Since I’ve been on the east coast I have been itching to go on an adventure. I want to explore parts of the country I have never seen before. I want to go to small towns and have coffee at a local cafe, I want to swim in a river I have never heard of before, and I just want to drive aimlessly looking for something that catches my eye.
I thought an inspiration of such aspirations was necessary.
Let’s go on an adventure!
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The last several days have been a bit crazy. I forgot what it feels like to be on my feet all day. By the end of each day I am so beat. I don’t even remember what that feels like [except for spending the entire day surfing. spoiled]! And I don’t think I ever gave myself the chance to get over my jet lag either. It has been one continuous motion from Hawaii to Arizona to Montauk. But I finally had a chance to sleep in and relax today. I picked up a bike for the summer [hooray! thank you Craigslist!] got to ride it around a bit, and did some other much needed errands as well. It’s a nice little 3-speed vintage cruiser guy [not the pink colored one in the photos.] But just what I was looking for! I am sure you will see photos of him soon.
I think this summer is going to be a period that I spend a lot of time by myself. Which I am finally coming to terms with. I will probably start feeling the warmth of familiar faces, make some new friends, occasionally hang out with my friends in the city and that sort of thing. But I think these next couple of months are going to be a welcoming challenge. I think I need to know what its like to be on my own. Not in a I-am-going-off-to-college-for-the-first-time-and-on-my-own kind of way. But in a very different, more reflective kind of way. I am so used to having friends around all the time [even when I travel!] that it will just be.. different. And I hope I can gain something more from it all. A better me?? Or a more reclusive, introverted me?? Hahhh.
A small glimpse in to Montauk over the last couple days.
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My week long family vacation in Arizona has come to an end and I am heading to the east coast! Believe it or not I am a bit sad. Not because I am leaving the heat or the cacti. Although I really love me a good cactus [but not so much the dry heat.] It is always a somber feeling to leave people you love. Especially since I will be spending an entire summer away from any close family or friends.
I had such an awesome time though. We embarked on so many little adventures. Stayed up late, went to great coffee shops, ate at a few yummy eateries, did a lot of driving, saw the Grand Canyon, watched [my first] professional baseball game, ventured out on a few desert hikes, watched some of the most beautiful sunsets, and spent a lot of quality time together. They were days well spent and totally worth being dry and oceanless for a while.
A good time in the desert with family.
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Just going through the last of my Hilo hiatus photos from this past weekend. Super stoked that we got to go up to the Mauna Kea summit for sunset. Itʻs one of those treks I always wanted to go on but never found the time over the last couple years. It was exceptionally challenging going up without a 4-wheel drive. But my truck made it like a champ even if it only used 2-wheel drive and could have slipped off the side of the mountain.
There is something magical about that mountain. Or maybe itʻs just the lack of oxygen and 20 degree temperature. I think its both. I cannot remember the last time I went up [to the highest point in the world from sea-level] to watch the sunset. You would not believe the range of colors to be seen as the sun goes down. Red mountains, crisp white clouds, and the bluest of blue skies that fade into the most vibrant orange sun. The sun practically melts into the sky and slowly takes over the stark landscape. And the night sky. If only I could have taken a proper photo and captured the stars. Itʻs unreal. It was a great way to end the weekend.. spending time with friends and enjoying the last of my lazy days on the Big Island.
Enjoying sunset session with friends.
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Life has been pretty lazy over the last couple weeks. I am on the Big Island escaping from reality and trying to do as little as possible. And find it pretty guilt-free because it is somewhat of a transitional period for me. In a couple of weeks I will be on the other side of the country spending my summer outside of the pacific ocean!! And hopefully spending a lot of time in the Atlantic. Temperature willing. Super excited about it actually. But whew.. more on that later.
So a couple of friends and I decided to drive to the other side of the island for some snorkeling and lounging at one of our favorite beaches.. 69′s. But don’t let the name fool you. It is actually named after the mile marker it falls on.. not that other 69. Whatever that means.
We even made a couple of stops off in Waimea.. including the farmers market, thrift store, and “Puppies for Sale.” Which really made me think long and hard about potentially living in that area. It is so beautiful. Misty green hills, quaint plantation homes, and that good ol’ ranching vibe. The Big Island is such a unique, diverse place. It’s pretty incredible. They’re not lying when they called this island big. You could easily choose to be between white sand beaches, rolling green hills and horse covered pastures, long stretches of lava, active flowing rivers of molten lava, snowy mountain tops, dramatic valleys, sweeping waterfalls, black sand beaches, rain forests, and dry desolate deserts. All in one day [if you tried really hard]. It’s hard to beat and the perfect place to be on hiatus.
Just another lazy saturday on the Big Island.
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Life has gotten back to normal since I have been home. Water and waves per usual. I was looking through my photos and really realized how much of my time is spent in and around the ocean. Most people will probably think “duh” but it has become much more apparent to me recently. Especially when you talk to friends who say they don’t have time for the beach or surfing. This realization has made me feel super blessed. ‘Cos I gotta have time fo’ dat!
Anyway, it probably helped that my sister was visiting. So in between late night work sessions and trying to figure out what I am going to be doing next in my life.. we got a lot of beach time in. Shell collecting, sliding late season swells, hiking the Makapu’u lighthouse and tide pools, and general beach lounging. This past week of doing close to nothing really helped me get back in to the groove of things. If that even makes sense.
And in between the water and waves and life questions.. I am planning my next adventure. Summer time is gonna be an epic adventure I think?! It’s all in the works now and I definitely don’t want to blow it by leaking it out just yet. Crossing my fingers!
But for now I am enjoying life at home.
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Photos: big sis + me
Finally went through the last of my photos from down under. I put it off for a while.. maybe just my small way of holding on?? Probably. But looking at these photos makes me feel like all those adventures were ages ago. A lot of really good times and fond memories were made within the month and a half traveling down there. I will be back. But until then.. off on another adventure.
One last Diaries From Down Under.
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It was really hard leaving Australia. I think when you have a really good time somewhere [for an extended amount of time] it should be. I almost feel like I left a little of myself behind.. and I need to go back and get it. I definitely need to go back and collect the rest of me. And maybe a Australian passport while I’m at it. Hah. That among other things.
I always feel a bit imbalanced after a long trip.. like I’m not quite sure where I belong. In limbo. But.. but coming home to crystal clear, glassy blue water is the best feeling in the world. It’s the best way to shed those traveling blues. And just what I needed. There is nothing a bit of salt water cannot fix. I can’t even explain the feeling I felt when I walked down to the beach. I felt like a mid-America tourist who saw the ocean for the first time. It was the best feeling after getting off a 9+ hour flight.
If you need me you know where to find me. In the remedy.
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Finally made our way back from our trip down south and we’re exhausted. Getting some down time before I’m up in the air and back in Hawaii. What an amazing road trip. We managed to jam pack heaps of adventures and good times within a week. We drove over 1600/km from Sydney to Melbourne and back. 1600 kilometers!! The 8 hour [straight] drive back was pretty grueling. But so worth it. We stopped off in some rad new places and hung out with some pretty rad friends. We managed see most of Sydney’s city, fit in a couple surf sessions, wake up in beautiful Avalon, go boating and wake-surf in Cornulla, swim in secret water caves, hang out with wild kangas at Pebbly Beach, go shell collecting at random beaches, have an early morning skinny dips in the Bass Strait, climb Mt. Oberon at Wilson’s Prom, hang at Bells Beach in the warm sun, drive the Great Ocean Road, and spending an afternoon/evening in Melbourne. All in a week. One week.
I wish we could do it all over again. Maybe with heaps more time. A year please?? Hah. NSW to Victoria is absolutely beautiful. There is so much to see and do. Places to surf, trails to hike, cafes to hang at, coffee to be drunk, shops to shop, people to meet, and memories to be made. And I have to say I had one of the best traveling partners. Which makes such a huge difference. Having a like-minded travel buddy is probably the most important part of a good trip. I have no complaints. It was one rad, adventure-packed week! Definitely one for the books.
Diaries from Down Under through NSW to Victoria and back.
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