Still on a happiness high from the night before, V and I woke up early to watch the sunrise from our room.
V followed JT's wishes for us and booked us a helicopter ride for the next day before we ventured out for a drive around the island. I tried to get in touch with my mom's cousin so that maybe we could visit, but we never got to talk to her. Next time, Auntie Janing!
We picked up breakfast at the McDonald's drive-through, where I got a haupia pie, because it exists there.
I was in the back seat with all of the snacks, as usual. I might have fallen asleep at one point, because all of a sudden I saw out the window that we were up on a mountain or something.
We were actually on our way to view Waimea Canyon. Some people had pulled over prior to arriving at the official lookout site, so we did, too. Wow. This was like stepping into a painting. I wish I was talented with watercolors or chalk or something, because I was already inspired with my no talent.
At the lookout point, we were required to pay for our parking, and enter our license plate number on the machine. The pass was good for all of the lookout points throughout the day.
Hibiscus Flower next to the walkway
View from Waimea Canyon Lookout
It was a little breezy
See how the colors change according to the cloud positions? So pretty.
View from Ni'Ihau Viewpoint
When we arrived at the other viewpoint, we saw sound guy Nate and his girlfriend go to the Canyon Trail. That was a long trail that I did not want to traverse. It was cool to see people walking the trail later from our vantage points, though. Bro and V hadn't prepared for such a long hike, otherwise, they probably would have done it.
By the time we arrived At Kalalau Lookout, it was a little drizzly, and we saw some waterfalls in the distance.
Taking advantage of awesome zoom on my camera This is one of 3 waterfalls in the video below.
We had to clean our shoes before walking on the way to Wai'ale'ale - "One of the wettest spots on Earth." I didn't hike as far as Bro and V, but they didn't actually go all the way to the wettest spot. While I waited for them, I took selfies. I also talked to a woman whom was part of a larger group. We observed an older gentleman from her group get his shoe stuck in the railing, which caused him to hang down from it a bit upside-down because he was trying to take a shortcut from the viewpoint to the trail. He was laughing and so were his friends, so everything was OK.
V demonstrates shoe cleaning
Bro at Na Pali Kona
On their way to hike the Phea Trail
Without Zoom
Staying Safe & Taking Selfies
We then went to the Kokee Museum. I wanted to take a picture of two boys playing a game inside the museum, but I didn't want to be creepy.
Model of Kauai
I fed wild chickens! They had bags of bird feed available when I bought my cute new bag, so I went out to feed them. Once I began to toss the seed, a bunch of them came out of the woods to join in the feast. Also, there was a cute dog just chilling outside the restaurant next to the museum.
On our way down the mountain, we returned to a place near the first stop we made so that we could take photos of the red soil and the nearby babbling brook.
We found our way to Hanapepe and soon realized that it was the home of Lilo and Stitch!
I love my Bro so much.
Inside one of the stores, the store owner told V that L&S artist/director Dean DeBlois drew something for their store, which was not for sale, but it was on display there. Later on in the evening, V showed me the business card that the woman gave her and it was our Auntie Janing's (married) last name! Had I only seen it while we were in the store, I would have asked if she knew her. Anyway, this woman told us to go to Poipu beach, so we headed there after our shopping and photo shoots.
Plumeria Tree Goals
View from under the Plumeria tree
We were able to find a good parking spot at Poipu Beach, but we couldn't get into one of the restaurants. Nearby, though, the Marriott Vacation Club had an outside bar with food which was available to non-guests. The server was a transplant from Rhode Island, I think, and she said that there are a lot of people from the mainland like her that go there once and decide to come back to stay. I sure don't blame them.
Koloa Mudslide
Beyond Burger
While we ate our dinner, we saw that there were a couple of turtles on the sand with cones near them with signs taped onto them telling people to let the turtles rest.
We also enjoyed watching surfers.
Ah, this life. It was bliss. I mean, look at the gorgeous sunset!
Wishing again that I was a painter
On the way back to our car, we got a closer look at the turtles.
Then we saw a bunch of people gathered further down the beach. It was dark by then, but we figured it must be something important. Whoa. They were all looking at a group of about 30 turtles coming up on the shore! It was AMAZING.
Thank goodness for the night vision on my camera! I will cherish that moment forever, it was such a treat!
We went back to the hotel room and rested from our beautiful day. V and I needed to wake up early the next morning for even more wonderment!
When we woke up in the morning, we were all pretty hungry, and decided to go to a place that was closed the last time we were walking around: Lincoln Square Pancake House. We had to wait about 20 minutes, which wasn't too bad considering it's Finals Week. We didn't get tickets to the DCI All Age competition, so maybe a lot of people were at the stadium for that instead of getting breakfast. I ordered a veggie scramble with french toast as my toast option. French Toast is my favorite breakfast food, but I was so full from my yummy veggie scramble and hash browns, that I couldn't finish all of the french toast. I also asked for a container for my fruit so that I could put in the refrigerator to have after the show. The french toast was topped with a whipped butter that had cinnamon in it, and it was very good.
Thanks, Abe!
Bro called for an Uber so that we could go to an antique mall. It was in an old warehouse, and there were a lot of different booths from various sellers. I usually look for interesting jewelry, but didn't really find anything to my liking, but it was fun to look at stuff. It was also good that we weren't close to home, so I didn't really consider getting any of the cool furniture that I saw. I guess I could have had it shipped, but nah. V was able to find some of the drinking glasses she likes to collect, so our trip was successful.
I had a Happy Days board game when I was a kid. I wonder if it's still somewhere in the garage. Yes, I was aware of "cool points" prior to that episode of Friends!
We still had some time to relax in the hotel and watch Olympics prior to walking to the stadium, so that was nice. We have also learned to cut through one of the parking lots instead of taking the sidewalk, to save a little bit of time. On our way to the stadium entrance, we saw this trailer. I thought that maybe it was a DCI Soundsport group, but now when I see the top, it looks like it is a food truck. That I didn't know about. In Indianapolis. Apparently, they are called Pinoy Garden Cafe. There are 3 different Filipino food trucks in the Indianapolis area! Taste of Manila, Lumpia Creations, and Pinoy Garden Cafe (actually based in Bloomington). Maybe I'll see one of them next time. There's also some dessert place called Ube Love. I need to stop going down this rabbit hole.
We had decided to skip the IN-pact performance, which had started while we ate at the tables on the floor where our seats were located. Today, concessions on my side did not have any carbonated drinks, and they didn't have something else on the side where Bro and V got their pizza. I got chicken strips again, but wasn't hungry enough to finish everything, so I put my leftovers in one of their pizza boxes so that it was covered instead of out in the open.
Our seats were in section 438, row 9, seats 3-5, at around the right 30-yard line. We were in the top row, so I stood for some of the performances so that I could stretch and take pics.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BAND "THE COMMANDANT'S OWN"
I don't remember hearing the title of their repertoire, but it included "Unchained Melody" and a few other pieces that I know but don't know their titles. Of course, they also included "Stars and Stripes Forever" at the end, which always makes me happy.
They also performed the national anthem. We've heard it played many times in the last week, due to USA's success at the Olympics in Paris, but I think this is the best way to hear it, and my heart always swells with patriotic pride when I see this. I also love when they play the Marine Corps Hymn as they exit, and didn't take video this time because I wanted to clap along with the rest of the spectators.
V got another smoothie today. She loves her smoothies!
I think Bro wants some, V.
Brandt Crocker asked us to welcome to the field the next corps after seven years of absence on Finals night.
MADISON SCOUTS
Welcome back to Finals, Madison!
Maybe someday we'll see a fleur-de-lis formation again.
THE CAVALIERS
Three hats fell off, V said. I decided I don't really like their sets. They're underwhelming, like if they were actual mirrors, that would be cool. Aw, remember BD's mirrors, and how everyone thought they were crazy with all of those big props? Good times.
TROOPERS
I love that show too much. Oh, a trident formation! Amazing what you can see from different vantage points.
Love the variation of the Troopers flag
Devils Tail Formation
And because I can't get enough of this show, that controversial ending:
Notice the little sunburst in the flags below the ramps in the photo, when the devil is vanguished? Someone would tell me about this the next day, and I'm glad that I captured it in my video.
COLTS
They don't do much with that seed ball but pat on it. Very long, very high note - whoa! when they layon their sides with the white of their uniforms showing, are they supposed to be worms? I didn't notice the lawnmower sound before.
Raise that seed ball high!
BLUE STARS
Such a pretty show, with a beautiful brass line. I love the shimmer of the final uniforms.
Blue Stars making me happy with their star formation!
MANDARINS
I love that high notes from the trumpet player during the transition. What a great show, Mandarins!
At least SOMEONE did a fleur-de-lis formation.
Jazz Funeral
<Intermission>
V and I booked it to the restroom, and while I was in there, I heard that they had started a tribute to announcer Brandt Crocker. I didn't cry until I got to my stadium seat, especially when Dan Potter announced that Brandt was the recipient of the DCI Legacy Impact Award. I loved when they showed a montage of a bunch of different people doing impersonations of him introducing corps like Phaaannnntooooom RRRRRRegiment and THE SANTA CLARA VANGUAAAARRRD!
Brandt's position for 52 years of DCI
Congratulations, Brandt!
SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
VAAAANNNNGUAAAAAARRRRRRD! Yup, got it in there this time. :) Thank you for a fantastic season, Vanguard. It was like you were never gone, but we all know how much we missed you last year. May your future be fruitful and bright for many years to come. Now let's pick up our stuff and go start working on getting funding for next year's show.
Love this shot of the drum major
My current FB cover
That V means the world to SCV fans this year.
So does the viper.
CAROLINA CROWN
That brass line is just gorgeous. So difficult, but so well played!
Crown Formation
PHANTOM REGIMENT
Love, love, love this show. The brass, the crazy props, the everything.
Z pull tribute to the Cadets
Wait. Why is there a Trooper up here in the stands?
BLUE DEVILS
They got so good on those hoops! Beautiful trumpet solo. I love their uniform colors as opposed to others that are too drab for my taste. Can I have my cape now?
BOSTON CRUSADERS
Earlier this week, V noticed that there were some poofy people in the stands near the end zone. Tonight, they had seats very visible to everyone, and even made it onto the big board. They were hilarious and even did some glitchy moves during the show. A few days later, I found out that these were fans and alumni of Bo Cru, and they do something every year to show their fandom. I love it!
There is so much stuff going on in this show, and it's all great!
BLUECOATS
I've heard that song before, from the Mandarins: the one with the high pitch notes that I wrote about tonight. I like Mandarins' version better. We always get faked out by that almost ending, before the final blast. Wow, that brass made me want my ear plugs up here. So loud, maybe because the amps are cranked up. But it hurts so good. :) Their brick flags remind Bro of Shakey's, V of Mario Brothers, and me of the Three Little Pigs. I'll blow your house down!
Love those mylar flags!
The leaders from the medalist corps of the Open Class competition were recognized.
Congratulations, Gold-winning Spartans, Silver-winning Blue Devils B, and Bronze-winning Gold! Yes, I realize that last one is confusing.
DCI All Age medalists were also recognized. Congratulations, Gold-winning Reading Buccaneers, Silver-winning Cincinnati Tradition, and Bronze-winning Governaires!
The Commandant's Own played as the corps entered the field for retreat. On the right side, the Cavaliers were told to march down the wrong yard line, and it subsequently messed up everything on that side while they fixed it.
Left side
Right side
So good to see you here, SCV! Also, nice star, Blue Stars!
Full Field
Cavaliers wearing their parade uniforms instead of their show uniforms
The biggest difference about this year is that no instruments were brought on to the field: no drums, no horns, and no big props. The devil had his trident, because nobody's going to say no to him over there, I guess.
And now, the scores as caption awards in the order in which they were announced.
12) 87.05 -- Madison Scouts
Jim Jones Leadership Award: Wes Booker of the Boston Crusaders
11) 87.50 -- Cavaliers
10) 88.95 -- Troopers
George Zingali Best Color Guard Award: Boston Crusaders
9) 89.775 -- Colts
John Brazale Best Visual Awarad: Bluecoats
8) 91.60 --Blue Stars
Jim Ott Best Brass Award: Bluecoats
7) 92.15 -- Mandarins
6) 93.925 -- Santa Clara Vanguard
Fred Sanford Best Percussion Award: SANTA CLARA VANGUARD!!!
The crowd went absolutely bananas. I may have been a bit loud myself. If there was ever a question if Vanguard could come back at their same high level, there wasn't a question anymore. Bro and I had been discussing their chances from looking at the first two nights' drum scores. (The award is the highest average from Prelims, Semis, and Finals night). SCV would need to win by at least 0.15, because they won Prelims, and did not win Semis, but they did it! Phew. They absolutely threw down tonight.
SCV Leaders with their drum trophy
5) 95.025 -- Carolina Crown
4) 95.225 -- Phantom Regiment
Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award: Bluecoats
3) 97.075 -- Blue Devils
2) 97.413 -- Boston Crusaders
1) 98.75 -- Bluecoats
The corps were excused to congratulate each other, which took quite a while. Even though they didn't have drums to pound on for 20 minutes or horns to toot for that long, it still took a while and a lot of announcements before they left the field. But my favorite part was seeing the SCV leaders bring the drum trophy to their percussion section. They went cray cray.
They made a V out of their quiver things! Love the shield, too.
Then everyone finally left the field so that the Bluecoats could be told, "The field is yours!"
Encore: BLOOOOOO
Damn. It was really loud. Definitely the amps.
Bluecoats with the Founders Trophy
Go Pros everywhere
They finally let us go through the exits that were closest to our seats, probably because they've had enough of us, and they needed to get ready for the next day's pre-season Colts game.
The next day, I said bye early in the morning to Bro and V, and watched the Olympics as I was getting ready. The folks on the news said that the roof of Lucas Oil was open for the game, but I didn't see that. I left Indianapolis via Lyft a few hours later, and the driver's wife called to talk about what meat was in the freezer so she could defrost it for dinner. He told me that you can't see that the roof is open unless you're inside the stadium, or if you see it on TV. I arrived at the airport with plenty of time to check in my bag, eat breakfast, and relax a little bit before my flight. Plus I was fancy again and sat in the 2nd row of the plane. The first leg of my journey was from IND to DEN. A lady with the same Troopers shirt I had just bought asked to sit next to me. Her name was Patty, and I told her that I had the same shirt. Patty was in the Troopers color guard in the late 1970s. She was part of the Troopers Legacy Corps, which was actually the Troopers Alumni Corps until they invited others to join. She met her current husband at an alumni gathering and once they started dating, it took then 4 months before they got married. Knute is in the Troopers Hall of Fame. I asked her about the most recent Troopers shows, wanting to know what makes them a trilogy. So she did her best to tell me her interpretation.
2022: "Voracious" -- Casper, Wyoming is also known as "Oil City". When the boom happened, folks became crazy with greed. The cellist in the show signifies the spirit of everyone getting excited and greed taking over their hearts. Remember that drum major with the oil on his face?
2023: "To Lasso The Sun" -- Everyone was so convined that they could have everything they wanted with their oil money, they thought that they could reach the sun. She said something about the guy with the harmonica, but I can't remember what he signifies.
2024: "Dance With The Devil" -- Greed has overcome us, and we are succumbing to Satan's ways. Thus the devil's tail formation, the three 6s, pentagrams, and other imagery. Only our Trooper can save us, sending the devil back to hell, and all is right with the world. Things Patty mentioned that I didn't see because I was too focused on the devil/Trooper battle: the battery forming the Troopers' "11", and the traditional Trooper Sunburst formation signifying redemption. I asked if the show starts with all of them in hell, and she said that's left to interpretation, but she thinks so.
Patty told me her opinions about some of the other shows: she did not enjoy Spirit's "Creatures" as much as I did. She liked BD-B's show, especially with the lavender color they wore. I tried to explain the Fibonacci sequence to her, but as I don't understand it that well myself, I failed. She was happy to see SCV back, and I told her what little I know of what happened last year. She said that early in the season, Bloo did not have the mylar flags. When they received them, they were kind of awkward about them, but we agreed that those were our favorite part of the show. She said that BD's spring training is at a place near them, where there is a high elevation, which trains their lungs and builds their stamina. Ohhhhh. That makes a LOT of sense. She said that she's in a lot of photos of the legacy corps, so I brought up my photos from that year, just now, and I found her! I said that I hoped to see her next year at Finals, and we took selfies so that we could look for each other's faces.
Patty is in the back, first one on the left.
As you might imagine, I got no sleep on that leg because Patty is a talker. But I didn't mind one bit. I asked if I could meet husband Knute since he was also on the plane but they got separated. So I met him and said my goodbyes. My layover in Denver was for a couple of hours and got a sandwich to eat in the little seating area above all of the ruckus, near the AA lounge. My flight to ONT was uneventful and quiet. I was glad to be home, but I still look forward to whatever the drum corps have in their minds for next year, besides the Phregiment Alumni Corps, which should be awesome.
Oh, wait. Troopers already announced their show. The conclusion of the saga. WOW.
