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
Sunken gardenThe parthanon
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
CMA Studio BRCA
Country music Hall of Fame
Webb Pierce’s carElvis’s gold plated caddySo many gold and platinum records
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
Macadamia crusted Oni and Molokai purple potatoesSesame crusted AhiGuava sorbetOutriggers in the twilight
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
Many families of paniolo followers, honoring their ancestors who have worked as cowboys on the local Parker ranch.
The kids love the horses
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
Their chant and gift
The response, a Mahalo, or thank youEven Miss HawaiiAnd a local politician
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
BaoHuli chickenHawaiian fareMy guava teryaki chickenMany craftsAnd the standards of each Ali’i displayed
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.
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
The first sight is the volcanos is wonderful!The lush green against the bleach lava flow from years ago
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
Kileaua has erupted thru a fissure in the land so we have red skiesThis is the effect of Vog, volcanic fog, at sunrise looking east
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
Heceta HeadLighthouseTo down all the way today!Umpqua LighthouseCoastal dunesMeyer beach
Crescent City is our first overnight destination
Met Dave, another top down adventurerSea lions on their own private dockCrab pot peopleBattery point harbor and lighthouseBattery point lighthouse
Sights along the gorgeous redwood highway and Avenue of the Giants in Northern California
California coast is beautiful too logging truckBay at EurekaThat spot is a big jelly Upside down, i thinkCalifornia flower, the wild PoppyAvenue of the GiantsThe coastal Redwoods along the riverSouth fork of the eel riverInto the wine countryMiles of vines
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
The Golden Gate above the fog
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!
Carrying aTRUMP flag!
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.
The entrance is natural, Rocky on both sides
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
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