THURSDAY - AND READY TO SLEEP - KICKIN' IN KAUAI

Chickens of Kauai:

We considered a scuba trip for Thursday, but thought that we might be too tired after our fun in Oa(boo)hu so we decided to stay close to home. I was glad we did. We had such a fabulous, relaxing day! We were starting to feel like we were going to go home from Kauai more exhausted than we were when we got there!

We started our day by exploring the Point at Poi'pu. Since that is where we were staying, it was a natural progression.

About four or five sea turtles greeted us. Do you realize how hard it is to get a picture of a sea turtle whilst in the sea? So hard! But after about 800 shots I got this.

Hallo there!

Scaly purple thingies on the rocks. Larry touched one and it did not sting him and he did not die. Our scuba instructor was VERY clear - don't touch anything! This is one area where I follow the rules and Larry does not.

Hello to my rock-loving hunny...

AGGGGGHHH! Who else is in there?

Heaven ... he's in heaven ...

More sea creatures:

Fingery thing.

I cannot remember what kind of fish this is but it looks like an eel but is really a fish.

Dead crab under Larry's foot. Gross.

This was in the tide pools but I think I saw something like this in a moldy closet in one of my apartments on my mission. The Pullman apartment - for Elizabeth and Jill, who lived there, too.

This black crab was wicked fast and JUMPED to the rock on the right side of the photo. We saw a TON of those black crabs. Creepy little dudes. On the lava rocks you can barely see them.

If you turn your back on the ocean, this is what you see. How beautiful!

Larry and Tracy exploring ... Charmaine and I waiting for something to happen ...

This is where I lovingly tease (just a little) my smarty-pants husband who thinks pocket protectors are a good idea, if only they were flexible, but doesn't actually wear one:

A rock. He explains to us the unique nature of the rock and it's something or rathers ....

And more from Professor Larry.

While we were exploring look what the boys nearly stumbled on:

Can you see it?

Now can you?

Hello happily sleeping monk seal. Did you have a big day in Oa(boo)hu yesterday, too?

We watched him forever. As the tide came in, he moved farther up on shore. Those rocks tore a hole in my pants, just from me sitting down, and he inched his way over them on his tummy. Tough skin.

Took a little swim and then settled farther up on the rocks.

My hat hair. And the seal behind me. We left him to sleep.

So lush and green. And yikes! Bees!

I'm allergic, so bees aren't my favorite. I know they want to kill me.

After the morning walk we went to Spouting Horn.

A very unstable spouting horn who did it's best spouting when we were swearing about the lame picture we just took.

We tried to trick it by moving to another location, but it was on to us.

Banana spider at the Spouting Horn kiosk shops where they sell everything made in China. By the way, banana spiders are not poisonous. They don't have to be. They are so big and scary looking that you have a heart-attack when you see it.

OF COURSE we had to stop at Puka Dog again:

Look at those smug looks - like we thought we could eat like this every day. How I wish ...

And of course I gulped down the fresh lemonade.

At the end of the Puka Dog I always have a little bit of bread so Larry throws it to the birds and chickens. (Of course we saw Spanky and PonyBoy and their hookers again, but Colonel Sanders was no where to be seen. Maybe he was someone's dinner.)

Haha! Look at this shot! That little tiny bird beat out two big chickens and Spanky to get the bread.

Here is your pretty flower picture of the day:

You are welcome. And yes, I took it. Check out the cool end of the stamina thingy. (I don't know flower terms.)

With full bellies we were off to Poi'pu beach for some swimming. It was cold and raining. Most people left the water. It was nice to us. I was still freezing when Larry took this picture, but warmed up. We had blue fish that were swimming around our feet that were about 12 inches long! It was awesome! Note to self - bring snorkle stuff with you EVERY where you go!

After the beach we booked it out to Polihale State Park for the sunset. The road was washed out over the winter and they just fixed it. There we discovered that my camera was foggy from all the humidity. Bummer. I do kind of like the etheral look:

And the actual look:

It's nice to just sit on the beach and watch the sun go down. Very nice.

The sun was setting in front of us, but this is what was behind us. It was remarkable the way the greens changed colors as the sun set. Of course, the picture is a lame attempt to show you that.

So long Nice Day! Thanks for the awesome sunset!

On the way back, in the dark we succumbed to the temptation to check out a sugar cane plant.

Larry was the brave one.

Now THAT'S A KNIFE! (name the movie)

Only one day left!!!!!! Where did the time go?!