I realize that I am afflicted with over-enthusiasm, especially when it comes to communicating my experiences as i move through life. That said, this was just about the most perfect day I’ve ever had.
I was a water person in earlier years, starting at 4 years of age when I fell in a lake and while underwater until my dad fished me out, enjoyed the experience. In high school I swam competitively and one day after a swimming meet at the great Fleishacker salt water pool out at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, a swimmer named Jim Fisher and I went out across the Great Highway to swim in the ocean. I couldn’t believe it. The waves, blue water, invigoration. I was hooked.
Had my first surfboard ride at age 18, then changed my major at Stanford so I was through every Thursday at noon and able to head to Santa Cruz until Sunday night. I was a lifeguard, taught swimming, and then somehow over the years, drifted away from the beach in comparison with my serious surfer friends.
WELL — I’ve come to this small island of Kauai to get back in the water. Today I was in the ocean 3 times — a little bodysurfing, mostly swimming (the last time in the rain tonight) and in a fresh water pool 3 times..
A barista coffee shop on wheels with wonderful coffee, muffins, and vibes. A hostel on the beach with rates (in this expensive resort area — Kapaa –) of $40/$80 per night for shared/solo rooms. A guy in the country with about 300 beautiful roosters and tangerine, grapefruit, macadamia and lychee nut trees. A day of clouds and sun and clouds and rain. This island like a large boat in the Pacific Ocean. A Mexican restaurant that feels like you’re in Mexico with delicious food and 3 TVs with Mexican soccer games.
I’ll try to get around to writing it up (with photos) before long…
sounds like a little slice of heaven…
enjoy!
Hawai`i is Ono.
Haven't been to kauai`i – mostly the Big Island and Oahu, Maui and Molokai`i a little bit and none of them for 10 years or so (due to lack of $$ and a decision to not fly). I truly miss the islands deep in my soul.
Have a great time, sir.
Have a great
yuppers….send photos for those of us not able to go..grin
Your total LOVE of life! It's the best! Looking forward to pictures…
While you're in Kapa'a, go to Mermaids and get the Ahi Nori Roll, with the ahi seared very lightly.
I hear ya, brother. I too, long to get back into the ocean like in my surfing youth.
What I'm hearing is, you're stoked! It's a proper affliction to have and can be infectious.
I was lucky to spend a year of my youth living on the North Shore of Oahu, swimming, surfing, diving, through the cultural upheaval of 1968-69. Utterly changed the course and tone of my life. I have always longed to go back to that very simple and transcendent experience, the song that brings it all back for me is Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James and the Shondells which came out the summer of 69. Whenever I hear it I instantly see again that first time coming down the Farrington highway towards Waialua and Mokuleia, the pineapple and sugar cane fields stretching out before me down to the breaking blue pacific far below.
Thank you so much for this! I'm only 14 years younger than you and live in Taos, but I think I just found the place I'm gonna die. These posts are wonderful. I don't even have to visit first.