Kauai - Part 2

So I promise this is my last post about Hawaii. It's so sad I try to blog to remember all these things that Brad and I do for fun, but I'm so behind on my blogging that I really can't remember to begin with!

The one big thing we did on Kauai besides look at beautiful sceneray all day was that we hiked to a waterfall that was four miles through the jungle. We had heard a lot of great things about this hike from people who had been on it, but after going on the hike I realized that a) the people we talked to were crazy nature-loving hippies avid hikers and b) that there are too many waterfalls on the side of the road in Hawaii to have to hike 8 miles through the jungle to see another one.

Brad and I actually both love hiking and we planned on doing lots of hikes in HI so we definitely didn't go into this hike planning to hate it. I will have to say there was this strange phenom that the last two miles were ruggedly uphill in the blazing sun when I promise you that we never EVER felt like we were climbing downhill. But the worst part was the hike was mentally taxing because almost every step you took you had to think about where you would put your foot. The trail wasn't always obvious or it was muddy or bouldery (is that a word?) and in some of the more rugged areas I'm sure it took us an hour or more just to go one mile. I think we spent about 6.5 hours on this hike, but it felt like all day!

The trail started off at a beach we had been to two days before so it was all nice and peaceful. I figured instead of posting details about the pictures I would just write some of our commentary that was taking place at the time.

This trail is a little rocky. Hmmm...that's a little rugged for all those kids that we just passed on their way down. Oh wait, do you think they've turned around?!?! Naaaaahhhh....

So beautiful, how can anyone not love hiking???



Wow - two miles in! This is the best hike EVER! No way would I turn around now!

Look at all that cool bamboo!

This hike is like being in a jungle. Or a scary rainforest. I guess we should just pretend we're in an episode of "Lost". 

There's mud everywhere - do you think it gets worse? Naaaaaaah...

I'm pretty sure this is worse. 

MORE BOULDERS?!?!

Wait - we haven't seen any people in a while. Do you think we went the wrong way? Well, this looks like the trail. Actually, this looks like the end of the trail. Maybe it's a trail because everyone goes this way and then has to turn around and go back? Why aren't there any signs! We followed those people because they looked like they knew where they were going! Ugh. Let them find their own way. Let's go back.

Blisters forming.

Of course my whole face itches now that I've slipped and my hands are all muddy. Do we have enough water? I've got a feeling these boulders are going to be even worse on the way down.

Finally we're almost there! I can't wait to jump in!! Me either!

I'm not jumping in that water - it's like 50 degrees! I'll just stand here and sulk in my blister induced rage.

Smile - these are our vacation pictures!

Are you ready to head back? We have to get back before dark. Took us almost four hours to get here. WHAT!?!?!?

I think you get the idea. On the way back we mostly spent our time wondering how all of the people just getting to the difficult part of the trail were going to make it to the waterfall and back through the jungle before dark. Thankfully Brad switched socks with me so that my blister was covered. No we don't wear the same size but mine were really stretchy and they ended up being good enough for him. At the end of the hike we went straight to the one grocery store and bought about $30 worth of food of which we consumed in one sitting that night. I think we may have watched a movie and then slept 15 hours. Can't really remember.

The rest of our trip was super low key. We went on a few short road trips and mostly hung out at our favorite beaches for the next three days. It was a great way to end the trip.

We visited a canyon that looked eerily similar to the Grand Canyon except there was a beach in the background.

I was really getting camera fatigue so I asked Brad to take some pictures and this is what I got. I think men do this sort of thing to get out of doing what we women ask them. Oh well, joke's on you Brad because I used this picture on the Internet and I'm pretty sure it's going in a frame for my cube at work. Of course then it will have a new meaning. (kidding)

We went paddleboarding, or "stand up paddling" at this beach. It was sooooo fun but I was not so great at it because it's much harder than it looks to steer yourself and I was so far out that the people on the boats were asking me if I wanted them to pull me back to shore - ha! I never fell off, though (unlike someone who had a lesson - cough, cough).

I will miss Hawaii and all the beautiful green lush mountains with clouds just touching the very tips. But mostly, I will (and already do) miss the shaved ice. It was to die for. Like nothing you can get in the states. We probably spent a small fortune eating this stuff, especially the last few days when we realized we wouldn't be around it much longer.