Tuesday, January 12, 2016, the five of us pile into the SUV and drive down the east coast of Kauai to the southern tip near Po’ipu (another site where Six Days Seven Nights was filmed). Past Kapa’a we come alongside Sleeping Giant:
Sleeping Giant – ‘shhhhhh!’ don’t wake him!
Our first hike is to the limestone sinkhole known as the Makauwahi Cave Reserve.
It is a sinkhole within a large cave system formed in eoliantite limestone (for you rock hounds) containing the richest fossil site in the Hawaiian Islands – 10,000 years of sedimentary records.
Here is a photo of the sinkhole:
Makauwahi Cave – limestone sinkhole
And a link with lots more photos of the cave.
The view from on top of the cave edge:
Hiking back now
Visiting the tortoises (you can climb into their fenced enclosure and visit them up close and personal):
From here we walked along Keoniloa Bay
The shoreline is made up of rocky cliffs
Hey, no worry, we found a soft cushy place for a picnic
What’s your definition of ‘soft and cushy?’
Nice view toward Gillin’s Beach
Time to head back now
Building up a sweat!
David – even his sweat is sexy
Hey just dive into the ocean to cool off
Uh, maybe not.
Driving home now – back up the east side of the island. We’re starving! Stop in Kapa’a for lunch at Eastside restaurant.
Interesting artwork on the walls. Coconut spirits!
Sign says, ‘Paul Vilja, originally from Finland, is a prizewinning woodcarver. When he retired on Kauai, he became inspired by the mystical characters he saw hidden in the coconuts. Now he releases these spirits for all to enjoy.’
On the restaurant’s outside patio we meet this struttin’ rooster
‘Struttin’ cool’
Stealing the show. And the sidewalk. Don’t mess with him!
Later we’re out to dinner at the Baracuda, one of Steph and Vic’s favorite restaurants in Hanalei.
Now dear reader, in honor of Valentine’s Day, a special treat for you. From my dear brother, Eric, a.k.a “Cuddles Cutes”. A video I took of him while we were waiting for our dinner at the Baracuda.
“My heart’s beating for you.”
There. You feel just a little more loved now, don’t you?
The Decompression of a Boomer 