After the stress of losing Cam last night supper was a very horrible Pizza
Hut meal. Yuck. A couple of us are still feeling the effects of it waving our
bodies this morning.
A trip to the pool was a must after that. Cam made sure to yell at the top
of her lungs as we were getting ready that "You don't leave me behind!". Poor
kid ,she may be slightly traumatized as calm as she is. Swimming in the dark
with just the pool lights is too much fun for the kids. They brought their
noodles and had fun racing across the pool pretending they were riding horses,
both single and double. Cam held on for dear life as the kids tugged her around
but she was part of all the fun. Grant and I got a good couple hours of soaking
in the hot tub visiting with a couple students from Seattle and a dentist from
Idaho. Then home to bed.
Grant admitted last night that he was too tired to try for the summit the
morning so we planned a sleep in and we'll try again tomorrow. Fortunately we
are not adjusted to the time change yet and mornings still start at 6:00am and
bedtime still falls at 8:00pm. Pretty much the same schedule we had at home.
Unfortunately, it's my day to feel like a dogs backside. Whether it be from
the grease hut pizza last night or the same flu the kids had, I couldn't say but
the result is the same. I'm a trooper though and plans for today are
made.
We prepared for a trip to Lahaina and Kaanapali today with the intentions
to snorkel the famous black rock near the Sheraton. It was nice to not have a
set schedule that would require me to enter drill sergeant mode, keeping kids on
task and focused until we got out the door in as short as time as possible or at
a set time. They were able to get their things together as they needed and it
was relaxing morning of gentle reminders.
Into the car and up the highway we went with Cam calling "Look out my side!
Mountains!". The kids marveled in how dry the volcano was on that side of the
island and how quick a fire would whip through. We told them to remember that
as we would be heading t o the other side of the island and it was completely
different.
We pointed out mile marker 14, a place where we have a few stories. There
were lots of shorelines where surfers enjoyed the sunshine and hanged 10. The
kids loved to watch them. Brooklyn was convinced she could see large whales out
amongst the boats even though it's a bit early yet for the mammals to be
displaying their gymnastics.
We parked at Whalers Village, the ritzy shopping center filled with store
like Louis Vitton and walked through to the beach access. Then we kept on
walking, and walking and walking along the sand for a good 10 minutes until we
got to a patch of beach close enough to black rock to lay down our blanket. It
may have been less time but to this nauseous and weak momma it seemed to take
forever. The kids had brought a couple boogie boards in the hopes of riding the
waves but they were soon dashed as they saw the drop off just feet from the
steeply sloped length of beach it quickly breaker on before rushing off. Cam
was not impressed at how close we had to walk to the yucky salty scary waves and
hippitty hopped out of the way when she heard the rushing sound.
We didn't waste time building sand castles or sunning here. Paying $3 for
a half hour of parking meant we were gearing up and heading into the waves as
soon as we could. The strong surge and towing youngsters out made for a good
workout getting to where the first fish started to appear into our field of
vision.
It was a great snorkel site with small schools of well fed by tourist fish.
They were very friendly and hadn't qualms swimming up close to us. The kids
with masks on we're shouting happily across the surface of the water at each
other the names of the fish they recognized.
"Trumpet Fish"
"Gil from Nemo!"
"Angel Fish"
"Unicorn Fish"
And for my little Cam who won't put her face in the icky salty water, she
would holler it all down to me, for where she would alternate swimming beside me
while holding my hand and riding my back like I was a horse. Often she grabbed
my snorkel and would yell down the tube what the other kids were saying if I
wasn't taking my face out of the water and showing the right amount of
enthusiasm that there was supposedly a Unicorn Fish that she couldn't
see.
Every little bit she would let go of her hold on me and giggle while
swimming away so that I would have to take my attention away from this wonderful
underwater world and watch her frolic and giggle.
Our plan after our snorkel was to catch the sugar cane train for a ride
around that side of the island and then a walk in Lahaina for pictures at the
Banyan tree and a view of Front Street for the kids. Unfortunately, I am not
superwoman but instead just a woman blessed with an understanding husband who
said Lahaina is disappearing, let's get you home to bed.
Which is where I have spent the majority of the afternoon while Grant
taught the kids how to play Mexican train dominos in the living room. I was
fortunate to again have a book to keep me company on this sick day - Nicholas
Evans "The Brave" - and wrestled with keeping my stomach the right side up. I
was able to go with the family to the pool for an hour this afternoon to check
emails and let the kids swim while daddy worked out. I was nice to get in a hot
tub and cool down in the pool before heading back to the bedroom.
Tonight there will be a BBQ On the grounds with a picnic. Cammie is most
excited as daddy bought hot dogs for the little meat eater. She was so excited
that she left the pool early with me just so that I could take her home and make
a couple just for her. It suited me fine as I was ready to head back to my bed
at that point.
The kids are chomping at the bit to head back to the pool so I imagine
there we will be heading next until it is past dark and once again bedtime. The
portal we must go through in order to see what adventures the next day t'will
bring.
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