END OF JUNE

Just to wrap up June nicely, visitors!

           Great to visit with Laura and Diana from northern California.  These two kayaked the Na Pali with us 8 years ago – not so calm, not so easy on the landings, what an adventure. Quite self sufficiently running around Kauai with their own buddies, we did get in and on the water with them.  

One great thing about our recreational paddling group is that they are happy to share with visitors – especially dynamos like these two.  Peter & Rosemary made sure they got to go.

 A dry run in the Namolokama club tent

  Gil gave Laura, Antony, and Diana a little warm up lesson and off they went.

These rookies look pretty darn good 

I waited on the pier trying to get pics. 

They caught a bump on the way back in and were pretty stoked about all.

 Victory at sea!

front to back:  Peter, Diana, Laura, Antony, Rosemary, Gil

We got a little snorkeling in with them too, but choppy water this week didn’t create great visibility.  We tried this reef but not much joy. 

Kaweonui Reef

It was worth the walk to get there and back again, over hill and dale, along the seashore . . .

These ironwood trees are not native but they are holding this trail together

I love the lichen

In the same neighborhood we got to see this huge albatross chick before he/she fledged.  What a simple pleasure to watch them every season.  This one won’t be back for 3-4 years to begin the mating ritual, checking out possible mates.

Moli baby - this is the one we saw being fed earlier this year (see post 2/12/12)

what a fine set of feathers - the down will soon disappear

             We went down to Hanalei another evening to watch the men’s practice

at least as they went by the pier

Photo by Laura Richardson



 It is a water sport – they don’t care if it rains

they are the rain or shine guys

photo by one of Laura's friends



Diana, me, Laura

Sittin on the dock o' the bay, these are Aikido buddies from more than 30 years ago

There were two more Aiki girls but these three shared some thumps

            At Pali ke Kua where they were staying, we saw some lovely fishes.  Diana calls it butt burner beach - pretty steep walk down and up.  While Diana and I were out cruising the fish, Laura was sharing ocean wonders with strangers on shore, using her snorkel gear to "make new addicts."

We had a hard time leaving,the last evening for them at Pali ke Kua 

Aloha 'oe