Day9-kauai

I spoiled myself today and went on a catamaran ride.  The boat went up the Napali coast, over to Ni'ihau (private island) and then stopped for snorkeling and scuba. I signed up for snorkeling, because I didn't even know that scuba was an option.  But then I heard a couple canceling because of a cold and I asked if I could upgrade.  I was warned that I'd be diving with beginners, therefore the dive would be short and shallow, but I had read that n was a good place to dive so I signed up. 

 The trip was long and a lot were getting seasick, but...we saw a group of northern pacific humpback whales and a big pod of spinner dolphins.  The whales included a mom and baby with a few others and one kept slapping it's dorsal fin.  We also saw a nose and a tail pop out!!!!

The dive sight was beautiful, but I didn't see any of the big life that is possible there.  I then snorkeled for a bit before the journey back.

I went right to Poipu where I saw a huge turtle hanging out on the beach.  I snorkeled a bit there then rented a surfboard for an hour.   I think I found the one activity that I don't enjoy doing by myself.  Maybe it's because I'm such a beginner, or because I have always had someone else out there with me, or maybe (I hate to say it) I don't really love surfing.  

I can catch (small) waves pretty consistently, I get up on my knees all the time and sometimes I even hop to my feet.  I even love the work of paddling out!  I just haven't caught the bug yet.   I will never give up and maybe I'll learn to love it, but it was a bit of a sufferfest for me today.

I'm pretty red with all the water activities today AND I still haven't SUPed!!! So tomorrow I have that as my one goal before I hop on a plane.  I met someone today who asked me to go with her to the waterfall that's at the beginning of the Kalalau trail.  You have to do the first two miles of K trail, then 2miles to the falls as a detour from the trail.  I had skipped it before because of my blisters and because there were so many people.  I told her I'd join her if she'd go early.  

This will put me at 61 trail or running miles for the trip.  A little more if you count in the day to day walking.  I knew I'd be hiking, but because of the weather, I got more in than I had expected.  There were just too many raining days to have much beach time.  

Extra bonus, Jill (my hiking pal for tomorrow). Said I could shower at her hotel before I hop on the plane.  I told her my seat mates on the plane thank her BECAUSE, don't barf, I haven't washed my hair since Wednesday the 18th. I've done some shower/rinses at the beaches and campsites, but my hair will have been in the same "bun/nest" for ten days 😱