The North Shore

Not that north shore. If you're in the upper midwest you know this is about as opposite as you can get from our north shore right now. This, my friends, is the north shore of Kauai.

And this is the first beach we visited on our trip up the east and north shores.

We saw it from the road, pulled over and found a trail to climb down.

Literally.

Climbed.

Down.

Through this...

and this...

to rolling,

crashing waves,

beautiful blue surf,

climbable trees,

and the perfect beginning to a fantastic vacation.

Next stop: the Hanalei Farmer's Market to get our fresh produce for the first part of the week, including rambutans, a new experience for all of us.

Another beach stop, but, hmm...I don't remember which one. Maybe Ke'e at the end of the road?

Lots of rocks. Lots of waves.

Lots of sun. Lots of smiles.

After a beautiful, albeit rocky and muddy, hike, we arrived at one of Kauai's precious gems. A bath for a queen? Not in the winter. This spot, called Queen's Bath, is usually a calm pool with lots of tropical sea life, fit for swimming.

Not this day.

 

Not a chance.

 

After "bath time" we stopped at the lighthouse lookout in Kilauea

 

for beautiful colors and waves

and our first glimpse of the humpback whales! They were waaaay out there and we were waaaay up at the lookout so this picture doesn't do justice to the "amazingness" of this breaching whale, but it was awesome.

Our final stop of the day was Kealia beach just north of our condo for some fun playing in the waves.