The Three Coconuts

Saturday morning, 4:45 a.m.........still tired from our day at the volcano, I got up and started our pot of 100% Kona coffee like I have done for the last 8 days. It's still dark but short term history tells me by 5:35 I can safely be on the bike and riding. I decided last night that I would pack as much as I could into a short amount of time today.........thus the title to this post. "The Diesel" has pretty well taken the week off of running due to a sore back and hamstrings and has only ridden once. She and "the Genius" however have swam almost everyday.



So at 5:35, after a PBJ on wheat toast, juice, coffee, and a bottle of H2O, I was out the door. I decided to ride through town and out the Queen K one last time and watch the sunrise over the mountain. I thought about our week and how special it has been to experience this as a family. There is something powerful about this place that, I believe, will keep calling us back for many years to come. I rode out and back for a total of 1 1/2 hours, threw on the shoes and ran to the pier and back, another 30 mins. I was back to the condo and finished by 8:00. The girls were up and ready for one last swim in the bay. We all ate a little something, went and returned the bike at the bike shop, and headed down to the pier.


Everyday we have seen some of the same locals and some new ones showing up for their morning routine. Everyone is pleasant and says "Good Morning". It's goggles and a swim cap for some, snorkel, mask and fins for others. This place is an aquarium. For someone who has followed the black line in the bottom of a pool for many years this is truly paradise, coral reefs, sandy bottoms, countless types of fish and other creatures, and for the lucky ones the occasional sea turtle or dolphin. You never get bored swimming here in Kialua Bay. I wore baggies everyday so I could put our new waterproof camera in my pocket and always have it ready for those Kodak moments. We did our usual swim out to the 1.2 mile bouy and back. It was a perfect morning.


At 10:15 we were back at the condo. We cleaned up, packed up, and loaded the Jeep. At 11:05 we said goodbye to our home for the last 8 days. We dropped off our snorkel gear at Snorkel Bobs and went into town for lunch. We found a little family owned Sushi place hidden behind some tourist shops and decided to try it. It was good and surprisingly inexpensive. Then it was off to do some shopping. Julie and I are endurance athletes but nothing we do ever prepares us for shopping. We hit most of the shops and the farmers market.



We got all the necessary gifts to take home and a few personal things. We stopped at one particular surf shop on Kaukini, next to McDonalds. Julie and Tyler caught them having a big sale and racked up. A quick stop at Borders and then it was time for an early supper before heading out to the airport. We went back into town to an Italian place, loaded up on pasta and salad. Plane food is bad. Now it's bad and they charge you for it.


As we pulled up into the rental car return, something happened. It was like a train coming at you that you could not stop. A kind of darkness that just sweeps you up a carries you off and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. And for those Harry Potter fans, the Dementors has arrived.


For the last 8 days we have been on Island Time, relaxed, going at a pace that suits the beautiful people of the Big Island. We have been 6 hours shy of EST and out of touch with the rest of the world. We opened the doors to the Jeep and immediately shifted gears. Not by choice but by necessity to keep from getting eaten up and swallowed by the rest of the world. Like cattle, we were herded, directed, moved from one corral to another, poked, and proded. After a thorough physical by the TSA and baggage gone through (they found a potentially threatening jar of honey that we picked up at the last minute and forgot to shove in a checked bag) we then were subject to the Agricutural Inpection Police. How fitting for a bunch of cattle. Of course I have to eat about every 2-3 hours and so the earlier visit to the farmers market was a perfect opportunity for carry on food, five organic apple bananas and 2 mountain apples. I don't have to tell you what happened but I was SO PI$$ED OFF I proceeded to eat 3 bananas and 1 mountain apple on the spot. Julie ate 2 bananas and Tyler ate the last mountain apple. We could not help but to laugh once we finally past inspection. What really got under my skin was you could purchase at the airport 3 Maui pineapples for $33 in a carry on box but you can't carry on a banana.........whatever. These are the same pineapples that you can by at the farmers market for $3 apiece but not be allowed to carry on. Sorry..... it's time to get off my soapbox.

United Flight 54 left Kialua/Kona at 9:10 p.m with "the Diesel", "the Genius", and me onboard. Plane changes in San Francisco and Chicago allowed us time to get up and move around. We even picked up some awesome sourdough bread at the SF airport and a turkey bagel sandwich at the Great American Bagel in Chicago. The Three Coconuts know food. Other than that things went pretty normal. Props to United. All flights left on time or early and same with arrivals. Better yet, luggage made all connections. We slept on and off the entire way and finally reach J-ville at 4:30 Sunday afternoon. I could easily fill up a book trying to tell of all the fun we had and memories we made, but I will not bother. No words can ever discribe the emotions and feelings of the last 8 days. Mahalo to Mom and Dad always taking care of the farm and to the Big Island for allowing us to experience her beauty and power.


Aloha!


The Three Coconuts............HEEYYY!!!!!!!!!!........stay tuned more to come!



P.S. "The Genius", a fine criminal mind in training, got the last laugh. See photo below..... the coconut made it to Florida :)

Friday morning swim. Yes Tyler put on fins so that she could go all the way to the buoy, trash talk subdued at 7a.m.

More bikini pics.... well we're in Hawai'i!

Sun coming up over the mountain, beautiful water, idyllic swim... this is why we keep getting up early and doing it. It's just exceptional. And it's not just us, there are always others making the morning swim part of their routine.... then there is dreadlock guy who bathes here.

Blain got to the buoy first, no big surprise. But he saw a turtle munching on the algae growing on the swim buoy. He stops and starts signaling like a drowning man for me and Tyler to hurry up. We knew he wasn't drowning, but we were a little confused. We arrive... and it happens.... we're swimming with the turtle!!!! Apologies to Mr. Turtle I'm sure we were a little scary and less than composed, but we were very excited.

Good Bye Mr. Turtle..................see you tomorrow.

Aloha!

The Three Coconuts.

Don't miss yesterdays entry: A few observations. Because we entered stuff over multiple days, blog didn't enter it as most recent. But it's there, just scroll down.

Wednesday and Thursday, observed by Julie.

It's always fun to watch a parent sharing their experience with his child. In this case Blain sharing surfing with the Genius. Now I was raised in a barn, to the exclusion of all other things in life, by my choice. Blain was raised on the beaches of Amelia Island, with the exception of the time he spent on the golf course (we've already done the golf thing.... another story).


Wednesday we started with great news, Tyler's professor had moved some deadlines to next month. Yippee!!! No more homework on Hawaii time!!! Our plan had been to stay in this morning to do work.... but now we were all FREE!!! {Ty: Big props and a thank you to Mr. Moses!!!}

First order of business, sleep late... check. Blain was biking. Went to visit surf shop about surf boards. Had a little delay because mini tsunami conditions were causing some wierd currents and tides, so we stalled by doing a little snorkeling at the harbour beach looking for sea turtles. Salt and pepper beach only accessible by a climb across lava rocks, pretty good snorkeling... but, alas, no turtles. Did get our own palm tree to nap under.

On the way past the harbour we saw one turtle around the boats, I'm finding out how difficult it is to catch them with their heads up. Too much delay between vision, brain, finger and camera function. I've got a lot of shots of turtle butts.

Yummy lunch at Kona Brewing Company, reputed to be the best pizza in town. Roasted veggies with smoked mozarella....OMG. Stayed away from tasting any brews because surf activities in the plan for the afternoon.

South toward Keahou for board rental and attempt one of surfing in the Pacific. Very different from Atlantic surf. I sat by the little blue church and watched while warming my rear on lava rocks. Blain and Tyler entered the fray. The wave set were small by Hawaii standards but still challenging enough for a beginner, and you have to watch for rocks ie bail out early. Waves come in close groups and seem to get bigger within the set, then everything is quiet again and you wait till the next frenzy. During the set you're trying to catch a wave, dodge other surfers (including two guys on long boards surfing with paddles), and not smash into rocks. Blain of course was like a kid on a bike, once you learn you never forget. Ty was pretty nervous, and got to tour the bottom of the ocean when one wave caught her off guard {Ty: and touring the ocean floor is NO fun, trust me!}. But after that she kept her security blanket (Dad) on a little shorter leash and was back in the game. Finally started to get the hang of things at the end, but was exhausted. Stored the boards and planned the next session for the morning.

Late supper, just about asleep in our food. Another perfect sunset.

Thursday morning surf session number two. We had researched and scoped out a local beach called PineTrees. Surf was a little bigger today, and Tyler needed to work up her nerve.... besides that we needed a swim. So bright and early we were at Dig Me beach and Blain swam out to the 1.2 mile buoy and got pics. Ty and I turned back a few tenths short because her arms were still pretty cooked from paddling on the surf board, had a great swim.... but no turtles.

On to Pine Trees, takes some real perseverance to get to this beach... and 4WD is required. But it was a great family beach at the bay, then there was a point called "The Rock". On the North side of the rock was Pine Trees proper with some very nice larger waves. Loved watching the little toddlers learning to stand on the boards in the shallows, some were surfing in life jackets in front of their Dads, others were getting a push from what looked like older brothers who swam out with fins to help the younger kids get the board in the appropriate spot to catch the waves. Everyone was pretty laid back here and there was lots of room. Tyler got her rhythm and had a blast. Blain even got to catch a few, but I did see him gazing longingly at the bigger waves up the beach. Probably best for triathlon training sake and injury prevention that he didn't get to chance to go to big!!! Blain did get to visit with a sea turtle after kicking out of wave, and he got told that his board shorts were "old school" .... we're pretty sure that is a compliment because they also said that they liked them and wanted to know where he got them.

While they surfed I gathered coral. The coral rocks are nice and white, they are placed on the black lava in the lava fields along the Queen K highway to leave messages, memorials and pretty much anything else you can write with rock. Here's ours!!

More on Thursday later...

Gotta run for now. Hope you're enjoying our adventures.

Aloha,
The Three Coconuts

I will miss this veiw every morning.

Every morning I have been up by 5:00 am and tried to get in either a bike ride, a run, or swim. I finish up whatever I am doing by 9 and the rest of the day is about having fun with the Diesel and the Genius. Grant at Bike Works gave me a list of some of the local favorite rides, and with this came no warnings............note to self, drive by car any route suggested by bike shop people, most of which have a sick sense of humor.

Monday morning I left the condo and headed south on my bike for what was going to be a simple 3 hour ride. An hour and 1/2 out, then back. I new there was going to be some nice climbs because the route was the same as when we drove over to Kealakekua Bay to swim over to the Captain Cook Monument. Funny how things seem easier when going by motorized vehicle. The first 3 miles along Ali'i Drive was a warmup, get the blood moving to the legs because at the end of Ali'i there is a nasty little grade that is about 100 yards long and will bring you to an abrupt stop without some serious effort. Then its a right turn then a quick left on to Kam III up to Hwy. 11, right on Hwy. 11 to Napo'opo'o Rd. From condo to Napo'opo'o is about 12.6 miles. In Florida this would take about 30 minutes. This took almost an hour. The elevation change is 1534 ft. and a temperature drop of 10 degrees. The temp drop was nice because by that time I was sweating my a$$ off. 12 miles of climbing with no break for the legs, nice. When I got to Napo'opo'o I was supposed to descend down to the bay (approx 5 miles) then loop back up and head home. I remembered from the day before, that road was very narrow, and winding, and steep (downhill), and little to no guard rails for your safety. I stopped at the top of the road, thought better of the descent down Napo'opo'o Road and headed back towards Kialua. The trip back was FAST. It took about 1/2 the time to get back down off the mountain. There was several times I found myself riding the break. Speeds in excess of 40 on a bike scare the living $--t out of me. However during one of my screaming downhills I was in the middle of a blind right hand curve, a rock wall on my right and no bike lane. There was shrubs at the base of this rock wall and low and behold under the shrubs was a small flock of chickens. That's right chickens, roosting, laying eggs or something. About the time I came roaring past they all squalled and flew violently upward into the scrubs. I thought I had been got.

I wound up riding thru town and then looped back to the condo. The ride was shorter than anticipated but a great workout none-the-less.

Wednesday mornings ride was the one I think the bike shop guys were probably laughing their a$$es off when they suggested this ride. I set out early and decided to ride out to the energy lab to find the entrance to Pine Trees, a local surf spot accessable by 4WD only. I looped back out to the Queen K Hwy. and back towards town to Hina Lani St. Any locals including Bree that read this just raised an eyebrow. I was to ride up this street and continue on up a switchback road that Lance Armstrong did some training on prior to the Tour de France. Cool, I'm thinking. By the time I reached to top of Hina Lani St. my heartrate was pegged and my quads where screaming. At one point near the top I know I was only doing 3 to 4 miles per hour. I was worried if I stopped I would fall over and roll back down this grade that was I know 20+ percent. So I stood up in the pedals and grinded it out. Pain and all I got to the top and I was able to get this pic about 150 yards from the top.......notice the roof top in the forefront of the pic.

The problem with these types of climbs is the steeper the climb the faster your a$$ is coming down. I stopped at the top and contemplated this delima. Don't get me wrong, I love to climb. It's hard and intense. Most people whine about riding the hills and climbing. Not me. However, I have not mastered nor gained the necessary confidence to go screaming back down these hills at what I know today wound have been in excess of 50 mph. I have hit the asphalt at 23 mph. I have no interest in doing so at twice the speed. So I rode the brakes to a point of cramps in my hands back down Hina Lani St., hit the Queen K and headed back to the condo, legs totally used up, a good day on the bike.

Got to go.........it's late here and I have one last ride to do in paradise tomorrow morning.

Aloha!

The Three Coconuts.

YouTube - Koauka - One Woman Man



For the first few days we never turned the radio on in the rental car. When we finally did we found the dial set to Hawaiian Native Radio. This is one of the first songs we heard and our current favorite. Also wanted to share this picture of what Blain and I will look like after a few more years of sun exposure.

from Julie:

This was and will probably always be one of the most awesome, profound, humbling experiences of our lives. We weren't sure what to expect, swimming with dolphins in the wild...how would that work. I really expected just to hop in the water and watch them swim past, then climb back on the boat, repeat sequence. That was NOT the case. We met Jan, our guide, and Nancy, our captain and were aboard the Dolphin TLC by around 9 a.m. Coming out of the harbour we immediately saw a huge TURTLE. He was just floating, but as we went by he lifted his wise, wrinkley beautiful head and breathed. I'm so in love. I told Blain this is good news because when he's old, wrinkley, and bald, obviously I'll still be enamoured!

On the way out to sea Nancy explained the process. If the dolphins are travelling she'll take the boat in front of them and off to one side, allowing us to slip into the water and hopefully interact. Obviously the dolphins can swim much faster than us (even with flippers and snorkels) and they can dive, so they can check themselves out of the experience anytime they choose. Also learned to swim with arms at sides to not threaten the dolphins, no freestyle here. That got hard because I could have used some extra speed at times. We learned about the different types of dolphins: Pacific bottlenose, spinners and spotted. We got to meet the spinners who were animated, playful and in a bit of a hurry today. But our best experience was with a pod of Pacific bottlenose, who tend to be shy, but the male of the pod displayed some real curiousity and tolerance.

Our first dip in we watched the spinners cruise by and could keep them in sight a brief period, but they didn't really interact. Clarity of vision was still awesome and they didn't seem frightened by us they just keep travelling, and interacting with each other. They frequently go and touch or rub up against one another, usually around the face area just like cats, only they are still swimming. They constantly roll, dive, surface and touch during movement. They also showed a consistant interrest in the wakes of boats. Any boat that went by, the dolphins would go to the wakes and surface in a row to ride the wave. It was very uniform, occurred repeatedly, and they did not normally travel in an eschaelon pattern. I'm convinced they were just playing.

Next we met a pod of four bottlenose. One large male, two suspected females and an adolescent. There were some other dolphin experience boats around following this pod, but due to the movement no one got overcrowded. We were very fortunate to have our boat to ourselves, and we all could swim fast enough to stay in contact with the dolphins much longer than the other crews. Nancy just followed us with the boat, and showed up to pick us up when we lost our dolphins and were panting in the middle of the ocean. We swam with this group for long enough for Blain to even become anaerobic. We dropped the other tourists and even lost our guide after a few minutes. It was amazing!! Tyler hung on till she rubbed all the skin off her toes kicking so hard. The male kept diving, then circling around back to swim up beside us, then repeating the sequence. At one point Blain just looked over and Tyler was just off his hip with the big male passing on the off side. The male seemed intrigued and was bouncing sonar off of us. He was so close I could have touched him, the sonar was loud and clear, I knew I was hyperventilating but still can't tell you if it was due to keeping up the pace or from excitement. Eventually I had to stop because Iwas taking on water. Blain kept up longer but we all regrouped afterward, trying to tread water, breathe, talk and wanting to jump up and down without drowning. Along came Nancy to drag us out of the ocean... so we could do it again.

Our next swim was even longer and faster. I got circled a few times, they liked to swim under me. Tyler was just behind the groups, thankfully trying to take some of the few photos we got. Blain actually became part of the middle of the pod. He had learned to dive with the snorkel then clear it for breathing. The dolphins seemed to take this as an invitation for play behavior. He had dolphins below and on each side of him. We swam like this for what seemed like forever, I had to stop for air, then the dolphins went deep and were gone. Tyler, Jan, and I swam up to Blain and we were all alone. Wherever the other boats were they and their passengers had long since given up. You swim so hard and are so focused on the scene below the water that you have no idea how far or what direction you are going. It did cross my mind that I could swim headfirst into another boat, but it wasn't a big enough concern to make it worthwhile to look up from what was going on with my pod. And nothing was worth the distraction that could make you lose your pod. Nancy was always nearby to retrieve us, and Jan was in the water to make sure we were all safe. She had to trust Blain to take care of himself though, because she admitted she'd never had a guest she couldn't keep up with.

Afterwards, we did a little driving around, looking at the Big Island from the water. Best way to see all the beaches. Had a nice sandwich lunch on the bow, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Kailua Kona... I can't even believe it as I'm writing this.

One more quick swim with a much larger pod as we headed back to the harbour. Then to dock the boat. Long goodbyes, impossible not to make friends with good people after sharing a day like today. Nancy and Jan are both truly ambassadors of the island, the ocean and it's inhabitants. Remainder of the day was just an afterglow. I rode the bike on the queen K, Blain did the shopping and laundry, while Tyler worked on homework. Went to Jackie Reys again for outstanding supper and talked about our day.

Big Mahalo to Dolphin Journeys.... find them on facebook for more info and pics.

Aloha!

The Three Coconuts.....................P.S.....Sorry for the lack of Dolphin pics.............the last thing you want is the distraction of a camera during this experience.