Around the Place

Tiny hitchhiker.

Linda watching catamaran off the beach.

Sunset selfie.

The Monks of Poipu

Monday night we went to dinner at Shenanigan's and had drinks at the Western most bar in the United States.The sunset was nice and we had a pretty good meal. After we returned home we watched the debate. Nothing much new in old politic ville, so that is all I will say about that.
Morning arrived and we drove east to Poipu Beach and spent the day with some Monks.  Two Monk seals were resting on the beach just yards away and we watched then all afternoon as we sat in the shade. 

Linda and I went snorkeling and got to see a bunch of cool fish. Just minutes after we exited the water both seals woke up and went into the water for a rinse off. I could just imagine what would have happened if Linda came face to face with one of those seals. 

Casting a net in the break.

Poipu Beach looking east.

Poipu Beach looking east.

Capt. Andy's

Again we were up well before the sun so we could drive down to Port Allen, for a sailing adventure on Captain Andy's catamaran.

It was another beautiful day as we motored out to the Na Pali coast. Once there we were able to see the sheer beauty of this area. When our boat came about and we sailed wing on wing back to Nohili Point where we dropped sails and motored home.

Up at 5:00 AM and ready to sail. 

The photos do not do justice to this place. It was hard to get good photos because I was shooting into the sun most of the day. Also, it is hard to shoot on a moving boat.

We saw spinner dolphins and turtles, our trip included some snorkeling followed up by a bar-b-que on board the boat. 

Snorkeling (video to come later.)

Our cabin at Barking Sands.

Spinner dolphins.

Linda and Caroline.

Looking back at Spinner Dolphins in our wake.

Yes, they had cookies!

Tourist Stuff

Once we decided to come to Kauai, Linda started researching what to do and see here on this beautiful island. Many people gave us great information and almost all of them suggested we purchase The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. Today we took the car and drove around and looked at some of the items suggested in this guide. 

Russian Fort Elizabeth dirt and rocks.

Driving East from our Barking Sands hideaway we followed Hwy 50 through Waimea stopping at the Russian Fort Elizabeth. If you like history, dirt, and rocks then this is the place for you. We walked into the stone enclosed fort and directly back out to the cool refreshing air conditioning of our car. Not much of a stop, the photo tells it all.

Linda on the Swinging Bridge.

Back on the road we quickly toured through the little town of Hanapepe stopping to walk across the famous Hanapepe Swinging Bridge. Linda bought us a couple soft drinks and we headed to Port Allen. We drove the main drag of this little town and found a beach they call Glass Beach. The name comes from all the broken glass that has washed into the beach sand from a very old garbage dump just up the ravine. The area is very dirty and smelly, but The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook says that it is something to see, so we visited, just like the Russian Fort, and went on our way.

By this time I was observing something. At all the stops, we ran into about the same tourists. It was becoming obvious that they were following the same route and were probably using The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook just as we are.

A swinger on the swinging bridge.

Continuing on Hwy. 50 we checked out a small park in Kalaheo and then drove along 50 turning right onto 520 where we drove through a real cool tree tunnel. This was on the Maluhia Road which soon turned into the Po'ipu Road that eventually ended at the Spouting Horn.This spout was very cool. It made the sound of a jet each time it squirted!

We drove back to Hwy 50 via Koloa Road where we stopped at a market that sold very beautiful shell necklaces. Most of the items cost $900 and up, so needless to say Linda didn't buy one (thank goodness). I bought a shirt and we headed back to Barking Sands.

Glass Beach.

The beauty of Glass Beach.

View West at the Spouting Horn.

Spouting Horn.

Waimea Canyon

We checked and re-checked the weather and decided that today would be the best day for a trip up Waimea Canyon Drive.  After loading up we drove to Waimea and hung a left up Hwy 550. The views were amazing and we stopped for pictures many times.

Linda and I hiked to Waipo'o Falls while Don and Caroline went further up the highway to several lookouts. The hiking was very steep with many big up and downs, but the views were grand.

It took us two and a half hours to do the 4-mile hike. I moved slow due to a foot injury, but we made it.

Once back to the car we drove up to the Kalalau Lookout and then the Pu'u o Kila Lookout where we took photos and watched the fog move in and out. 

We drove back to Waimea and had lunch at the Shrimp Station and followed that up with shaved ice from Jo Jo's Anuenue. 

View of Po'omdu Canyon.

A very jungle like, 2-mile hike into the falls.

Waipo'o Falls from Waimea Canyon Drive.

It is straight down behind Linda. 

Along the ridge trail into the falls.

Looking over the edge of  Waipo'o Falls.

Small upper falls and pool at the end of the hike.

Trail was very steep. Linda did a lot of waiting at the ridge tops.

View from Kalalau Lookout.

Kalalau Valley from Kalalau Lookout.

Kalalau Valley from Pu'u o Kila Lookout.

Coconut shrimp.