Wewere up with the sun–that’s like 5:30 AMHST! After breakfast we decided to make this our first visit to the Volcano to check it out.\u00a0 We went by way of Rainbow Falls just outside Hilo’s downtown.<\/p>\n
At Rainbow Falls we were disappointed at first.\u00a0 The information we had said best in the morning.\u00a0 When we arrived, there was no rainbow to be seen!\u00a0 And we could not do the geocache there because of too many muggles.\u00a0\u00a0 They were everywhere!\u00a0 Maybe there will be fewer people not on a weekend day.\u00a0 And the sun was in and out of the clouds.\u00a0 So, we waited around and waited around.\u00a0 About 10 AM the sun peeked out for longer periods of time and we saw the hint of the rainbow from the main walkway.\u00a0 After watching at this spot for a few minutes, Joyce went up to the right so the sun was in a better position and the rainbow was more present.\u00a0 We both got a few shots from that spot.<\/p>\n
There was a higher overlook that looked down on the falls and upriver. No rainbow up there.\u00a0 BUT, Joyce did it twice thereby ensuring that her fitbit would record more stairs climbed that Gary’s!\u00a0 We met a fellow photographer from Honolulu who had the same brand of travel tripod as Gary and he remarked on it.\u00a0 Saying that he had to actually go to B&H (the big photo store in NYC) to check it out.\u00a0 He had a Canon 5D MKIII for taking great photos.<\/p>\n
We tried once more on the way out for the geocache, but there were still too many people about. Left for the Volcano National Park about 10:45.\u00a0 Once again our Senior Pass got us through the entrance gate without charge.\u00a0 Stopping at the visitor center to get the first of several earth caches in the park (Success!!), we also got some information from one of the rangers about various things to do in the park.\u00a0 Based on that information we decided to go along the Chain of Craters Road to the Sea Arch.\u00a0 Along the way we stopped at the Devastation Trail and took a 0.7\u00a0mile round trip walk to see over into one of the cratersthat people could hike across.\u00a0 Then we drove to the hike to the petroglyphs.\u00a0 It was 1.5 miles, but across the lava.\u00a0 Joyce was sure that it was 2 or maybe 5 miles!\u00a0 This took about an hour.\u00a0 Got a few photos from both the Devastation Trail and the petroglyphs.<\/p>\n
On to the Sea Arch!\u00a0 Here we got the 2nd earth cache successfully by answering a couple of questions and sending a photo of us (Joyce) holding the GPSr with the Sea Arch in the background.\u00a0 Got a few other photos in the area.\u00a0 Then headed back up the Chain of Craters Road to make our way to the Lava Tube.\u00a0 It was really hot, too!<\/p>\n
We stopped at one of the craters that was not named on the map and we didn’t document the name while there.\u00a0 Took a couple of panorama photos and some various shots of the crater.<\/p>\n
At the Lava Tube, there were hordes of people!\u00a0 It was a walk down, down, down into the rain forest and back up into the Lava Tube.\u00a0 We were after our 3rd earth cache here.\u00a0 Successfully answered the questions and walked a short way into the tube.\u00a0 Too many people so we returned to the parking lot.\u00a0 Up, up and up that added about 4 stairs to our fitbits (Joyce is still ahead of me) stopping along the way to grab a few photos.<\/p>\n
Since the weather was pretty clear we decided to try for dinner at the Volcano House (lodge and restaurant built by the CCC) and then stay for the night photography opportunity at the Jaggar Museum viewing area.\u00a0 We were lucky, the lounge was open and they had enough\u00a0 choices to make dinner.\u00a0 Joyce had three BBQ sliders and Gary had a pizza with pork and pineapple.\u00a0 A couple of local beers, too.\u00a0 The restaurant had views of the caldera and steam vents.\u00a0 Nice!<\/p>\n
After dinner and the short drive to the Jaggar Museum, Gary set up his tripod for the night shots.\u00a0 Of course, it was only 5:30 and sunset was around 6:50 and dark was around 8 PM.\u00a0 Waiting on photograpy opportunities is not one of Joyce’s best loved activities.\u00a0 During the 3 hour wait, she found the 4th earth cache at the Jaggar Museum, logged all the day’s caches and waited in the car the last 30 minutes!<\/p>\n
Leaving around 8:20, we arrived back at the guest house around 9:30. watched the news and called it a day!<\/p>\n
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Wewere up with the sun–that’s like 5:30 AMHST! After breakfast we decided to make this our first visit to the Volcano to check it out.\u00a0 We went by way of Rainbow Falls just outside Hilo’s downtown. At Rainbow Falls we were disappointed at first.\u00a0 The information we had said best in the morning.\u00a0 When we … Continue reading Saturday–First Volcano Day (Aug)<\/span>