After such a long hike the previous day, we decided to take it as easy as possible. We slept as late as we could and were pretty slow moving in the condo before we headed out. My upper body was pretty sore, too, from all the climbing.
We got my coffee, got some grapes from Target, and headed to the beach. Laura had suggested the beach, Kaloko-Honokohua. It was pretty close to where we were staying, but we still had to drive to it. We parked and took about a 5 min walk to the water. This beach still had a lot of rock, but some sandy (more typical beach shore) spots. We found a large grass hut that no one was using and planted ourselves under that. At first we were worried in was a sacred spot, but there were no signs! We hadn't got in the water just yet, and were eating our lunch when a family walked by. The kids were older, more around our age and were with their parents. The mom was saying she didn't want to stay there. The beach "smelled." I could tell there was some disappointment that it wasn't the typical sandy shore beach. Most of the beaches I've seen here are pretty rocky and do have some sandy shores, but not like Florida's beaches. I wouldn't want all rock, but like the diversity of shores.
We got in the water and were just walking around. The native Hawaiians had built a rock wall in the ocean to create a fish trap. When the tide came in, it would bring in the fish. Then when it went down, the fish would be left in the "pond" area for them to catch. Well, now it's mostly used as a sea turtle haven. It was really cool to wade around and all the sudden you'd walk by a turtle! Some larger ones would just sit there, but others were swimming around. We didn't try to get too close because we didn't want to alarm them, but I'd say they got at least 5 feet away from us on their own. I took some time to walk along the wall and away from the shore. I saw quite a few yellow fish and even a couple puffer fish. There were these big, red slug looking things stuck to the rock. Craig heard they were lipstick urchins and they can hurt you. Apparently the women used them as lipstick. eek.
We went back to the condo to rest for about an hour and then headed north for our horse back riding session. It was about an hour and 20 minutes away. That was one of my favorite things we have done so far next to the hike to Waipi'o Valley. I was a bit nervous because I've never been on a horse before. We had to put on cowboy boots and a jacket. We were given a quick demo of how to get on the horse and control it. Our guide was Mana, and we let him know we met his friend, Owns. He was excited to hear that and got to talk to him about our previous hike because we grew up right by Waipi'o.
I mounted my horse, Kohaku. He was a golden color, and did a good job of responding to my commands. I would make a kissing noise and kick him with my heels to get him moving. Most of the time it felt like he knew what to do and where to go already. I could tell he's done the trails a lot. Mana said that Kohaku was usually a good leading horse so that's why I was in the front. Another lady, Allison, was on the trail with us. Her horse, Coffee, was a bit more stubborn at times. She had to be more forceful with her commands. Allison also hadn't had much experience riding, so that made both of us feel better.
The ride was so fun and beautiful. We chose the sunset ride so it was cooler and the sun wasn't beating down on us. We first started walking, then Mana would regroup us and tell us how to trot. I thought trotting was fun. It was funny because Kohaku would have a difficult time following my commands before we would trot and afterwards I figured out that he was ready to just go! He knew what being in that area meant--was was going to go fast. It was the same when we did galloping for the first time, too. It was funny to see their personalities come out. Craig's horse kept stopping to eat grass. I liked trotting better than galloping, but it was fun to do both. Galloping hurt my back. We got to the top of the mountains and the sunset was beautiful.
We headed back to the ranch and on home. Craig was asking me about why I liked it so much and I think it's because of being with another animal. If it were on a go cart or 4 wheeler, going over those mountains wouldn't have felt the same. It was cool to see their personalities. Riding through Nature with Nature.
We got my coffee, got some grapes from Target, and headed to the beach. Laura had suggested the beach, Kaloko-Honokohua. It was pretty close to where we were staying, but we still had to drive to it. We parked and took about a 5 min walk to the water. This beach still had a lot of rock, but some sandy (more typical beach shore) spots. We found a large grass hut that no one was using and planted ourselves under that. At first we were worried in was a sacred spot, but there were no signs! We hadn't got in the water just yet, and were eating our lunch when a family walked by. The kids were older, more around our age and were with their parents. The mom was saying she didn't want to stay there. The beach "smelled." I could tell there was some disappointment that it wasn't the typical sandy shore beach. Most of the beaches I've seen here are pretty rocky and do have some sandy shores, but not like Florida's beaches. I wouldn't want all rock, but like the diversity of shores.
We got in the water and were just walking around. The native Hawaiians had built a rock wall in the ocean to create a fish trap. When the tide came in, it would bring in the fish. Then when it went down, the fish would be left in the "pond" area for them to catch. Well, now it's mostly used as a sea turtle haven. It was really cool to wade around and all the sudden you'd walk by a turtle! Some larger ones would just sit there, but others were swimming around. We didn't try to get too close because we didn't want to alarm them, but I'd say they got at least 5 feet away from us on their own. I took some time to walk along the wall and away from the shore. I saw quite a few yellow fish and even a couple puffer fish. There were these big, red slug looking things stuck to the rock. Craig heard they were lipstick urchins and they can hurt you. Apparently the women used them as lipstick. eek.
We went back to the condo to rest for about an hour and then headed north for our horse back riding session. It was about an hour and 20 minutes away. That was one of my favorite things we have done so far next to the hike to Waipi'o Valley. I was a bit nervous because I've never been on a horse before. We had to put on cowboy boots and a jacket. We were given a quick demo of how to get on the horse and control it. Our guide was Mana, and we let him know we met his friend, Owns. He was excited to hear that and got to talk to him about our previous hike because we grew up right by Waipi'o.
Craig sporting basketball shorts and cowboy boots.
Craig mounted his horse, Maili.
I mounted my horse, Kohaku. He was a golden color, and did a good job of responding to my commands. I would make a kissing noise and kick him with my heels to get him moving. Most of the time it felt like he knew what to do and where to go already. I could tell he's done the trails a lot. Mana said that Kohaku was usually a good leading horse so that's why I was in the front. Another lady, Allison, was on the trail with us. Her horse, Coffee, was a bit more stubborn at times. She had to be more forceful with her commands. Allison also hadn't had much experience riding, so that made both of us feel better.
The South View of the Ranch
Picture I took while riding. It was bouncy.
Craig Silhouette.
At Sunset.
At the Ranch.
The ride was so fun and beautiful. We chose the sunset ride so it was cooler and the sun wasn't beating down on us. We first started walking, then Mana would regroup us and tell us how to trot. I thought trotting was fun. It was funny because Kohaku would have a difficult time following my commands before we would trot and afterwards I figured out that he was ready to just go! He knew what being in that area meant--was was going to go fast. It was the same when we did galloping for the first time, too. It was funny to see their personalities come out. Craig's horse kept stopping to eat grass. I liked trotting better than galloping, but it was fun to do both. Galloping hurt my back. We got to the top of the mountains and the sunset was beautiful.
Honeymooners on Horseback.
Beautiful.
Our guide, Mana.
Riding through the sunset.
This is a circle of trees that is a grassfield in the center.
The Hawaiians used it for training horses.
Taking a break.
The South View of the Ranch.
We headed back to the ranch and on home. Craig was asking me about why I liked it so much and I think it's because of being with another animal. If it were on a go cart or 4 wheeler, going over those mountains wouldn't have felt the same. It was cool to see their personalities. Riding through Nature with Nature.
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