It is sunday and Marjories provides only a continental breakfast basket. The plaintains and papaya with granola is a tropical treat. Today we make a final visit to Waimea Canyon, hoping to hike the Alakai Swamp Trail. Alas, as we drive up the road, it starts to rain and the ground is much wetter than last time. We get to the parking lot but it is so wet, we know there is no point in attempting this trail. After all, this is one of the wettest places on earth!
What to do now? We decide to go back to Kokee SP and try the Black Pipe Trail, backroads Kauai. We walk down the dirt road and into what appears to be a rural residential area. The turn off to the trailhead is unmarked, with crazy muddy ruts. We keep at it and run into a pick up truck with a family- they tell us they are hunting for wild pigs using bow and arrow. The trail is somewhat confusing with many unmarked forks. Thank goodness for gps! It then meanders along the grassy cliffside, too close to the edge for me, the edges eroding and with no railings! I should have heeded the sign that said “hazardous cliff”! Finally, after what feels like an eternity, we reach the main trail and head out, not a minute too soon for me. Enough of muddy hiking! We head down, take one long last look at the canyon overlook; low and behold, a rainbow appears for us.
We make one last visit to the papaya stand; the parents are manning the stand today. No plantains today. We stop at a local market for snacks and prepare for dinner at Keoki’s Paradise, which is a tropical setting with wonderful fresh seafood. We opt for the duo – oma and mani, and decline the hula cake. It is our final night here and we relax.