Hi Everybody, It's Bill giving an update

Hope everyone out there reading this is doing well. I would like to say that we really miss you guys and are looking forward to seeing everyone in late March.

We concluded our stay on the Hilo side of the island and drove over to the Kona side (actually the Kohala coast, for those who know the island) on Wednesday. Soon (not tonight) I'll post some photos of our last few days over there. (color on the othe blog)

We had fun going to the tropical botanical gardens north of Hilo and to Akaka falls that same day. For me, the highlight of that trip was at Akaka falls where the ramp down was "under construction" and so we had to leave Heidi at the parking lot...UNTIL...this really cool dude offered to help me get her down the 50 or so steps to where the path began again. He carried the chair and I carried Heidi down about 40 of them and she walked down the last 10 or so and then we rolled her up and down the crazy trail out to the falls.
We got a nice family photo out there that i'll post. On the way back up the stairs, she got a Queen's ride up the stairs with two guys on the sides and me on the back handles with her in the chair right to the top. There are lots of good samaritans out there and we find well wishes and help wherever we go, it seems. I hope that these types of things will be good lessons for the girls. The seemed to really dig the whole thing with Mom acting out her best Queen Lili schtick.
We may even have a photo of that ride. If so, i'll post.

Back at the gardens, we saw all manner of tropical plants and another beautiful waterfall scene. Heidi has been snapping photos like a madwoman (or directing me to) and so we have way more than we can post...but then again how many photos of exotic orchids do you really want to see? The girls also spotted a giant jumping spider, which looked REALLY gnarly. Giant fangs and the works. Big green sucker. I got a photo of him, but I figured he was a jumping spider, even before the manager told us so, and I didn't really want to get all up close and personal, so even the "macro" shot is not all that close. You don't get a good appreciation for the fangs in the photo, nor the ominous potential of a full face sucking jump-and-bite.

The next day we went over to the public hot pool on the coast and to Kapoho lagoons, which are really cool protected lava tidepools that harbor all manner of fish in crystal clear blue-green splendor. Unfortunately for me, the hunter, this area is a marine preserve and so I couldn't bring my spear and get dinner. I think the girls might have gotten a photo or two with their underwater camera provided for them by their teachers, so we shall see.

The next day we drove over to this side of the island and enjoyed a little stop in Honoka'a and a leisurely run through Wiamea. Nothing all that great on that journey except the views and the fudge we picked up at a little shop in Honoka'a.

The last few days here we've just been Chillin' like Villin's and hitting the beach club at the Mauna Lani. Today we toured down the path to the beach and checked out the lave tube cave and the ancient fishponds. Heidi felt like she was on a ride at Elichs' due to the ups and downs of the path over the lava and me running pushing the chair like one of those old school baby buggies, but without the shocks and the big wheels.

Of course more color commentary on "the other blog." ;-) http://billshiblog.blogspot.com


Peace out.
b.