Categories
Beer Food Travel

Lava, more snorkeling, and the end

The other day (Tuesday) Kelly and I drove to the 2.25 hours to Hilo on the other side of the island so we could take our helicopter tour we’d booked. We booked it there for two reasons, one, they didn’t offer just the volcano tour from the Kona side (so it would have been a longer more expensive trip) and two, we wanted to see Hilo. It rains a lot in Hilo, and it rained most of the time we were there, but we had a nice lunch, wandered through a farmers market, and explored some of the shops for a bit. Oh, and we also went to the tasting room of the brewery at Hilo (Mehana Brewing). Pretty tasty stuff.

Then it was time for our helicopter tour. I’d never been in a helicopter before, and it was both fun and a bit scary. The tour south over the volcano flows was really cool though, and I was able to snap some shots of flowing lava. The tour was 50 minutes, and while they claimed it was both a waterfalls AND volcano tour, we were shown all of one waterfall, at a distance. It would be my only complaint about the tour. Say it’s a volcano tour and be done with it, don’t lead people to think they’ll see majestic waterfalls (plural) as well.

Afterward came time for the drive home. It was 5:30 PM as we drove away from the Hilo airport, and we decided to drive across the island instead of over the north of it (which is how we drove to Hilo earlier in the day). That meant going over Saddle Road, which we’d heard can be pretty treatcherous, but it’d save us time. Oh, it’s important to note sunset is at 6:20 PM or so, so we didn’t have much time to get over Saddle Road before dark. Long story short, it was a winding, hilly mess most of the way, with blind turns and single-lane bridges, and then we ran into rain, and then fog, and the sun had set. My knuckles were white, and my face went pale during a few sections. There was a section in the middle where it went wider and more straight, but it was very very foggy. Fortunately we made it back to the house safely, but only ended up saving 15 minutes. Oh well.

Yesterday morning we went snorkeling again at this spot about a mile south of the house, and again saw a sea turtle, and of course many brilliantly colored fish. Kelly and I also spent about 2 hours swimming in the pool beside the house, and generally relaxing our last day away. For dinner I had this mammoth burger at a place called Splasher’s Grill, and was full the rest of the night. I had a couple of beers and then I was so full and exhausted that it was time for sleep.

Today we fly home. Yesterday we cleaned the house up a bit (I want my deposit back dammit!) and started a bit of packing. I was up before dawn (which is about 8:30am PST) and made coffee. Here pretty soon I might jump in the pool one last time before getting packed and starting the long day of airports and airplanes on the way home.

And again, photos are in the gallery. Aloha!

Categories
Beer Travel

Snorkeling and swimming with dolphoins

Since my last post, Kelly and I found a really good snorkeling spot about a mile south of our rental house, we took a drive north to see the magnificent Waipi’o Valley, and this morning we went out on a boat tour and swam with dolphins. It’s been a blast, however today’s 4 hour boat tour left me with quite the sunburn. Ouch!

Now we’re relaxing near the pool, looking out at the ocean just past sunset (which is before 6:30 pm), and I’m enjoying a fine lager from Kona Brewing. Hooray!

All the photos are on the gallery (same link as previous posts).

Categories
Beer Travel

Day two on the Big Island

Yesterday Kelly and I drove south to Kealakekua Bay to go snorkeling (after an early morning swim in the pool at the house). The drive took about an hour, and the first spot we went to some locals told us that the visibility was poor and to head a bit further south. When we got there the snorkeling was pretty good, and while the visibility still wasn’t super clear, we managed to snap some photos of some fish and I managed to get a bit of a sunburn. Joy.

Afterwards we drove to the southern-most point of the island (and the southern most point of the United States) in an attempt to get to Green Sands beach. As a result of both time of day, and weather (started to rain) we had to abandon a 2.5 mile hike to the beach itself so we could get back to the house before dark.

Last night we went to the Kona Brewing Company a few miles up the road from our house for dinner. The food was really good, and I had a delicious stout that they pour onsite (had a slight hint of coffee flavor to it). Sadly don’t bottle the stout, but we’ve had plenty of their golden and lager while at the house. Mmmm. Beer.

This morning (like yesterday) we got up early and made coffee. We walked down to a couple beaches just south of the house and swam for a bit, and later we’re thinking of driving north to the valleys and seeing some waterfalls and such.

More photos are in the gallery.

Categories
Travel Work

August recap & we’re going to Hawaii

Yup, another month, and despite all my hopes to write more frequently, I keep using Twitter to spout my nonsense, rather than writing to my blog.

To keep it quick:

  • Early August Kelly and I joined our friends in Eagle Crest (photos)
  • Worked a ton (late nights and weekends)
  • The weather has gone from stupid hot to cold to hot again
  • Had the mother-in-law in town from Arizona
  • Continued yardwork action, trying to keep the place in order
  • Planned a trip to Hawaii

The last bullet is the important one. Kelly and I are going to Hawaii at the end of the month, and I’m really excited about it. We’re renting an oceanfront house south of Kona on the big island for 6 nights. Since 2001, all our travels have been to Europe, which I love, but that means a lot of cathedrals, museums, pubs, and big cities. I’m looking forward to spending a few days swimming in the ocean, and doing (hopefully) not too much in a tropical environment.

The house we’re renting has WiFi, so I expect to be blogging and posting photos while there. Doubt I’ll write too much more between now and then since we have have more family visiting next weekend, and I have even more work to do. So for the 2 of you who follow my blog (I assume it’s down to two, since my posts have been so infrequent), expect more at the end of the month.