Friday, April 7, 2017: Day One

 The day finally arrived!  We got up and started our adventure. We had the idea that we would leave early and get to Hawaii while there was still some daylight. So, on an unusually cold, windy, rainy (snow at higher elevations) morning we headed for the airport.  The bad weather provided the incentive for me to get up in time to make a 5:20 am flight! So good-bye TRI - we're headed to Kona!

 

 We traveled from TRI to Charlotte (45 minutes), from Charlotte to Phoenix (5 1/2 hours), and then from Phoenix to Kona (6 1/2 hours). Needless to say, it was a very long, long, LONG day. It was a day filled with grabbing quick (expensive) airport meals, watching my luggage get thrown around, cramming on to fully booked airplanes, listening repeatedly to flight instructions, surviving turbulence, getting my seat back kicked by restless children, and walking on way too many people movers. 

 

 

The sweetest words we heard all day were: "Prepare for landing" once we reached our final destination! 

Everyone on the plane got super excited as the plane made its final approach. 

 

As I expected, the Kona airport was small but pretty cool.  Most of it is open air.  Where else can you walk right over to the curb to stow your carry-ons  while waiting for your checked luggage?  We really enjoyed the art, the flowers, and the ocean view. 

 

 

We met up with Jenny and Bobby, loaded the car, and headed to the house.  

 

We rented a house because it was cheaper than getting three resort hotel rooms. The house definitely lived up to its billing! It has three bedrooms, swimming pool, hot tub, gorgeous landscaping, and a killer ocean view!

 

 

 

After unloading the car and unpacking we relaxed with snacks by the pool.  Oh, did I forget to mention that it was a partly sunny, breezy, 80 degree day in Kona?  (Take that Tennessee!)

 

After such a long day we decided to grab pizza at a nearby shopping center and then pick up some supplies at the grocery store. Talk about sticker shock- food here is expensive! At least the pineapple was cheap.  It was 99 cents for a whole fresh pineapple.

 

After dinner we strolled by an open air stage and watched the hula girl.

 

Then we headed back to the house. We stayed up as long as we could ( in order to adjust to Island time) but I was the first to crash. Good night Kona!

 

Something A Little Different

It all started in December 2015. It was Christmas Day and, as usual, I showered my kids with an abundance of gifts they didn't really need.  My daughter spoke up and said, "Mom, next year, instead of giving us all of these gifts, why don't we do something a little different?  Why don't we just save the money and go on a big family vacation?  If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?  What would you choose?"  And so a plan was hatched.  The idea was to spend some time during the coming year (2016) researching and planning and then instead of doing the usual gift buying, our Christmas 2016 gifts would be "things we could use on the trip"! We chose Hawaii and the target date - April 2017. Thus began the planning of our big family vacation.  

Christmas 2016 rolled around and, since we weren't doing the usual display of boxes, I planned a Hawaiian themed morning, complete with matching t-shirts and photo booth.

 

Even Cassie got in on the action!

 

We played Island games like The Big Kahuna. (Bobby won.)

 

Then we opened gifts. Well, I wasn't going to totally eliminate Christmas!  Everybody got a stocking full of travel goodies and one small gift (sandals, underwater camera accessories, portable hiking sticks...) 

 

As for our big trip items, our gift to the kids: lodging in Hawaii, Jenny and Bobby gifted us the rental car, and Jeff would be providing some of the meals.  We were all set and waiting for April 2017. And now after 16 months of planning, dreaming, and making out my Hawaii bucket list, April has arrived!  The bags are packed and we're ready for our Big Family Vacation on the Big Island!

 

An Overdue Smoky Mountain Adventure

It's been four long months since the fire.  We've spent that time dealing with the insurance company, looking at house plans, replacing household goods, going to home shows, talking to our builder and architect, dealing with the insurance company, getting demolition permits, getting the property inspected, picking out a house plan, selecting a demolition team, dealing with the insurance company, revising our house plan, dealing with the insurance company.... it's not that they are unfair or unreasonable - it's just a very long and complicated process. You have to put in a lot of time and effort if you want to receive all that you are entitled to receive.  Things don't go as fast as you want them to, but hopefully, the demolition on our property will happen this week.  Then, perhaps we can start building as soon as we figure out our budget (which depends on the insurance company!)

Anyway, I've missed the mountains so much!  My heart was yearning to be there so we planned a little trip. We went down on Thursday and did some outlet shopping. Then we checked in to our rental cabin.  

 

I recognize that view!  I like it better without all the green roofs!

Jeff joined us that night and then on Friday we hit the trail!  You may remember me mentioning, in a previous post, an area called Twin Creeks that was damaged by the fire.  We decided to check it out.

 

   

There were lots of burnt trees and most of the ground cover was burned, but we did see a few beautiful signs of life.

 

   

We hiked the Twin Creeks Trail over to the Bud Ogle Cabin.

 

 

We sat on the porch and looked at fire damage practically at our feet.  We saw a ranger and asked him how in the world they managed to save the cabin? He said they built a back fire.  Yes, the damage you see in the photo above was from a fire that was deliberately set to eliminate "fuel" for the wildfire that was headed that way. They did a "controlled burn". They certainly knew their stuff because it worked and the Bud Ogle Farm remains intact!

On Friday afternoon, Keith and I had lunch with our builder and architect but Jeff hiked the Gatlinburg Trail.

There was lots of fire damage but the river is still as beautiful as ever!

 

   

 

On Friday evening we drove over to Maryville for dinner and a snorkel lesson with Jenny and Bobby.  The pool felt good after our busy day. Then Jenny and Bobby went back to the cabin with us.

On Saturday we just had to go have a big Smoky Mountain breakfast at Crockett's Breakfast Camp! The cinnamon rolls are huge, but the griddle cakes are to die for.  Eating there is an adventure!

 

  

Jenny, Bobby, and I hung around the cabin for the rest of the day.

 

Jeff and Keith decided to hike at Porter's Creek.  The wild flowers were putting on a show.  No fire damage there!

 

  

 

  

 

  

Oh, and remember that awful, awful "L-shaped" bridge that used to give me fits?  They've added a second handrail!  I should be able to cross it now. 

 

That evening we had dinner at JT Hannah's on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge.  It was our first time there, but it definitely won't be our last. It's pretty good. 

On Sunday morning we tried another popular breakfast spot - Sawyer's Farmhouse Breakfast. It was good, but I still like Crockett's better!  After breakfast, Jenny and Bobby headed home while the rest of us hit the trail again.  We spent some time on the Little River Trail. We were anxious to see the trail now that they've started removing some of the old falling-down cabins.  It's sad to see them go. I wish they could have refurbished all of them. Elkmont is such an interesting area.

 

  

It was so good to be back on the trail.  Even though it rained on us a little bit and even though I got a big blister on my toe, it was great to breathe the mountain air!

After our hike, we hurried on over to Dollywood to see some Festival of Nations shows.  I especially like the Steel Pan Orchestra's version of Rocky Top!

 

  

 

 

After a long day of walking we had a quick supper and then headed back to the cabin to pack up and head home on Monday.  It did my heart good to spend time in that wonderful place.  I got my "mountain fix" for now, but we are already looking forward to our next visit sometime in May!  In the meantime, we have big plans coming up in April.  Stay tuned!