High Surf Warnings

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Due to high surf all week our time in the water has been very limited. Despite that we are having a great time. Today is our last full day here and we are going to meet up with my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Kay who are also on the island.

Since we couldn't get in the water we modified our time in paradise with other activities. Here's a few of the fun things we've done this week.
Alex and I went with Sue and Jim to explore a lava tube. We climbed and crawled back as far as it went. Alex was loving it, my knees were not.

Here's the boy at top at the end of the journey.

The lava fields look like Mars.


We cooked some yummy dinners. This was ka-bob night with chicken, peppers, onion and fresh Hawaiian pineapple.

The kids discovered the macademia tree. Uncle Jim let them use a hammer to crack them open so they could be eaten.

We met with the king.

We explored valleys.

We watched a rescue.

We teased the ass-horse.

We witnessed His art.

... and more of His art. This is the surf at the bay we were scheduled to tour.

We got in touch with nature.

This poor critter was patient with the kids.

More to come...

Hawaiian Wildlife

As you may know Hawai'i is full of wildlife not common to the mainland. On our first day out to the beach we spotted two of the rarest species.

The first was the black-billed flycatcher. She was so still and patient waiting for her prey. At one point I thought we might need to check for a pulse.

The second sighting was of the purple breasted oompah. What was unusual was that she was accompanied by the black chested oompah male (unpictured). They were off for a water hunting expedition.

There were many others but we were not fast enough with the camera to capture them.

We entered the water and snorkeled for a while but I had an equipment malfunction which cut my time short. Today the waves were too high for snorkeling so we spent the day out and about.

We hit the farmers market in the morning to find some local fruit but ended up with other items like baked goods, beads and other items.

We hit a coffee farm for a tour and found some more wildlife. Here is Brianna with the chameleon that Kathi found in the orange tree. We all took turns holding the little guy. We also saw two pigs that were roaming but again they alluded the camera's eye.


After the caffeine fest we headed for lunch and then to a market that was on the main street through the center of Kona. We had the obligatory shaved ice and the kids picked up some souvenirs.

We spent a little time watching the waves and letting the kids play on the beach before heading home to grill some steaks on the lanai.

I'm Still Around

I'm not dead. Yet.

I've just not had too much to say lately. The truth is, I've got a lot to say but I'm old and too tired right now to say it.

So...

This is what we were up to last week.

This <--- click here

This <--- then click here

and This <---- and finally click here.

Congratulations Gus and Sara!!!

A Day at Silver Falls

My brother Kevin and his family are in town during his sabbatical. So today he and I took advantage of the nice weather and brought the kids to Silver Falls. This is such a beautiful place in Oregon, one to put on the must see list if you come to visit.

The kids were total troopers at first. We kept asking what they thought of the place and they would respond with words like "great" or "awesome". As the trail go longer and the stomachs emptier the words turned to "dumb" and "boring". When all is said and done, if you ask them in a day or two, they'll tell you they had a great time. I've got pictures to prove it.

I'm not going to try and waste words describing the beauty God created here, I'll just show you with some photos. Enjoy.

This is the main falls, Silver Falls, and the first you come to along the trail. As you can see you get to walk behind the falls on the trail.

This is the second falls, Lower South Falls, that we saw today. You also get to walk behind this one also.

Here I am with Brianna and Alex in front of Silver Falls.

Kevin and the kids behind the South Lower Falls.

Kevin and the kids in front of the Lower South Falls.

The kids pointing the way to the Lower South Falls.

Brianna inspecting some wildflowers on the trail to the falls.

Taking a break. Nothing like grabbing a rest on a log.

They were way up there climbing the root system of the trees on the hillside.

Father and son on the long stair climb back up from the Lower South Falls.

Beach Day with Owen

I took the day off work today to enjoy a day at the coast with Owen. He deserved it. Since Kathi and the kids have been gone for almost three weeks he's mostly been couped up in the house. Thanks to good neighbors and friends he gets let out to potty, walked and played with each day I'm at work.

I just figured since the weather was going to be good and he needs some special attention I'd treat him to a day out. And what a day it was. I challenge you to find a day at the Oregon coast that clouds aren't visible. Today not a one.

Usually there is a ridge of clouds miles off the coast but since there were easterly winds there were none.

Our first stop was Cannon Beach were we walked for miles and miles. We stopped to pose with Haystack Rock and its little buddy rocks. Owen was out of control with his nose. Nothing got past the sniffer.

The next stop was Oswald West State Park where we hiked the Cape Falcon Trail for a number of miles and then took the trail down to the beach and walked it. The surfers were a plenty.

For the record this is the beach were I caught hypothermia as a kid. I don't think my brother ever used his sleeping bag again after that trip. It is what they used to warm me up after stripping me naked. He just couldn't use a sleeping bag I had been naked in. I think he should have enshrined it as one of the tools that saved my life.

The day ended with a wonderful steak dinner at mom and dads. Yum.

All in all a great day. The only thing that could have made it better would have been the company of my wife and kids. Miss you guys terribly.

Time To Say Goodbye

As sunset falls on the Naragansett Bay it is finally time to say goodbye to the small but mighty Rhode Island.  This will be our final night here with a flight back to the wacky west midday tomorrow.  It has been a wonderful trip filled with great memories and good times.  I hope to return someday to see more of the North East and its offerings.

To Jennifer, Jonathan, Natalie, Nathaniel, and Aidan - Thank you for a wonderful time.  You are great hosts and fun tour guides.

Portland, here we come.

Casual Thursday

Thursday we kicked back, took our shoes off and relaxed at the beach.  Okay so we were only there for a 1/2 hour - stupid wind.  It was still a nice break for the kids.  Alex was proud of himself for getting in all the way in up to his shoulders.

The shoes are off and the ladies are out ;-)

The Downing boys at play

Jen getting in some shots

Alex and Natalie avoiding the seaweed

We had Five Guys burgers for lunch and played a little Catan to finish off the evening.  I call that a great day.

Wednesday Part Two

The second part of Wednesday we ventured off on The Cliff Walk in Newport.  This walk is beautiful as it strolls along the shore above the cliffs behind many of the local mansions.

A natural spring that pours out of one of the cliff walls at the bottom of 40 Steps.

Our host family: the Downings.

The boy and I.

The Breakers mansion which we toured later in the day.  This was by far the neatest mansion that I saw.  Built in 1893 for $7 million for Cornelius Vanderbilt II this house has over 65,000 sq/ft of living space.

Can you find the fisherman?

Sailing FAIL!

Unfortunately the day ended with me being dehydrated.  I had a massive headache and couldn't eat.  A little water and a bit of rest I was better.

Wednesday's Event

Wednesday we ventured out to the Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown, RI after running a few errands around town.  Around the lighthouse were plenty of rocks to climb around along the shore which Alex took full advantage of. 

Much to the delight of my neice we saw a family of geese on our way out of town.

The Beavertail Lighthouse: currently under rennovation.

Alex and a fishing boat.

The lighthouse had a small aquarium with a touch tank for the kids.

The view of the bay on our way home.  Many of the boats are returning for the summer season.

Fenway

Thanks to a customer of mine we were able to enjoy a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park last night.  We hit the road early to pick up the tickets and then hopped the subway to get to the game.  We arrived plenty early to enjoy the festivities around the park.

The fourth ticket was sold to an eager scalper who took it off my hands for $10.  That $10 then was used to get a Red Sox hat for the boy.  Our seats were out in the bleachers with all the true fans.  The Red Sox fans bleed green - it's true - they are great fans. 

The park itself is cool in an old school kinda way.  It is small and tight and full of tradition and gives you a sense of what baseball was like in its early days.  Although the park has gone through some rebuilds, modifications, and additions it still has that classic feel. 

This was Alex's first professional ball game and he had a great time.  He cheered with the best of them.  He enjoyed a Fenway Frank and some cotton candy and wished for more but the one thing that has kept up with the times was the food prices.  $7.25 for a beer - yikes.

Alex and I entering the game.

Some classic seats near the third base line.

Think he's having fun?

The Green Monstah!

Me and my boy at Fenway.

This is a panorama of the view from our seats.  As you can see we were a little too far away to catch the newances of Wakefield's knuckleball.  

Thanks for the good time Boston.  Oh yeah, and congrats on the 2-1 victory over the Jays.