We started this 12 hour tour with a long drive across the island. We learned that we would be traveling over Saddle Road once voted the most dangerous road in the United States. Great. It turns out that the roads department had been busy improving the roads so it was actually about 10 miles of bumpy potholes and narrow winding roads and then it opened up into a nice improved road. It used to be like that all across the island since it was the most direct route between Hilo and Kona. Saddle Road crosses the island between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, tht is Mauna Loa in the background. We are actually at a rest stop.
We stopped at a lava tube right before going into Hilo. We had to cross this tiny road which seemed safe enough but our guide said to be very careful because cars coming wizzing down the road and it was pretty dangerous. Once we looked at it carefully, sure enough, it was a blind road coming in both directions!
There was a light breakfast all set up for us, orange juice, coffee, milk and donuts. There was also the 1st lava tube to look at. It was down some steep steps and looked pretty creepy.
Which means Scot had to go down there. Here he is with Reggie and Kiana, part of our tour group.
The lava tube was called the Kaumana Caves and was pretty interesting.
We climbed back into the van and headed off to the Volcano Park. We watched a DVD about the recent activity and traversed through Hilo. I slept most of the way. When I woke up it was really "voggy." Vog is what the locals call volcanic smog. Our next stop was the Thurston Lava Tube. We hopped out of the van and almost choked to death. We were right on a caldera and it was really acrid smelling, like someone lit 100,000 matches.
Once again, here is Scot heading into a lava tube.
Me and Laura didn't go in, it was really too far to walk. Here is Judy and Scot inside the tube.
I was outside taking pictures of this tree. It was all curly and crusty and really beautiful.
I had to get a shot of Scot's outfit. What a man!
After the Lava Tube we drove out to the ocean, we could see the point where the lava was entering the sea but we were still about 3/4 of a mile away. It was really hot here, probably in the 90's. It was rocky and the breeze was hot and the rocks reflected the sun and the heat. Incredibly majestic.
This is a natural formation in the rocks from the pounding of the surf.
We even got to see some Nene birds, the endangered state bird of Hawaii. Our guide told us that if you were to run over a bird you were obligated to tell the authorities. Then they would put your name in the paper... "Lynn ran over a Nene bird!" That would certainly deter me!
I love this sign. I saw it quite a few times. Makes sense.
I took this picture of Laura about 2:00, we were still pretty fresh. We still had about 6 hours to go on the tour.
We started this 12 hour tour with a long drive across the island. We learned that we would be traveling over Saddle Road once voted the most dangerous road in the United States. Great. It turns out that the roads department had been busy improving the roads so it was actually about 10 miles of bumpy potholes and narrow winding roads and then it opened up into a nice improved road. It used to be like that all across the island since it was the most direct route between Hilo and Kona. Saddle Road crosses the island between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, tht is Mauna Loa in the background. We are actually at a rest stop.
We stopped at a lava tube right before going into Hilo. We had to cross this tiny road which seemed safe enough but our guide said to be very careful because cars coming wizzing down the road and it was pretty dangerous. Once we looked at it carefully, sure enough, it was a blind road coming in both directions!
There was a light breakfast all set up for us, orange juice, coffee, milk and donuts. There was also the 1st lava tube to look at. It was down some steep steps and looked pretty creepy.
Which means Scot had to go down there. Here he is with Reggie and Kiana, part of our tour group.
The lava tube was called the Kaumana Caves and was pretty interesting.
We climbed back into the van and headed off to the Volcano Park. We watched a DVD about the recent activity and traversed through Hilo. I slept most of the way. When I woke up it was really "voggy." Vog is what the locals call volcanic smog. Our next stop was the Thurston Lava Tube. We hopped out of the van and almost choked to death. We were right on a caldera and it was really acrid smelling, like someone lit 100,000 matches.
Once again, here is Scot heading into a lava tube.
Me and Laura didn't go in, it was really too far to walk. Here is Judy and Scot inside the tube.
I was outside taking pictures of this tree. It was all curly and crusty and really beautiful.
I had to get a shot of Scot's outfit. What a man!
After the Lava Tube we drove out to the ocean, we could see the point where the lava was entering the sea but we were still about 3/4 of a mile away. It was really hot here, probably in the 90's. It was rocky and the breeze was hot and the rocks reflected the sun and the heat. Incredibly majestic.
This is a natural formation in the rocks from the pounding of the surf.
We even got to see some Nene birds, the endangered state bird of Hawaii. Our guide told us that if you were to run over a bird you were obligated to tell the authorities. Then they would put your name in the paper... "Lynn ran over a Nene bird!" That would certainly deter me!
I love this sign. I saw it quite a few times. Makes sense.
I took this picture of Laura about 2:00, we were still pretty fresh. We still had about 6 hours to go on the tour.
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