Whoosh...another year

Wow - looking back I realize I have barely kept up. But that's OK since this is a blog about travel. So we're headed out on holiday again, active toddler in tow. This year's choice was... Hawaii -Oahu - Kailua. Renting a suite for the duration of our stay. Hoping to spend some time building sandcastles, snorkelling, looking for honu and maybe diving or surfing if health will permit. sinus cold and achilles problem.

After a taste of the Carribean, we just felt that Hawaii offers a similar experience with a bit less hassle. And we hit a great seat sale. MidDecember for travel at end of January. Was a bit of a trick lining up accommodation, but it looks like it has all worked out. We'll know soon!

OK, I know it is trite to comment on how busy one is and how quickly time passes, however, that is exactly what seems to have happened. A quick recap:

Research project completed between January and May.

A busy summer at work celebrating our centennial and implementing some new activities. Hubby called to work for two weeks in June, mostly working until midJanuary. Good for the pocktebook, tough on both of us: him because he misses us, me busy keeping track of baby, dog, work and trying to squeeze in some personal time to work on projects like this.

Grandma and Grandpa visit to take in the Waterton Wildflower Festival, check out our digs and help family celebrates toddler's 2nd birthday.

Staycations in summer - too tired and too busy to adventure. One backyard camping failed attempt but lots of time on walking paths and in backyard pool. Summer swimming lessons for a week. Big hit! We have a fish on our hands.

Grandma's significant birthday in August.

Family trip to visit young cousins, aunt, uncle and Grandma/Grandpa in fall. Trip to the zoo great fun. Mom and Dad enjoyed our only movie theatre movie of the year, Midnight in Paris, and a couple of concerts thanks to having babysitters on hand.

Graduation celebration up the road in November, complete with grandparents, some serious holiday shopping and of course, the big ceremony. I have 2 high school diplomas, an undergraduate degree and a college diploma and the graduate degree ceremony is the only I went to. So glad I was able to mark the occasion with hubby, toddler and Grandma and Grandpa.

Christmas at home. Much excitement with a 2.5 year old. She "got" it. Big hits were the CP Holiday Train (look for it in your community next year - a great local foodbank fundraiser), Santa, the lights and of course, the idea of presents.

Toddler loves: dancing, music, jumping, swimming, ice skating, snow angels, dolls, stories. At the sponge stage.

January has flown by too though it's been great having us both home. Playing catch up. And when I say flown by, I can also take about the relentless winds and warm temps we have experienced this winter. Nowhere near as much snow (boo since we relish in winter and miss our ski adventures) and just grey and brown. The wind is doing its best to blow the roof off the house but so far so good.

And resolve to post more frequently on this blog in longer form than Facebook or Twitter permit (and where too much online time is spent).

Here's to vacations, near and far! Those moments when we allow time to slow down & savor the sights and sounds of new adventures. 

Diving

OK these notes are a bit vague, but the essence is there. I am not sure where our trip pics are, but I will find them in our digital mess and update them again.

What I remember about T&C is how amazing the diving was, and how quickly it came back to me after a long hiatus. A refresher in the pool and a partner for the first dive and I was right back at it - comfortable in the water. Some well-deserved mom-time to celebrate an important milestone.

Day 1 West Caicos
90 feet
Runway
stingray, turtle and shark
tiger tail
lobster

Drama

Northwest Point
Amphitheater
80 feet

Day 2 West Caicos
?
Stingrays, eels fish over the rays

Magic Mushroom 80 feet. coming up too fast, too much air left.
Lots of fish including big moray

Day 3 Grace Bay

Pinnacle 90 feet
Turtle
2 sharks
puffer fish
porcupine fish
lion fish
59 min

? 80 feet
Shark
HUGe moray eel
Barracuda
59 min

Day 4 Grace Bay

Cathedral
turtle swam right by
porcupine fish
boxer fish
2 reef sharks in the distance
lots of neat coral heads
wrasse
80 feet - 59 min

Grouper Hole
poor visibility
reef shark
huge cubana snapper or grouper

The Carribean Adventure

We are fortunate to be on holiday once again. Only this time to the Carribean, Turks and Caicos. Not sad to leave our new home in Pincher Creek. Should really rename this blog something like Windy Tales of the West. It has been cold, snowy and windy. Most days there is a wind of at least 30 kph, often more. Sometimes it is so windy that the water in the toilet bowls sloshes around a bit. So we decide to take a winter getaway. And good timing indeed: -28 with blowing snow on the way to the airport.

A very long journey for a little girl with a night flight to Toronto, and then a connection in Toronto. We arrived to our condo suite a little worse for wear, but enjoyed the rum punch party, snacks and dinner.

Attracted by tales of snorkelling and its relative isolation and lack of development.

It is indeed one of the most perfect beaches I have ever been on - white sandy beach that stretches for miles and turquoise clear water due to the sand.

Close to the US and Canada, with a few all inclusive resorts but also lots of condos. And the occasional development that has gone bankrupt. A few grocery stores, restaurants and a couple of souvenir shops. The relative isolation and apparent wealth of visitors appears to drive up the price of food, especially compared to home. $3 for a loaf of bread is reasonable, and $40 for a restaurant meal is standard.

But this helps it be not as busy and feel exclusive.

Another vacation wrapping up

All too soon we were busy packing up all the stuff I thought Cat might need on the trip. It took quite awhile to get everything put away, long enough that she had a nap in her pak'n'play on the balcony in the shade while we gathered everything up.

It was then up the Kona Coast again to the beautiful sandy beach of a few days ago for one last swim and sun. There were even showers there so we could get ready for the long flight home.



A final meal at the Kona Canoe Club, a casual pub looking out over Kailua Harbor, and killer views of the sunset.







Our little girl did amazing - slept most of the way home - and then happy for the rest of the trip. The next day, she did sleep most of the day though. But still, we are so fortunate to have such a wonderful rock star traveller.


And I learned that you don't have to bring everything "just in case". And a few toys are enough because she loves interacting with people and looking around, taking everything in.

Another great trip to Hawaii. Hope we can come back soon though it will get harder once I go back to work and we have to buy a seat for Cat. Ah well, keep collecting the travel points and who knows?

A snorkel attempt

Tried snorkelling today at the surf beach. Lots of people and it turns out there was actually a wake in the beach pavillion so it seemed really busy. A popular spot at the best of times, but was really crowded.

Went for a quick snorkel and had to get away from the crowds to really see anything. Lots of fish, as good as anywhere but really sad to see people standing on the coral with their fins instead of floating above. Screams out for a Hanauma Bay type intervention - make it a park, teach people how to swim with the coral and enforce it. i was keeping one eye on Cat and Dad at the beach, and another enjoying all the fish underneath. Looked ahead and saw honu just cruisin' by. Had the waterproof camera with me and tried to get some pics to share it with you. Didnt really work out though.

Cat didnt think much of her swim so we headed out. Walked to lunch at the Kona Brewing Co to enjoy some of my fave Hawaiian beer. The beer was great as always, but our meal took a really long time, the order got lost, and then a shift change. We noticed the chaos and confusion, and were told we'd be looked after. And we sure were - a bill with our two drinks on it. A free pizza surprisingly and graciously offered with no prompting or requests. That's how to keep customers happy.

Surfin' Mama

Being at the boat yesterday was a challenge (especially since we weren't able to get directions from the web site). So today I had to be at a different harbor for my group surf lesson. Turns out I was the only one signed up so I was offered the chance to do a private lesson for the private lesson price. A bit of a bait and switch me thinks but I was too excited to really think about it.

Actually had two instructors since they had a group at 11:30. The surf spot was one where King Kamehama used to surf and there is a heiau (temple) on shore. Also one of the better snorkeling spots apparently.

It was a little trickier than I remembered - I had to really concentrate to look where I was going, not my feet and found the pop-up harder. Remembering that my body has changed since last time and is still not quite back to normal. The waves were different too - not as many big ones, and only had momentum for a short time so I felt like it had to come together pretty quick. I got a few good rides in, and had a great morning. Finished on a high note leaving me wanting more.

Maybe Mom gets a surf week next winter...dream on.

Dad was chief photographer, video recorder and baby wrangler. She didn't nap all am so he certainly had his hands full. We had the choice of going back to the hotel so she could nap, or letting her fall asleep in the car and head up the Kona Coast. Guess which was selected. In a surprising quick trip north, we drove through extensive lava fields in the shadow of Mauna Kea, past planned resorts out of apparently nothing up to a few small communities. We reached the end of the road with forests and palis a bit like Kauai, but with our little girl sound asleep, we enjoyed the view but dared not open the car. With a sleeping baby, we carried on up to Waimea, the ranching community. We had not planned to go, but really glad we did. The contrast from the rainforest to desert to ranch to ocean was unbelievable. There were huge cactii in the fields. Really weird contrasts.

We enjoyed a swim at a beautiful state beach park. Sandy beach, shallow sandy water, sun was so nice. Even Cat enjoyed her swim in the water! The snorkelling wasnt much as viz wasnt great.

On the way back we saw a whale spout or splash almost every time we looked out "maka" ocean side.

Another snorkel adventure

Another wonderful vacation winding down. Back to our fave lunch spot overlooking cook's Bay with lots of geckos


but not before we did a mad drive around trying to find a small family run coffee farm. We must've driven up and down the same stretch of road about 5 times. Even asked for directions, and as it turns out, we had in fact turned off in the right spot but the man there didn't know where the place was. Finally, a local told us to turn at the old movie theatre. We even drove past this a couple of times as it was not immediately obvious:



No one home but a neat little side adventure in search of coffee. We could see a roaster and other bits of equipment. In the end we bought coffee at the local grocery store.

Afternoon meant another snorkel trip with the same company as the full day one since we got a deal for booking online, and it's our fave activity in sunny destinations, and the only option with Catriona in tow. Humpback whales were certainly out and about.

Unforgettable:
A baby whale learning how to swim and breathe, accompanied by its mother and a bull whale. Also dolphins. The captain had to cut the engine because the whales kept getting closer. The bull would always place him between the boat and the mom/baby. And not only did we see it on our way there, but the same trio was spotted on our way back. More activity the first time but what a privilege to be able to see them twice in one day. Even the captain with 14 years experience had not seen anything like it. One of those moments that just leaves you breathless.

Ocean time

Up and it to be at the boat dock for 08:30 am for our big treat of our holiday - a snorkel cruise to Keakohou Bay. We decided on the boat as our best bet with little miss Cat as kayaking would not work out so well.

A bit of a swell on the water, but that did not stop us from seeing a humpback whale just as we left the harbor. A short ride over to the bay where Captain Cook lost his life and a small monument to him. But the main attraction is the clear blue water and fish of all kinds in depths ranging from 5 to 20 feet or more.

Cat bobbed around in a floaty ring twice, I snorkelled twice and Dad once. We managed some lunch, a few pics and then we were off. She loved the water once she got used to it and happily bobbed around for awhile.



Nap time when we got back and then a stroll down the main drag to make a few souvenir purchases and have some dinner at the Kona Canoe Club, overlooking the water. She snagged some of Dad's mahimahi, brocoli and rice and thought that was just fine.

We are so lucky that she is adapatable, and not too crabby even though on holiday it is hard to keep her napping the way she does at home. She won't nap in the stroller and has to be really tired before sleeping in the car. at least she is still sleeping really well at night - at least 8 hours before feeding and about 12 altogether.

Big Island is big

Today we did a big explore of BIG Island. It's actually not that big, just the roads are all one line and max speed is about 50MPH. Which is fine because there is lots to see and the vegetation is ever changing from moderately dry with palm trees to wet with bamboo in the space of a few hours. We wanted to go to Hilo and then visit Volcanoes National Park at dusk in the hopes of seeing lava flowing.

We went from our hotel in Kailua south along the Kailua coast, then around the southernmost spot in the USA. We chose not to stop since Cat was napping and lots of tour busses pulled in. She woke up as we made our way to (CHeck name) Black Sands Beach. A gorgeous BLACK sand beach. The real highlight was we could see turtles feeding on the algae growing on the lava rocks from shore. We dipped our toes in the water and found it a bit refreshing.



Almost lunch time so carried on to Hilo, where we stopped in at the farmer's market. Cat charmed the veggie and fruit sellers, and we picked up some banana, papaya and avocado for her. It was free entertainment watching them choose the best one, one that would be ripe in a day or two. And one vendor would recommend us to another as we moved through the market, but they also didn't stop taking orders or talking to their friends. Our pineapple was cut up into spears by a lady who used to work at Dole and Del Monte.

We stopped in at a marine discovery centre, all about the NorthWestern Hawaiian Islands. Cat loved the aquarium, watching all the fish. But when two other little kids showed up, that's all she could look at. We were hoping to see the Pisces V replica sub in action as my husband's buddy is the director of Hawaii Undersea Research Labs. Alas, it was under construction but we did get to see a few of his watercolours in the display.

Then it was back up the mountain to Volcanoes National Park. It was pretty neat seeing all the lava fields and the caldera. In fact, while we were there, the Kiluaeua Caldera blew some ash.


And the ranger gave a great quick talk on the history and formation of the volcanoes - comparing them to an ohana or family. The youngest is being formed in the ocean as we speak, and the oldest is Maui. Mauna Kea is the biggest mountain on earth - almost 14 000 feet up from the ocean, and another 20 000 below the sea. Making it higher than Everest by some 5000 feet.

A quick drive down to the sea in the hopes of seeing some lava hit the ocean. Out of luck there but did see some glowing up on the hillside.


By that time poor miss Cat had had enough so we drove back to the hotel and put her straight to bed.

Up, up and away

Going on holiday with a 7 month old is a whole new level of organization. Stuff, stuff and more stuff as I mentioned previously.

Throw in a trip to visit relatives 6 hours from home on the other side of the province and dropping off the dog with his second parents at the other end before the trip, and there was potential for disaster.

But little miss Cat is an ace traveller. She happily rides in her carseat for hours as long as we stop to feed and change her regularly, which we do. She is really quick to go to sleep when arriving, and one teething night notwithstanding, she slept as well as almost any night at home.

She made friends with everyone around her on the short flight from Calgary to Vancouver. The 6 hour plane ride left at her normal bedtime and she was so tired she fell asleep right away, woke to nurse, and after a bit of a fuss no louder than the plane's engine, slept until the captain came on to announce final descent. People sitting near us were so impressed with how quiet she was.

Despite it being the middle of the night when we arrived, she happily made googly eyes to the lady at the rental car place. We walked away with a huge van, even though we had booked a compact car. Not sure if that was what was available or if Cat's charm won her over.

And at the hotel, we discovered we had been upgraded to a corner suite, with a porch (lainai) that faces south and west, perfect for am sun during am nap and pm sun during pm nap time. Our hotel has a pool which we tried this am but it was quite cold and little miss Cat was exhausted so that wasn't so much fun. We also have a view of a small manmade beach and lagoon. Even from the 6th floor we can see schools of grey fish in the lagoon, and spotted a school of yellow fish playing just offshore in the big surf.

We are lulled to sleep by the sound of waves crashing on the lava rocks, and cooled off by the breeze that keeps the air moving.

Right now, I am watching a surfer grab the last breaks of the day, and two teams of 6 canoeists in what might be Hawaiian style canoes.



First day was all about letting little miss Cat catch up on some sleep, do some shopping to have some food for breakfast in the room to avoid the $30 breakfast buffet, and have a few things for Cat to munch on. Let's not forget the drinks for adults. Turns out it doesn't matter how old or young looking you are int the USA, your driver's license is needed to buy beer. So yes, I got carded at the local Tarjay (aka Target) when I bought a 6 pack of my much beloved Longboard. And yes, I am still nursing but one drink a night, at least one hour away from feeding is essential for my mental health while on holiday.

So all in all, a perfect first day of holiday. More exploring to be done tomorrow!

Off to Hawaii...avec enfant

Almost 16 months ago we went to Hawaii for a holiday, and came back with the gift of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy happy baby girl.

Now, we are in Hawaii, Big Island this time, again for an escape from the long winters in Lake Louise. There has been snow on the ground since midOctober when I returned from Toronto. December saw some -30C days and January just drags on with cold, no snow and short days.

An escape to warmth and sunshine is just what we needed. Leave the hats, mitts, snowsuits, boots and down behind for a week of sun, surf, sand and snorkelling. And volcanoes, gardens and who knows what all else.

Planning the trip was a bit different - thinking about where we could go that would be warm, safe, not too far or disruptive to sleep, where we could relax and enjoy ourselves. We are really not the all-inclusive party types so when a sale on vacations to Hawaii came up, we jumped at the chance.

Travelling with a 7 month old brings with it its own challenges - lots of stuff like diapers, wipes, soothers, toys, clothes. Food, bibs, cutlery, small dishes etc. And the stroller, playard, and stuff for Mom and Dad. Not exactly travelling light. And inevitably we forgot something - like one of our fish guidebooks to Hawaii.