overlook

Sherri and our LocoMoco

Animals

 
Flowers and Plants

February 9, 2022-Hawaii: David’s Birthday, Two Step

 

 

Title: February 9, 2022-Hawaii: David’s Birthday, Two Step
Hike Info : Description :   Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Snorkeling

Description:

Today is David's birthday. it is good to have him as a brother, not only for having us on this trip and for taking care of me yesterday. but for all of the times before where we have bonded. It is not just because of being family, but we do enjoy each other. This really started when he was in college and has continued on through his time in Colorado, moving back to Mountain View as our Mom declined and now with his current iteration in Eureka. So good to have him.

Today we left the condo at 8am and headed south back to Two Step. I wanted to get back in the water after yesterday and figured that Two Step is a safe to go. Even though the water gets immediately deep, you have to be either near shore or the reef to hit ground. Not only that it is a wonder to look down into.

 

Kevin, David and I take off into the middle of the bay, looking at all sorts of rocks and crevices for life. The coral looks like it is making a comeback. While the fish do not seem as plentiful as they were Monday, they are still good to look at.

We head over beyond the reef, into the open ocean. I think I was still concerned after yesterday. The waves were awesome breaking onto the reef. David and Kevin got close, I stayed away. But the fish life was not as interesting as Monday out here. So we looked around for about 15 minutes and then headed back into the bay.

About this time, Kevin was ready to go back in. David and I just zig zag around looking at interesting life for about another 20 minutes before we went headed in. David found an eel hiding just a little ways from the entry point. We then climbed onto the rocks out of the water.

Costco Cheesecake

On the way back to the condo, Kevin phoned Don-another Eureka buddy. He and his wife were glad to hear from us, wishing David a happy birthday. Also they praised God that yesterday David and Kevin had been there to pull me past the rip tide. We stopped at Costco for some more groceries=Sherri and I stayed in the car. Then off to the condo.

Turf and Surf

We had David’s dinner at lunch time. David got to fix his own dinner of steak and shrimp. Good stuff. Then it was rest time-I took a nap for awhile. Then came down and watched the Olympics with David-he had gone for a walk while I was napping. 

 

 

 

 

At 5, we went on our family Zoom time. It was good to hear from all three kids. In the middle, we ate a slice of birthday Costco cheesecake. Then went to watch the sunset. Beautiful place by the Lava Lava club. Then back to the condo for more Olympics and hitting the bed by 8:30.

 

 

 
Extra Photo's

February 8, 2022-Hawaii: Snorekling at Puako, Shopping and Coffee, and Whale Watching

 

Title: February 8, 2022-Hawaii: Snorekling at Puako, Shopping and Coffee, and Whale Watching
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type:Snorkeling

Description:

Today was an exciting day, while much of the day was good, there was a period of distress and grave concern.

I got up a little after 7am. I then had breakfast before heading out to Puako for a morning snorkel. We went to the south beach access, which is really the first access to the beach. The ocean looked a bit choppy, but manageable. So we headed out into. The first thing which David sees when he sticks his head in the water is a Green Sea Turtle. Exciting. Then Kevin sees another one, which I manage to get a video of. So far pretty good.

 

When I look to find Kevin and David, they are well out into the water, swimming around. So I start swimming towards them. Sort of surprisingly enough, I make it out to them quicker than I thought I was going to. My snorkel is getting a bit of water in it, but I am cleaning it out OK.

 

Then Kevin comes by and says he is going in. But David is still out there, so I hesitate for a few minutes on going in. But then David starts to come in as well. So I turn around and head in. We had just gotten out beyond the reefs and there is a channel which allows us into the inner part of the area where the shallower water is. But as I go through the channel, I am being pushed back out into the bay. Not only that, I am getting caught up in the swells. David and Kevin say that they can see my body being tossed up on the crest of waves-that may be why I am sucking water through my snorkel.

Waiting for Mountain Thunder tour

Before I know it, David is by my side, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards shore. Kevin joins him and helps me as well. Between the two of them, they are able to get me through the channel and out of the wave action. I can feel my breathing being very rapid and not very good. But fortunately I have not swallowed a lot of water. Once we get to calmer waters they check me out and we all start heading towards shore.

It was pretty tense, Kevin was the one who raised the alarm with my brother that I was in trouble. When we got back to the car and were able to shed our snorkeling gear, we were able to express relief that we all made it out OK. After comparing notes, we realized that besides the choppy water, we were also fighting a receding high tide. As David said, not a major drop between tides, but still enough to make it beyond my abilities.

Mountain Thunder

We got back to the condo, relieved. We rest for a little while, then head into Kona to Ross. We pick up some Hawaiian clothing-discounted because we are seniors-Yeah! It is good to be old, and today, alive and well. Then we head up the mountain to a coffee plantation called Mountain Thunder. Sherri buys a bag of their coffee. At 11:30, we take a half an hour tour of the processing part of the plant, getting an explanation of the processing of coffee beans, which are not beans. Interesting even for a non-coffee drinker such as me. We

Pine Tree Cafe-Kevin, Sherri and Gary

all have lunch at Pine Tree Cafe again. Always a good choice, then head back to the condo for a bit of rest. 

 

At 2:00pm, Kevin drives us north along the coast. Several whale spouts are spotted. There was also a small brush fire completed with three engines and crews, police and an ambulance. A helicopter was dropping water on the fire. Looks like it was down by the ocean.

 

 

 

Picnic area at Kapa'a SP with Sherri, David and Kevin

Kevin pulls us into a state park at Kapa’a State Beach. Several other groups are there as well to observe whales. None of us are disappointed as we spot one maybe a couple hundred yards or farther off shore. Then the big attraction happens out towards the horizon. A huge whale is laying around out there, splashing I assume for our entertainment. Wonderful.

 

Ocean view from Kapa'a

We turn around and drive back home. We see several other spouts on our way back. Dinner is pulled pork-our second time. Still very good. Then we head on over to the beach by the Lava Lava Club. We arrive about 20 minutes before sunset and just mosey down the beach, away from most of the people. Even here, we see a whale spout in the distance. And then the sun sets, deep into the ocean, turning the sky into orange. A wonderful view.

 

 

 

Sunset

When we get back to the condo, we spend a little while watching the Olympics before going to bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Extra Photo's

Display at Mountain Thunder

Tiki Man at Mountain Thunder

 
Flowers and Plants