Maybe you’re wondering where we’ve gone. Way back in January, when we returned from Mexico, we promised you blog posts from 5 weeks in Spain and then…nothing.
But we’re still here – frazzled, fumbling…learning how to live a life within the parameters of cancer. It’s invaded our beautiful home and left us reeling – Ron as a patient and me as a caregiver.
This is still a travel blog, though. And I’m happy to report that we’ve found footing that feels solid enough that we’re going to set out and see what cancer travel is like.
Things are surely different. The medicine kit is bigger. There will be no 15 mile walking days. We’ll never feel sure that things are “okay enough” to travel.
But these are the days we have and our enthusiasm for seeing the world remains.
So next week we are heading to Hawaii and the Big Island for 17 days. It’s a good location to try travel with a lighter agenda, I guess.
Here is where we will be for most of the time:
We do have some modest travel goals, which seem kind of food-heavy as I write them down:
Hiking at Volcanoes National Park, a coffee plantation tour, buffet breakfasts at fancy hotels, malasada donuts, a chocolate farm, and a couple of cool houses.
There is a well-advertised and legendary opportunity to do a nighttime swim with some manta rays that we are definitely too terrified to take on. There is also a chance to go down into Volcanic caves and narrow crevices, which we are similarly nervous about. (Ron: head injury risk and Me: small dark space issues.) Ditto for our assorted fears associated with helicopter rides, scuba diving, and snorkeling. I’m fairly confident that we can both manage a breakfast buffet, though, no matter how large it is.
Since I won’t be able to document the manta day dive, I’m providing this picture:
These fear-driven problems never arise in our European travels, where the biggest issues (for me) seem to be trying not to get locked in the toilet stalls, failing to appreciate the art, and reminding Ron not to hit his head on assorted low doorways.
In further evidence of Ron’s popularity, many friends and family are making the trek out to Hawaii to come hang out with us. Kris and Jim – who seem to be willing to meet us anywhere on earth – will be with us. We’ve done a lot of European cities with them – Ron and Jim sleeping on trains, me and Kris perpetually lost despite GPS, finally locating the museum only to discover that I failed to notice it’s closed/too crowded/not signed in English/filled with too much art.
We’ll see which of our travel skills prove useful sitting around the private pool at our beach house. We’re packed and ready to head out. Ron, when questioned about his packing decisions for the trip, revealed that the total number of bathing suits he had for 17 days in the tropics was ZERO. In a public service to the citizens of Hawaii and our travel guests, I can now confirm that he’s packed a swimsuit.
Here we are this week at home – already decked out in winter gear in mid-October! I’ll talk with you next week.
Travels with Valerie 
you both look fabulous! You have been in my mind and in my heart for months now and I couldn’t be happier to hear from you. I’m going to send you an email, Valerie. Too much to say….as usual!❤️
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Hi Andi! It’s so good to hear from you! We’re just so excited to head out!!!!!
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I suspected cancer was your news based on some of your posts at RS and I have been sending many healing vibes to both of you. I am glad that Ron is back entertaining both you and us with his packing abilities. I hope Ron’s purchases of hats, t-shirts and sweatshirts on your travels has kept him warm and comforted by great memories. “slow travel” can be great. The Big Island is one of my favorites. Try to take a meal at Merriman’s because the food is excellent. In Kona the palace and big turtles were a great thing to see. Keeping you both in my thoughts here in San Diego and thankful you are writing and traveling again.
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Thank you! Merriman’s is on our list – people keep raving about it!!!! I’ll have to look the palace in Kona up – it’s not in my notes, which exist, but are so much sparer than for a Europe trip:)
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Here is the link to the Palace. https://daughtersofhawaii.org/hulihee-palace/ I also recommend Hapuna Beach. It is very beautiful with gentle waves. P.S. Health issues caused me to cancel my Europe plans this year too. Hoping for a better 2025 for both of us.
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Thank you! We will try to get there – I love buildings more than beaches!!! We’re staying up near Hapuna Beach – right by Mauna Kea Beach.
I am SOOOO sorry to hear you had to cancel your trip for health issues. We’re hoping to make short and simple trip to Austria in April – but it’s hard to know if we’ll actually go.
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Thanks for your update, Valerie. I’m so sorry to hear about Ron’s cancer diagnosis. Knowing you both have travel plans is gre
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Thank you – it’s truly been a rough year.
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Hi, Val. In a previous life, I’d visit the Big Island about once per year for work in Hilo. Food-based isn’t so bad in a grand scheme. With that in mind, if you’re ever driving by and close to South Point, may I recommend the Punalu’u Bake Shop and their delicious sweet breads (*not* sweetbreads). I love their Hawaiian sweet bread (in multiple flavours) and their malasadas. Their shop is in Nā’ālehu next to highway 11. All the best and happy travels!
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Hello! Thanks for the tip – I’m going to look that up. Ron lives for donuts and we had malasadas on Oahu a couple of years ago and went right back the next 2 days for more. They are excellent!
I’ll have to go back to your blog in the coming weeks – we’re going to try to spend a week in Vienna this spring and you spent a lot of time there at some cool sites!!!!!!
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Hi Valerie. So sorry to lean this news. I’m wishing Ron well. And, more and more strength to you both.
Hawaii seems like ideal therapy for recovery – body and mind. Enjoy.
Dulcie.
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Hi Dulcie!! I hope you’re well and still traveling! Thanks for the good wishes – I’ve passed them on to Ron:)
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Back in the saddle again, huh? I so hope you have an incredible time in Hawaii!
I wish I could remember exactly where we (my late wife, Susan, and I) were told (by the owners of our B&B) to go volcano-ing on the Big Island. We parked the car and crunched our way over a field of black volcanic glass, occasionally getting blasted by heat from a vent in the ground. We got to a cliff and looked down at the steam from the lava hitting the seawater. OMG.
Crunch-crunching back to the car, we spotted a small vent, out of which glowing lava was globbing (slowly, thank heaven) towards us. Susan ordered, “Give me the camera!” She crouched and started clicking away at this phenomenon. So absorbed. Then I tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Um…sweetie…uh…your boots are starting to melt.”
She looked down at her feet. Oops! Photo-Op over. We quick-crunched back to the parking lot. Surreal!
Can’t wait to see your photos. Our love to you both! Say hi to Kris and Jim.
Stan
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We’re feeling a little timid, but if we don’t give this a try, we’ll go nowhere, so…
That’s quite a volcano close up! I’m jealous and I know that Ron is hoping to see some lava flow, even though I’ve told him there hasn’t been a lot of activity in recent years. We are actually staying 3 nights in Volcano Village – so we’ll have some time in the park before we move to a rental house on the other side of the island.
Hope you’re both well and keep me posted on the next trip!!!
Xoxoxox
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I was just thinking and wondering why I haven’t heard from you. Now I know! We are also waiting for results of a biopsy on Don’s prostate. All has been on hold, as far as traveling. Have a wonderful trip to Hawaii!
Rosemarie
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Hi Rosemarie! It’s nice to hear from you! I’m sorry for the stress of the waiting – we know it well and it’s awful. Sending you our thoughts. We’re excited we get to travel a bit – it’s been a long while!
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Ron the cancer news was a shocker for me and I’m sure even more so for you. Both Mollie and I offer prayers and healing thoughts.
My healing pronosis for you is that Kamala is going to win.
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Hello to you two! It’s so nice to hear from you. Yes, it’s been an extremely rough year at our house. I hope you’re both well!
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Gosh, I wish you could over-come your fears to do that Manta Dive. I did it many years ago when I lived on Maui and it was spectacular! They don’t eat people, just plankton. Anyways, have a marvelous time!
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