A Week in Paradise

Rick and I spent one glorious week in paradise at the end of January, 2011. Rick had never visited any of the Hawaiian islands, and I hadn't been for 21 years; so this was practically a new experience for both of us. We couldn't be more grateful to Jon Haraty of Jon's Dive & Travel Services http://www.jonsdivetravel.com/index.html for setting us up in Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages on Kauai. Here is our cottage:



We had coffee and breakfast on our back porch every morning while enjoying the view of the grounds and the ocean.



Day 1 - Arrival
We picked up our rental Mustang convertible, checked in to our cottage, experienced our first $5 poke (Hawaiian sushi) at the brewpub on site, went grocery shopping, and finished the evening with a walk on the beach at sunset.

Day 2 - Waimea Canyon
After a relaxing morning on the porch with the roosters...



...we jumped in the car and headed up highway 550 along Waimea Canyon, the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." It's hard to believe a small island could have such a truly grand canyon.



We finished the day with a drink on the beach at sunset.





Day 3 - Kalalau Trail
Day 3 was a long, fantastic day. Probably our favorite. We got up early and drove all the way around the island to Hanalei and had breakfast.





We then drove to the end of the road at Ke'e Beach and set out for a hike along the Kalalau Trail. This is one of the few ways to catch views of the Na Pali coast. The other options are by air or sea. We began our climb up the cliffs and were rewarded with spectacular views of the coast.



After 2 miles, we arrived at Hanakapiai Beach. In the summer months there is a beautiful white sand beach here, but in the winter the surf is violent and submerges the beach.





We then turned inland and hiked another 2 miles to Hanakapiai Falls. This is by far the most stunning waterfall I have ever seen in person. We didn't stay long since it was shady and cold by the falls, but we did hike down a few hundred feet along the river to a deep, clear swimming hole for a refreshing swim.



After the long 4 mile hike back out were were tired and famished. Sushi and beer in Hanalei really hit the spot.



Day 4 - Beach Picnic and Farmer's Market
We were tired today and took it easy around the cottage for most of the day. We did make it out for a picnic on nearby Kekaha Beach...



...and a trip to the farmer's market in Kalaheo.



Day 5 - Relaxation
By Day 5 we were still recovering from our 8 mile hike. We were also feeling quite satisfied with our experiences so far and felt rather content to hang around the cottage just relaxing. We did manage to find a great swimming beach at Salt Pond Park. We enjoyed our usual happy hour beer and poke on the back veranda (as opposed to in the bar patio) for a different view, and we took an evening drive to Poipu to explore the beaches and stroll the grounds of the Grand Hyatt hotel.





Day 6 - Still Relaxing
Ahhh this cottage, this view, this life is wonderful. Let's go to Salt Pond Beach again.



This time we explored the reef. Rick found a needle fish trapped in a tide pool and set it free.



We ended our day with yet another pretty sunset.



Day 7 - Na Pali Look-Out & Awa Awapuhi Trail
Our last full day on Kauai. Our energy returned and we set back up 550 Waimea Canyon highway. This time we went to the end of the road for some breathtaking views of the Na Pali Coast.



We then hiked the Awa Awapuhi Trail 3.1 miles to a point with another great view of Na Pali.





We ended the day in Hanapepe for Art Night. Something like 18 art galleries line two blocks of a side street in this little town a few miles from our cottage. Before going to bed, I wrote this entry in the Cottage #67 journal.



Day 8 - Departure
Our evening flight allowed for one last walk on the beach before saying goodbye to our lovely cottage #67. We will see you again someday.

Green River Buffalo

Utah F&G called me Wednesday morning at 10 to offer me a bison tag. I checked in with my wife Sarah and my boss before calling them back and taking the tag. I then started contacting hunting partners for my hunt that was to start in 3 days, Saturday morning. Seemed the people I generally hunted with were all busy with work and traveling but was lucky enough to get two of my co-workers to join me.

The biologist told me they had about a hundred head that had crossed the Green River onto BLM land and they were giving out 5 tags. He said he would meet with me to give me my hunting license and tag and show me where to hunt. It was late Friday night when he met us on the side of the highway for the exchange. He also brought along a topo map and showed us exactly where he and a local rancher had been seeing animals.

Saturday morning had us lost but close to the point where we were to find animals so we unloaded the two snowmobiles and the quad bike with tracks.

Before we made it to the top of the first hill to glass Mark spotted a herd of 33 bison about 1 ½ - 2 miles away, awfully hard for bison to hide on relatively flat snow covered ground.

We spotted a second group of 5 that were closer but in more difficult terrain.
The combination of a fence line and a well placed rock cairn made the stock easy. We drove up the fence line to within a half mile, crossed the fence and climbed to the cairn. We spotted the bison before topping the hill. I set up to shoot off the cairn but it was a herd of cows and calves and I was thinking to take a bull.


They were 170 – 200 yards away.


We checked them out for a while and then backed away.
Glassing we spotted a third herd in the distance and drove off to check them out and hopefully find the other group of 5 we had seen earlier. We got close but when we found cattle we assumed we had mistaken them for bison. It was getting late so we drove back towards the rig but when we looked back could see the group of cattle a short distance from the bison herd we had been after – live and learn.

We were feeling good after seeing three different groups of animals the first day and having been somewhat lost the entire time – shouldn’t say lost, bewildered is a better word. Seemed we just couldn't locate the exact road into the precise area the biologist had shown us.

Sunday morning we were up early (stayed in a hotel in Roosevelt), the temperature was 7. We had studied the maps and felt we knew our mistake and sure enough we hit the right road this time. Upon dropping into the Sand Wash Canyon Mark again spotted a herd on the canyon wall. Some big animals in the group and the boys were ready to go after them but there was no way we were going to get a machine close to them.


I said, “Let’s see if we can find some easier ones.”
We drove down the road another mile or so and I spotted two out on the last bench to the south of Sand Wash prior to the Green River – pretty much to the place where the rafters put in to float (or maybe that’s take out). It didn’t take us long to realize these animals were in a good location and when two more appeared we decided to go after them.

We unloaded the quad bike with tracks and left the snowmobiles on the trailer figuring to approach them more quietly. We angled towards them and at 400+ yards they took off at a trot. The biologist had told us he had driven to 20 yards from a herd of bulls earlier. We waited and then putted closer and finally stopped when they were 250 yards away realizing they were trapped on a point with no escape route that didn’t pass within 50 yards of us.

A slight roll in the terrain prevented me from shooting immediately but knowing they couldn’t get away and weren’t overly concerned by our presences I took the time to pull out my glasses and give them a good going over. I figured we had a bachelor herd of four young bulls, one had a broken horn, another with short horns, the third had field goal post horns that came out and shot straight up, and the last one had nice long horns that turned in at the top.

They moved forward twice without providing an ideal shot so I waited and the third attempt, after we had waited at least ten minutes, placed the bison I wanted nearly broadside turned slightly towards me. Placing the crosshair on the leading edge of the onside I pulled the trigger and sent the 235 gr. TSX from my 375 H&H. The impact was more of a crack then a whoomp. A couple of hops and down he went, less than 10 yards.


We drove up and I was surprised to see how small it was, lifted a leg and he was a she. Guess I’m not so good at bison hunting but when we saw the four lone animals we assumed it was a bachelor herd of young bulls.

Driving out we saw another herd plus the one we originally sighted that morning. We also spoke with the rancher and he told us there was another herd below were we had shot mine. Can’t say this was a difficult hunt but it sure was fun and the eating is the best.

A special thanks to Gabe for all the wonderful pictures and an apology to him for not having an image of him to add to this post but hopefully Mark has some images he will share.

Christmas 2010

I was fortunate to be able to spend 17 days in Kansas spanning Christmas and my 37th birthday - the last Christmas and Birthday I get to spend with my dad.

January 5, 2011

Fall Catch-Up

Let's see...this fall Sarah...

~o~ Attended the Boise State - Oregon State game and then watched it twice on ABC.



~o~ Put her Wrangler on the market.



~o~ Stayed home while Rick went moose hunting in Alberta, CA, and had a great time...fishing.





~o~ Attended the Financial Planning Association Residency Program in Lake Arrowhead, CA.



~o~ Neglected her Jade tree long enough that weird fungus started growing in it.



~o~ Stayed home while Rick went to Japan. What a place!









~o~ Flew to Kansas for a whirlwind trip that included another Oklahoma State football game,





...a trip to Lake of the Ozarks (Sarah's first in about 10 years, and Rick's first ever.)







...a few days to enjoy the gorgeous fall color in Ark City,



...and a 20-hour road trip to get her new Jeep back to Boise.



~o~ Stayed home while Rick hunted White Tail in northern Idaho.



~o~ Met her sisters in Kansas for Ed & Karen's 15th annual family Christmas party.





~o~ And finished out the fall season in Boise with a little Holiday spirit.