The home of the Nashville symphony. Schermerhorn concert hall in downtown Nashville

We are singing, along with some of our Chorale members, at the Schermerhorn Symphony hall, joining 250 more local TN voices in a great concert celebration!

Our first day was a practice, then a full day off sightseeing Nashville! First stop, the Ryman Auditorium!

We had a great Nashville tour guide so saw lots of fun sights around town.   The fort where the first sellers landed

Bicentenial park, the Tennessee state capital,  the WW II memorial and farmers market. 

We visited the Marathon motor works old factory and shops

Centennial park

We drove along music row where many of the recording studios are located,  and along a section of Broadway.   The city skyline is really beautiful

Country music Hall of Fame

Costumes

Across the street,  the Wall of Fame

We are again visiting family in Nebraska

Short Lunch visit with granddaughter Emma, on our way thru Denver

Grandson Tucker’s Football game.  Tuck made the only touchdown for Chase County Longhorns.    A Loss, but a good game

Fun kayaking with Liz at Rock Creek

There was a huge solar flar today so beautiful Northern lights tonight

Our 2nd game watching Tucker play was homecoming!  He scored another touchdown,  even tho the team didn’t win.  

It was homecoming so after the dance Ticket and his girlfriend Navee ready for the dance

Our short visit is over and we are heading home,  on the red eye,  so that we can make it to our Chorale rehearsal Tuesday evening at 6:30! 

Best part of our visit,  Henry is feeling better, and I think he enjoyed our visit.   Emmett made us all a pot roast dinner one day with left lovers for another day.  We did a little shopping for a few things,  like his favorite poke, and had a poke lunch with him today.   He told us many stories and we thoroughly enjoyed chatting with him.   The prayers for his recovery are working!  And he has several lovely ladies watching over him each day!  We are going home very encouraged and thankful!

We enjoyed our last lovely sunset and a delicious fish dinner at our favorite restaurant,  Huggos

Aloha,  Kona,  until next time

We love coming across a unique experience here and there as we travel!  This Saturday was the 72nd Waimea Paniolo Parade and Festival in Waimea, just 40 miles from Kona.   It celebrated the original paniolo families,  the cowboys who have ridden the range of the Parker Ranch since the days of King Kamehameha!  Also honored were local community members, their elders, local politicians   and even Miss Hawaii.   Each group or individual  honored the Ali’i, the royalty of the day, in a ceremony with tribute and gifts.  The presentation of the gifts is a Mahalo (thank you) to the royal chief.   A highlight was the depiction  and an honoring of the past Hawaiian Ali’i,  princesses on horseback.   What a treat to see! 

After the resort first responder vehicles,  the Ali’i arrive.   They walked barefoot almost 2 miles.  The conch shell was blown as they approached the royalty grand stand

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Many families of paniolo followers,  honoring their ancestors who have worked as cowboys on the local Parker ranch.

Many local Waimea community were honored, along with some who have passed away.   Even a few local politicians joined the parade.

Each participant brought a gift or tribute to the Ali’i, flowers,  leis. Small gifts wrapped in a tea leaf,  a dance or chant.   It was amazing to watch.   here are some middle school kids and their offering

Riding along with the paniolo and the groups offering to the Ali’i, were ladies representing and honoring the Princesses of the past,  the ancient Ali’i

The narration told us about each princess represented, their birthdate and  some history about them

Horses,  vesicles,  and everyone was affirmed with beautiful flowers, flower and leis made of leaves big enough for horses!  Even the gentlemen

After the parade,  there was a food and craft festival in the district park

Even the travel along Hualalai, by Mauna Loa then Mauna Kea toward Kohala to Waimea and back was a lovely drive.   Our day was a wonderful display of ALOHA, the Hawaiian spirit.

Aloha from our beloved Kona!

We heard our dear friend Henry was quite ill so we decided,  since we have no time to come in January or February,  why not come now!  There was a week Free at our timeshare, so we booked,  used our Hawaiian air points,  and here we are! 

Some familiar sights

Our view is a little different by from the 6th floor unit for these short days,  but the view from the pool is still spectacular

We had a great sunset visit with our friends,  Jen and Steve McCloskey and their daughter Hayden.

Can’t beat sunset on the lanai

Tonight we had a great pot roast dinner, cooked by Emmett,  with our Henry!  He furnished a great Sonoma wine from his stash!

We’ve had a wonderfully restful time,  but,  as all good things,  there has to be an end.   We are loafing our way home tho, spending 3 nights along the way,  enjoying the views,  and eating more seafood before we finally arrive home.

Sights along our drive on the southern Oregon coast

Crescent City is our first overnight destination

Sights along the gorgeous redwood highway and Avenue of the Giants in Northern California

Overnight in Windsor,  near Santa Rosa, at another of our timeshares, then on to Solvang.   We got to San Francisco in time to see an amazing site

And the skyline above it

And that there is hope for America!  These young people crossed the street just in front of our car at an intersection in the Sunset district is San Francisco!

We came home rested, and encouraged!  Until next time,  we are back at the Irvine  “timeshare” we visit between travels!  Home again.

We are nearing the end of our stay so our dinners at home are running out!  We decided on some Mexican tonight, followed by s short stroll on the bridge over the entrance to Depoe Bay harbor. 

Inside the harbor,  we saw a fisherman fileting his catch….? Maybe salmon?  And his work also cough the eye of a local harbor seal!

A closer look at the harbor seals

Tonight looks like a lovely sunset,  altho there is always a marine layer of clouds,  far of shore

We took a walk along our coast to see the local coming of common murres and the sea lions shining themselves on the rocks