Moving day...Wow! What a lot of work!! Time to unwind and relax...

A beautiful sky before sunset.

With the family moved out and Tom and I now alone, yesterday we began the process of moving from the bigger house to the smaller house which Tom affectionately refers to as the "bird house."

Usually when we move we only have to pack our clothing and supplies, tidy up after ourselves and be on our way. With 12 days remaining on the Big Island, moving next door was the most comprehensive move we've had in 27 months.

A distant dorsal fin.

What made it more difficult was two fold; one, we paid deposits on both houses and want them back in their entirety and two, we had food and household supplies to move, all in a 24 hour period. Now, this doesn't sound like much. But, believe me, it was.

There were two refrigerators to clean and one to make room for the transferred perishables. (We'll toss leftovers when we leave on January 15th). There were beds to make, laundry to do, floors to sweep and wash, bathrooms to organize and of course, the unpacking of our luggage.

Lots of action here.

When we repack for the 15th, I will be reorganizing and further lightening our load for the next flight from Kona, Hawaii to Lihue, Kauai with a layover in Honolulu for an hour.

The thought of staying put in Kauai for four months is pleasing for both of us. We'll have plenty of time to explore the gorgeous island, lounge at the beach and try a few of the highly rated restaurants in the area.

Correctly timing the shot from considerable distances is a craft that neither my bad shoulder nor our camera can do. If we upgraded to a camera with a higher capacity for distances, it would weigh more. Its a catch 22.

Although there's no pool at the condo we rented we'll certainly find a good spot to whale watch when the Hanalei Bay is across the street in the fabulous Princeville area. We couldn't ask for more especially since we chose this particular condo for its excellent price for the otherwise pricey area.

Sacrificing a little in amenities over price was our plan as we prepare for the next leg of our journey. The segue in Princeville for us is a place to regroup, plan and get ready for our next big foray outside the US which will be for at least the upcoming two years.

The black and white fluke. It was almost dark outside.

Last night, our final night at the big house, we found ourselves on the lanai having exhausted all of our energy in packing and moving all day, we saw one pod of whales after another, more than we've ever seen before.

Getting good photos of whales is especially difficult for me. My bad shoulder prevents me from holding up the camera for long enough to capture the perfect shots. Plus, our camera, although capable of taking good photos, is not capable of the long distance shots required when whale watching.

Two whales, side by side. It could be a mom and baby.

Sure, a tripod would help but the added weight is not practical for us when we're already up to the max with our two large and one medium suitcases, one carry on duffel bag, one computer bag and one handbag. I can't imagine a free hand able to hold a tripod.

So, this is the way it is, the best we have to offer thus far as we continue to watch for the massive gentle beasts that waft through the sea with grace and ease. We love every sighting, hollering "blow hole" each time we spot the spewing stream of vapor exuded by these amazing animal.

When Tom yelled, "Over here!" I was focused on another whale and missed all but this shot when two whales did a full breach, simultaneously. I saw it but just didn't focus it quickly enough.

Now, each time we holler "blow hole" we're reminded of the fun times we spent with our family, eyes peeled at the ocean, squealing with delight each time we spotted a whale. In their absence, we'll continue this enjoyable pastime well into the future months to come.

It takes looking at this photo for a moment to see the fluke and how its positioned.

May you have a fabulous weekend. Once fully settled in a few hours, we'll surely do the same.
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Photo from one year ago today, January 3, 2014:

Often, when zebras came to call, they'd attempt a sip out of the pool. As soon as they detected the taste of chlorine, they wandered away in search of other more potable sources.
For zebra facts and photos of multiple zebras at the pool and the story from one year ago today, please click here.