North Shore, Oahu

Our stand-up paddle board instructor told us that the last of the big winter waves would be Tues/Wednesday, so we drove up to the North Shore this past Tuesday to see them. The North Shore is where they get the biggest, expert-surfer waves.

Many interesing things to see on the drive up north, which takes about an hour from where we are living on the southeast coast (if you don't stop and take pictures at least!). This is Kualoa Beach Park, a  popular picnic spot on the east coast of Oahu.

At one of the beaches on the way, someone had left this amazing sand sculpture - Tony wishes it were his!

There are several roadside shrimptrucks on the drive. We stopped at this one for some lunch (a plate of barbequed shrimp and rice) - delicious and very fresh!

many of the North Shore beaches were roped off so that casual beachgoers wouldn't be swept out to sea on this especially strong surf day. Notice distinct lack of swimmers...

This is a spot that is popular for snorkelling and scuba diving in summer, when the surf is not so treacherous; this time of year, people are just there watching the waves.

At Waimea Bay, a premiere surfing destination. Here are the surfers waiting for the "Big one"!This area of the island is very busy on winter big-wave days, partly with surfers, but the road and beaches are also lined with people just watching them. It was amazing to see

and here is one of the big ones crashing on shore! (taken with telephoto). Tony already posted a shot on the last blog of someone surfing the wave (no, it was not me as reported! I need something a bit more challenging...)

after our north shore adventure, it was back to work the next day! Here is Carolyn at a University of Hawaii cafe. We are working on our laptops before Carolyn gave a talk to one of the psychology lab groups there.
I like the fact that a university cafe is called "Paradise Palms" - sounds so exotic
it is now Sunday - went into Honolulu on Saturday (pictures to come); we are doing some work today, then will probably hit the local beach around 5 for a swim and perhaps some boogie-boarding before getting our groceries for dinner (that has become our typical work day here)
More soon! hope everyone is well!