Aloha - HAWAII 2012

Back in November we took our timeshare trip to the Big Island of Hawai'i. Neither of us had been to that island and P really wanted to photograph volcanoes - it wasn't quite what we expected but it was still lovely to get away for a week. I had unfortunately sprained severely my back the previous week in Bikram yoga and was in major pain but nothing was stopping me as usual (think Peru back in 2006 limping through the Inkan Trail trek and camping/hiking at high elevation for several nights with my bad runner's knee). I tend to live in pain and deal with it :) So our timeshare Worldmark at Wyndham was wonderful. Big, 2 bedroom with nice living room and kitchenette and porch. It was so large that I extended the invite to a couple people hoping to share it and it ended up my big bro and his girlfriend accepted. Even though we were on 2 totally different agendas it was nice for once to treat them as they do a lot for me over the years. Patrick and I rented a jeep and of course made our long, daily roadtrips all over the island- as we like to drive and explore, take photos, etc. There are different parts to the big Island - our timeshare side was in the dryer terrain (less rainfall) of Kona. We loved Kaleui in the north west tip where the big ranches and small towns were. We loved it so much - the highlight of our trip was not just 1 but 2 horseback rides on the last 2 days of the week. One, at sunset and the next day an even longer picnic ride. Patrick and I both rode horses as teens and owned Arabians (was it a match made in heaven??? Hmmm) and I cannot express how much I love him more being there with me riding and looking strong and rough in the Australian rancher leather coat and hat they loaned to us for the severe winds and light drizzles. *Remember the Aussie horsey movie, "The Man from Snowy River"? That was my P - I remember the part of the rides where they allowed us to slow gallop and I went first on my Thoroughbred then turned to watch P behind me - - it's a technical thing but he still knew how to ride and sit a horse, holding the reins correctly and slowing down to a trot where he 'posted' instinctively. (Horsey people get it - it was such a turn-on seeing him ride knowingly and confidently). It was gorgeous on those rides - across the green meadows with the sea and rainbows as backdrops. I can say easily that was the most beautiful place I had ever ridden - - I am used to dry, hot, dusty San Diego. For P it reminded him of riding in green, wet Ireland. The fact that we did it 2 days in a row was beyond my expectations - and even with a very bad back I still enjoyed myself immensely. Other highlights were the drive to the waterfalls and wetter part of the island. Also exploring the crater and volcano National Park. We also crazily did a bit of off-roading in our jeep (yes, even with my bad back) trying to find a green sands' beach the locals told us about. That was NUTS and stressful - especially with my bad back and the sun was going down so we could barely see the pot holes and risked getting stuck!! See youtube videos and click on slideshow below! Aloha!!

Hawai'i 2012