Final Day(s) 17-18: Zoo, Lava Tree park,bike to volcano, head home

Apparently, you can sit under the Mango tree but you can't pick the mangoes. 

We went to the local zoo specifically because they have a pair of the State of Hawaii bird, the Nene. This is a Canadian goose like bird. While we were leaving the horse back riding area we drove past what looked to us like a very rare Nene.

A living, what looks to be very lonely, Nene. He makes the cutest little noise but he seemed so sad. Bob and I agreed that we can mark this one off as a confirmation. 

In the Lava Tree State Monument has about 40 molds of trees burned in a lava flow along a walking path. After the trees burned various plants and trees took root. 

After the zoo, we had rented a couple bikes for the short ride back into the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Short yes, if about 6 miles round trip is short, but it was over 85 degrees, just past high noon and very few clouds. And since it was our last full day in Hawaii, of course this is the day we forgot to use our sunscreen. Ouch, a little pink.

Kilauea also has what is called a "fire hose" which is the outlet into the ocean. The steam rising and boulders flying  was amazing. There was even an orange glow along the outcropping. Considering how awesome the lava lake looked at night, this would be just as cool after the sun goes down.

If you look close you can see the faint orange glow of the fire hose.

There were multiple explosions like this. You might want to note the lower left hand side of this photo. That is a small boat which it seems is perfectly okay. Any idiot with a boat and clients willing to pay can get as close as they dare from the ocean side. However, if a guide is leading a group of hikers beyond the boundaries set by the National Park Service, there are going to be consequences. While we were taking pictures a park ranger walked up. Besides us there were about 8 other people. The ranger said this was the first time since the middle of November that he has arrived and nobody was breaching the boundaries.

This picture shows debris being thrown out in this explosion. 

This explosion looks to be large enough to drive off the boat but as I turned around I noticed another boat arriving. Sigh. 

This lava looks just like rope. 

We are gathering our remaining strength for the ride back down. 

Day 16: Horse Back Tour

Horseback riding today, one of our all time favorite things to do. The tail to nose format is not much fun but the scenery will take care of any misgivings. We did have to drive practically clear across the Big Island which is only about 50 miles wide but traffic speed makes it an hour and a half. In other words, another early morning.

The stables are on the Waipio Ridge. This is the Waipio Valley. 

We have to be transported by passenger van down one of the steepest roads ever. And they claim it is maintained by the county but I would certainly question when that happened last. 

These are not stable horses walking along the road. This is a wild mare and her foal. We stopped the van and she walked right up to the open window shielding her foal. 

At the stables another large group of wild horses walked by. Some of the locals have caught a few of these horses and trained them for riding. 

We have arrived in the valley and mounted our steeds. I am riding Sierra who I am told has some issues with any horse trying to pass her on the trail. She also likes to roll in the streams of which we will be crossing several.

Ever try to take a picture while riding a horse on an uneven, muddy, stone strewn trail? Bob did a good job. 

One of our first water breaks.

This is one of three spring fed waterfalls from the rim into the valley. They are all used by native Hawaiians still living in the valley for crops, washing and drinking. 

These are two plots of "wet taro" roots which are a staple for native Hawaiians for centuries.

The round orange looking fruit is about as big as a volleyball. Our guide, Grace, tells me that is a white grapefruit. Having lived in Florida with a grapefruit tree right outside our back door and I never would have thought one would be that big.

Bob is riding Waka, a very calm, no issues kind of horse. Just the right horse for Bob. 

I did have to watch Sierra pretty closely. At one point, a group of the wild horses came towards us. Most of them just passed by and kept going. Apparently one decided to join our party and came up behind Sierra close to her rear. Her ears folded back, she whipped her head around to bite and kicked out with her back leg. She was not amused and skittered sideways. I was afraid she was going to run into one of the other horses close to me and the folks around were not experienced. Fortunately she settled down and got back to the tour. 

One of the several creeks we either crossed or rode down in the valley.

I thought we were going to get through the trip without much more drama but Sierra was walking through a stream, put her head down as if she wanted water and started pawing at the water. I was told that is a classic sign for her to roll in the water. I had to move quickly or take a bath with her. We hadn't gone more than 20 feet when the woman behind me let her horse get too close and Sierra totally bucked at the horse. Boy was that startling. 

The view of the black sand beach at the end of the valley.

As you may recall, while we were on Oahu one of our guides recommended Leonard's bakery for Portuguese malasadas (donuts). On the Big Island, Tex is the place to go for malasadas and it just so happens to be outside of Waipio.  

Look at the size of that thing. It's twice as big as the other ones we had. They also were a more typical donut taste and texture. Add a cup of Kona coffee and enjoy. Delicious!

Day 15: A little R&R - Kona coffee farm tour

Breakfast - yogurt parfait. Surprise of the morning was two whales appearing just outside the wave break. Sadly, two boats also saw the water spouts and ran over to that spot. We did get to see a double tail as the whales dove deep to avoid the not very smart boats and their owners. 

Our hectic and exhausting day on Saturday led to our day of rest. We thought about going to the pool but there was quite a crowd including lots of kids so instead we took a short tour of a local coffee grower's farm, Mountain Thunder Coffee farm. This is world famous hand picked Kona coffee. 

James our tour guide

Whole coffee berry and 2 coffee beans inside. 

This is the start of the growing season so this bush needs to have the old canes removed to it bushes out and shades the coffee beans during the growth season.

A banana tree with a flower. Never saw that before.

Farm cat to keep down the rodents.

All the beans have to be removed from the berries, dried, sorted through screens then roasted. All at an industrial size level.

Local free range chickens are everywhere in Hawaii.