Big Island 5

Today we leave for a night in Honolulu, before continuing on to American Samoa on Friday Sept. 22. We plan to travel also to Samoa, and to the Island of Ofu, and expect not to have regular internet connections. I have been told their service is slow, when available. We arrive in Australia October 15, and hope to catch up with everyone at the latest then!

We are sad to leave the Avocado Tree House - not just a place to sleep, but a destination in itself. Craig gets credit for saying it well.

Link to Big Island 5, our last post from Hawaii.



These last few pictures are a bit random. We do stay in a tree house, but only have to climb up the tree when we want to be in the Reflection Room - the picture of Craig amongst the glass. The hostess' daughter decorated it when in high school, and Craig spent several evenings reading there.
They later added a room at ground level below it, where we sleep. There is a separate kitchen, and dining area a few feet away, and a covered warm shower literally in the tree. A palm tree leaf brushing against you on occasion in a breeze... views of avocados.

There are not many loops we could ride here, as the distances are great, and the main roads are less interesting. So one afternoon we did an in and out, up hill for some 8 miles ( climbing maybe 2000' for our cycling friends),  as the island is built around craters, then came back down as I refused to continue, and disobey the 'no trespassing' sign posted by the prison.
On the way down, Craig saw wild pigs next to the road. Fortunately they took off in to the brush, and did not get too close to him. We ended up with only some 20+ miles, but felt we deserved to eat!

Our last full day, we drove to the west, drier side of the island. Hiked from the Pu'u Wa'a Wa'a Cinder Cone State Park. A very pleasant 7.5 mile hike, up to a lush summit, from which you could see some of the high peaks. Our summit was at 3926' (just under 1200m), but the trailhead is around 2000'. The park is adjacent to a working ranch, and we saw cows, sheep, and goats on the trail. Fortunately, no wild pigs.. there was a sign at the bottom pertaining to "ungulate control" over Labor Day - which Craig translated as hunting of the same.

After this, in to touristy Kona for some supplies, and then a quick trip to a beach further north, as Craig wanted to try his snorkel mask. He was again amazed at all the colorful fish he saw immediately in just knee deep water. I didn't go in, as I know he would not have appreciated having the heat on in the car for the 2 hour trip back here... The sun was low, and it was cloudy by this time,  and not at all that warm if you are wet.
There are vast, barren lava fields along the coastal road north of Kona - we thought this entire area would be all built up. Beach 69 was small, totally unassuming, but it was safe current-wise, and we saw a few young families late in the day.

As I wrote my childhood friend Susse - despite the beauty, and our relaxing, exotic current accommodations, we wouldn't want to live in the tropics. We like the variety of our seasons at home, but if you are a surfer of any type, this is paradise.
Craig is disappointed he didn't figure out he should have moved to the Pacific Northwest years ago. The locals there told us the weather usually is as perfect as we experienced - for some 4 months out of the year. Bright sunshine, 70s to lower 80s, no humidity! And then there is Mazama for the winter months, unless they lose their powder snow to global warming.