We got up at 5:45 this morning – a good 15 minutes after our waking time yesterday – woo! After a leisurely coffee intervention in the hotel room, watching a ton of tourists watching the sun rise, we went out for some, umm, more coffee. Fully caffeinated, we decided to go on a hike to a waterfall we hadn't seen – so it was off into the hills of Kauai – past the Kapa'a Elementary school and high school – up into a neighborhood that I
would kill to live in. We parked next to somebody's house and walked across the street to this little dirt road that went alongside a pasture with a few curious cows and a bunch of herons. After a little bit of walking with Isla on Tegan's back, we came to the stream itself – then a few more yards brought the waterfall – complete with Passionfruit, ferns, vines and moss... lovely. Isla played and posed a bit for the camera, then we decided to continue on the path – which was now pretty slick from last night's rain – to try and find another waterfall. Bad idea. The second waterfall was supposedly down this steep ravine – one which I, with my catlike agility, was able to maneuver with ease... however, Tegan stumbled at the beginning, handed Isla to me, then proceeded to slide the entire way down on her butt. Keep in mind, Kauai's natural soil is red clay, that people use to die clothing, because it stains. A lot. When she had finally scootched her way down the ravine, I gave Tegan the bad news – the trail had washed out. Oops. Back up we went – Tegan muttering things under her breath... I pretended she was whispering how much she loved me... It didn't 
really work.Back to the hotel for swimming and sleeping it was. Isla was in a marathon sleep mood – so during probably the most beautiful part of the day, from about 10:00 – 1:00 PM, we watched her sleep from the balcony, enjoying the sun and beach, about 10 yards away from our hotel room prison. She looked peaceful though...even if I did want to wake her up about 50 times. I find I struggle with this as a dad... do you wake the baby up and deal with cranky mood, or do you let her sleep 3 hours so she'll be happy – but then never go to sleep at night? It's a mystery for the ages. This time we let her sleep.
Since I have been relating this trip in terms of our meals for the most part, let's move on to lunch. We went to a sandwich place in a mall. A mall. I hate malls. I get automatic headaches just thinking about malls. But that's where we went, and I have to admit I am glad we did. The sandwich place uses this bread that is softer than marshmallows. They call it sourdough, but it wasn't – it was ungodly. We ate our little pieces of anti-diety, then made for the south of Kauai – to a place
called Poipu...there were supposed to be tidepools there – but once we arrived, through a tunnel of Eucalyptus that covered the entire roadway, we found the tide really high, and all there was to do was hang out at the beach again in the beautiful weather with crystal waters and gorgeous skies overhead. Damn. Isla occupied her self for at least an hour in the surf with a little cup that she repeatedly filled and emptied onto her head, each time smiling like she just told the best joke in the entire world. I have come to find that Isla can be coaxed out of a tantrum with a couple of things- bodies of water to submerge in, and fruit snacks from Target. Both were on hand, which made for a phenomenal time. As we left this place, I overheard some teenage boys – probably on a summer break staying in parent's timeshare before college or something, discussing in detail what they would like to have happen with the teenage girls who were standing by the rocks. I looked at Isla, and vowed to invest in a double barrel shotgun upon our return, as insurance against teenage boys. I feel sorry for the first one who tries to pick her up for a date. Seriously.By now it was getting late (Jesus, late now means 7 PM... what has happened to me?), so we just headed next door to the coconut marketplace for some grilled ono and shave ice # 3 of 7. Isla dressed for the part with a plumeria flower behind her ear, and wooed all the shopowners with hugs and kisses as she ran from us giggling. She is such a flirt. Anybody know a good shotgun store?
gorgeous pic. yes to shotgun.
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