Summer Memories: Hawaii

Back in September we took a really lovely trip to Oahu with some dear friends. I'm excited to share some of my favorite pictures with you! 

We stayed for the first three nights in a cabin by the beach on the east side of Oahu near Kailua.

Blue ocean meets blue sky.

Watching the sunrise. We found that our sleep schedule was influenced by the sun--early to bed and early to rise! There was no point in sleeping when you could be out enjoying the beach, and there was less to do when the sun set. 

A classic Hawaiian rainbow.

Our little cottage!

Mom, Christina, and I took a hike in the forest.

We got high enough to have a pretty good view.

 One morning we got up early to snorkel at Hanauma Bay. It was beautiful and very fun. We got to see quite a few fish! 

The beach at Hanauma Bay seems to be over-run with pigeons.

 The mostly empty beach just after sunrise.

By the time we left, the beach was getting quite full, and there was a long line of people waiting to enter the grounds.

It's so easy to see the coral from above, not so easy from the water's edge.

I always love driving up into the mountains and going through the tunnels on H3.

We spent out last night in Honolulu.

Watching the sunset from our hotel on the last night. So beautiful!

Summer Memories: Labor Day Camping

It's November, it's cold and Thanksgiving is coming up, but I've still got pictures from this summer that I'd like to share. First up is our camping trip with friends over Labor Day weekend at Fort Stevens State Park. I didn't get to stay for the whole time, because I had to work, but I had a great time while I was there!

I got to see the Astoria Column for the first time!

"You are here"--at the shiny spot on the map. :-) 

Looking down at the giant Astoria Bridge.

Huge ships on the Columbia.

Do you dare to look over the edge?

The Peter Iredale shipwreck is a major landmark at Fort Stevens--it was my first time seeing that, too.

Christina poses in a rusty frame.

Some of us went back to the shipwreck at sunset.

The moon reflected in the tide pools.

Jumping pictures! 

Paradise Creek

Well, it's September now, but I'm finally posting those promised pictures of Paradise Creek! I hope you like pictures of trees and creeks...that's mostly what I've got! I had a great time running around with my camera taking pictures of those two things. :-)

I love moss, too.

This was our cozy camping spot.

We took a short hike along Falls Creek. This is Falls Creek Falls (I know, it's a really original name).

Looking back at the falls from the trail. You can actually get a better idea of how big it is from further away.

A little suspension bridge that crosses Falls Creek.

This is Paradise Creek, which we camped next to.

I had fun using my new tripod to take long exposure shots to catch the movement of the creek. 

These shots are for my dad. He challenged me to take shots of the water bugs sitting on the surface of the water.