I can't say I was expecting much, but being still partially on home time, it was easy to get up early. As we drove up to the Jagger viewing area, I saw a glow that originally I assumed was from lights in the parking lot. As we got closer, I was stunned to see the glow was from the volcano.
Walking up to the viewing area, there were only two other people there, with one leaving shortly after we got there. The view was absolutely amazing. This is likely not only one of the best things we've seen on the trip, but likely one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Photography without a tripod was a bit challenging, but using the wall as a support, I was able to get many pictures that were at least decent. I do not think they did the actual surreal scene justice.
I also took some video and was surprised this worked as well as it did. I captured two videos, both of which show lava splatter.
Talking with the other awestruck individual, he said he was there the night before and there was about 150 people there making the viewing was difficult. That would not have been the same experience.
As it started to approach the first traces of dawn, the view became even better since the entire horizon could be seen along with the incomprehensible glow from the caldera.
Trying to get some close-ups, it was even possible to get stills showing some lava splatter.
While there have been many high points of this Hawaiian Adventure, this was the most incredibly only-in-Hawaii thing we saw.
Once it got light, we headed down to the end of Chain of Craters road. The wind at the lower elevation had picked up considerably - so much so that it was nerve wracking to get too close to the dramatic cliffs at the end of the road.
The Holei Sea Arch was interesting to see with the waves crashing all around.
We walked for a ways down the "Emergency Access Route" and saw more lava and some lava. Almost as dramatic, were the vast fields of lava. Some of these flows are from as recently as 2008 when the flow covered the paved road. It must be a phenomenal amount of work to clear recent lava and recreate a road.
There remains one small copse of palm trees; I think I should build my tropical paradise hut here. Hopefully the National Park Service won't object?
We headed back up Chain of Craters Road planning on stopping at a few more places while we worked our way north. I was impressed to see two people on bikes who had ridden down, now working their way up. I was baffled that on the flat, straight, vacant road, they were actively preventing me from passing. As an avid bicyclist myself, I've never understood these sanctimonious pricks... They just make everyone despise all bicyclists and it is much safer to let the cars get around for all to continue on merrily at their own pace.
We stopped at the Puu Loa Petroglyphs. This was less than a mile hike from the road, but the trail is a bit hard to follow. The wind blew black volcanic sand around as we worked our way to the ancient graphics. The petroglyphs were scattered all over and there is a boardwalk to help prevent walking over them.
We stopped a few more places as we headed out, but to be honest, craters and overlooks were starting to all run together. If my pictures didn't have time and date stamps, some of them might be hard to know exactly where they were. I guess that is a frightful sign that we are on the tail end of a good, long adventure.
We also briefly stopped at the Jagger Museum to see the actual museum. Our visit was very short lived however since the place was absolutely lousy with people and tour buses. It was a slightly amusing to see the cruise folk shivering in their tropical shirts, shorts and sandals on top of the cool, blustery mountain. Having had another very early start, there was no crime in letting the hoards have their time. Early morning continues to be the best part of most adventures.
Dinner that night was back at Kuhio. I had to try saimin and the teriyaki pork was nearly as good as the kalua pork.
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