Well we've quit our jobs, sold our cars, found foster parents for our pets, and traded the gray, rainy skies of the Northwest for warmer pastures along the Equator. The plan is to not have much a plan...heading first to Hawaii and when the time feels right, hopping the current westward towards Asia and beyond. Join us on our journey, we'll do our best so you can live vicariously through us...

Saturday, April 7, 2012

House sitting in Naalehu


Sunset view from back lanai (ocean view)
House sitting in Hawaii is no straight-forward task.  Sure, similar responsibilities exist: feeding the household pets, watering plants, and keeping the house reasonably tidy.  But no one mentioned having to fend off the world’s LARGEST spiders (ok not literally the largest, but check these babies out—easily size of a tuna can, and they jump like a mo fo) or avoiding stepping on toads the size of large grapefruits when walking out the driveway.  We’re also on water catchment here, so must be mindful of water usage since we’ve had a bit of a dry spell (great for sitting in the sun though!) and all drinking water must be collected from the town well. 
Lil' Suzie Q
Mr. Chip







Luckily, we have two spunky kitties enlisted to help with pest control.  The kitties I guess don’t have names, but within hours of being here, we’ve taken to calling the striped one Chip, and the black one Suzie Q.  Chip and Suzie also have a big orange friend that comes around to be fed, we’re calling Frank.  Between the three of them, they do seem to keep mice, large bugs and gecko populations in check. 
Fern forest hike


 After tending to the animals, our daily routine has morphed into a run, iced coffees on the lanai, outdoor showers, then an afternoon adventure of sorts—fruit foraging included.  The south side of the island has a variety of climates; we’ve hiked in a fern forest, and lounged on black sand beaches.  The green sand beach is one of the more unique attractions, if you can withstand the hurricane-force winds and the 3 or so mile hike in.  At least you get a little exfoliation action while lounging on the beach.

All in all, the south side has been a nice beginning to our adventure.  But things get REALLY Hawaiian during our trip to the Kohala Coast. 
Winged friend hiking up by the volcano
Perfectly clear day--our first time seeing Mauna Kea completely, which is the largest mountain in the world if measured from it's oceanic base.  It's a whopping 33,500 feet!

Nick surmounting an obstacle on our volcanoes hike

South point coastline

Famous green sand beach (kind of a stretch for green if you ask me)

Are we in the Palouse?
Nope.  Just South Point again.  One of the major grass fed beef producing areas of Hawaii

Night time splendor behind the house


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