Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Rainbow Falls & Hawai'i Volcanoes...Hilo...20th February....

After sailing overnight we have 2 port stops on The Big Island....today Hilo and tomorrow Kona...
After a drive through the town of Hilo our first stop is at Rainbow Falls but it's cloudy so sadly no rainbow but it is a nice falls and time to walk about and stretch our legs......
Our drive guide today is again very knowledgeable about the history and culture of the island....
 From the waterfall we travel up into the mountain to Volcanoes National Park at 3,700 ft elevation and our first stop at the Thurston Lava Tube....a very interesting third of a mile walk through an ancient lava tube, sorry for no photos...at either end the boardwalk carries on through tropical fern and tree forest...
The Pauahi Crater...
Amazing how vegetation finds life in what seems a barren area of volcanic rock....
Oops the rain clouds are gathering but doesn't start until later as we are leaving the park....
Part of the Halema'uma'u Pit Crater....
Fascinating and very active.... 
Incredible...
We would have liked to see active lava flows but we gather that involves a long long hike.....but we do get to see the hot lava flowing down to the sea as we sail past the coastline this evening....
I wasn't going to include this but I'm a good sport !!!
This and next pic steam vents....incredibly hot and reminiscent of Yellowstone....
More steam vents and fat drops of rain....then on out of the park to our next stop at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut visitor centre....lots of free samples an interesting self guided tour of the facilities and great purchases...
Nellie the elephant....Another good day visiting must see sights......and back in time for our gathering at the Goldrush Bar then the complimentary dinner at Cagney's Steak Restaurant...delicious and rounded off perfectly at the end of the meal by time spent on deck sailing past incredible views of the active lava flows.....again sorry for lack of photos, they didn't at all do it justice...

4 comments:

  1. Hi Both,
    I was beginning to get worried about you.Must be having a very relaxing time after all the tours.Love the new hairdo Sue. Hope all going well , and that the warm weather and sun is continuing. Enjoy.
    Cheers,
    Ann & Dave

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    Replies
    1. Yes I have been lacking in posting but should now be a bit more pro-active !!!
      I was thinking of adopting the hairstyle !!!!
      We hear daffodils are blooming so hoping that spring has at last sprung for you all...
      Cheers from us both...x

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  2. Fascinating, good photos as always. Seems there was lots of attraction to the Goldrush bar - almost as much as volcanoes!!!
    Take care
    Alan & Maxine xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alan re photos....
      Really can't think what the attraction of the Goldrush Bar was ??? Oh yes maybe the very generous Martinis !!!!
      Should be another post today...
      M & S xx

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And Finally.........March 25th to April 1st 2018.....

March 25th and on the road again from Tucson to west of Phoenix and Salome... We saw this beauty at a truck stop on I-10 while having our ...