After getting up, got ready and went to restaurant at hotel (Tante's) and had breakfast. Had scrambled eggs, toast, steamed rice, Portuguese sausage, and water. Harry bought breakfast.
Went back to room and got camera and stuff, then went to car and left for a drive. Took highway 190 toward Waimea. Nice drive that took us up to 2500 feet, then came down onto plains.
Found highway 200 (Saddle Road) that goes up between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
Road was narrow and very rough until we came near the Army airfield. Stopped and put roof up around here. Saw a large Chinook helicopter doing some maneuvers nearby.
Drove past Army base and state park until we found road to Mauna Kea summit. Stopped along lava flow area to photograph before we went up mountain.
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| Old lava flow along road, Mauna Loa in background. |
Drove 6 miles up to visitor center and stopped for a bit. Continued up mountain, but road turned to gravel soon after. Slowly drove up road, but after 4 miles or so we started having traction issues. The rough, loose dirt and steep grade was too much. We had reached near the top of cloud layer, but was too risky to continue. [2019 NOTE: After trip I looked at maps and found that roughly 1/2 mile beyond where we turned around the road was paved rest of the way up!! :( ]
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| View on the slopes of Mauna Kea near where we turned around. |
Turned around and started back down. Soon we hit the clouds again and it was heavier and wetter than earlier. Was very low visibility, could barely see the road.
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| Fun drive down in the heavy clouds. |
Finally got down to the paved road and the rain and low visibility was still with us. The clouds had dropped in the last hour.
Reached main road again and only then came out of the clouds.
Saw road up to Mauna Loa, but it was getting late and wanted to keep moving.
Drove down off saddle area, road was very hilly and winding. Was a fun drive, one I would love to have a sports car with.
Finally reached edge of Hilo. Got a bit lost, but eventually made it to sea shore. Put top down at a view point just past city edge.
Reached main road again and only then came out of the clouds.
Saw road up to Mauna Loa, but it was getting late and wanted to keep moving.
Drove down off saddle area, road was very hilly and winding. Was a fun drive, one I would love to have a sports car with.
Finally reached edge of Hilo. Got a bit lost, but eventually made it to sea shore. Put top down at a view point just past city edge.
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| Pacific Ocean from viewpoint near edge of Hilo. |
Drove along coast to the north. Pulled off highway for a scenic drive to Onamea Bay.
Stopped and hiked down a half mile to the bottom of cliffs.
A short hike brought us to the bay and we watched the waves crash into the rocks, got a few splatters while taking photos.
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| Burst mode of a wave breaking. (these 3 photos occur in about 1 second) |
Tried to photograph some birds, but they moved around too much.
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| Only one that turned out, a red cardinal. |
Hiked back out and finished scenic drive. Got back on highway and went north again.
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| Our chariot for the drive around the island. |
Saw some awesome views of ocean, waterfalls, and large canyons, but was never a spot to park. Stopped at one scenic overlook, but was not that nice.
Reached Honokaa and then the rain started again. Pulled over to put top back up.
Stopped in Waimea to get gas and something to drink, then went all the way down to coast on highway 19 to avoid going up in mountains again where it was raining worse.
Did stop for more photos of some big ships out at sea. [2019 NOTE: Those photos did not turn out, bad focus due to camera shake]
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| View of the western coast coming down from Waimea |
Reached Queen Highway and turned south toward Kona again.
Reached hotel, dropped stuff and then walked down road to Pancho & Lefty's again for dinner. Had tortilla soup, a pork and green chile burrito, rice and beans, with a Coke to drink.
Walked to store and bought map, candy, magnets, and key chain.
Walked down to the waters edge after dinner and watched waves break on the rocks. One big one put water way up and over the wall I was standing on. I was pretty wet after that.
Walked up to shopping area and back to hotel. Everything closes up by 9:00-10:00 p.m. except a few bars/restaurants.
Once in room, looked over map for a bit and at some tour brochures, then sat down to write this.
A busy day, saw some cool stuff and missed a lot of cool stuff. Wish we could have made the peak of Mauna Kea. Will make sure I get an SUV or Jeep next trip.
Reached hotel, dropped stuff and then walked down road to Pancho & Lefty's again for dinner. Had tortilla soup, a pork and green chile burrito, rice and beans, with a Coke to drink.
Walked to store and bought map, candy, magnets, and key chain.
Walked down to the waters edge after dinner and watched waves break on the rocks. One big one put water way up and over the wall I was standing on. I was pretty wet after that.
Walked up to shopping area and back to hotel. Everything closes up by 9:00-10:00 p.m. except a few bars/restaurants.
Once in room, looked over map for a bit and at some tour brochures, then sat down to write this.
A busy day, saw some cool stuff and missed a lot of cool stuff. Wish we could have made the peak of Mauna Kea. Will make sure I get an SUV or Jeep next trip.
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