DAY 4 (continued) - After picking up Valerie from The Laylow, I drive us to the North Shore. We stop at Kualoa Regional Park to stretch our legs and get some photos

Mokoli'i / Chinaman's Hat Island (and the Mokumanu Islands in the distance)

Lifeguard tower at Kualoa Regional Park

Wide shot of Kualoa Ranch from the beach park

Wide shot of Mokoli'i, Mokumanu Islands, and Mokapu

Kualoa Regional Park Smartphone Panorama (looking north towards Kualoa Ranch)

Looking towards the ridges at Kualoa Ranch

Looking towards the ridges at Kualoa Ranch

Back to our rental car

Valerie and I stop for lunch at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. The first time we visited Oahu, we were told to look for the famous graffiti-covered food truck, but weren't warned about the many copycats in the area. On that day, we ended up at the "Famous Kuhuku Shrimp Truck"...which fortunately was good. That said, THIS was the truck we were supposed to find.

Last time we were on Oahu, Valerie was working....so I came here on my own and tried their original Scampi since it is listed as "most popular" on their menu. I wasn't impressed and lamented I hadn't stuck with my initial instinct to order something with a bit more kick.

So today, Valerie and I both order a plate of the Hot Spicey!

Hot and Spicey should be called Vinegar and Vinegary Shrimp. It has a nice kick, but both Valerie and I found the vinegar to be overpowering. We shouldn't have both ordered the same thing... sharing would allow us to sample a wider variety of items or try other vendors (of which there are many...even around this particular parking lot).

As I was disappointed in their Scampi during my previous visit, I am officially done with Giovanni's. They aren't the only option on the North Shore.

This stop technically is out of our way, but our room at the resort isn't ready...

Valerie and I arrive at our destination...the Turtle Bay Resort. This will be our first time staying on the North Shore.

We check into our room

I see another large screen TV we will barely use

I step out on to our lanai...the Pacific Ocean looks angry in this direction

We are staying in the West Wing with a view to the north...but here I am looking east (towards the East Wing). The West Wing is probably the most appropriately named due to the orientation of the hotel's three wings...I personally would call the East Wing "North" and South Wing "Southeast".

Turtle Bay Resort West Wing Smartphone Panorama