March 4, 2007
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We survived the Road To Hana – AGAIN!
Well we did again. 52 miles. 56 one way bridges (including one that replaces a bridge that was damaged by the earthquake) and 617 bends, curves and twists. It is not for the timid. It is however well worth the trip! This trip was the best one yet, but we still haven’t made it on a day when it was safe to swim in the pools…..
What made this trip the best? Well for one we didn’t do it all in one day!
I have this history with people. When we lived in No. CA visitors always wanted to go to the redwoods. It’s a gorgeous journey and well worth the drive. It isn’t however something you do from where we lived in one day. That is also a twisty-turney road that takes far longer than you would ever think possible. The first time I did that trip Was with my friend Zingy from FL. We did it in one day. We left at like 9:00 am. We got back about 2:00 am. NOT fun! The trip was fabulous, but whew…
The next set of visitors I tried to convince them it was not a day trip. About 10:00 Pm that night we are still on the road and everyone is complaining and grumping – all I can say is “I TOLD you this WASN’T a one day trip!!!” Guess what, next set of visitors, same song different day.
The Road to Hana has played out very similarly. The only exception is that people have listened and we have adjusted our trips (except for the first one when we discovered it’s a long day – coincidentally that was with Zingy too….hmmmmmm…). This time though we drove straight down Friday evening after SF got home from Driver’s Ed and stayed in a rental cottage for the evening. It wasn’t luxurious but it was clean and relatively comfortable and definitely affordable. Then Sat. Morning we got up, went to see Lindbergh’s grave. Then to Seven Sacred Pools (there is really only 5 and they are not sacred) and a hike to some waterfalls and the bamboo forest. Then a stop for lunch followed with a visit to Waianapanapa Park where we visited princess caves, black sand beaches, lava tubes and a blow hole. By then it was like 4:30 so we drove home and were home by 6:30. All was good!
Next weekend we will be on Kauai, and the following weekend we will be on Lanai. Pretty cool. Only problem – I have 10 days to complete my comprehensive exams. <GRIN> Nothing like a little challenge to spice things up!
The best news of all though – IT IS OFFICIAL! Hubby got the paperwork today – His assignment was cancelled, his DEROS (Date Eligible Return from Over Seas) extension approved, and retirement date of 1 September approved. We have it – in WRITING!!!
OK, so now that you have all the travel guide info I give you:
PICTURES!!!
Plumeria and lava rock in the church graveyard Views from Waianapanap Park
Waterfalls, One at Ohe’o State Park and one just off the road — the one the girls are in front of is making a rainbow –
A small portion of the Road to Hana – look at those turns!!
Comments (19)
Those pictures are amazingly beautiful. What a trip!
I remember when my Daughter had plumeria-scented everything when she was a teen. Never knew what it looked like, though!
Beautiful pics! And congratulations on the orders! That must be a huge relief.
Trish
Yay on Uncle Sam getting it right finally!!! Beautiful pictures. I bet you will miss it when you are gone!
gorgeous…where are the bridges? :not-talking:
beautiful pictures!!!!
In writing?!! :celebrate: Shit, I’ll drink to that!!
The road to Hana would have made my kids yak. Those pictures just proved it. :straight-face:
Yay. That is awesome. Wow great pictures. We leave for Kauai 3 months from last Sat. June 3rd. My friend was telling me about a hike that you either hike in and get a boat back or boat up and hike back. She said it can be done without the boat but it is hard to do. Roads like that make me sick unless I drive. The one to the Redwoods you talk about is the prime example. I think it is HWY 119? or something like that. Ugh.
Those pictures are totally awesome…………love them…………must have been an awesome trip………hugs.
Gorgeous pics! Sounds like you have definitely spent your time in Hawaii well. I wish I would have gotten to see as much as you, especially the black sand beaches! So, does that mean that you guys stay there until you ETS and go to NM?
I am so glad things are working out. I was praying for you and your family.
These pictures are beautiful. :camera:They look like they could be put on post cards, they are so beautiful.
wow the pictures are so beautiful and amazing! :celebrate:woohoo:celebrate:on the orders that is sooo great!! happy for ya!
Oh my goodness! What great news! I am so pleased for y’all. Guess the AF is family friendly after all.
Those pictures are fabulous. I saw something on the travel channel about that road and they give the impression that it is just a short drive, but very winding. Glad you are getting to do all these things now.
Good luck with those exams!
I absolutely LOVE the pics. We are planning on going to Hawaii for my 40th b-day and baby sis’ 10th wedding anniversary… 2009.
Your trip sounds nice.
Thanks for your comment. I don’t know about the “weight” staying off but I haven’t had anytime for it to come back on. Fingers crossed that it stays OFF! I just have 35 more to go… yuck, gasp…HELP!
Take care.
Gorgeous! I want to visit again! (kuai in 1988 was my last visit)
Really beautiful pics. RYC–you are welcome to at my site any time.
What beautiful pictures! Glad to hear this trip went stress-lessly and it sounds like you enjoyed yourselves. I truly ejoyed these beautiful pics. If I can’t be there…this is the next best thing!
CONGRATULAIONS on hubbys paperwork approved! That must be a load off your mind.
:so-cool: LOVELY pictures….having never been there….this is the next best thing!
great news about your husband, too….I know you are excited and pleased….
That is sure some beautiful scenery. Glad you got the orders in writing, which I know only makes it about 90% official, but that’s better than nothing. RYC: I’m starting to think that I like the limits testing of a toddler much better than the limits testing of a teenager.
YIKES!!!!! I am so NOT showing this to Mike…..you traitor you!….LOL I just don’t get the hupla about this drive, it is so hair raising that even with many stops along the way it is not worth it to me….but good call on making it a two day thing, I have always thought it should be that way, I always warn the tourists that stay at our condo that they should not expect to make it a “leasurely” outing if they are only going to give it one day, but sadly, no one listens to me…including Mike!
I have told Mike the ONLY way I will do that drive with him again is if we stay up there for the night (they have a place up there that has tree houses for rent, I would just LOVE that…well, you know how I feel about tree houses….LOL)
By the way, our annivarsary is coming up (March 11), guess what we are giving each other?…Yep, a quick trip to Maui, just the two of us and NO WORK planned on the condo, just fun at the beach. We will be there April 14 – 22….I can’t wait! We hope to be able to visit with you all while we are there, we would love to have you all over for dinner, maybe bring the swim suits to play in the pool or spa, or just on the beach in front of the complex, it would be fun. (let the girls know that the pool area is where Sarah goes “hunting” for cute tourist boys!…lol)