Hawaii - Celebrating 50 Years of Marriage: Breakfast, Snorkeling, Beach House

We have been having the continental breakfast on the terrace of the hotel most mornings. Various ones of us gather there when we get up. This morning, everyone just happened to be there and the decision is made to go to Bamboo's Restaurant where they have good pancakes. There are 8 of us. The service is very, very slow yet our waitress is very nice and busy taking care of a lot of tables. Eventually, we are all served and enjoy a nice time together.

Brad has given Kai a big book with all,the Marvel comic book characters and Kai has fun looking at it with Brad at breakfast.

On the way back, Dave and I rent snorkeling equipment from the place on the beach near the hotel. We go to Lydgate Beach where we can try snorkeling in a safe, quiet environment. There is a manmade rock break fencing off a nice little inlet. The fish can still get thought the rocks so if you snorkel along the rocks, you can see quite a few fish. I have never been snorkeling before. It takes me awhile to get the hang of breathing. I keep getting salt water in my mouth. Dave says it is because my tube is dipping below the water. My first time out I don't see any fish but the second time Dave comes with me and we go closer to the rocks. I do fine with the breathing tube. We see a lot of colorful, interesting fish! It is really fun!

Steve contacts us and says they are coming to Lydgate Beach so we go and get a sandwich for lunch. The traffic going toward north is terrible! They finally get there and Kai and Makenna are delighted with the playground. They have their lunch and play at the playground before going to the beach. The small little kids' inlet is just perfect for Kai and Makenna. Kai is able to go out up to his shoulders and he and Dave and Steve play a game Kai has made up.

Dave and I leave at 3:30 to get ready for our dinner at the Beach House. When we get back to the room, there is a note on the bed saying there are wedding leis for us in the fridge. They are from Holly and Loree! Mine is absolutely beautiful! Later I find out from Sheila Cooper that it is made of ginger flower buds. (See picture below.) it smells wonderful. Anne comes and gives me a beautiful wrap from the store we we were in the other day. Brad has gotten Dave a pretty Hawaiian shirt, royal blue with parrots. When we are ready, Anne and Brad take pictures of us in the garden area of the hotel.

Traffic south is bumper to bumper and I worry that we won't make our 6:00 reservation but it eventually clears up a bit and we arrive right at 6:00. We have a table by the window. It is a beautiful setting! I order a local fish special and Dave orders the scallops from Canada. We get the watermelon salad typical of this area and toast with a glass of brut. The sun is starting to set about 7:00 p.m. so lots of people go outside for viewing and pictures. A photographer takes our picture and later we purchase digital images of two of them. Our meal is delicious and we have a very lovely evening. It has been a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary.

Anne and Brad have spent the day relaxing around the hotel. They go to the beach where Anne has fun playing in the waves. When we describe our snorkeling experience, she is interested in trying it.