Kauai

Hi, everyone.
We are now in Kauai and oh the last couple of days. We took a very short flight from Oahu over to Kauai - which the locals pronounce Ka-why-ee, like Hawaii but with a K. Anyway, we picked up our convertible and headed to our lodgings.
The drive was beautiful but OHMYGOD the condo. We have the most amazing view I have ever seen in my life. The picture above of the water is from our balcony. Waves are bigger than I have ever seen. They are blue, then green at their montrous crest and then white foam. I am simply mesmerized by them. Jim's stepdad, Snookie made the statement, "I am not going inside, off this balcony, except for liquor." I agree.
Jim and I decided to go down to the beach and try our turn in the surf. The waves are huge. We had no boards or life preservers. Hell, we should have had flares. After swimming out and giggling with glee over the giant waves, I decided, like Jim, to body surf. I have no idea how to do this. It looked simple enough. Jump at the right time. Surf on in. Simple.
After the first wave flipped me over on my head, which was on a rock, and I was struggling for air, I should have quit. I should have but I didn't. We swam some more. Things were going okay. I am a strong swimmer and was totally convinced that the ocean was not going to make me her fool. Then the biggest wave ever, EVER, came in and with it a guy, a big guy, on a boogie board. There was no where to go. I decided my best bet was to drop to the bottom but I decided too late and the guy landed directly on my head. He was very nice and apologetic and kept asking if I was okay while I was trying to remember my name and date of birth. That is when I quit.
This morning Jim and I drove around and checked out some little towns. Basically just an excuse to be cool in our convertible. Well, we are only a handful of miles away from the wettest place on earth and it will rain whenever it damn well pleases. Top up. Top down. Top up. Top down. Stupid tourists.
We then proceeded to spend the afternoon at Backcountry Adventures. We tubed down 160 year old irrigation ditches and tunnels. We wore hardhats, lamps, gloves, watershoes and swim gear. I have to say it is, by far, the coolest thing I have ever done. For over an hour we tubed quickly, going from amazing scenery to hand-dug tunnels. One tunnel was 6/10 of a mile long. We took an entire disposable waterproof camera's worth of pics. I wish I could get them on here immediately. Point is, I could have done it all day. The guides were awesome. All I kept thinking was that my parents and especially my brother would have loved LOVED this outing.
We are ending the evening with quesadillas that Jim and I (well, mostly Jim) cooked. Nice conversation. Margaritas. Wine. Breeze. Waves crashing off the balcony.
I totally understand why people never go home.