Feb. 27, 2012:  Waimea Canyon, Polihale, Poipu

What a difference a day makes!  It was a beautiful sunny day---most of the day.  We had decided this would be a day to take the Schneides up to see the Waimea Canyon and then to the west side beaches before a final attemp at snorkeling.  Fortunately, the weather cooperated, and it was another GREAT day!

First stop was Grind's restaurant near Hanapepe for breakfast on our way to the canyon.  Breakfast was very good.  They make great fresh breads and pastries, as well as everything else we bought.

 On our way up the canyon, we stopped at the first overlook to take a look over the town of Waimea.  It was hard to tell the last 2 days were solid rain!

 The ride up the canyon was gorgeous!

 I think I included this in last year's blog, but I still love this view!

 At the first big lookout we meandered around and ohh and ahhhed at the sights for quite awhile.

 It was about 67 degrees up there, but it felt great with the sun shining.

 At the end of the road we checked out the lookout over the ocean.  Again, it was fabulous!

 We even walked down the hill to check out the canyon and ocean views.  Here Coni and John are but a speck near the top of the hill.

 We marvelled at the continually forming clouds.  We figured the warm moist air from the ocean was meeting with the cooler air some 3500' up here and creating clouds that constantly built near the top of the mountain then dispersed as they fell back towards the ocean.  Fascinating!

 Back at the Kokee museum and snack bar, we wandered through the interesting museum, then bought a soda and sat at a pic nic table admiring the very different view of Kauai.  If it weren't for the chicken in the field, I would think this was a picture in Oregon!

 Since we were that far south and west, we decided to check out the road to Polihale.  I was really shocked at what good shape it was in!  There were only a couple spots that were wet.  It was slow going of about 10 miles/hour, but we made it easily.

 Just another view of the road to Polihale.

 At Polihale, we enjoyed the views.

 Coni and John even walked along the beach a bit ---trying to loose their water shoes in the surf!

 With that, they were ready to try snorkeling again, so we boogied up to Poipu. 

 They really caught onto snorkeling quickly and had a ball.  Coni even said the water temperature was comfortable there.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to snorkel today---I forgot to bring my contacts and would have surely ended up in the middle of the ocean without them!

 So I guarded our stuff from the wild animals!

 Of course, there were clouds and even some rain in the Poipu area.

 We did stay until sunset, but it was another "dud"---the clouds were too heavy.

Shortly after sunset, we headed back to our east side and over to Olympic Cafe, again, for dinner.  After snorkeling with the fishies, Coni and John we craving fish and we knew their fish and chips are ONO. 
Thus ended another great day in paradise---and the last full day for Coni and John.