Kauai, the last tidbits

What can I say?  I loved the trip to Hawaii - it was exhausting and relaxing,  at times one of the hardest things I have done, but those were also some of the best parts in the end. 
Heather and I both said no more backpacking after Na Pali,  but maybe I am just an ultra light backpacker?  Time will tell. 
I do know that I always have an amazing time when traveling with Heather - can't wait for our next hiking adventure in October!  

Kauai day 6, Honopu Ridge Trail

We trekked to the end of the road, stopped at all of the Waimea Canyon lookouts, and hiked the thorny bush trail (we renamed it).  Capped day 6 off with a nighttime soak in the hot tub, attempting to loosen our stiff muscles.   There is sure to be more adventure tomorrow!

Kauai day 5, rest day!

Kauai day 5 was a rest day, but we still managed to find a damn good salad, our first rainbow, Queens Bath, and a wee bit of adventure!  (We may have such through a stranger's yard while attempting to catch the sunset!   Lol....)

Kauai days 2-4, Hiking the Na Pali Coast

The hike along the 11 miles of Na Pali coastline to Kalalau was amazing,  challenging,  exhausting, and breathtaking.  We hiked along cliff sides, drank from mountain streams, swam in a cave and showered in a waterfall.  We watched sunset, stars, and sunrise on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  Met a pirate, Hawaiian chief,  and some naked hippies.  Tried noni (tastes like blue cheese!) and passion fruit right from the tree.  Capped it off with a boat ride that made me glad to be alive - Na Pali is truly an amazing place. 

Kauai day 1

Found Heather and got our gear together for our Na Pali coast hike, we are off tomorrow!

Week 51 - Castro Valley!

This last weekend of the year was spent helping a good friend move to Castro Valley (just south of San Francisco).  Loved the sun, Castro Valley seems like a great neighborhood and I can't wait to visit again!

Week 43 - Arizona Hiking!

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt"

Week 30 - Home from Australia

I made it home safe and sound Wednesday afternoon, but have been battling jet lag and a bit of a head cold for the past couple days.  My body is tired and needs sleep, I have to start studying for my next test tomorrow!

Week 29 - Australia!

I am late in posting, it is almost time for week 30!
Week 29 was my first real days in Australia.   I shouldn't have taken this vacation really, as I mentioned in my last post, I was sick the week before, it is a really bad time at work, and let's be honest - Australia is EXPENSIVE!   Typically when I travel with my friend Heather I spend less than $2, 000 on one of our adventures, including airfare.  
The airline ticket alone for this trip was over $2, 000.  And lets not talk about how everything cost serious cash once you are there as well.  Nothing is cheap/free, not even wifi.
But you know what?  I had the BEST time.
My traveling tip is to pay for things in advance - when planning any vacation, I first buy the airline ticket. 
(Side note: I highly recommended Qantas Airlines now, I didn't hate myself after a 13 hour flight from LAX to BNE, and that is saying something!   Plus the food was actually tasty and didn't upset my finicky tummy at all.)  Buy the airline ticket, then pick a few hotels or activities you know you want to see/do/stay at, and pay for those in advance as well (if possible).  I find that when I don't have to worry about a large credit card bill at the end of a vacation, I am much better at living in the moment - relaxing and experiencing everthing that I can.

I loved loved loved Australia.   Never before have so many strangers offered me a job, a place to stay, and to be a part of their lives.  I felt like I had six friends within 20 minutes if landing.  A cab diver told me it was because Australia has so little crime, it's people are so open to everything and everyone.

Week 29 took me to Cairns: a tour of the far north, the Daintree Rainforest,  Cape Tribulation,  the Atherton Tabelands, and the Great Barrier Reef.  I crossed the international date line, and experianced scuba diving both for the first time.

I will absolutely be going back to Australia,  this is one place that I couldn't cover in 2 weeks, and that I look forward to exploring even more of!

Week 28 - Australia!

I was feeling sick most of the week, a lingering migraine from last weekend that just would not go away.  Work was required attendance thought because Friday I left for Australia!  
I think I got it all done, well... enough done. :)  the house isn't clean, the laundry isn't done, but I guess that stuff will wait for my return, right?
In getting to Australia I flew from SEA to LAX, then had a direct flight from LAX to BNE (Brisbane).  LAX to BNE is a 14 hour flight, and I was worried - how was I going to handle 14 hours in an airplane?  Everyone had tips and tricks and I bought into them all, but truthfully,  all of those lotions and potions were not needed.  I slept for the vast majority of the flight.  Awake for maybe four of the 14 hours, I slept again on the flight from BNE to Cairns!  I think I was just so worn out from this past week that my body took that opportunity to catch up on rest.  It was a beautiful thing.  :)
Once I landed in Cairns I hopped a shuttle to my hotel, checked in and showered, booked my tours for the next few days and then ran out to grab some groceries. So far Cairns is reminding me strongly of Maui, maybe with a bit of Belize tossed in.  There are palm trees everywhere and the humid air already has my hair in curls.
Today I am off to explore Cape Trib and the Daintree rainforest - can't wait!  

Week 26

What a week! 
Recovering from the marathon,  fishing with my parents, visiting family and friends, an awesome trip to Exit Glacier, back to work, sweltering heat, and a bee sting on my toe!
Lol.... it hasn't been boring, that's for sure!

Week 25 - Marathon week!

I did it.  Just barely, but I finished!
Miles 1-14 were good, I was on pace and feeling good.  The rocks were brutal on feet though, so miles 18 - 21 were ROUGH.  My Mom and Dad met me just after mile 21, my Mom walked with me to the end cheering the whole group to the finish line. 
It took WAY longer to finish than I though it would, but I FINISHED.
Next time will be better.  :)

Week 16

Let's see....
This week I bought my airline tickets to Australia,  finally found a hydration pack that I like (love!), ran some miles in my favorite race shirt for Boston, and  hung out with a very good friend and her family for some R&R.
This week I tried to work on refueling/rehydrating - after last weeks long run I felt nauseous, and as the guy at the running store said 'after 10 miles you start to FEEL things'.  Some good, some bad, but I will get through them all.

Week 14

It is a weird thing, coming home from another country.  Wanting to sleep, needing to catch up with work and home, but just really wanting to sleep.

I also made a video of our trip to Ireland - check it out here:

Hillwalk">http://vimeo.com/63493601">Hillwalk Ireland trip 2013

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Week 13 - IRELAND!

I am a wee bit late in posting week 13!

Seattle to Paris to Dublin, found Heather and our hotel.  Lights that require the room key to turn on, outlets that have a switch, and an extra button for hot water.  Bland fish and chips (the best in the world needs a lesson from my Mom), guinness and music in a pub to celebrate Heather's birthday.  Freezing winds and SNOW!  Train to Belfast, Ballymoney, bus to Ballycastle.  We made it!    Fairhead in the snow and mud, what an adventure!  Rathlin Island, seeing the Guillimots two days after they landed and before the visitor center even opened,  an unofficial tour of an upside down red lighthouse,  and discovering a closed cafe open!  Dinner three nights in the same place (they lured us in with the fireplace), learning that a full Irish breakfast includes baked beans and mushrooms,  missing salads and fruit. 
Friday hiking through the woods to Ballintoy and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.  Biting winds, and beautiful coastline, fun Irish couples, and B&B that was once the police station!  Every B&B owner in northern Ireland seems to be a grandmother - they are all so sweet!

Week 12 - the week before Ireland!

9 miles last Sunday,  passed my second test on Monday (6 more to go!), 48 hours of scrambling during the remaining four work days, a gym session, yoga, and the perfect email:

Raise your right hand and repeat after me, ‘I will not think about work while I am in Ireland. I will not think about statistics. I will trust that everything is fine. I will simply focus on listening to cute Irish men speak.”

I can't promise that I won't think about work, but I will focus on enjoying every moment of this vacation!   Tomorrow I fly to ireland!

Week 3

Ok, I have again worked far too many hours this week, but I slept ten hours last night, bought an airline ticket to Ireland, and spent this evening with some of our closest friends (and their new baby).  I certainly can't complain.  :)

Zion National Park

Fall? Leaves are falling and I have pulled my coat out of the closet, but I am still having a hard time adjusting to the idea that it is no longer summer here in the PNW.

It is pretty much my own fault though; I just got back from an amazing weekend hiking in the sun at Zion National Park in southern Utah. The sunshine, and lingering scent of sunscreen, is leaving me longing for just a few more weeks of summer. :)

Zion though? It was amazing. I spent much of the trip in awe of the landscape around me, feeling like I had traveled to another country with scenery and hiking terrain dramatically different than the mountains near Seattle. Heather and I trekked up to Angle's Landing, waded through the Narrows, and lived to tell tales of the Subway. Though we had read summaries of each hike, watched YouTube videos, and seen pictures, I don't know that any of the hikes were what we expected. We are in good shape!  She just hiked a mountain in one day, and I just ran a half marathon, but 5 miles really did take 5 hours and 9 miles really did take 9 hours.  Every hike seemed more extreme than I expected… Zion challenged me, taught me to boulder and certainly made me more confident in my balance! :)

Peru and Machu Picchu!

Before I head off on my next adventure I wanted to post a bit about Peru, becuase well... I loved it there.  I have been a few places in the world, done a little traveling, and while this was maybe the hardest trip I have ever taken, it was by far my favorite.  There were times I questioned myself, my relationships, and my determination, but in the end Peru reminded me how far a smile can get you, how nice it is to travel with one of my very best friends, and how strong I really am.  It seems a surreal experiance in retrospect, and has only increased my desire to travel everywhere.  lol.....  Thank you Peru, you were beautiful in both landscape and spirit. 

I would really like to do this Yosemite hike!