Goodbye Old Redd…Hello Terra

So last week as we were heading down the dirt driveway to catch another amazing sunset Old Redd seemed clunkier than usual. As I mentioned this to Ryan he assured me that it was just the usual clinking and clanking.  Then he realized it was a little louder when we pulled out onto the paved road and looking out the window he noticed that we had a very, VERY flat tire.  Back we drove, slowly to our place.  We weren't sure what kind of service we would get from ‘Island Cars’ but they sent Pete out that night.

Now Pete was quite the character; a cowboy wrangler with the boots and jeans and a talk to match.  Pete realized the new wheel he brought out wasn’t the right size (go figure) and so Ryan offered to drive him back in the car he brought up.  Pete looked at us like we were crazy and said, ‘Y’all this is nothin’! You should see how we tow cars- just with chains- now that’s quite the ride’.  So off he went with Old Redd (with various tire sizes), leaving us with a swanky 2001 Nissan Xterra.  Pretty nice trade out.  ‘Terra’ as we affectionately call our new ride, has her own share of issues...none as bad as bad as Old Redd though.  Terra is a salvaged vehicle (with a busted windshield) and the drivers door is hanging on only one hinge I’m pretty certain.  You have to give it a darn good slam to really shut it.  Also, if you turn the wheel too sharp when driving slowly it makes a jutting, banging noise that sounds as if you hit another car.  Hey, but no complaints here! Terra has air conditioning and a working radio! Yay!  We will miss you Old Redd...well not really...but you did allow us to get Terra and for that, we are oh so grateful!

As I mentioned previously, we have been lucky enough to be able to borrow the owners two person kayak whenever we want.  This has been really nice, as there are some great rivers and streams here on the North Shore to explore.  Our first adventure the first week we were here led us down a sweet little stream, the Kilauea Stream.  We learned a very important lesson on this trip; be prepared for weather that changes very abruptly!  One minute we were floating down the stream and it was so peaceful with sunny skies above...the next minute a big dark looming cloud rolled over and- whoosh- dropped buckets of rain on us!  Needless to say, it was still a lot of fun.  We were already in our swimsuits so it was kind of like just taking a shower.  We pushed on as the wind really started working against us.  And then, 20 minutes later it was back to the serene stream we started with.  It was as if we had had a dream!

Another stream we enjoyed cruising down was the Kalihiwai Stream.  The owners of our place told us about this big, majestic waterfall that you could hike into; however they had never been able to find it as it isn’t marked.  We were determined that we would find this beautiful waterfall.  We Kayaked back until it got too shallow to go any further and then put on our detective caps and did some searching.  Ryan’s search and rescue training came in handy as he was able to find fresh tracks along the stream that we were able to follow.  After crossing the stream and then hiking through quite a dense jungle which included some ‘signs’ that we chose to ignore, we made it!  A rickety staircase carved into the edge of the dirt hillside led us up to the three different layers of the waterfall.  What a beautiful sight it was!  Unfortunately that day we forgot our camera (or so we thought) so are only memories of this adventure. And many mosquito bites to remember it by too; lesson #2 of kayaking is to always take bug repellant!  Even more unfortunate was the fact that I was wrong- the camera was actually with us the whole time- just buried at the bottom of our backpack...oops!  I guess it was a good thing I didn’t slip and fall all of the way into the stream as we had to forge it to get to the falls and back.  The moss-encrusted rocks lining the stream were like little slip and slides- not to be underestimated- even with the hiking sandals!

So we have found out from ‘local sources’ that several celebrities have second homes on Kauai (on the North Shore).  The list includes Jennifer Aniston, Ben Stiller and Pierce Brosnan.  Ever since Ryan found out that Pierce might be just around the corner he has been keeping his eyes peeled!  I never knew he was such an avid James Bond fan.  The things you learn after 6 years of marriage-haha!  At church this Sunday the pastor made a reference to seeing Pierce Brosnan in Foodland (the local grocery store).  I almost raised my hand and asked, ‘now what time/day do you suppose is the best to have a possible Pierce sighting at Foodland?’.  I refrained though.  I decided we’ll just make a habit of going every night! Not!

However, we did run into a celebrity in the health food store in Kilauea.  It was another unpredictable weather day and we were ready to Kayak but the weather wasn’t cooperating.  So we stopped in Kilauea to get Ryan a quick haircut and wait out the weather.  In the meantime we decided to find a snack in the health food store right next door.  I rounded the corner and practically bumped into Bethany Hamilton.  Ryan was behind me and hadn’t noticed her so I subtly nudged him and told him who was in front of us.  To which he said to me, ‘Are you sure?!’  I looked at him like, really?  Ryan, unfortunately for her, she is not very disguisable like other celebrities, being that she has only one arm.  I thought about going up to her and saying ‘hi’ but then I remembered that I had read in more than one local article that the celebrities that visit/live on the island really appreciate and enjoy that they are not constantly pestered by the locals.  So I followed the ‘local courtesy’ and just watched her from a distance.  We were literally right behind her in line too.  It really hit me that she is truly not only a celebrity but a true role model and good person too.  That made seeing her all the more special.

More later to come on our paddle boarding trails, hiking the Kalalau Trail (Napali Coast) and some more local flavor that we have experienced.