Monday - Feb 3

'Monday - Feb 3

Woke up to gray skies that by Noon turned to rain.  Glad we got our swimming in yesterday.  No matter the weather, we're overlooking the ocean so its still paradise!

We sent out this email to our neighbors:

Just two weeks in Paradise in Hawaii and we feel the years melting away! Just compare the photo of us taken "yesterday" on Waikiki with those taken a few days ago. The "fountain of youth" effect seems to have particularly blessed Norm, who fears the effect will dissipate during the flight home.  Needless to say, we are having a simply splendid time halfway through our trip, with a week on Kauai and one so far on Oahu.  

The photo below is the view from our condo balcony - for real. 

World class surfers are gathered a few miles up the road from us in competition mode.

The area is much more laid back than the city life in Honolulu.  When we take the hiway that cuts over to Honolulu, we travel through a couple of tunnels which is the break between the weather patterns.  Everything here is so lush and green.  Wish we could bottle some of the water and send it to California.

Yesterday we went swimming in the ocean with our new body boards (another thing to bring back in the suitcase?).  Pam doesn't like cold water (as all of you know), but the ocean water feels warmer than the air - which is balmy.

And we've been strolling along the miles of beach in front of the condo...

And we've done a lot of sightseeing ....lots of must-see landmarks..... Including visiting the Harley dealer.... 

We also went to the Aloha Stadium for their weekly swap meet.  Saw quite a few ukuleles for sale and lots of bric-a-brac  (more kitschy weight for the suitcases).

Norm is starting to enjoy the ukulele....

We have more sightseeing to do before flying to Maui on Saturday.  Pam and her sister are going to the Jake Shimabukuro concert that evening and February is open artist gallery month, so we'll visit quite a few studios.  

Glad to read that Sacramento had a bit of rain.  We'll be home on the 19th.

Mahalo - Pam & Norm

We lounged around the apartment until about 3pm then took a drive up the north coast.  We stopped in at The Coffee Bean for our "Starbucks" fix, bought a few groceries and headed back to Ehukai Beach Park to watch the surfers in the Banzai Pipeline competition.