Polipoli revisited

Finally! A weekend above the clouds and away from the world as we know it! It had been an unsually bad week at work, with plenty of miserable people taking their shattered expecations out on yours truly. So to regain my peace and overall sanity, we needed to get away. Up up and away to Polipoli! And as before, the park seemed deserted. We set up our tent and blew up my new mattress that I got for Christmas and had ourselves a comfy little abode. Chris no 1 and his friend Tom, who had come all the way from England, came up to visit. We had a BBQ together before they headed back down the mountain. Silly boys had not even brought any jackets!
Me and my maestro took a moonlit walk after they had left. So bright and beautiful!
Next day we awoke to sunshine! Unlike our last visit when the clouds moved in early, the weather was perfect for a hike! As I am no longer in the shape I used to be, we opted for a shorter hike. Or so we thought! We packed light, only the camera and four juice-boxes. But as we truckered on, forever downwards it seemed, we started to realize not only that the hike would probably be quite a bit longer than we had thought, but also that we had a loooong stretch of uphill hiking ahead of us. But the day was gorgeous, the trees pretty and the company delightful. Why complain? We were a bit thirsty of course... But three hours and six miles later we had made our way back to the car, tired and thirsty, but happy! We saw some wild orchids on the way and were constantly reminded of the fire that ravaged the area some years back. But this is a very special place and breathtakingly beautiful!
The baby is growing at a steady pace. The doctor seemed happy with the development. I have yet to feel any movement. Next month we are going for an extensive ultrasound and they will be able to tell the sex... Uh-oh! We don't want to know!! We'll keep you posted! A hui hou!

16 weeks and counting!

I have had it up to here with all the comments about how big I am, am I carrying twins etc etc. I am not that big, I am pregnant and this is what I look like! My doctor says I am fine, so why shouldn't I be? Whatever!
Anyways, I did go surfing today and it was wonderful! Caught some great waves for baby Bobobel! Hopefully I will get a few more sessions in before I have to stop. So enjoy! The bumb at 16 weeks and perfectly normal! Miss you all!

Bump-date January 9th 2010! 14 weeks

Finally! An update on the bump! Nothing nearly as exciting is happening in our lives right now. Christmas was awesome and New Years too. Very mellow, the latter. We had a great fondue dinner at the Melting Pot that we can't afford repeating until next year... It was good though!
As for resolutions for 2010 I promised to get bigger. Since this year is going to be hard enough, why not promise something easy? Kel's resolution is work-related so no need to discuss here.
Well, the bump gets bigger but I am still surfing. I guess I can for another month or so, so far so good. But I only go if I am absolutely sure I am going to make it. And I think Bobobel is liking it!
Also, A BIG thank you to Linda & Daniel for the supercool photoprinter!!! And another round of applause and thanks to Jenna, Bil, Liam and Nate for all the too cute pressies for the bump!

Merry Christmas!

'Tis the season to be Jolly! We are certainly jolly! Thank you for all the wonderful Christmas presents! I am so stoked to have some clothes that will actually fit me for a while! We love our new Moomin-coasters! And I got a webcamera so let's skype everybody!! We have apparently been really good this last year.
On the bump-front, not much new. It keeps growing at a steady pace and sucking most of my energy out of me. Kel started talking to it too, but I don't think he's getting much response yet. It has feet and hands and even nails now and it is three months along. We have another appointment with the doctor on Monday, so maybe we'll have an update then.
Otherwise, we missed you all this Christmas! Hope to see more of you next year!

Bobo the Bump goes to Hana

Rumor had it that the biggest swell of 40 years, you know, like in "Point Break", was coming our way just in time for our day off. But being expecting is not the ideal state to be in when you are attempting a 2o footer. Not even if it is your wife that is the expecting one. So we decided to be spectators this time. Jaws was supposed to be breaking, and that happens maybe a few times a season, so why not take a look? It being on the way to Hana was even better! We rented a car for the occasion and headed out! Baldwin Beach Park as well as Ho'okipa Beach Park were both closed and patrolled to keep onlookers at bay. The traffic was backed up! Everybody wanted a piece of it! The lore that Legends are weaved of! But I didn't think it looked like the biggest in 40 years. I thought it was bigger last April, at Ho'okipa anyway. Maybe the swell diminished a bit on its way over and didn't hit with full force. Jaws WAS breaking! Going OFF! It was a long hot hike across the pineapple fields to get there, but it was worth it! H-U-G-E! Bigger waves than I have ever seen with my own two eyes! But again, they estimated the wave height at 45 feet, and yet a few years back someone rode a wave that measured 67 feet at the same spot. Humongous nevertheless! Three guys, I assume they were gentlemen, plus their jet-ski partners were battling the surf. Kel thought it looked easy...
Anyway, the journey went on to Hana and we were rather late so we only took a quick stop at Waianapanapa and the freshwater caves. The camping there required a permit that we could not produce so we had to drive another 45 minutes to Kipahulu and the Haleakala National Park to camp. It was super windy but dry! The night was in the tent was long and hard and nothing was comfortable enough to permit me any deeper sleep. Beautiful morning and calm waterfalls! The surf had come to Hana too, so Kel went out at beautiful Hamoa (on MY board with the pink deck pad) while I sunbathed and swam. Absolutely unbelievably pretty there! A quick stop at both of the stores in Hana and then we decided to begin the long journey back, around the backside of the volcano. The waterfall at Alelele is an old favourite of ours, but too many tourists and their videocameras have discovered it, making it slightly less attractive. It was an amazinglu clear day and the drive was breathtaking! But loooong! The driver got a wee bit tired... We came back to civilization in one piece and saw that the waves were still pounding the northern shores of our island.
Well, we managed to fit the last bit of Christmas shopping in and are now done! So how was that for a weekend?

Here's Occy!

Even though this guy is rich, sponsored to surf around the world, somewhat good-looking for his age, he was still the nicest guy! We didn't even buy his book! But he is an aussie after all, and aussies are very nice in general!

Surfstoke!

The bump is growing and growing and growing. It is still not big, but big enough for all my shorts to feel way too tight.. It is harder than I thought, this weight gaining thing. I mean it is not like I could go on a diet and shape up. I am actually just going to get bigger and bigger and then some.. So pucker up!
Well, I had myself a little Charlotte-esque revelation where I decided that I wouldn't let a pregnancy get in the way of doing something I love. So I went surfing for the first time since I found out. Which means that it was the first time in two months or so. I took the longboard and actually listened to my husband's pointers about the spot he chose for us. It was AWESOME! Not very big or anything, but very light winds and only one other guy except for us. I caught plenty of waves and got my stoke back! I am still homesick, but I think I will survive... The doctor said it would be OK for me to do anything I used to do before, but of course be careful. And careful I was!
After some fun surf we went into Lahaina to meet an old surflegend, Mr. Mark Occhilupo, who once held the World Title. He was a really nice guy, a bit shorter than I thought, and he happily signed a poster for us and posed for some pictures (that might make their way here).
So it was a good day and many ways! And tomorrow is Monday and we are off for two days. The surf is supposed to be humongous so hopefully we will go a look at Jaws and the guys with the big balls. And then continue on to Hana for a nice weekend of camping!
A hui hou!