the long road home...

So, yesterday. We had the strange idea of taking a 400-mile road trip, which lasted 16 hours. (Ring any bells, Chad and Amber?).

First, we headed north to Saddleback Road, an "alpine" road, for lack of a better definition, that splits the 13-ers, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. We went up to 9200 feet at Mauna Kea, but did not go to the summit. Rental car companies don't allow their cars on the "dangerous," albeit maintained and paved-at-the-top road. What a racket! So, we went to Mauno Loa instead, up to 11,200 feet. The road past this point was indeed dangerous, so we stopped (even though our rental agreement did not prohibit this trek). It was amazing to be above the clouds and amazing to go from sea level to 11,000 feet, from 80 degrees to 40, etc. in the span of a couple of hours.  It was also pretty cool to be on an active volcano. It was also cool to see the multi-colored lava flows.

From there, we went to Hilo for lunch at Ken's Pancake House (Ken is Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson's cousin we learned). Anyway, big food. Crazy, sumo big food!

Then, off to Volcanoes national park were the Kilaeua (sp) caldera was smoldering -- very cool. From there, we had to back track 60 miles to the lava flow (which was actually only about three "crow" miles from where we were in the park). But it was worth the trip to see land and sea collide in what was, indeed, a spectacular event. We were quite a ways a way, but it was still an impressive show. Plus, walking back, the "field" above was aglow in the dark as the lava continued its slow descent to the sea. Then .... back to the caldera to see it glow in the dark. 

From there, the 100-mile trip back to the room. We started at 7 a.m., finished at 11 p.m. Today, a bit of R and R before going ocean kayaking (cue laughter, Amber) and snorkeling at Cpt. Cook monument. 

Later....