On Hawaii, the Big Island

Kona airport is built on an old lava flow. You come in to country that looks like the bad side of mars, or like what happens when asphalt pavers go bad. The whole place is a desert of layers and piles and swirls of giant black cinders and cracked asphalt paving. Into this, a series of flat runways have been buldozed and paved, and in their center is the oasis that is the airport terminal. Kona is on the Lee side of the island, so most of the greenery is provided and tended by man. But drive south about fifty miles, and you get to where the trade winds blow a few clouds across the shoulder of the volcanos, and lush greenery errupts!

Generous trees spread their loving arms over the tough grass and float a blanket of shade across your overheated body.

This tree is just one of many we passed on the way to the village of Captain Cook, where we had lunch. We stopped at a local burger stand, and as we waited fo our food (DH had a burger which he pronounced "Really good!" and I had the seafood salad which was mostly iceberg lettuce with a divine slice of fresh grilled amberjack, that being the fish that the cook's brother had caught that morning.) As we waited for our food to be prepared, we watched the owner's two little kids chase vagrant chickens off the parking lot, and eavesdropped while the owner and a pal sat to "talk story." Yes, I know that small business owners have hard times and everyone has troubles, but this was such a serene, contented vignette that I longed to own it.

From Captain Cook, we drove on through Na'alehu where there is a bakery that requires further attention, and on past South Point, the most southerly point of land in the US. We would have driven out to actually be there, but our rental car is not allowed on those broken roads.


But here's a view looking south. If you jump in the ocean and start swimming south from here, your next landfall will be Antarctica.


Here we see a local weather condition. The volcanic fumes combine with the humidity to produce Vog. It's like smog, only from a volcano. We are lucky enough to be upwind of the volcano (for the time being) where we are staying, so the air is clear and sweet. Vog has so much sulfer in it that it can be quite acidic and gives lots of trouble to people with breathing problems.



And here is the view from the swimming pool at our home for the next week. Sea Mountain Village
is a little spot of civilization fourty miles from the nearest Safeway or Starbucks. You want a good cuppa coffee? Old Joe Pakinikini has a coffee plantation just over the hill and his wife always has a pot of their private roast keeping hot. Go say hi you neibah.

Saturday, the Hilo Farmer's market is in session from dawn till it's gone. We are going to go stock up on fresh fruits and maybe find some treasures. Hugs and love to you all!