Redwood National Park

Tags

beach, california, Forest, National Park, pacific ocean, Redwood National Park

12 June 2016 – Today we visited a location we’ve always wanted to visit, Redwood National Park.  Home of the largest trees in the world.  It is a park 50 miles. long along the Pacific coast.

On our way from Grants Pass we couldn’t help ourselves but to stop and picnic at the beach.  The kids put on their sandles and had an opportunity to play in the sand – unfortunately nothing interesting in the tide pools.

Tide Pools

Pacific Coast Panorama

Thirty more minutes and we were in the midst of the giant Redwood trees.  Having only a few hours we chose the Trillium Falls trail.  It is a beautiful 2.8 mile loop through the forest, along streams, a small waterfall, skunk cabbage, banana slugs, and of course trees bigger than you imagine.

Redwood Tree Canopy

Aurelia standing next to half a fallen redwood trunk

The forest was cool with dappled sun filtering through the canopy.  We had several opportunities to walk over, under, and through the kings of this forest.  Some were so large it was easy to imagine a whole family camping comfortably within a single hollow trunk.  It was hard to keep your eyes on the path with such a cathedral ceiling above you.

Family selfie inside a Redwood tree trunk

Hiking Trillium Falls

Trillium Falls

While we didn’t see much in terms of fauna (only banana slugs and Elk – hoping for a glimpse of the giant pacific salamander) the flora was amazing: Redwood trees, pine, aspen, red huckleberry, blackberry, coastal man root, iris, beautiful nursury logs, an amazing a variety of fern, moss, and lichens.  We saw the remnants of trillium, but too late for blooms.  There were also fragile white flowering vines called coastal manroot which had tendrils hanging along the path.

Coastal Manroot

Fern

Banana Slug

Wild Iris

The park is also home to a several large herds of Roosevelt Elk.  Coming back from the hike we saw a herd close up with several small calves with their spots.  We were only 30 feet away from several of them.

Elk herd grazing off Trillium Falls Trail within Redwood NP

Driving south we also spotted another herd lounging in the lawn of an RV park, so we stopped to admire this herd as well.

Herd of Redwood NP elk grazing in an RV park

From Redwood we drove to Redding, CA for  an overnight before heading East into the mountains.

Settling in for a trip from Redwood to Redding

Last Day in Hawaii – North Shore Swimming and Coconuts

Tags

beach, Coconut, Hawaii, Oahu, Papaya, Sugar Cane, Sunset Beach, swimming

19 May 2015 – We decided to spend most of our time on our last day in Hawaii swimming.  I took the kids to the pool in the morning for an early swim and then we headed up to the North Shore for some lunch and beach time.

We had lunch at a Thai food truck near Giovanni’s shrimp truck surrounded by papaya trees.

Papaya tree on the North Shore

Heading back south towards the better beaches we stopped for a quick treat – fresh coconut and sugar cane.  First the kids were given the coconuts to drink and then we had them split to eat the meat.  Isabella loved it but Aurelia and Lucas didn’t care for it too much.  Giuliana enjoyed chewing on her sugar cane.

Aurelia, Lucas, and Isabella drinking fresh coconut water

Giuliana eating sugar cane

Lucas eating sugar cane and wearing a bow in his hair

Isabella eating fresh sugar cane

Isabella eating fresh coconut

After our snack headed back to Sunset beach so the kids could play in the waves.  The waves were perfect for the kids, except Aurelia who was sucked into the break a couple of times while trying to fetch water for her bucket.

After playing in the waves the kids tried to excavate the sand from the beach for a couple of hours.  It was a great time and a really nice time on the beach.

Giuliana at Sunset Beach

Aurelia, Isabella, and Lucas excavating the sand at Sunset beach

After time at the beach we headed back to the house to enjoy an hour in the pool (helpful in cleaning off the beach).  We also used the grills near the pool to enjoy hot dogs and sausages after swimming.

We will miss our time in Hawaii but really enjoyed the time we had with many memories of our adventures and time together.

Hanauma Bay Snorkling

Tags

Bay, beach, Fish, Hanauma Bay, Hawaii, Marine Life, Oahu, Octopus, Picnic, Sealife, Snorkling

13 May 2015 – After a late start to the morning to allow Giuliana to take an early nap we packed up a lunch and headed to Hanauma Bay for some world-class snorkeling.

Picnic lunch at Hanauma Bay

The day was spent playing in the sand – and of course snorkeling.  Isabella went out a few times with Sherrie and myself.  I finally got Lucas to go out once with me right before we left and I was able to tow Aurelia around on the boogie board with a window for about 10 minutes to see some Convict Tangs in the shallows.

Isabella and I saw an octopus hiding in a hole along with many other types (Parrot Fish, Convict Tangs, Humuhumunukunukuapua, etc.).  However, Isabella and I both spent a lot of time following a Coronetfish around.  They are just beautiful creatures and so unusual – they look almost translucent in the water.  However, no sightings of turtles this time.

Lucas and Aurelia Playing in the Sand at Hanauma Bay

We spent about 5 hours at the bay and left when the park was closing allowing me to get a shot of the bay at sunset with nobody on the beach 🙂

Hanauma Bay at closing

Asian Mongoose Sighting at the Beach in Hawaii

Tags

Animal, beach, Hawaii, Mongoose, Oahu

11 May 2015 – While at the beach we noticed small rodent-like creatures in the bushes and running between trees.  They looked very odd, with features like a squirrel but the length of a cat.  Sherrie was the first to identify it as a mongoose.  With more research we found out that it is the Asian Mongoose and an invasive animal species present on the Hawaiian islands.

The creatures were not too afraid of humans – but not friendly enough to approach any.  They stayed in the bushes mostly and made quick sprints between trees.  They had a very beautiful brown coat and sleek bodies with a long bushy tail.  Unfortunately I didn’t have my better camera with us and so a “zoomed” shot from my cell phone and a short video clip (with some noises from Giuliana) will have to do 🙂

Asian Mongoose hunting for food at the beach

An Asian Mongoose hunting for food at the beach

Playing at Bellows

Tags

beach, Bellows AFB, boogie boarding, crab, ghost crab, Hawaii, Kona Brewing Company, Oahu, Sand, waves

8 May 2015 – We traveled across the island to Bellows Air Force Base where the surf is moderate and the sand is fine.  It has perfect waves for the kids to try out their new surprise – boogie boards.

Aside from the waves the kids really enjoyed just playing in the sand burying each other and making sand castles.  It was a great day at the beach!

Lucas and Aurelia buried in the sand

Isabella and Aurelia burying Lucas in the sand

Isabella is buried in the sand with arms and fins with a trident like a mermaid

We even saw a ghost crab on the beach!

Ghost crab at Bellows Beach

Afterwards we acted on a recommendation to visit the Kona Brewing Company restaurant just 7 miles away outside Honolulu.  The food and beer were both excellent.  We enjoyed the pretzel bites (with cheese and mustard sauces), kalua pork and green chili quesadillas, and peperoni pepperoncini pizza.

Outside the Kona Brewing Company restaurant

Kona Beer – Longboard Lager

La Playa en Marbella

Tags

Andalusia, beach, Europe, Marbella, Seville, Spain

Today we left Granada and headed to Seville with an afternoon stop at the beach at Marbella. Of course, the chance to spend an afternoon swimming in the Mediterranean was too good to pass up.

The kids woke up nice and early this morning giving us a good start to the day. Have I mentioned that it’s been over a year since we’ve used an alarm clock 🙂

It took a little over 90 minutes to reach Marbella which took us through some beautiful countryside.

Thousands of olive groves

Sergio driving to Marbella

Olive groves and mountains

Once at Marbella we found the first accessible beach with parking and nearby restaurants for lunch. As we didn’t bring a beach towel to save space we paid an exorbitant price for one, not knowing they were included in chair rentals – oh well.

We also had lunch at a beach side restaurant that charged 1.90 euros per piece of bread – I did my best to argue with their highway robbery in Spanish but failed. In case anyone I’d wondering what that looks like, it is Sergio gesturing wildly with much eye rolling followed by uttering loudly of broken high school Spanish phrases. In their defence the swordfish was very good.

Sherrie and Isabella at lunch

We then hired a couple of beach chairs and ordered some drinks – more highway robbery occurred at the bar. The chairs, at 30 euros for two, were worth it.

The kids and even the adults then spent the next four hours playing in the surf, swimming, building sand castles, and relaxing. Sherrie even saw a ray!

Sherrie, Lucas, and Isabella relaxing

Aurelia playing in the sand

Sherrie relaxing

Lucas and Bella playing in the surf

The beach

Lucas, Isabella, and Aurelia (behind Lucas) building a sand castle

Aurelia and Isabella playing in the surf

Lucas and Aurelia playing in the surf

Lucas getting sand from the ocean for the sand castle

The kids playing with an elephant statue on the way to the car

We then drove the two hours to Seville where we promptly got lost searching for the hotel and ordered room service which included the best burger Sergio has had in over a year.

Tomorrow, Seville!