I realize that this post is really late in showing up.  Honestly, I had planned to type it while I was waiting at the airport in Honolulu but I just never got around to it.  The last post of any trip is always bittersweet.  On one hand there is still so much to say.  One the other, it reinforces the fact that your trip is truly coming to an end.  For our last day on Kauai, we decided to have a beach day.

We took our time getting going on Friday and then drove to the end of Hwy. 56 to Ke’e Beach.  This is where the Kalalau Trail begins.  We had thought about doing the trail, but this time opted for other adventures this time.  There was no parking to be had anywhere near the beach, so we checked off hitting the end of the road from our to-do list and headed back towards town.  We stopped for a few minutes at Haena Beach park.  The surf was up today and the lifeguards were telling folks to stay away from the surf.  We decided to heed his advice and comfortably sat on the sand and read for a time.  One interesting thing of note.  I’ve been to lots of beaches but today was the first time I saw beach yoga.  One lady seemed to think that performing various yoga positions in her bikini was a good idea.  I agreed with her.

After a time here we grabbed some food from Chicken in a Barrel in Hanalei and hit the beach there.  We found a patch of dry sand 30 yards or so from the water and made camp.  Our food was great until the tail end of lunch when the ocean decided that we were too close.  We saw the water coming and it kept coming.  Surely it would stop before reaching us, but nope.  We quickly grabbed up our stuff and sprinted 20 yards closer to the grass.  This would be far enough-or so we thought.  Again the ocean told us no and we were forced to even higher ground.  Eventually it was time to leave and after a few stops for souvenirs we went back to our condo.

Last time on island, we never made it to the St. Regis so this time we did.  We went for drinks and while the view was good, it truly wasn’t worth the price.  One cocktail and one beer was $30 and that was just not worth it.  While it was cool to watch surfers being towed into 30 foot waves, it couldn’t justify the cost so we left and returned to the Happy Talk Lounge.  Here we enjoyed a couple of rounds and made friends with a couple from California.  Soon enough, our day had drawn to a close and we had to go prepare to leave Kauai.

On Saturday, we cleared out of the condo, stopped at several beaches on the way, visited the ABC Store in Kapaa, and decided that we had time for a mimosa at the Lava Lava Beach Club before going to the airport.  All of this accomplished, we made it to the airport, checked in, and left dear Kauai.  After a short layover in Honolulu, we were bound for Atlanta.  At 10am, we were back in Raleigh.

A few things of note.  I truly feel alive when I travel.  I’m not sure what it is about being somewhere different that brings out the joy in me.  What I hope I can do is carry over this feeling when I get home and try to bring that joy out in my day to day life.  I need to work to find the happiness in the little moments at home, not just away.  I am even more in love with Kauai that the first time I came.  It truly remains one of the places where I am most content.  Margeaux and I continue to be great travel companions.  She is game for anything and we made lots of memories and I was encouraged to hear her talk about things we’d do the next time we come.  It was good to get back to my girls.  I did miss them.  Travel gives us the chance to do things out of the ordinary in extraordinary places.  But life, in itself, can be extraordinary, I need to seek those moments and not just wait to feel alive.  If I wait, my life might just pass me by.