Report from South Kona

Not at the crack of dawn , at about 1030a or so , we got under way for a day of adventure . The cooler , not yet filled , three or four kites , swim trunks , misc items thrown in and off we traveled north. First a quick stop for a smoothie in town and my shot of wheat grass . North we headed across the semi barren Lava fields , dotted with resorts , golf courses ( yuk ) and expensive vacation homes . Traveling on and on around the north end of the Island past the little Hawaiian Towns . Watching the surroundings change from Lava field to scrub to ranch land meadows and finally to lush tropics . At the end of the road is a trail that winds down a steep drop back and forth , don’t look over , till you emerge at the bottom where the beach awaits . Now I thought that I had not been down the trail before , remembering that about 15 years ago or so I did go down the trail . The Delcolle brother were along and it was the trip where with my ex and her twin sister ( who has been my friend for about 30 years ) and I had gone into a burial cave and had a very strange events happen along the way there , now that is a whole other story . The Delcolle brothers are also twins that I have known since I was about 14 or 15 . We had all walked down but after just getting there it turns out that the beer had run out and if you knew the Delcolles . No matter what within 10 to 15 minutes of that event it was time to go LOL . So that trip was over shadowed by the events in route and the stay at the bottom of the trail was brief .

OK back now to the present , emerging from the trees there is the beach . Black sand stretching out to the other cliff enclosing the valley . Waves breaking becoming white walls of foam rolling to shore . Drift wood here and there , a couple of swings made from rope and wood washed ashore from the ocean. Walking down the beach we came across a small drift wood shack that someone had built on the beach . I did my part and made the bench inside much more stable , with that we occupied it for the afternoon . First a general exploring of area , marveling at the sights and sounds, waves rolling , wind thru the trees . First we sent up a kite , not the bone breaker or the giant one , the smaller version of the bone breaker . The wind was gusty and a bit wild sometimes stopping then singing thru the trees . The sun came out after a bit over cast clouds came by , lighting up the beach . Now for a swim , the water was warm and rolled in over the black sand contrasting with the white surf , the current strong but the water was shallow and easy to swim . We stayed by the shore
as the waves when the bigger sets came in were quite large maybe 6 feet or so breaking out side over the sand bar . Mostly we swim in water that drops off rapidly and the shore being lava rock. Here its a long sandy beach and the waves break outside and roll up over the gentle slope of sand loosing some of their power . We all swam and had a great time jumping thru the waves and drifting about a bit in the current . I didn’t ride the outside but with my fins on bodysurfed a couple of the roll ups in side . In the water for a long time , back out for another Kite fly , check around for nice little pieces of drift wood and any thing else that may have drifted in from the ocean . That was how the day went , warm tropical water , sunshine and cooling breezes . Since we were around the north end of the island the sunset not over the water like where I live but back into the valley with its steep green cliffs and meandering river . We had to climb back out the trail and not knowing how long it may take we had to pack up and begin to once again ascend back to reality. Now as usual Chris complains about going but once there has the best time and complains about leaving . Often the only way to motivate him to go is to start leaving . We had all packed up and were ready to go , Chris on the other hand was back rolling in the sand an splashing in the shore break . lol

The hike up was not as hard as thought. It went very smoothly getting to the top well before dark . With the sun setting behind the lush green hills dotted with cows and horses we began our journey home back the way we came . With a stop for Chinese food along the way we arrived back home all intact though sandy and salty from the ocean another adventure under our belts .

Peace and Love Steve

stevejones420.com

Muggy
Now after the tales of island adventuring , what extra excitement has happened . Yesterday we had some what of a blustery day , with those gusty winds blowing . About noon after getting my Aloha pineapple smoothie and shot of wheat grass , I took a break and just behind the public pool I did something that I haven’t had a chance to do in awhile , right in the middle of the unused baseball field . Yes I got out my ***** bone breaker kite and had a little flight for 30 minutes or so . The wind was pretty strong , it felt good to handle the exstream wind again , with out the hurtling thru the air and impacting with the earth . The strings whistled and the kite held the wind flashing around in the sun . Flying alone in the field re conquering the big kite , mastering the wind once more .

I did just a bit more work before the journey up to the school for the student lead conference where Chris showed what he has and has not been doing so far . After that off to home and some soaking beans that I had purt out in the morning . Tossed them in with a couple of ham hocks and carrots . Added the left over sweet onions this and that simmered for a couple of hours or so . Slapped some tomato paste in , some chopped tomatoes and there you go a big pot of beans . ( god some times I’m such a susie home maker lol

The last few days it has been scorching hot out , more so than all summer I think . The swell never really came in that good after all . Still haven’t been surfing now for like 4 months , just swimming . A good ole wave ride would sure feel good .

Peace and Love Steve

stevejones420.com

Ok here we go on with Sunday , after a nice clear night , with just a bit of rain in the middle of the night , we got up to brisk 48% morning . Had a last fire and brewed some lattes along with some toast with nutella and eggs . Packed up the car starting off for a day down to the Puna area . Now I used to spend almost every weekend down there before the boys and other things . Surfing with the Left Point boys , left point was a major surf break that could handle some very big waves that was covered up when the Lava took out most of Kalapana . Cruised thru the town of Pahoa , that had changed since I had been there , though still very neat and roots old hawaiian hippie town . The first stop was at Lava Trees Park , that I will post a couple of pictures of , it was much better cared for then I remember . There are several lava trees of course , Large holes and pillars that were formed around trees before they finally burned down leaving a mold of there shape . Very very lush there the fain forest surrounds it and a giant crack runs thru the whole park . It’s a very nice short walk around the park very enjoyable .

Then we drove on to the Kopoho area where in the early 60s or late 50s a lava flow went thru to the sea and took out the town . Lots of Papaya farms and lush hills are seperated by the old flows that marched thru the area . Now ther os this great little beach park that I must admit I have never been to in all these years . It has a big pond right next to the sea that has 90% water and is fantastic to swim in . We spend a couple of hours floating around swimming enjoying the wonderfully warm water .Now we had been in the coldest water in the river above Rainbow Falls and in the warmest water at the hot pond . Right in front of it there is a couple of surfing spots and also several people were fishing in the ocean there . Now just down from the is Pohiki another surf spot that I had been to many times but for some reason the puna boys didn’t go down to hot ponds . I think my friend Randy had an old girl friend that went there he didn’t want to see for some reason lol . Really forgot how nice it is over there I will be making more trips down there its such a different world then this side of the island . A little more rootsy with lots of old hippies and new ones . The rain started to fall in the afternoon and it was time to begin the trip home traveling back up thru Volcano and making our way back up the coast to home . All and All a great trip with many amusing events and new sights , some old ones that were nice to visit again .

Peace and Love Steve

stevejones420.com

Ah ha back from a series of adventures and another fun camp out in the Volcano park. Blasted off Friday evening just as it was getting dark . Slimmed down this trip so we could fit in the rental car that we went in this time instead of my truck . Dark and slightly raining as we departed down toward the south thru the night . As we aprroched the park the moon was rising thru the clouds shinning above the dark clouds around the Volcano . It was clod down the about 48% or so and brisk wind blowing . The camp ground had our favorite spot open and in we went setting up camp then jetting over to the Volcano House to see the fire , that is in the world record book for burning so long , and sit in the big wooden rocking chairs in front of it . After the warm up cruising over to the Museum over look to see the steam vent and the red glow coming up from the crater . It was COLD the wind biting , but we still made it out for a quick view dogging the rain and mists and then racing back to the car and heading back to camp . We had a little incadent with the car key getting locked in but that will be another story . lol Once in the tent it was nice and warm for a good night sleep , it was midnight by this time so I was ready to crash out .

The next morning the sun was out with some clouds misting by . Just brought the one burner small stove and it worked well brewing up some lattes and a cup or two of hot chocolate . Raisin toast and scrambled eggs to start the day we sealed up the tent and covered the camping stuff with a tarp . Off we went down to Hilo town as our first adventure . First stop down town by the bay stopping at the surplus store for Chris , it wasn’t what he had invisioned , but it was right by the Saturday farmers market that was fabulous . I forgot how great it is with great produce of all kinds . Packed with people it was a blast , stalls with food from many different cultures . All kinds or exsotic fruits and vegetables , I got a big bag of small purple sweet potatoes , a bag of mini sweet onions . We had shots of wheat grass and got these thai snacks that was sweet rice with lemon grass rolled up in a tea leaf , they tasted great with a texture like a very firm rice pudding in a way . Sampled all kind of things there was a ton of different things . From local goat cheese , I bought a nice little block , to bags of rainbow papayas , we got one of those too . Also some fruits that I can’t remember the name of now lol . Got back to the car with bags of food and this and that . I wish that we had this market on our side it so great almost worth moving to that side .

Last time we were there a pack was made to swim in the river above Rainbow falls at a area called boiling pots . The water is pretty cold there , but up the trail we went and all did go in . That water was cold to get in causing the turtle effect lol . Once in the water felt really good swimming thru the cool water floating around we stayed in about 20 or 30 minutes . Climbing up Kyle and I found a bigger pool above with a small water fall but are going to save that one for next time as the day was slipping away . Back to the camp to make a camp fire , brew some more Lattes and make some dinner . It was clear and nice when we got back , gathering some wood we had a nice little fire going . I made a couple of burritos to tide the guys over , while I made a casadilla with the goat cheese for myself right on the grill , they were really good . Then after mixing some chicken with a little of this and that and some pineapple , it was grilled and then set on the grill in a pan of the pineapple and sauce to lightly simmer a bit . Earlier the purple sweet potatoes and onions with a bit of butter and garlic were rapped in foil and left to back and roast at the side of the fire . I have to say they came out wonderful and the chicken may of been my best . Man those little potatoes are good with those little sweet onions all roasted up .We then spent the evening with the fire and watching stars .

The rest for tomorrow Peace and Love Steve

stevejones420.com

Heading out tomorrow after work for a circle Island trip . Have to put some miles on that rent a car that my brother has . Going to have to thin out the camping gear to fit in the rental . I’m used to having my little truck and bringing all the toys along for the fun . Just the small stove and one lantern , and about a third of the cooking gear . Planning to hit some spots down in Puna that I haven’t been to in many years and the boys have never been to. Since my old surf buddies aren’t down there anymore I haven’t been down to that part of the Island much . Now a few years ago when my sister , mom and brother were all over , we made a trip down there and since this is a Volcanic Island you go from sea level to 6000″ and several up and down along the way . My brother gets altitude sickness and may not do well .

If I don’t show up over the weekend you will know why . One of these days maybe one of my wishes will come true and I can do one of these trips with one person of the opposite $& . Campfire ,Hot Chocolate , Shooting Stars at midnight .

Peace and Love Steve

stevejones420.com