Shar

..".I just love how it feels being there! I get my seat in the upright position and my nose is glued to the window...breath held just waiting for that first glimpse of "my" island. Finally after the four years of thinking and dreaming of being there, after flying all day...I see it and I can't help the tears that come to my eyes. This place has a hold on me! Not just on me but DH too".....

Know just what you mean. We feel that way every time we go and we go about every 1 1/2 to 2 years. It is our home away from home and we are sad every time we have to leave...It truly is our place to totally relax. Just sitting on the lanai watching the waves crash with our morning coffee or wine in the evening is worth it all. Our last trip, we were there in Feb 2011, we had the most spectacular whale spotting ever. It was awesome. Enjoyed your report.....

Shar

sorry for the double posting. using my sisters laptop and it didn't seem to go thru....oh well we all know that Kauai is worth reading abut it 2x!

louistraveler5

Day 6 cont'd...

We were looking through the blue book so we could decide what to do with our day. I went to the biking section to see other options we had. I read there is a 5-mile section of Kapa'a to just north of Donkey Beach. The book states that two shops in Kapa'a rent bikes. I called Coconut Coasters to find out if they had any bikes available and they did! The guy said there were plenty so I said we would be there soon. We made our way to Kapa'a and stopped at Bubba Burgers but this time we had corn dogs instead of our usual burger. I like the Bubba's in Kapa'a because the ocean is across the street so you can sit on the porch and stare out at the ocean!

After finishing up at Bubba's we made our way to Coconut Coasters. The shop was so cute; the two guys, don't recall their names, were very nice & helpful! They set us up with our bikes...we both got a single speed beach cruiser bike with old fashioned pedal brakes! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the beach cruiser bike and the pedal brakes! I fell in love with this bike and didn't want to give it back! The bike path is right outside the shop! We got right on the path to begin a day I'll never forget! It was just so much fun being on the bike! I love the big handle bars; I loved the bell I had on it; I loved the big comfortable seat and of course, I'll say it again, the pedal brakes! The bike path was absolutely gorgeous! Riding along the ocean/coastline was perfect! All we could do was stare in awe! When we made it to Kealia Beach we paused to watch the surfers then continued on the path. We stopped so many times to take pictures and it was just so enjoyable to be on the bikes. After Kealia the path is still concrete but the red dirt is more apparent. I love Kauai red dirt! The path after Kealia until the end was my favorite. We passed Donkey Beach on the path...I just don't know what else to say but how beautiful this bike path is and just so much fun!

louistraveler5

After passing Donkey Beach, we are continuing on the path just enjoying ourselves. At the end of the path we parked our bikes and walked down to a magnificent bluff. The sound of the ocean, the smell of the salt, my hair whipping in the wind; the bluff also overlooks Secluded Cove (which you can see on the map in the blue book). Absolutely gorgeous! We spent a little while on the bluff just enjoying being in the moment! The bikes, the path and the scenery was such a perfect day! We made our way along the path to return the bikes which I was hesitant to do. I didn't want to give my bike back! We decided to eat the pizza again at Brick Oven that night. We had the chocolate cake again! I was so happy that the Pedal 'n Paddle did NOT have bikes available because we never would have done the bike path in Kapa'a. I'm so happy that fate intervened with my original plan to bike around Hanalei because we gave the bike path a chance and loved it!

toncasmo

so have you bought your own beach cruiser bike yet? i have a pink one to ride to coffee at home and love it!

louistraveler5

Day 7: Friday June 3-- Rain, Rain, Go Away

We woke up Friday morning to a hazy, rainy sky. We watched the weather channel to find out what the day would be like and it turns out there was a disturbance covering the entire island of Kauai! We decided to make use of our time at the condo. We washed our clothes and semi-packed (we were leaving the next day). I really love having a washer/dryer in the condo! Of course I would have rather been out & about on "my" island but it was nice to get those things done. We were in the condo until 1:00pm!

The rain finally let up but not the hazy sky. We decided to venture out and just take the drive from the condo to the end of the road. We just wanted to burn the scenery in our memory! I couldn't believe how high the Hanalei River looked! Since the sky was hazy Tunnels Beach had plenty of parking. We had never been to Tunnels so we decided to check it out. On a sunny day the parking is packed for this beach and now I know why! We brought our beach chairs from the condo and relaxed! Tunnels was gorgeous and I would love to see it when it is sunny. It was so relaxing sitting in the beach chairs hearing the water lapping at our feet. Over our shoulders we had a front row view of a waterfall cascading from the towering mountain behind us. It was picture perfect scenery but I was so sad it was our last full day/night in Kauai.

louistraveler5

toncasmo: No, I haven't gotten one yet. I love the bikes at:
http://www.beachbikes.net/index.php
I would love to have one but I live in a suburb of Austin and there isn't really a great place to ride around my neighborhood. I could load it up in the back of my truck on the weekends and ride around in Austin which is what I thought I would do if I got one. Summertime here really isn't fun to ride a bike because for almost 70 days now, we are about to set a new record, we have had triple digit heat!

louistraveler5

Day 8: Saturday June 4-- All Good Things Must Come To An End...

We could enjoy Saturday, our last day, because our flight didn't leave until 10:30pm and we chose to pay a 1/2 day rate in order to check out late. We took our time around the condo packing and getting things in order for leaving. We decided to take the drive again to the end of the road.

When we reached Hanalei we just couldn't believe the throngs of people that had invaded "our" island/Hanalei! It seemed as though in our four year absence of visiting so many more people had found out about Kauai. The two previous times we went to Kauai were May 7-12 and August 29-September 2. Both times kids are still in school so many people are not traveling.
*To everyone reading this: have you noticed through repeat visits more volume of travelers or is this the norm when school is not in session? Does it seem like more people "know" about Kauai?

We took the drive to the end of the road memorizing every possible morsel of it. When we headed back towards the condo we wanted to eat one last lunch at Bubba's but the line was across the porch and down the steps! We had to pass because we needed to get back to the condo to get our stuff together and towards Kapa'a. We made it back to our condo; completed our packing; got all our things together; DH loaded up the car while I double checked everything. I was really sad to leave the condo. Leaving the condo made it more real that our vacation had to come to an end.

*One note I would like to make about being sad about leaving the condo: the cycle of being on vacation is bothersome to me. What I mean is that when you arrive, of course I'm excited, but you are thrown into a new environment; you have to get comfortable with place that is not your own; and for myself I miss my dog. After a day or two I get to used to my environment and I get comfortable. Just as soon as you are comfortable and have a routine down it's time to go home. I truly was sad to leave the condo because I felt that it had become our "home" for a week.
To anyone reading: do you ever experience this cycle?

We made our way to Kapa'a and ate lunch at Bubba's. We decided for our last afternoon in Kauai that we wanted to do the bike ride again!! We went to Coconut Coasters and rented the same bikes and since we were a repeat customer we got 10% off our rental! This time I had a basket on my bike because I had my purse that I didn't want to leave in the car. My basket was so cute! The bike ride was just as much fun as the first time but with one negative difference...gnats! Since it had rained so much the day before the gnats were out in full force and we kept getting pelted by them! Thankfully we only had to deal with it until after we passed Kealia Beach. After Kealia they seemed to let up. We came to the end of the path and spent some time on the bluff just relishing every last moment. We pulled ourselves away from the edge of the bluff so we could take the path back to the bike shop. After returning the bikes, we went to some gift shops in Kapa'a then to the few in Koloa. After the gift shops we made our way to Kalaheo for one last pizza at the Brick Oven. After our last pizza it was time to gas up the rental car and head to the airport. We pulled in to the return section at Budget, got our luggage and receipt. All too soon we were riding the shuttle over to the outdoor ticket counters. We had a short wait at the ticket counter then got our boarding passes. We got through security quickly so we went to the gift shop to get a photo album. Quicker than I could imagine we were waiting to board; boarding the plane; and flying back over the ocean to come home.

louistraveler5

Back at home...final notes about our trip:

*DH & I definitely realized that four years was too long of a wait to revisit Kauai! We plan to make it back every two years. Kauai is my favorite place on Earth but there are other places I would like to see in this world.

*We realized on this trip that the perfect recipe for us would be to blend beach days & activity days. Next trip we want to hike the Okolehao Trail; bike ride (multiple times!); beach days at eastern portion of Lumaha'i; kayak the Wailua River to the Secret Falls like Vicki:http://vicki-h.travellerspoint.com/55/

*This trip really hit us hard in a few ways. I already knew that I loved Kauai but this trip really enforced those feelings. This island really has a hold on me and DH! Since it had been four years and with it slipping out of our fingertips in 2009 I think we were in shock that we were actually there. I felt so lucky to have made it back but now it all seems like it was a blur. This one week in time went by so quickly. I would like to go back with my new "recipe" of the perfect trip and not so much shock of a four year absence. Coming home hit us hard as well...we really missed the island and the condo. For the first time, the time difference really affected us for an entire week after we returned. In the middle of the day at work I felt as if I could go to bed. It was really hard adjusting back at home with the time which is was unusual for us.

*I was surprised by the amount of rain that was received during our week there. Every morning it was raining until 9-10am. Our past trips we did not experience this much rain. I read on many postings directed at first-timers that it mostly rains at night/first of the morning. I definitely noticed a difference of more rain. Especially with the disturbance that Friday with rain until 1:00pm and it continued to be hazy the rest of the day. I was surprised and disappointed by all the rain especially at the end of May and beginning of June. To all seasoned Kauai travelers: how have your experiences differed by the rain?

*Seasoned Kauai travelers: I said, above, that I was surprised about how many people were in Kauai during this visit for us. If you have been traveling to Kauai over the years have you noticed a flux in volume? Did I just notice it because we went during a time that school was not in session?

Mahalo to everyone that read my report! I'm sorry it took so long for me to complete it but I did enjoy typing it and reliving my week on my favorite place on Earth!

Ronda

Nice report louistraveler! We are considering Sealodge B10. The pictures on VRBO look great but how was the view? One picture on VRBO shows waves but from the lanai, it doesn't look like you can see waves.

We have been to Hanalei many times with our family and this will be our first time just the two of us. So many wonderful memories!

louistraveler5

It really does look just like what is posted on the Hestara site:http://hestara.com/b10.htm

I do remember seeing waves. You are not beach/shore level because the condos in Princeville are on a bluff. It is absolutely beautiful and we love the Sealodge! It's the only place we stay when going to Kauai.

Here is an overview of the Sealodge units: http://www.hawaiirevealed.com/wp-con...r-sealodge.jpg
The 'B' is not as upfront as 'C' or 'D' but we didn't feel cheated on views. We could hear the ocean from our unit. I definitely recommend the B10!

P_M

Hi Louise, thanks for the link to this report, I truly enjoyed reading it. From what I am hearing Kauai casts a spell on many people and they keep coming back. I am so excited about our trip, and even more so now that I have read your report.

PS Please click my name to read about the Fodor's GTG in Gruene on 8/25. I hope you can come.

P_M

I meant to tell you, I also get very homesick for my dogs when I'm away. I don't miss anyone else because they know where I am, how to reach me, and when I will be home. But I miss my babies terribly!! Another thing we have in common is leaving a hotel room/condo we really love is a sad, sinking feeling. But I keep thinking about seeing my pups again and it doesn't seem so bad.

I clicked your name and I saw the pic of your pup in the bluebonnets. Your baby is adorable!!

louistraveler5

P_M:
I love hearing that other people feel the same way about missing their dog!
I know he is at the next best place, at my mom's, while I'm seeing the world!

I'll try to make it to the GTG.