We think today was the premier hike of all time for us. It was a day filled with great physical challenges (nice way of putting it), beauty that is indescribable and features beyond comprehension. The world contains so much mystery, wonder and variation that we believe the more one experiences, the more one realizes that each is just the tip of an iceberg. The metaphor might not be appropriate in the warm and humid climate of Kauai, arguable the most beautiful spot we have visited.
A while ago Annette Olson asked ‘how we identify hikes’. We answered that we use books, internet access, visitors’ centers and ‘word of mouth’ from fellow hikers. Since we have become such ‘intellectuals’, we might add that we also read books on geography, geology, study topography maps, etc. Of course, should we mention that out aloud, it would only indict as frauds. After all, sometimes we struggle to find our way out of car parks.
We noticed the Awa Awa hike in a book we read. It is one leg of a potential four legs, making it an 11-mile incomplete loop. The additional mile-and-half requires a walk on the road or hitching, something we seem to be doing lately. Because of some of the cars we have owned, we developed practice in the ‘hitching field’. We readied our four legs and prepared for an incredible adventure.
Down towards the cliffs for over three miles with anticipation building; back a little to join the second trail; moving along cliff edges for three odd miles as we sauntered in, out, up and around the cliffs; then off to the spectacular Lola overhang for another half-mile with some dangerous eroding areas underfoot; followed by four miles, mostly uphill to the trailhead where our car was not parked. The terrain was exciting with variations that kept us guessing. Each downhill on the way up added to the 2,000 feet climb. It made a person wish to shout out to the heavens in thanks to Hashem for being alive.
The 'fun part' was the hitching. Weary from a tough 11-mile hike, knowing that Shabbos was following, we stood on the side of the road waiting, almost pleading for a ride. Surprisingly, it is not a busy place. “We should start walking,” our editor suggested. We decided to give it another five minutes and then we began the trudge. We were not happy with our fellow humans. We realized that hikers in cars would have stopped but sightseers on their way to viewpoints are probably fussy about picking up tired and sweaty people from the roadside. We always thought that people wearing long white socks would be considered non-threatening. We were wrong.
Some nodded heads, other smiled while a few pretended we didn’t exist. Nevertheless, we were elated from the experience on the cliffs and nothing could dampen our soaring spirits. Finally, after walking a distance, a car pulled over for us. Guess who they were? What a dumb question to pose. How would you know? Some fours earlier we had passed a group of five hikers on the trail. Their car was full but they still gave us a ride to ours. What a wonderful gesture, we thought, although it was a little warm and dark in the trunk.
Shabbos arrived and we were ready, able and willing. However, much to Jenni’s and probably Hashem’s delight, our usual toneless and tuneless singing was somewhat muted.
Cheers,
Elated and Weary
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