April 12, 2023 Kauai Helicopter and more

 April 12,  Wednesday

We've scheduled a helicopter tour this morning at 10:45.  We've chosen a "doors off" ride to facilitate photo opportunities, with Airborne Aviation.  There  are several companies that do this, but we liked the fact that this company also does search and rescue and fire coverage.

We arrive along with a couple from Switzerland, and go through an orientation which involves safety features - kind of like the stewardess on a plane .

 We have to wear a life jacket packet and are securely strapped in.  Greg and I have the back seats and the other couple is up front with our pilot, Brian.  We have headphones and a button to converse with the pilot.  The only downside of this trip is that we could not clearly hear the pilot - only about 50% of what he said.

But the sights were amazing!   A little bumpy in spots due to the wind, but overall quite smooth!

I think this is the one they call Jurassic Falls - featured in the movie. There were dozens of smaller ones.

Some of the trees look like giant heads of broccoli from up here!

The ride only lasted an hour but we couldn't help wishing it would go on and on!

We went back to the hotel afterwards and relaxed a bit.  Took a swim and read by the pool.  It is warm, probably close to 80, but that breeze keeps things cool.

We decide to give biking a try.  Haven't done it since the accident - couldn't initially - but time to give it a try.  A bit wobbly on these road bikes, but we make it a couple of miles on the path along the coast.  Some beautiful spots!  Our hotel provides the bikes!

The woman at the main desk says we really ought to try the food trucks when we ask for a recommendation for dinner.  So, we go to a spot where several are gathered.  But only two were open, and didn't seem that appealing, so we end up at Kenji Burger which boasts local grass-fed beef.  And they are pretty good! 

 Greg has a Hapa burger, which has Japanese BBQ sauce, sriracha pineapple slaw, bacon cheddar cheese, caramelized onion and tomato!  That's a mouthful!  Beth has a poke bowl which is ahi tuna chunks with white rice, avocado, ginger and poke sauce.  Yum.  The fries that we share are furikake fries, with furikake being seaweed.  It is just dried and sprinkled on the fries (kind of like chives)and really doesn't have a taste that we can detect.  They sprinkle it on lots of dishes.  Greg tries another local brew.

We enjoy sitting outside.  There is sign asking you not to feed the chickens or throw things at them.  They provide a water squirt bottle on the table to deter the chickens!  We only had to use it once or twice! Ha!

We go back to the room, play with pictures and relax.