Tennis

We walked over to the tennis courts in the morning to try and beat the heat of the day.  It seems that's almost impossible to do as I was sweating before we even started to play, I guess maybe you get acclimatized to it if you live here.

We had some pretty fancy footwork!

In the afternoon we spent some time poolside, did a little bit of local shopping and then headed out for dinner.  We stopped in at the Yard House on our way and the number of beer on tap was unreal!
 

The taps were on both sides and ran all the way to the back of this photo, with a break at mid-section so the bartenders could access both sides without having to go all the way down to the ends.
 

CHEERS!

Golf Gallery

Today we had a tee time for 2pm.  Ted, Ken and Shirley were looking forward to golfing, and I was to be Ted's caddy and cart driver.  I also managed to give Ted a few unsolicited tips from time to time.

Ted managed to land on his own little island in a sand trap

It's a beautiful course and was a fun afternoon but after five hours it was time for a cold drink!

Desert Falls Country Club

First Full Day

This morning we walked over to the golf course and tennis clubhouse to see what the local facilities were like, on the way we saw some pretty interesting vegetation.

Our villa, backing onto the golf course - beautiful.

 

Whoever heard of purple cactus??

 Biggest aloe vera plant ever!

Some sort of cactus

It was only ten o'clock and we were already hot by the time we walked about fifteen - twenty minutes or so.  After checking out the clubhouse it was time to head to the pool by our villa to cool off.

Shirley and I 

Ted totally relaxing

                                 Lazy days, what a life we have down here in the dunes...

Snap Decision

Palm Springs Baby!

Every once in a while (a very long while) Ted and I surprise even ourselves, and this is one of those times.  Normally I plan and research the heck out of everything well beforehand - not this time.  Shirley texted me Monday night telling me that they were going to Palm Springs on Saturday for a week and that we should join them.  After a short flurry of back and forth communication it was done, our flights were booked.  

Really cool restaurant with tons of character inside and out, the place was rock in'!

There was a live band there playing great music so Shirl and I danced off some calories in the hot sun!

After a great lunch we were off to Costco to stock the condo for the week, then check out the area.

All Good Things...

...do come to an end, but we are very grateful for this wonderful trip we've had.  Today we will be back at the beach for one more swim in the tropical waves, to Lava Lava Beach Club for one more beautiful sunset, and then it's off to the airport for the overnight flight home.  Mahalo Hawaii!

Rays on the Bay

We heard that the Sheraton in Kona has a nice restaurant / bar so we drove down to take a look around.  The main lobby is beautiful, with large open bay windows.

.

Sunset photo taken at Rays on the Bay bar as we wait for the manta ray divers to arrive.

Boats begin to congregate.

There were quite a number of divers and snorkelers that entered the water from a variety of boats, it was pretty interesting to watch the process.  Apparently the manta rays are attracted to the lights, one that comes around regularly is 35 feet across.  It was an interesting evening, and the best Mai Tai's!

Odds and Ends

I'm not well-travelled but I know when I'm in a special place, and this is definitely it.  We've been here three weeks and we've seen and done a number of things that will be filed away in our memories as great times.  This post is a smattering of photos that will remind us of our time here as we reminisce.

Birdsong mornings

Retro Hawaiian pics

Home away from home, thanks to generous friends.

Lava Lava Beach Club

 

                          Friends of 40 years arrive

My night on stage as assistant to magician 'Kona Kozy'!

The natural beauty of our amazing planet earth

Tomorrow is our last day in paradise....