SUP - She's Up!
This may sound like a strange title, but it will make sense in awhile. In fact, today was the first time we heard SUP ourselves. It all started around 8:45 am when we headed to the beach. We'll get to that in a minute.
Last night we finally opened and enjoyed a couple of glasses of champagne the resort gave us for our anniversary. This was the real thing, not a cheap bottle. We waited because we needed to get a stopper which we bought after dinner last night. Apparently when Bill put the stopper on the bottle, it wasn't totally secure. Around 2 am the pressure was too much so it blew the stopper off the bottle which landed against the metal bucket making a very large bang which startled us awake. We had no idea what the noise came from until this morning when we saw the stopper in the bucket.
Okay, back to what SUP stands for - Stand Up Paddleboarding. Yes, this morning we went Paddleboarding, something Karen had never done. Once at the beach hut we were asked if we wanted to SUP. We said 'what'? and we were asked again, do you want to stand up paddleboard? Yes, Karen wants to take lessons and Bill wants to rent a paddleboard for himself. Karen was then introduced to Taylor who would give her an hour lesson. Of course she was cute as a button, a senior in High School and very experienced paddleboarder. Here they are as Karen learns how to paddle and get up.
After a few minutes, off to the water they went. Bill would join later after Karen gets the hang of it. It wasn't long before Taylor had her stand and walla, she's up. Once she was paddling for 20-minutes or so, it was time to jump off to learn how to get back up. Taylor didn't have to insist as Karen feel off on her own. It was good because the water was very refreshing. When she fell in she lost her sun glasses in the water and now there is a manta ray swimming around wearing Karen's sun glasses! Karen was pretty pleased that she only fell off once the whole time she was out on the board.Getting back on the board when you fall off is the most difficult part - you can't touch bottom so it's all arms and core strength. It's a good thing we've been going to the gym for nearly a year because after several minutes, she managed to get herself back on the board, knees for awhile then she stood up once again and off she went. She's Up!
Shortly after falling, Bill grabbed a board and off he went. The bay this morning was as smooth as glass and the visibility was fantastic. If fact we saw fishies, star fish, turtles and Taylor even saw a manta ray. After an hour in the water, it was time to lounge around and go for a swim and think about lunch.
Our next adventure was to the north tip of the island to Pololu Valley Lookout. On the way we stopped in a small port in Kawaihae for lunch at Cafe Pesto, a place Bill had eaten once before with his National Guard customers. As expected, the food was good and reasonably priced. By the time we reached the lookout, some clouds had come in but the views were still georgeous.
On the way back we stopped at a local pineapple farm and Karen bought a bag of freshly picked pineapple direct from the farmer. In fact, the farmer said she picked it today, and it was delicious.
Dinner this evening was at Lava Lava Beach Club Restaurant and Bar in Waikoloa, a local place recommended by Karen's sister Carla. What a beautiful setting, right on the beach. We were smart to make reservations for a table under a big umbrella since it wasn't long and it started to rain and everyone who was out in the open had to rush in and stand around as the place was packed inside.
Bill had the ribs and they were really good...and tasty!
We enjoyed another beautiful sunset here on the Big Island.
Last night we finally opened and enjoyed a couple of glasses of champagne the resort gave us for our anniversary. This was the real thing, not a cheap bottle. We waited because we needed to get a stopper which we bought after dinner last night. Apparently when Bill put the stopper on the bottle, it wasn't totally secure. Around 2 am the pressure was too much so it blew the stopper off the bottle which landed against the metal bucket making a very large bang which startled us awake. We had no idea what the noise came from until this morning when we saw the stopper in the bucket.
Okay, back to what SUP stands for - Stand Up Paddleboarding. Yes, this morning we went Paddleboarding, something Karen had never done. Once at the beach hut we were asked if we wanted to SUP. We said 'what'? and we were asked again, do you want to stand up paddleboard? Yes, Karen wants to take lessons and Bill wants to rent a paddleboard for himself. Karen was then introduced to Taylor who would give her an hour lesson. Of course she was cute as a button, a senior in High School and very experienced paddleboarder. Here they are as Karen learns how to paddle and get up.
After a few minutes, off to the water they went. Bill would join later after Karen gets the hang of it. It wasn't long before Taylor had her stand and walla, she's up. Once she was paddling for 20-minutes or so, it was time to jump off to learn how to get back up. Taylor didn't have to insist as Karen feel off on her own. It was good because the water was very refreshing. When she fell in she lost her sun glasses in the water and now there is a manta ray swimming around wearing Karen's sun glasses! Karen was pretty pleased that she only fell off once the whole time she was out on the board.Getting back on the board when you fall off is the most difficult part - you can't touch bottom so it's all arms and core strength. It's a good thing we've been going to the gym for nearly a year because after several minutes, she managed to get herself back on the board, knees for awhile then she stood up once again and off she went. She's Up!
Shortly after falling, Bill grabbed a board and off he went. The bay this morning was as smooth as glass and the visibility was fantastic. If fact we saw fishies, star fish, turtles and Taylor even saw a manta ray. After an hour in the water, it was time to lounge around and go for a swim and think about lunch.
Our next adventure was to the north tip of the island to Pololu Valley Lookout. On the way we stopped in a small port in Kawaihae for lunch at Cafe Pesto, a place Bill had eaten once before with his National Guard customers. As expected, the food was good and reasonably priced. By the time we reached the lookout, some clouds had come in but the views were still georgeous.
On the way back we stopped at a local pineapple farm and Karen bought a bag of freshly picked pineapple direct from the farmer. In fact, the farmer said she picked it today, and it was delicious.
Dinner this evening was at Lava Lava Beach Club Restaurant and Bar in Waikoloa, a local place recommended by Karen's sister Carla. What a beautiful setting, right on the beach. We were smart to make reservations for a table under a big umbrella since it wasn't long and it started to rain and everyone who was out in the open had to rush in and stand around as the place was packed inside.
Bill had the ribs and they were really good...and tasty!
We enjoyed another beautiful sunset here on the Big Island.
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