Some days things go a little different

As some of you know, Norm had some unplanned skin surgeries for basal cell carcinomas  a week before we were to leave on our holiday. The doctor wasn’t too keen on him leaving but the trip was already booked.  Well….. after a week the stitches were not working so well and he was bleeding daily. My nursing skills were adequate but really not good enough.

Guess where we spent almost five hours today? 

A lovely out in the countryside hospital. There were about 10 people waiting. We arrived just after 9:30 and left after 2. Not bad, almost 5 hours waiting.

 

You’d think I was the patient but how can anyone turn down a warm blanket? 

Joe, the RN, got the vitals, Michael, the NP cauterized the open wound with silver nitrate ointment. It burned a little but did the job.

Then Joe bandaged Norm up. Yellow Bunny provided emotional support. The staff was excellent. Norm invited Joe to visit us in BC! 

Here is the finished job outside where real live Poinsettias are growing with orchids! 

Ken and Sue picked us up for home. Thought we’d go for a little afternoon walk but it was so hot we got a gelato and headed back home.

But tonight was one of our best evenings yet, an ocean view as the sun set! 

Perfect photo.

And before you know it, the sun is gone.

Dinner at Kai’s was very good.

Virgin Pina Colada for me and Minty Pineapple drink for Norm

Salads for Ken and Sue. Fish and chips for Norm

And I had coconut encrusted Mahi Mahi. 

The day turned out just lovely! Thanks Kona

Hilo- the rainy side of the big island

Our plan today is to cross the island to Hilo, so we had breakfast at home with porridge and papaya on lanai. 

 Every few miles the landscape changed. Lots of lava rock then rolling hill and maybe a volcano.

As we arrived in Hilo, the area was humid and raining off and on all day. Our first stop the Farmers Market.

And lots of fruit. The biggest avocados I’ve ever scene

Lots of papayas. 

Next lunch at the Pineapple cafe. Hawaii is no longer the home of pineapples. They started in the 1900’s even though they are not native to the islands. Nowadays Thailand and Philippines supply the world.

None of us had pineapple but the meals were delicious. 

Just a couple of blocks away was the Pacific Tsunami Museum. 

In 1946 Hilo was hit with a huge tsunami. It arrived on April 1st and people did not believe the warning- thinking it was an April Fool. Some waves were 45 feet high. 159 people died and so much damage. 

An excellent museum showing tsunamis around the world.

Heading back to the car this Banyan tree caught my eye.

Working our way back to Kona we went to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. 1took way too many photos but I have to share a few. The garden started in 1977 when Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse bought the land because it was so beautiful but an overgrown jungle. For 8 years they did all the work by hand to preserve the natural environment. Today there are more than 2,000 tropical plants.

So much to see even in the rain

The gardens go right to the ocean. We hid to stay dry but could still see the waves 

One more

Finally back to our condo. Tomorrow lots of fresh fruit for breakfast.

Fish tacos, abalone and confusion.

A good night’s sleep and we were off to find breakfast. The temperature is a lovely 28’. This was the view from our table.

And the food was delicious. I loved the granola and yogurt on a papaya.

And for Norm - waffles. He said the flower had little flavour 

Say hello to Sue and Ken

Our first stop was to get groceries at Safeway. Returning to our car we put our bags in the trunk and climbed in but couldn’t get the car to start. Sitting there, the car said incorrect fob. After 5 minutes we realized we had been sitting in someone else’s car! Hey they are a lot of white vehicles. Thank goodness the real owners didn’t catch us! 

We went to the rental and traded the white large van for a smaller sedan and it’s grey! Not because we didn’t like white vans but because it is so large we can’t fit it into our compact car parking spot. 

Next to the beach. Ken picked this one. It was beautiful but one problem….

Not deep enough to swim but lovely water and the waves outside the breakwater!!!

Still we enjoyed the sun and sand

And cheezies

The beach is right next to the airport. Exciting watching the planes fly right above us. 

Heading home Ken spotted a “truck stop”. We had some food I’ve never had before, abalone as a poke bowl and as sashimi. So tasty.

Now a little tour of our accommodation- the pool

Our living area

Sue and Ken’s bedroom - behind the screens

Ours 

Our bedroom- little small and no window but it’s working out quite well.

To complete our day, we walked into the commercial area for dinner. We are just a few minutes to the beach. 

Fish tacos. Norm had Kanaka fries and potato cheese soup

Now to rest up for our trip to Hilo- farm market, waterfalls and maybe a tsunami museum.