While the boys were sleeping...

I can't boast that I'm a morning person, but I will say I tend to get up early and function pretty well when I do. Noel, on the other hand, likes to sleep in and doesn't get up early unless necessary. It should surprise no one that while on vacation, I like to sneak out of the hotel room early and wander around while the boys - and most of the world - are sleeping. That could actually be the subject of a whole other blog...

On our last day on Kauai I set my alarm for 6:25 and headed out, camera in hand. I wandered through the hotel grounds, past the pool attendants scrubbing down the pool tiles for the day, and found another monk seal on the beach. This time, surrounded by no one. He had been there a while. He apparently rolled over on the first set of safe-distance ropes set up by the hotel staff, prompting them to set up another. So if he looks in distress here laying on ropes, rest assured he's not. I also did not disturb him, he rolled over, opened his eyes, and I got the shot. But he went right back to sleep.

Past the monk seal, I wandered further down Poipu Beach, where I watched a dozen turtles feed in the waters 10 feet from shore. Yes! So close. Fun to watch, ridiculously hard to photograph. I wasn't entirely alone, there were some roosters (it was Kauai, after all), surfers, and a few other early-risers, but it was still a nice, quiet morning. I headed back to the hotel after an hour or so, found Noel getting ready for a court appearance and the boys stirring. Had breakfast in the room, packed up, and checked out.