Once again an early start to our morning, we wanted to visit the Thurston Lava Tube before we packed up the car and headed to the west coast. We headed back into the National Park before 7am and were the only people on the road. However we did get slowed down by Pheasants on the road! They must make the most of any road kill before the roads get too busy and around every corner we were met by a family of them. One stupid bird just stood in the middle of the road and looked at the car then just kept pecking the road. No way was she going to move. Just as I opened the door to jump up and shoo her away she finally slowly got the message and crossed to the other side.
The tube was pretty amazing, the walk down to it could have been through any NZ forest, so many of the plants were familiar to us. While we saw half a dozen other people there was only us walking through the tube, it is really hard to believe that these tubes are what carry the red hot lava.
Then back, breakfast, showers, car packed and heading to Hilo for the farmers market. On the way we saw a couple of things that were slightly odd, road works with the man holding the sign, the side facing us said STOP, yet all the traffic was driving on through, and the side on the other side said slow, to ensure that southbound cars slowed down. Somehow our STOP, GO signs make a lot more sense. Just as well we followed the other cars and kept on going rather than stop!
We also came across this crazy looking car, truck, alien, why you need big double wheels at the back is beyond me, and yes “your bum does look big in that”!
At Hilo we went to the farmers market, lots of lovely fruit and vegies, we bought two types of passionfruit known here as Liliko’I, two big bags for $4 total, very yummy.
Other than that we didn’t buy too much there as it was just too hot and we couldn’t be bothered. As we were heading back to our car we came across a café that I had read about on Tripadvisor; the Moonstruck so decided to stop for a quick cold drink, oh, okay, and something to eat. Struggling to decide we got a frangipane croissant a passionfruit cheesecake to share. Very very very yummy. The croissant was even yummier than the pastries in Vanuatu!
Then a little further down the road we came across a candy shop. Wow, what a candy shop, you could get everything, candy with ants, with bugs, chocolate covered bugs, bacon flavoured soda. None of which we had, we just got the normal brittle and raspberry chocolates for our drive.
Then back into the car and to the Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Gardens, while the road there was very narrow with several one lane bridges the gardens where just lovely. Set on the coast, full of beautiful lush plants.
From here we stopped at Akaka Falls, for the round trip walk, blimmen hot but rather spectacular falls.
Next it was to find somewhere for lunch as we drove along the coast. Only another 45 miles, 3 pm and we came across Village Burgers in Waimea very tasty and very hungry it hardly touched the sides. Had the yummiest strawberry thickshake which was made with real strawberries. Yummy.
Hit the condo about 4pm and it was like an oven, it had been closed up for a couple of days so sitting at 30C inside. Q was quick to turn to air con on full bore and we soon cooled down.
Someone (not Quentin) may have unpacked all the bags and then had a little snooze before waking up and deciding it was time to go to the shops and find something light for dinner. Dinner had, time for bed and no Wendy Nicholson, NO blog, I am on holiday you know and it isn’t like you are paying to read this! 