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!!