2009-Feb. 22: travel day and Lydgate

After having just spent 4 days on Oahu by myself (http://travelingwithsue.blogspot.com/2011/04/2009feb-solo-trip-to-waikiki.html), it was time to hop over to Kauai and meet up with my daughter and son-in-law.  They flew in the day before and were joining us for their first trip to Kauai.  It was our 8th trip, so we were looking forward to showing them around.  Originally Ken and I were suppose to fly to Kauai today, but when an opportunity arose to spend a few nights on Oahu first (by myself), I went ahead and took it.   So today was a travel day for both of us, just not together.  I got to fly into Kauai during the day time for a change and was wowed by Kauai from the air!

Angie and Josh picked me up from the airport.  I'm thinking this means they like this place?!

Then we headed off to get a late lunch at Monico's Taqueria in Kapaa.  I had never eatten there and really enjoyed it.  Ken's not a big Mexican food fan, so if we have it, it's usually Taco Bell!

Then we headed over to Kauai Beach Villas so I could check in.  We only had a 1 bedroom unit this time, so we got the "kids" a room at Shell's Kauai Coast at the Beach Boy Resort.  LOVE their heated pool!  Their furnishings sort of put KBV to shame, too.  But we still like KBV and happily spend our weeks there every year.  After checking in, we went to Safeway to do a little grocery shopping.  Then it was time to show them one of the reasons we keep coming back to Kauai---the snorkeling!   Josh had never snorkeled so we figured Lydgate was a good starting point.

This was shortly before they "fixed" the rock wall, so it was pretty shallow and the sand was churned up pretty well.  But there were still some fish to be found. (AFter they dredged the sand out and rebuilt the wall, they've had a problem with water not circulating and the water remaining murky. We did snorkel there in 2011 and were happily surprised to still find these guys there, along with lots of other fish, but the clarity wasn't any better. Hopefully it works it's way back to being great again one of these years!  ----- As of 2016, it was back to being great again!)

  I always look for these Stripeys that I only see there---or the Waikiki Aquirium

There is a huge school of these yellow fin surgeon fish here---has been every since we first started coming to Kauai (and as of 2016, there still is)

After snorkeling awhile, we headed back to their pool and jacuzzi and hung out there until it was time to go pick Ken up from the airport when he arrived from the mainland.

After sunset, we picked up Ken and they dropped us off at KBV.  The travel day almost over, we  parted ways for the night.