2006-Feb. 5--- Dad leaves, then off to the South side:


Time for Dad to head home.  So we went out to breakfast, then headed to the airport.  So glad he got to join us again---for what turned out to be his last trip there. 

By late morning, the rest of us were on our way South.  First stop---Mahaulepu Beach.  We've never been able to snorkel there because it's usually rough and has bad currents, but it's a really pretty coast line. 

 It's always been windy when we've been there.  Today was no exception.

 A little beach area

 A rocky bluff on the eastern end of Mahaulepu provides a great lookout point where you can enjoy great views of this picturesque coastline.

  Just around the point from the little beach is another beach which is longer and has some protection from an offshore reef.  There are often wind surfers here.

 looking back from the point to the little beach and the little dirt parking lot.  Getting to this beach is not very easy.  The road is an old unmaintained cane road. 

This is the last major undeveloped area on Kauai’s south shore.

 Haupu Mountain visible in the distance.

 another view of Haupu Mountain from the rocky point.

 a couple of the wind surfers here.

 A cinder cone near Poipu.  We've driven by it many times without ever stopping.  I think there is a path around it, but we didn't check it out.

 We continued another hour or so to Salt Pond.  We've found the snorkeling on the East side of the bay is somewhat interesting.  But to park over there involves another dirt and sand road.  Conditions looked ok today, so we parked there instead of at the big paved parking lot on the other side.

 The little snorkel area---with the restrooms and paved parking lot in the distance.

 Tim heading in

 moorish idol

 white spotted trunk fish

 looking across the bay

 another view of our snorkel area.  Doesn't look like much, but it's much roomier once you're in the water.

 Probably a Napali tour boat going by.

 even if the snorkeling isn't any good, the views are great.

 and the water is so clear!---pretty much all around Kauai.

 By where we drove in is where the "salt beds" are.  I think they're sill used, but not in the winter since it rains more then.

 The happy "kids"

 the goofy kid

 zoomed in view of the picnic area on the other side of the bay

 plus it's a lifeguarded beach

 More of the salt bed area as we were heading out.

 Not too far down the road is Glass beach.  Had to stop there for a quick look.  It use to be a dump, so glass bits are tumbled by the ocean and deposited on the beach.  It's really pretty neat.

 Kauai Coffee is also down that way, so we stopped in there, too.  Faith is the only coffee drinker in our group, but it was still very interesting.

 Don't think I've ever seen a coffee orchard before.

 After touring the coffee plantation, we headed back up to coast. 

I'm thinking Faith had too much coffee!

 Had to stop at the corner of 51 and the back route into Lawai.  The kids got a kick out of posing with the Tiki guys.

 They look just like them!

 They also liked posing for surfing pictures.

 look at them go!

 Faith even posed as Miss Kauai.

  Made a stop to show them the Spouting Horn.

 By the time we were heading back to the East side, the sun was setting. 

 Another full, but fun day in paradise!