Bucket 99
18 – 19 AUG 2025 | Birthday Trip Pt.2; Sioux Falls, South Dakota
7 AUG – 18 AUG 2025 | Days Off: Hawley Lake Pt 2; Birthday Trip
DavTravels: Season 1, Episode 9
Show Notes: 07.21.21 – 04.28.21 I’m working one flight to Boston and then back to Denver the next day. Then I road trip with Jeff, Dawn, T-bug, and K-bug for Russ and Darrien’s wedding! Then it’s off to Salt Lake City for a quick trip to visit the folks’. Next, I’m back at work where I get a surprise visit from my sister Karen, my niece Annie, and my great-nieces Missie and Pepper (whom I’m meeting for the first time)! This was my first time not only on a PWM overnight, but my first time to experience the state of Maine (bucket list items #74 and #99 are one step closer to being accomplished!
Hawaii 2020: The Conclusion
<02.29.20 | Home | 12:35>
I’m sorry that I didn’t write yesterday. By the time I landed in Salt Lake City, my body had been up for just about 26 hours. I had to stop at one of the airport stores and buy some caffeine so that I could make the drive home safely. Thank goodness the plan worked. I recall driving home last year after being up for almost 48 hours after my flights home from Scotland. I got pulled over doing 75 in a 35. I explained the situation to the officer, and he understood. He let me go with a warning.
When I got to the house, I fell asleep for about four hours. Later on, I slept again- another 6 hours or so. I was awake from 01:00 until about 05:00, then fell back asleep for another and a half. As of now, I would say that I’ve had plenty of rest at this point!
I need to say- I have a fantastic family! I feel like this vacation has brought us closer together. It’s not that we were necessarily far apart, either. It’s just that we all have our own lives and thing going on- I’m sure it won’t be long before I see them again, but this was time and togetherness that I guess I needed. We chose this location because of my mom’s life-long dream to go to Hawaii. I feel like this was a perfect choice!
I can now check another state off my list: 47 down- 3 to go. I’m sure I’ll find an excuse to go to either Alaska, North Dakota, or Maine soon enough. I can’t wait to blog about visiting those last three. I just need to get there.
This morning, I have been unpacking my bags and washing clothes, just so that I can take other clothes and put them into a backpack. Do you recall that at the beginning of Hawaii, I told you that it was just ‘Phase 1’ of my vacation? I’m excited to say that after being home for only a day an a half, ‘Phase 2’ will begin tomorrow. Come back and check the blog tomorrow!
Speaking of Scotland…
Hawaii 2020: Day 8
02.27.20 | Lihue, Hawaii | 22:37
Today was another beautiful day with my family (the last one, unfortunately)! I woke up early enough to do one more load of laundry- I had plenty of time because most of the family didn’t rise very soon.
First, I want to tell you about Mali. Mali is a cat who has been hanging out at our house last night and this morning. He/She has even made it into the house a few times. Much to Melanie’s dismay, since she is allergic to the creature. I, on the other hand, would have happily let it stay over for the night and would have even shared my bed. Alas, my family wasn’t on board.
When I woke this morning, it was still outside, meowing and meowing. I went out and picked it up (I’m not sure if it’s a male or a female, but will assume it is male from here-on-out.). Melanie gave me some leftover pepperoni to feed to him. He liked it but didn’t finish all of it.
I chose the names Mali, because the Hawaiian word for “Stranger,” according to the internet, is “Malihini.” I took him over to some neighbors to see if they recognized him, but they didn’t. When I was walking back to the house, he squirmed around, signaling that he wanted me to put him down. When I did so, he ran back to the neighbors house. Oh well- Mali is their problem now.
Once my family was up and ready, most of us headed over to see the lighthouse at Kilauea Point. It was beautiful, but we couldn’t get closer without paying an entry fee. No thanks.
We made the drive down to see some waterfall that boasts a higher fall than Niagara Falls. That may be the case, but it isn’t anywhere as large or as breathtaking as Niagara falls. It was beautiful to see it from above, however.
We stopped for lunch in the town of Koloa, then grabbed a double scoop of some tasty ice cream. I don’t remember the flavor I picked, but it was definitely Hawaiian and definitely yummy!
We drive down to walk across a swinging bridge- it felt good to stretch out legs for awhile.
Dinner was barbecued chicken from a restaurant called “Chicken in a Barrel” (I think). It was another great meal. Perfect for our last meal together as a family!
23:10
I just boarded the first of two flights. I’m not looking forward to going home, but I am looking forward to what comes next. I’m sad to be leaving my parents, siblings, and their spouses. I certainly won’t miss how expensive Hawaii is! Bittersweet feelings, for sure.
Hawaii 2020: Day 7
02.26.20 | Princeville, Hawaii | 21:42
Today was a great day! It was probably the most adventurous day that we’ve had on this trip. We started on a kayak/canoe adventure on some river, and ended up hiking a mile through the forest and ending at a beautiful waterfall! The only one missing was Joe, since he had to leave early for a work meeting in Washington D.C.
After swimming in the waterfall pool, and hiking back to the canoes, we explored further up the river, until we found a place and did some cliff jumping into the water. Matt had been here a few years before.
Hawaii 2020: Day 6
02.25.20 |Princeville, Hawaii | 20:18
Last night I didn’t get any sleep. It was a night of tossing and turning, and for some reason, I was unable to clear my head. I’m not sure why that was. I was pretty exhausted by the time my alarm went off at 05:00.
Nevertheless, today was a great day! We jumped in the cars and headed to the airport in Lihue. It’s a relatively cheap, round-trip flight to Oahu- especially since Southwest is still having a sale.
We had a fantastic tour of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. This was especially meaningful that I got to be with my dad there since he is such a history buff.
We decided to drive to the Dole Plantation. It was a pretty cool tourist trap. I recommend a walk through the garden, and it’s worth it to line up for a Dole Whip come, but other than that, we didn’t do anything. I think most of is didn’t want to spend the money. But there is a train ride and a maze you can walk through.
Dinner was in Waikiki. Most of us were craving a good burger, and we found some in a mall food court. Even though my burger was tasty (it had an egg and brown gravy), and the truffle fries were amazing, I hope I never have to pay $17 for a burger combo again. Hawaii is expensive!
Hawaii 2020: Day 5
02.24.20 | Princeville, Hawaii | 16:51
Today was a beach day! It was so much fun to get back into the water! I did spend much of the time partially blind because the suntan lotion that I put on my face kept getting into my eyes. Still, I can’t complain!
It was a beautiful day, and the clouds kept it pretty cooled down. I did manage to get a bit of a tan, however.
I wanted to try a pizza place for lunch. Hanalei Pizzeria is fantastic, to say the absolute least. I had the forbidden pizza, which had garlic butter, mozzarella, lamb sausage, feta, olives, onions, tomatoes, and spicy honey.
I sat there and ate the entire 12-inch pizza by myself, and I feel no regret since it came on a cauliflower crust! I hope I can get another pizza there before the end of this adventure!
Hawaii 2020: Day 4
02.23.20 | Princeville, Hawaii | 21:52
Today turned out to be another spectacular day! Since it was Sunday, we all went and caught a church service in Kapaa. It felt so good to be with the family at church. Afterward, some of us drove to the west side of the island to see Waimea State Park. The first part was like a mini Grand Canyon. The second part was a beautiful hike through a very green area. It was lovely to look off and see the beautiful mountain and coastline!
When we got home, we all sat down and had some chicken pot pie for dinner. As we were chatting afterward, my family got to sharing memories all about me growing up, mostly in Arizona, and then they presented me with a hanging quilt.
The quilt is fantastic! Each of my siblings added a picture of something that reminds them of me. One was musical notes because I loved singing, another was a picture of my favorite dog growing up, and there were various other squares on this quilt that means a lot to me!
I’m not sure the reason they decided to make this gift to me, however. It’s not my birthday or anything like that. It was just a simple gift to show me that they love me.
I felt this was so wonderful because I occasionally feel somewhat separated from my siblings. I was born five years after my brother, and so by the time I was in my teenage years, they were off doing their own thing. Sometimes I feel so detached from them, especially when I was growing up.
I do have to say that this was very unexpected and very appreciated. Perhaps someday, in the future, I will post a picture of this quilt.
I sure do love my family!
DavTravels 