Kauai in Steps- Part 2

Before I continue with our daily events, I have to talk about Kauai's roosters.  They are everywhere!  In large numbers!  And, they are beautiful.  Their vibrant plumage is stunning and I've got way too many photos of them to prove it.  I love to hear their cock-a-doodling in the distance.  It is musical.  However, they can be a bit annoying when that crowing wakes you at 11:30 pm when you've just been asleep for an hour.  I thought they were supposed to only crow at the crack of dawn but a quick Google has discredited that falsehood.

Day 5 - 18,241 steps

Today we headed off to the Wailua area in the east to hike the Kuilau Ridge Trail.  This was an easy 4.5 mile round trip along a ridge with views of Mt. Waialeale and Mt. Nounou as well as the Makaleha range and its highest peak, Kapehuaala.  The plush green foliage in the valleys in between were quite breathtaking and the eucalyptus tree grove we hiked through was very cool.  We didn't realize that the Kuilau Ridge Trail meets up with the Moalepe Trail that starts from the other direction so we continued on it for a ways before doubling back making our hike about 6.5 miles.

We stopped to snorkel at Lydgate Beach Park on the way back.  Now, I knew my husband was a wine snob and I know he is a food snob but today I learned that he is also a snorkel snob.  This beach has a man made lava rock barrier creating a couple of pools where the strong surf cannot get in.  This was built in 1964 by Albert S. Morgan, a native Hawaiian who was inspired when he saw a similar protected swimming area while travelling to Sorrento, Italy.  This wall makes it safe for a 3 year old to snorkel there and Terry thought it was too lame for him.  I went in anyway and was pleasantly surprised by the many fish there were to see.

After dinner a repeat trip to the ice cream shop was in order; tonight's flavour, salted caramel peanut butter.  

Day 6 - 12,730 steps

This morning we relaxed, reading our books letting the rain subside.  After breakfast we went for a 2 mile urban walk/stroll to Spouting Horn Park and back.  We had been there once before but we needed to get some steps in and you never tire of watching the waves crash into the shore hitting this black outcropping of lava rock and watching water spray up through various blow holes.

Next we packed up and headed off for a day of exploring and snorkelling.  We headed west again and our first stop was a return trip to Hanapepe.  This time we browsed a couple of artisan shops (where I saw this informative book about Hawaii)

and walked across the Swinging Bridge before heading to Port Allen for a nice lunch and excellent craft beer at the Kauai Island Brewing Co., (where I saw this funny sign)

then a quick stop at Glass Beach.  This is literally a beach of sea glass.  

The beach's regular rock is basalt, but the sea glass formed after years of discarded glass here in this old industrial area.

Next we went snorkelling at nearby Salt Pond Beach which lies adjacent to the only natural salt ponds on Kauai. These Salt ponds are strictly for the use of Native Hawaiians. Few places in Kauai are safe enough for us to snorkel in winter and this beach provided a safe sheltered bay to see a few fish.  No one wants their trip ruined by a rip current!  As I looked around to find Terry's snorkel poking out of the water I was reminded of past holidays with the whole family where all 5 of us would be out snorkelling.  I love snorkelling!  But the mother in me was always on alert making sure I knew where everyone was.  Breath, kick, glide, admire the angelfish and coral, stop, look around, count.......1,2,3,4 ducklings, continue, stop, count, 1,2,3...........panic, hyperventilated, swallow some salt water.......4, breath, kick, glide, enjoy some puffer fish and Dory fish.  Such is the life of a mother always watching out for her ducklings. :)

After reading in the sunshine for awhile we continued on towards our "home away from home" and stopped to snorkel again in Poipu near the Beach House.  This spot was loaded with many varieties of very colourful fish.  Our best snorkelling so far this trip.  The long narrow needlefish at the surface were barely getting out of our way!

Day 7 - 23,401 steps (but probably 29,600)

Fun, fun, fun day today!  Great hike on the Napali Coast Trail to Hanakapi’ai Beach and Hanakapi’ai Falls.  My favourite hike so far this trip.  

This 8 mile round trip hike was slippery, muddy, rocky but fantastic.  At one point we debated turning back anticipating that coming back down his slippery, muddy mess would be crazy.  Instead we found some walking sticks and continued on.  The sticks helped a lot but the trail also improved.  The views of the rugged Napali Coast were breathtaking and our break at Hanakapi'ai Beach was lovely.  There was no swimming there due to very high surf.  A sign warned that 83 people and counting have died there thinking the rules don't apply to them.  But the view is beautiful and it I so fun just to watch the swelling waves crash into the shore and beach.  Lots of cute cairns along the beach.  Who doesn't like cairns?!

After our break at the beach we headed on to the falls.  This trail was technically very difficult but not that bad cardiovascularly.  We passed through some interesting mangrove and bamboo groves.  The bamboo was huge; probably about 5 or 6 inches in diameter. 

 The falls drop 300 feet and our swim in the pool at the bottom was very refreshing! 

 We retraced our steps back down, again crossing the stream 3 or 4 times, sometimes quite precariously.  This hike took us 4 hours and 45 minutes not counting our long relaxing breaks.

After acquiring our very helpful walking sticks I discovered something new about my Fitbit.  Seems when you are using the stick and wearing the Fitbit on your wrist, it doesn't count your steps accurately.  Because you plant the pole once for every 2 or 3 steps, it does not register all of your steps.  On one experiment I went 100 steps and it only counted 34.  So, that is why I've got the dual count at the top of Day 7.  I think I'll wear it on my belt or something next time I use hiking poles.

Hey, I've also got another "snob" story.  You guessed it; Terry again.  He is a granola bar snob.  I can have 4 or even 5 types of granola bars in my pack and the only brand that he likes is the "Kind" ones.  I found these at Costco in Lihue but I'm not sure we've got them back in Vancouver. 😟

After our hike we stopped to wash all the mud off our legs (and there was a lot!) at Hanalei Bay before stopping for a refreshing beverage and some tasty nachos at the Kalypso Island Bar and Grill in Hanalei.  This was our second visit to Hanalei, this time not during a deluge.

Day 8- 10,173 steps

Our last day. :(  We went out for a first morning snorkel by the Beach House again.  Very fun but I still didn't see the turtle that some other people saw one day.

Back home to pack and do all the necessary cleaning and garbage removal from the condo. After checking out we went out for breakfast at La Spezia in Koloa.  Had some very yummy french toast stuffed with bacon and brie.  Awesome!

Then we spent the day lounging and snorkelling at Poipu Beach.  A nice relaxing day.  We enjoyed happy hour at Brennecke's Beach Broiler.

And then we were treated to a beautiful sunset at Poipu Beach on our last night.

Next we headed to Lihue where we had dinner then headed for the airport for our redeye flight home.

Great trip!