Hawaii - March 2022

 We're Back!

Two years ago we left the Big Island in a bit of a rush due to the pandemic, now we're back and it's sweeter than ever.  We were able to spend the full month of March here this year and it felt wonderful - and the weather was perfect.

We arrived at 5pm, just in time to get to Lava Lava Beach Club for the sunset.

Mauna Kea beach the next day, where else would we want to be?!

We celebrated Gary turning 70 this year, he's a rock star.   😁

Soon family and more friends joined us so there's always something to do - the grandkids had a great big area right off their patio to play soccer and frisbee.

Card players wear cool shades

Annual Tennis Tournament

1st Place - Ruby & Ted

2nd Place - Brianna & Barry

3rd Place - Ken and Jen

Thanks to our Ball Kids Miles & Blakely!

After a morning of tennis in the hot sun it was time to go back to the pool for a swim and barbeque burgers.

Even a card game!

Sunset Cruise from A-Bay

The catamaran that's in A-Bay has been something that I've been wanting to go on for a number of years, and it finally happened, although a bit different than I'd expected.  

The sunset cocktail cruise began with Ted, Barry and I going on a motorboat up the coast along with a woman and her eight year old son, as well as the Captain and his assistant.  Only seven of us in total on a boat that holds forty-nine!  The young boy became seasick so we returned to A-Bay and boarded the catamaran moored there and we sat on it and watched the sunset while having drinks and a light dinner.  It wasn't the sail that I'd imagined but it was pretty nice!

Kona Brewing Company

Lunch at Kona Brewing was from the food trucks, their regular kitchen is closed on Sundays and Mondays because they don't have enough staff back to work yet, but it was still good.  :)

Beaches 

Bennett heading out...

It was a bit of a hike in to this one

Gary & Gina's last beach day with us

Random Pics

Games lawn at Lava Lava

Long line to get shave ice but worth the wait

Wild turkeys abound

Jazzed up the pineapple a bit with twinkle lights

Sunset from our bedroom lanai

Almost a hole in one!!

Our Last Night

We love the ambiance and the waves at The Four Seasons Hualalai Beach Tree restaurant so that's where we went for dinner on our last night, and it was delicious.  The chocolate covered ice cream bon-bons are the perfect ending.

Homeward Bound

We arrived back on April 1st, the first day of no covid testing required to enter Canada which made it easy for us.  Now it's back to our normal routines as we wait for Spring.

Feeling kinda free in Osoyoos!

 It’s been fifteen months since we’ve been out of the Lower Weekend - due to COVID-19 when we made our hurried departure from Hawaii and came home.  The pandemic made an impact on us all, and in spite of all the negatives there really did come a few positives.  We learned to online grocery shop and it was pretty good!

Today we drove up to Osoyoos for a three night getaway for a change of scenery since as of this past week we’re now allowed to travel anywhere within BC!  Hopefully restrictions will continue to ease more over the next few months and we can get rid of face masks, and travel into the U.S. again.  

But in the meantime we enjoyed the beautiful Hester Creek Winery today with great friends Jay and Colleen, spent time at the pool cooling off at the end of the day, and also discovered a great picnic area right on the resort property to have a night cap.  It even has a great ping pong table. 

The view from our room at the Walnut Beach Resort this evening, it’s so pretty!

Our Last Week in Hawaii - COVID 19

Family Week - shorter than expected....

Jen, Rick, Ruby, Bennett and Miles flew over on Thursday, March 12 and we were very excited to see them.  We got busy right away starting with fun in the pool here, Miles was getting some one-on-one instruction from Ruby.

At Hapuna Beach the waves were pretty big so it was good for boogie-boarding...

49 Black Sand Beach

Exploring the Petroglyph Trail

Great trees to climb at 'Bennett's Beach'

Grandpa's specialties - Games, and preparing snacks and drinks!

And the week wouldn't be complete without an evening at the Lava Lava Beach Club....

Miles listening to hear the ocean in the shell

Very cool ...

There's lots to do on the entertainment lawn, every year brings something new.  The kids were definitely prepared to play ping-pong as they've been playing with Gpa alot at home.

A Change in Plans

Barry and Emanuelle were supposed to arrive in Hawaii a few days after Jen, Rick and kids, but decided they needed to cancel because of the rapid succession of COVID-19 throughout the world.  Travel in and out of Canada was declared now as essential travel only, and we were listening more and more to the news reports: 

HEALTH

Worldwide cases of coronavirus surpass 200,000 as borders close

BY DAVID RISING AND CHRIS BLAKE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted March 18, 2020 10:04 am

We all made the decision to fly back to Canada in light of what was happening, we didn't want to get stranded in Hawaii - although at first we thought that may not be too bad.  We changed our flights to fly home early, and seats were not easy to get - but we all flew home together.  Although we booked separately we ended up with Jen, Miles and myself in the middle row, Rick was on one aisle beside us, Ted was across from us on the other aisle, and Ruby and Bennett were seated just two rows behind us. Chance?  Good luck?  No - to me it was Divine intervention!  Jen was busy with the Purell making sure the surfaces were all disinfected and then we had a direct flight to Vancouver, and entered a 14 day isolation period at our homes, as required by BC Health.

We've been home now for two months, and after being pretty much house-bound for most of that time we're starting to look forward to this next phase as restrictions are eased and we're able to get out more.  We haven't seen Barry since before we left to go to Hawaii!  It has definitely felt like a different world that we came home to, and although it will be a new-normal for quite some time I'm thankful that we are all healthy and getting through this pandemic.

Time Flies!

I've been negligent in my posting of photos here this time in Hawaii, I'm not sure why - but we've been definitely keeping busy and having fun spending time on the beaches...

Even the birds prefer a good Tommy Bahama chair at the beach

The Marriott Kona was a great spot for the keikeis to swim

New friendships were made between friends grandkids that were here, too cute!

These little ones loved the sand race cars made with Gpa

We're always watching for a breaching whale!

4th Annual Hawaii Tennis Tournament

This year's winners were pretty excited to take home the trophy   :)

Golf on the Big Island

An evening at the Four Seasons Resort included delicious bonbons

Twice yearly palm tree pruning is underway now

Ted's pretty happy with his official Mai Tai bartender shirt, compliments of Shirl!

Oldies but goodies!  

The ever popular sunset photo, you can never have too many.

Ted and I are halfway through our holiday time here, some friends have both arrived and left, and some are still here to enjoy the days with.   Later next week our kids and grandkids arrive and we're pretty excited to see them, there's still lots of fun in the sun here to be had!

Anaeho'omalu Bay

It's Good to be Back

We've been on the Big Island now for the better part of a week and it's as relaxing as ever, with blue sky, palm trees and beautiful water.  Last night we met up with friends at A-Bay for drinks and snacks, it feels so good to be back here.

We've already been to both Mauna Kea and Hapuna beaches, and there's lots more things we want to do and see!

It’s Time

Frosty Rooftops?

 We’re out, gotta head to warmer weather and today’s the day!!