This could be an epic post. And it's only 2 days worth! In the last two days we have seen two very different Kauai's (or more). The difference between the north and south of the Island is amazing. As is the difference between sea level and the about 4,000 ft. above sea level. It was crazy.
After a day of just lounging around and going to the beach a block away (the first post) and snorkeling at Tunnels beach, we went to the mountains and canyons the next day. We drove south to Waimea Canyon. The whole south of side of the Island was so different. There was dry grass, coffee & sugar fields. We then went straight up the side and into an area with red dirt and canyons. On the way up to the canyon, we stopped at some overlooks before we got there.
After a day of just lounging around and going to the beach a block away (the first post) and snorkeling at Tunnels beach, we went to the mountains and canyons the next day. We drove south to Waimea Canyon. The whole south of side of the Island was so different. There was dry grass, coffee & sugar fields. We then went straight up the side and into an area with red dirt and canyons. On the way up to the canyon, we stopped at some overlooks before we got there.
A little farm where we couldn't see a road in or out of.
The only other Island we can see from Kauai, Niihau, a private island that no one except native Hawaiians can set foot on.
Waimea Canyon
Then we went further up the road to the Kokee State Park. We took the Pihea Trail that looks out over the Kalalau Valley (above) on the Na Pali Coast to the Alakai Swamp. Seeing the valley below was amazing. Corbin's word of the trip has been an elongated "Wow" or Woaow! Over and over again. And of course I can not seem to catch it on video. But on this whole hike he just kept saying it over and over, especially when he saw awesome views that really were worth a big WOW! We knew the hike would be 8 miles round trip and could be wet and muddy and rainy. But I didn't think it would be cold, wet, and muddy. We were in Hawaii after all. I guess it was just another Corbin and mom adventure, except with the family this time :-)
Grandson, Dad, and Grandpa Mark
Meghan looking down the first decent. It was fairly dry going down. I don't have any pictures coming back because it was POURING too much! But just imagine red rivers of mud.
The Kalalau valley.
After you hike down and across this ridge to a view point, you hike way down along another ridge and then onto a board walk. It's so wet here, the boards look like they got a lot of weathering and were broken and rotted through in many places. It was still fairly wet and jungle like here. But the trees were pretty short. Every once in a while the clouds would break and we would see the sun, but rarely. I think its like that most of the time.
During World War II, the US put in a telephone line across the Island in case the Japanese took over Lihue. It was crazy to be out in this swamp area and see these old telephone lines.
Corbin took his first little nap but then we stopped to wait for everyone else and set him down. He was not moving for too long and woke up after only sleeping for a half hour or so. But he was soo cute :-) I didn't have a long sleeve shirt for him, it's HOT in Hawaii, but wished I had. So he got my rain coat instead.
We finally got up to the swamp. I guess it's the highest swamp in the world? It's near the rainiest spot on earth, a mountain top away from here. It was very un-Hawaii like in my mind. It was probably 60 degrees. Very low vegetation. I don't think the sun shines very often here. We were basically in the clouds. I almost felt like I was on the tundra. It was weird.
And then it just ended in a bank of clouds. I am sure that a couple of times a year you might be able to see some amazing views but mostly you just see clouds.
Corbin fell asleep again on the way back. He slept through the first real downpour. It had been raining off and on but not down pouring yet.
And then a little over a mile from the end, it started to REALLY rain! I mean buckets. And of course we were headed up hill and it just became a muddy slidey mess. We were slipping without the heavy rain. Adam had one almost-fall and Corbin stayed asleep but then he slipped again and laid almost flat against the hill and Corbin woke up. He was not happy. He screamed for about 15 minutes in the pouring rain. We finally reached the ridge and saw some views again and he got a fern to hold onto and and started his "wowing" again and was ok the last 3/4 of a muddy walk. Overall he was a super champ! 5 hours of hiking with about a 30 minute break outside of the pack to eat lunch and wait for the others, pouring down rain, hot, cold, foggy. He was awesome! And so was Adam for carrying him the whole way! We have a super baby who is up for all kinds of crazy adventures we take him on :-)
Adam's chaco mud tan.Then we headed down the valley again. We were HUNGRY! We got to see this on the way down.
We stopped in Lihue for some Asian food at the BBQ Inn. It was a yummy local joint, before heading home after a VERY long day.We decided to take it easy today. We wanted to sleep in and be dead to the world after such a long hike but Corbin decided to have one of his first nights of waking up in a long time. He screamed at about midnight and ended up having to come into bed with us. Which means not sleeping well. And then he woke up at about 4:30 and wanted to play and talk. Oh well. We did sleep in a little and Adam let me sleep a little longer. Then the ladies and Neal went down to the beach for some sun and swim while the guys stayed in the shade and Corbin napped.
The view from our driveway. And the kitchen window.
The next series of shots are of the Hanalei Bay beach, in panoramic... if you go from south to Northwest.
After lunch and wandering around town and another nap for Corbin, he was tired after his long ride in the pack yesterday and his wakeful night, we headed to Secret Beach for some body surfing.
The first day Corbin saw waves he wanted nothing to do with them, today, he was all about them. But they were too big for him. He wanted to be right in them but they would have swept him away. He hated me having to hold onto them. He was so funny and yet so angry at me for holding him. When I finally got a turn to go into the water, he just screamed when Meghan took him away to find a safer spot. Just screamed! It was crazy.
Ah. I think we might go snorkeling again tomorrow. And find a baby friendly beach. I am tired. I got a little more sun today, as in a little red. It's time for bed.
