March 27, 2013

the last day

Today we leave our final farm here in the Kona Coffee Belt.  

Around this time, two hundred and three days ago, we set off on the start of our journey into the coffee world. We had no idea what to expect and we could have never imagined or planned how perfect this trip would turn out to be.

We've stayed and worked on a total of four different Kona Coffee Farms, all very different and unique in their own ways. Looking back on all the things we have learned and experienced and all the amazing people who have taken us in, there are so many reasons for us to be sad...and really happy and thankful at the same time.

Eric and I set a goal for ourselves; to learn everything we could about coffee, first hand. And we did that and way more.

We owe everything to the people we have met here. Without them we wouldn't have worked so hard, learned so much, or have had the most fun times of our lives. 

Leaving this place is almost unbearable to think about but if there is one thing we've learned on this expedition it's that you never know where life will take you next. There's no doubt that we will be taking this experience and knowledge with us as we move on and begin the next phase.  

Thanks for coming along with us. It's been fun sharing with you, the incredibly surreal time we've had in Hawaii.
"Final Goodbye"
"Kona Earth Ohana" 
"Makahiki Ohana"
"WWOOF Ohana"
"Surf Ohana"

March 14, 2013

around the island in three days

Eric and I took a few days off the farm to go on a road trip all the way around the Big Island. The trip included one long road, a 50ft cliff jump, camping on a volcano, waterfalls, valleys, both desert and tropical forests, a night in cowboy country, and all the beaches one could handle in three days. It was fun to play tourists for a little while but by the end we were happy to be eating Poke at our favorite beach spot watching the sun set back in Kona.

"Road Trip"

"First Stop, South Point" 3/5/2013

"Eric After Jump" 3/5/2013

"View from the Road" 3/5/2013

"Setting Up Camp at Volcano" 3/5/2013
"Steam Vents at Volcano National Park" 3/5/2013

"Kilauea" 3/5/2013

"Road Closed Due to Lava Flow" 3/5/2013

"The Scenic Route" 3/6/2013

"Akaka Falls" 3/6/2013

"Coffee in Cowboy Country" 3/7/2013
"Falls at Waipi'o Valley" 3/7/2013

"Waipi'o Valley" 3/7/2013

"Road on the Ridge" 3/7/2013

"Palolo Valley" 3/7/2013

"Makalawena" 3/10/2013

"Hues of Blues" 3/10/2013

"Eric's Handstand Attempt" 3/10/2013



March 2, 2013

day one hundred and seventy nine

I sure am going to miss that little pink moped. 

Thursday was a sad day. As I followed Eric down to a nearby shopping center to complete the sale of our good friend, Barbie, I reflected on all of the good (and some terrifying) times we had because of that shiny moped. 

Watching Eric weave in and out of the typical traffic that always includes a slew of monster-sized trucks, I laugh and shutter at the same time, thinking about holding Eric for dear life as we hugged the white line, exploring and traveling as far and as fast as that scooter would take us.

She was there from the beginning and letting her go, 1,842 miles and a bit faded later, is pretty much the beginning of the end. We are now on the last leg of the trip where we stop counting the days spent and start counting down to the day we leave. Here's to our first goodbye...

"Barbie vs. Truck" 10/1/2012 

"Moving on Moped" 11/2/2012 

"Barbie Always Stood Out" 10/14/2012

"Negotiating the Deal" 2/28/2013

"Final Goodbye" 2/28/2013