The Three Coconuts

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!!