Old Friends, Familiar Places

We left Salt Spring Island on Sunday, January 17th on a cold, dark and rainy morning. The first leg on this journey, as with most, was the ferry ride. When a friend in Vietnam saw this picture on Face Book she asked if we were coming to live permanently there. She was being snide about the mountain of luggage. We had been feeling clever that we managed so efficiently, carrying essentials for ten weeks away in two different countries....plus a few advance copies of Bruce's new book taking up a lot of space and weighing more pounds than we usually like to carry.

Eighteen hours later we landed on Kauai and wound our way to the north shore of the island to our very comfortable digs. We had stayed here last year for a few days with our pal Gail and in a rash moment then, we all decided to came back this year for two weeks.

There is such a comfort in travelling with old friends to familiar places, especially our beloved Kauai where the trade winds are refreshingly cool on a hot day, there are no dangerous critters, the hills are lush and green and the ocean tropical turquoise.

We are staying this time in Princeville on the north shore of the island. Although there is more rain here than on the east side or south shore, we love the green of the forests. Princeville sits on a promontory, a vast tract of golf courses, hotels, and condominiums. Once the destination of the rich and famous, Princeville seems to have settled into a comfortable, well kept neighbourhood with locals in private homes and townhouses sharing with the thousands of visitors who come for a break from the winters of mainland USA and Canada. The area is very familiar...we have our favourite places to shop, hike and eat out. 

But there are "bonuses"....unexpected surprises that add to the delight of our days. We awakened on our first morning to find these amazing succulents in our front garden. I can walk under these arches! As yet we have not been able to identify them.

And wandering over to the nearest golf course we spied this mama albatross sitting on her eggs, where she has been for almost two months, which means we could be here to see the egg/eggs hatch. I did not want to approach too closely, thus the blurry picture.

 As for the calving the endangered monk seals, there are armies of volunteers here on Kauai who watch over the nesting albatross. Signs are posted to warn wanderers like me to stay back. Citizens call in sightings and each nest is monitored. There are a number of webcam sites which follow from the hatching and eventual flight of these impressive birds...so awkward on land, yet graceful in the air.

Other birds have been visiting nightly and serenading us with song. (I did not take these photos, piked them from the Internet, but have seen these species...honest!!!

It did not take long to get settled in to our spacious and light filled condo and well rested after a couple of nights we began the adventures. First up a hike on the south shore on a trail that we have hiked many times, yet with each visit we are filled with awe on the lithified cliffs above the crashing ocean where whales on the distant horizon reminded us that they were out there, birthing their new calves.

The reward on this day was lunch at Hamura's, a local saimin restaurant.We all order the "Special".....flavourful, salty broth, noodles, meats, fish cakes.

It may be a few days before Bruce gets into the local culture and can match the fashion statement of this charming "moke", who sat at the counter near us.


A favourite hike is up the Kuilau Trail from the Keahua Arboretum,where a grove of rainbow eucalyptus show off Ma Nature's colour palette.

Even better when you meet up with old friends from Vancouver and have the pleasure of sharing such a magnificent forest, with breathtaking vistas and melodic bird song.

Another adventure off to a good start with lots of hikes, beach time, pool time, reading, and lolling around on the agenda for the next ten days. Stay tuned.