tag:www.danika.org,2009:/kauaiblog//3 2007-09-09T10:04:36Z Movable Type Pro 4.21-en tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.100 2007-09-09T12:58:56Z 2007-09-09T10:04:36Z

Despite a few delays, we made it home safe and sound tonight. My body-clock is all messed up from not doing anything but travel all day, so I'm wide awake. But I'm wearing a sarong and wrapped in a blanket,...

Danika Despite a few delays, we made it home safe and sound tonight. My body-clock is all messed up from not doing anything but travel all day, so I'm wide awake. But I'm wearing a sarong and wrapped in a blanket, so life doesn't get much better than this. tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.99 2007-09-08T17:48:38Z 2007-09-08T18:07:12Z

We are all packed and ready to go. We were planning to leave by 9am. It is 7:50am, so I guess we didn't need to get up so early. Good-bye Kauai. See you in Seattle. --Matt...

Danika We are all packed and ready to go. We were planning to leave by 9am. It is 7:50am, so I guess we didn't need to get up so early. Good-bye Kauai. See you in Seattle. --Matt tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.98 2007-09-08T04:27:04Z 2007-09-08T04:33:39Z

Today has been nice and quiet (aside from the shark attack). Not a lot left to do but pack it in and head home. A few odds and ends. I never got around to posting pictures of the inside of...

Danika Tomorrow, we fly!]]> tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.97 2007-09-08T02:35:19Z 2007-09-08T02:46:00Z

Well, not really a shark attack, but I did see a shark today when we were snorkeling at Tunnels. I almost told Danika I didn't want to go snorkeling. I am sure glad we went. I had the camera and...

Matt http://www.litke.info There were a bunch of fish swimming around the shark. I yelled at them to RUN!!! But they didn't listen (I think either because they don't understand english, or they don't know how to run, just swim). I think the shark was asleep. I cut my arm open because I thought my blood might jazz him up a bit. When he woke up, he just gave me a funny look and said I was stupid for cutting my arm. Then I swam away. True story... really. Well the part about seeing a shark was true, and I did try to yell, but it is hard to yell underwater with a snorkel in your mouth.]]> tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.96 2007-09-07T02:16:46Z 2007-09-07T06:36:59Z

Hmm, where should I begin? When I started walking the hill in Carkeek back in April and changing my diet to be in better shape for our trip to Hawaii (so I could keep up with Chris and Brooke), I...

Matt http://www.litke.info Hmm, where should I begin? When I started walking the hill in Carkeek back in April and changing my diet to be in better shape for our trip to Hawaii (so I could keep up with Chris and Brooke), I never dreamed it would help me prepare for a 22 mile hike. There were many days I didn't want to go walk the Carkeek hill, but I always went out. Had I known what it was going to allow me to do, I think it would have been much easy to get out each day. Knowing that I can hike the Kalalau Trail in one day gives me great feeling of accomplishment. Thanks to all who encouraged me to do it. Now, some details about the hike... slickness of the Powerline Trail for instance was fine), but when the trail is slick, and has a sheer cliff up on one side and a sheer cliff down to the ocean on the other side, I prefer a dry trail. Overall I felt very safe on the trail when it was dry; when it was slick I still felt safe, just not nearly as safe. About the same time the rain started, I got a bit of an ache in my mid-to-upper back whenever I started to breath heavily (when I was going up steep inclines). 2 or so miles after that, my right knee started to get a little cranky. The rain, the ache in my lungs/back and my cranky knee all worked together to slow me down. It seemed like I was going really slow, but I kept checking my time whenever I got to a mile marker, and I was still on track to get back within the alloted time I had told Danika. When I got to the last stream crossing (2 miles from the end of the trail) I assessed it, and it seemed like it was really going to suck. I had done the crossing at least 5 other times (on the way in and in and out on other hikes) and it was very easy every other time. I started trying to cross on some rocks, but then thought how much it would suck if I would slip and fall this close to the end and finally just said "Screw it" and jumped in the water to finish crossing. I was totally soaked at that point anyway. I had told Danika I hoped to be back at 5pm, and she should wait until 7pm before she felt compelled to notify authorities. I finally got back to the parking lot at Kee Beach at 5:42pm. Later then I originally thought I would, but much sooner than I had anticipated once it started raining. It didn't feel like I took too many photos, but when I checked today, I saw there was over 100. None of the photos were taken after it started raining (which is probably what I was most remembering). Shortly after it had started raining I had put the camera in a Ziploc bag and put it in my pack. There were a few times I thought I should pull it out to get a photo of something, usually the condition of the trail, but the urge to get a snapshot was never enough to actually stop and do it. You'll just have to believe me when I say it was very wet and very slippery :) As I hiked I talked to a few people on the trail. When I told those that asked that I was hiking to Kalalau and back I got "Wow, powerhouse" or "Workhorse", I merely smiled and said, "Hmm, I think perhaps just crazy". In the end most thought me crazy, nuts or both. Much of the way out I thought I was crazy and I would never do the entire trail again, but about 5 minutes into the car ride back to the rental house, I started thinking about how I could train better, so the next time I would enjoy the hike more :) Here are a few photos. When we get back to Seattle, I will post more and more of the trip in general. Here I am at 7:05am, clean, dry and excited to start. Here's what part of the trail looks like when it is dry. Early morning at Hanakapiai Beach. Here is another shot of the trail. Do you see the guy (Bill) working on the trail? One of the many feral goats I saw. Some trees in one of the smaller valleys. Part of Kalalau Valley. A glimpse of Kalalau Beach. The falls at Kalalau. Kalalau Beach with rain clouds looming. Here I am at 5:42pm, wet, dirty and ready to go home. ]]> tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.95 2007-09-06T04:30:12Z 2007-09-06T04:31:53Z

I made it, the entire trail. Now I am going to go soak in the ocean. More to come later......

Matt http://www.litke.info I made it, the entire trail. Now I am going to go soak in the ocean. More to come later... tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.94 2007-09-05T18:14:13Z 2007-09-05T22:28:41Z

It has been said that week 4 of your vacation is the week you decide not to come back, but that's not what I've found. Call me selfish and ungrateful, but week 4 is the week where I want to...

Danika tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.93 2007-09-05T15:29:03Z 2007-09-05T15:38:37Z

Well, it is 5:20am and I am up and getting ready for the hike. I have to admit, yesterday morning's torrential rain had me a bit discouraged. This morning, however, is absolutely beautiful. I went outside to see what the...

Matt http://www.litke.info Well, it is 5:20am and I am up and getting ready for the hike. I have to admit, yesterday morning's torrential rain had me a bit discouraged. This morning, however, is absolutely beautiful. I went outside to see what the weather was like and how cloudy the sky was. I saw very few clouds, just a very bright less than half moon and orion. I think it is a good sign of what is to come on today's hike. See you again in about 12 hours :) tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.92 2007-09-04T01:35:20Z 2007-09-04T01:53:28Z

Matt http://www.litke.info ]]> tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.91 2007-09-03T03:55:31Z 2007-09-03T04:14:38Z

I did the Okolehao Trail one more time today. I told Danika about all the strawberry guavas the last time so she suggested this time I take a bag with and bring a few back. I brought back enough to...

Matt http://www.litke.info I did the Okolehao Trail one more time today. I told Danika about all the strawberry guavas the last time so she suggested this time I take a bag with and bring a few back. I brought back enough to fill a cereal bowl. We will be able to enjoy them for a few days. As good as they are, I am still missing my daily crisp, tart Granny Smith apple. The tropical fruit is pretty good here, but the two Granny Smiths have pretty much sucked. I think being able to walk across the street and go snorkeling or swim in the ocean makes up for it, but I do still miss them. At least one more hike left. I plan to rest the next two days before I try the 22 mile hike on Wednesday. My feet were pretty good again today. I have about 10-15 new small cuts from the coral during yesterday's swim. None of the cuts are that bad. One cut opened the remains of what was the blister that was my pinkie toe. Last night it looked strange, so it got a bandage and some Neosporin. Today it still looked a little strange so I took a closer look. That is actually when I noticed the coral had cut part of it open. I peeled it away and half a thimble full of sand poured out of it. That was a little strange to see. I cut away the rest of the blister before today's hike and my toe felt fine on the hike. It should be ready for Wednesday. Wish me luck for Wednesday's hike, I know I can do it, but a little extra luck won't hurt :) tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.90 2007-09-02T01:20:54Z 2007-09-02T01:47:26Z

As you may have seen in the previous post Danika and I rented kayaks today and kayaked up the the Hanalei River. It was a nice paddle on pretty calm waters with lots of scenery. We got back to the...

Matt http://www.litke.info tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.89 2007-09-02T00:06:13Z 2007-09-02T01:11:47Z

We rented "single" kayaks today for a test run up the Hanalei river. It turns out we both find it easier to paddle and maneuver in a single than with both of us in a double, so if we get...

Danika if we get kayaks, we'll get singles. The paddle was a little windy, but nice, and we had a good solid two-and-a-half hours on the river before we came home for lunch. It was entirely uneventful. We have the boats for the rest of the afternoon, so Matt is taking one out on the ocean by our house to ride some waves. My hips hurt from the morning, so I'm going to sit on the porch and read. [Raquel, I'm reading "Love Nun" and it is unbearably fun to read it in tropical weather!]]]> tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.88 2007-08-31T21:40:58Z 2007-08-31T21:42:59Z

After giving my legs (and feet) a day of rest yesterday, I thought I would try another hike this morning to see how it felt. I decided to hike the Okolehao Trail again. I got to the trail at 7:45am...

Matt http://www.litke.info After giving my legs (and feet) a day of rest yesterday, I thought I would try another hike this morning to see how it felt. I decided to hike the Okolehao Trail again. I got to the trail at 7:45am and started hiking. It had rained last night (it pretty much rains every night here) so the trail was pretty slick. It was a bit more challenging hike this time than last when the trail was dry, but it was still a nice hike. After hiking about 5 minutes my legs were warm and both my legs and feet felt pretty good. Last time I was on the trail there were a lot of little green fruits. They looked a little like guava, but they seemed too small and the ripe ones were red not yellow. This time I realized what they were, strawberry guavas, and they ripened quite a bit since last time, there were a lot of red ones. tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.86 2007-08-30T20:22:52Z 2007-08-31T02:20:20Z

Matt http://www.litke.info The Na Pali coastline (looking west). Part of the trail (with lots of hala trees). The Na Pali coastline (looking east). Another shot of the Na Pali coastline (looking west). Hanakoa Valley. Hanakoa Stream close to the coast. Hanakoa Falls. Me at the falls. My poor pinkie toe :( ]]> tag:www.danika.org,2007:/kauaiblog//3.83 2007-08-30T20:16:26Z 2007-08-30T20:22:14Z

Last Monday I got a chance to go back to Tunnels Beach to snorkel. I went fairly early in the morning so there weren't too many other people there yet. I saw a few new creatures, most of which were...

Matt http://www.litke.info Last Monday I got a chance to go back to Tunnels Beach to snorkel. I went fairly early in the morning so there weren't too many other people there yet. I saw a few new creatures, most of which were fish, but the coolest thing I saw was an octopus. I was on my way back in and saw something moving and scurry into a crevice. It didn't look like a fish, so I tried to investigate. I got fairly close to it but still couldn't tell for sure what it was since only part of its head was sticking out. I thought it might be an octopus and I should wait a bit to see if it would crawl out of its hiding place. I waited and waited and waited and finally decided to give up. Just as I was swimming away, bubbles started rising to the surface and I noticed there were some scuba divers below me. The place where the octopus was hiding started to bubble a bit too, so I decided to wait thinking the bubbles might get it to move. I don't know if it was the bubbles that did it, but the octopus finally crawled out of its hiding place and scurried across the reef. They sure have an interesting way of moving. I tried to get a video of it, but when I looked back after changing the settings on the camera it was gone. I also saw a small eel. I have seen a few eels one of which was pretty large. They kind of creep me out, so it was nice to see a small one. It didn't creep me out so I was able to get a couple of photos of it. Unfortunately, the underwater housing for the camera fogged up shortly after I started snorkeling, so wasn't able to get as many shots as I wanted to (at least I got the octopus), but now I have a good excuse to go back again. Follow the link to see some of the photos I did manage to get. A large school of fish. Does this look like an octopus to you? Here is the octopus after it finally left its hiding place. ]]>