But I did the decent thing and deigned to lower myself to ANOTHER day on a golden sandy beach bathed in endless sunshine. Over here on the west of the island things are massively quieter than in the honeypot of Waikiki, which is both wonderful and unnerving when there's no one else in sight. Did we miss the shark warnings? To be safe I stayed out of the surf while Hannah and Pete frolicked. I kept my camera ready in case of Jaws-like photo opportunities.
That was yesterday, and today was far more to my liking. For a start, it was raining, but a nice warm rain. We shrugged on our waterproofs (originally brought only for the trip to and from Vancouver airport) and went for a hike.
There's no single road circumnavigating Oahu, so there's a short distance where the west road stops before the north road begins. This is one of the most popular hiking trails, out to Ka'ena Point, and that's what we did. The surf pounded against the black volcanic rock all the way along until we got to the sandy outcrop that's inhabited by albatrosses and, today, a single, lazy seal. That's when the rain really started to pour, and I was transported back to Llandudno Beach and childhood holidays doing very similar things, but in Wales rather than on a Pacific island. We'll see what Pete's memories are.
Those legs have not seen shorts since summer 1997.
Someone's happy.
Our beach. Was it something we said?
Hannah and Pete enjoy the seclusion...
...and the waves...
...and the sand.
They're happy, but imagine how much happier they'd be looking around a dimly-lit church.
Today, further up the coast.
Surf's up!
I get so many compliments while hiking, like "so cute!" and "ahhh, look at him!" Thank you.
We're on a tiny spike of a volcano thousands of miles into the Pacific. It's a bit scary.
A couple of Laysan albatrosses. They pair for life, so are not considered the most intelligent of seabirds.
It could be the Farne Islands around here.
Seals need holidays too.
