Kauai - Day 3 - Victory!

Lovely lazy morning on our third day in Kauai.  And imagine my delight when I realized that 90210 is on at both 8am and 9am!  Yes, an outdoor shower, some 90, and the fresh jungle air - a beautiful way to start the day.

After our relaxing morning, we headed out to meet up with the kayaking tour we had booked for noon.  Directions from Kayak Waliua:  drive to the Shell Station and park on the street.  Hmm. 

Me:  "Did they give you any other instructions when you booked the tour?"
Tim:  "No."
Me:  "No?"
Tim:  "Well, maybe, but I wasn't really listening."
Me:  "Sigh."

So after parking the car and loitering around the Shell Station in hopes that a big bus towing kayaks would pick us up, I finally convince Tim that he should call.  And it's a good thing he did.  Kayak Wailua has a little table set up on the other side of the Shell where you check in.  Good God.  We would have been standing on that corner forever.

Kayaking the Wailua River is definitely something that's recommended if you visit Kauai.  And since our cottage is located right on the river, it was a convenient afternoon activity for us.  As I said, we booked with a tour group.  They give you the kayak as well as a load-in to the river, a tour guide to take you to Secret Falls, and some cold packs to keep your lunch in.  They do not provide the lunch.  This cost about $45 per person include tax and tip.  The whole tour takes about 4.5 hours.  I think you can rent the kayaks on their own, but I'm not quite sure how you would get it to the river.  Also, I heard there is a limit of how many folks can be on the river each day so reservations are recommended.  If you go mid-January, however, you will not need to worry about crowds.  The island is dead at this time of year.   There was only one other couple on our tour.

This is a super-easy kayaking trip - just about 2.5 miles down the very calm Wailua.  There are a few boats, but nothing major.  Even if you've never kayaked or you're not in great shape, you would still be fine.  After paddling, you hike about a mile in to a beautiful waterfall called Secret Falls (aka Uluwehi Falls).  Here you can sit on the rocks, eat your lunch, go swimming.

Note:  if you are ever swimming in a waterfall and you have your picture taken, you MUST lift your arms in the VICTORY pose.  It's the law.

Note 2:  If you do go on one of these kayaking tours, make sure you have the proper footwear.  I wore flips and then brought trainers for the hike.  This will not work.  You definitely need some sort of water shoes or something that can go from water to land.  Flips will fall off, and your trainers will be soaked.  Fortunately, Kayak Wailua gave me some awesome shoes to wear.  I almost stole them, but I figured that would be horribly bad karma.  Tim wore Keen's, and they were perfect.

Note 3:  When Tim and I are on Amazing Race (yes, it will happen someday), we will definitely be taking the kayaking option on the Roadblock because we are *awesome*.  No, seriously.

Back from kayaking - what time is it?!  YES, it's maitai o'clock! 

And by the way, my plan is to eat some sort of seafood each day we're in Kauai.  Day 3, and looking good so far!  Today was ahi tacos at Monico's Mexican.  Another nice thing about Kapa'a - lots of restaurant options.  And as the island isn't exciting a dining/nightlife mecca, this saying a lot.