Ahhhhh....Nature

Saturday's line to get into Rocky Mtn. NP.

Maddie in Colorado

One of the rare times tv is good

Random Maddie Pictures (per Cathy's request)

Recent Maddie Pictures

Getting ready to hike

Lovin' it on Lanai

A very different vacation for us - 5 star hotel rooms, room service, tipping the concierge, beaches, swimming pools and only a few mountains thrown in just to keep me satisfied. Were we disappointed? Hell no, we want to go back next week!

Having heard about the luxurious 4 Seasons resort on Lanai and the outrageous Kama'aina (Hawaii resident) discounts, Em planned the trip with little hesitation on short notice. We'd kind of soured on traveling for awhile with our recent trips to Cincinnati being plagued with illness. What we needed now was a nice relaxing trip without too much effort or travel time and Lanai was a perfect choice.

Arriving at the Lanai City airport, we were greeted by porters who handled our luggage and transported us to Manele Bay. Upon reaching the doorstep, all three of us were addressed by name and given cool towels to refresh. Maddie was given her "friendly Honu" (turtle) by the bellhop and a few minutes later we were within the confines of the nicest hotel room we'd ever been in enjoying the insanely expensive room service. We set up Maddie's tent in the incredibly spacious bathrooms and soon after we were dozing off on the 6,000,000 thread count sheets.

In the morning we realized that "insanely expensive" was a trend we should get accustomed to as we perused the breakfast menu. Thankfully, the quality of all insanely expensive items was excellent and Maddie got to eat insanely expensive items for free. After filling our bellies, we walked down to Hulopo'e bay for swimming and snorkeling which was average, but otherwise above average for the guys that set up our umbrella, chair and icewater with lemon right on the beach. Not a bad way to live for a couple days. At happy hour we enjoyed half-price appetizers and drinks which was by far the greatest deal going at the Four Seasons. Walking to the beach afterward was a wobbly experience for all except Maddie, but I did get some cool pictures along the way.

Our Jeep Wrangler was waiting for us the following morning so we could explore some of the massive network of 4x4 roads snaking across the island. Sadly and annoyingly, the Dollar Rental agreement would not allow us to take our vehicle along the Munro Trail, easily the most scenic trail on the island. Curiously, they didn't mention this when we reserved the car. In any case, we cruised down to Shipwreck beach along the north shore of the island and did a little off road driving there. Views to Molokai and Maui were excellent and Maddie had a good time climbing and hiking.

While we were out having fun, our bags were being transferred to the Lodge at Koele, our next Four Seasons lodging nestled above Lanai City where it's cooler, moister and more mountainous. We settled in and put Maddie down for a nap, then I went out for a mountain-bike ride while Em relaxed. I had a great time and some great views of Ho'okio gulch as chronicled in a previous mobile post.

That evening we watched sunset at Garden of the Gods, a field of uniquely shaped rocks along a deserted 4x4 road, then retreated to the Lodge for some rustic haute cuisine. The Lodge was totally my style with rustic decor, enormous stone fireplaces and a mountain atmosphere.

After several days of running around, we took advantage of the cloudy weather to hang around the Lodge, check out the stables so Maddie could see the horses and just unwind.  At happy hour, the staff had lit the firepits behind the lodge so we spent a few hours enjoying some beverage and the heat of the fire in the cool misty atmosphere above Lanai city.

In the morning, we took the shuttle down to Manele Bay to enjoy the pool with Maddie again. She's quite the princess, but everyone knows how baggy her eyes get when she's working so hard all day long.

Cucumbers from the poolboy to soothe weary, puffy eyes

After Maddie had her spa treatment we shuttled back to the Lodge and I departed on a rather adventurous mountain bike ride along the Munro trail to the summit of Lanaihale, the highest point on Lanai.  Gaining about 1500 feet and then dropping down the other side to below Lanai City, it was a pretty solid ride with nice views.  Dollar rental agreement be damned, I was going to take that trail one way or another.  Later we had a reasonably priced (remarkable in that fact), delicious meal in Lanai city at Pele's Other Garden.

The next day - another day of relaxation and pool fun for Maddie.  After splashing around for hours and wearing herself out, we returned to the Lodge, Maddie napped, Em read and I went out for another nice deserted mountain bike ride.  In the evening we wandered the property, Maddie scared the koi in the lake and I shot some decent sunset pictures.

In the morning we arose refreshed and ready to head home after an enjoyable week, I'd say a nearly perfect, but different vacation.  Then all our dreams of the perfect vacation were shattered when our flight was delayed.  This happened on Molokai too, where, like Lanai, there is ABSOLUTELY nothing to do at the airport.  Considering our midday, short flight, not a big deal.  In any case, we made it home fine, Maddie was excellent on the short flights and that was the official start of our travel season.  Colorado and Oregon in July, Tennessee and Cincy in August, Yellowstone (for me) in Sept., Em somewhere else with the girls in October and Nepal at the end of October into November and hopefully Cincy over the holidays.  No wonder we don't travel in the spring.