Colorful Sand Adventures

Thursday, we went for a bit of a drive. We drove down to the Southernmost tip of the US, mainly to see the black sand and green sand beaches. It was about a 1.5 hour drive, and Eric really wanted to do this on the Big Island; as he had not seen it yet. Here is the black sand:

It's fairly soft, really fine. It def. looks BLACK.

You can pretty much just drive right up, park in the little lot, and walk out onto the black sand.

I instantly picked it up and took a picture with it in my hand.

Eric was doing the same thing.

We played in the black sand a bit, but didn't go far into the water. Then it was off for another 25 minute or so drive, towards the green sand beach. Getting closer...

Actually, you get to a beach here, but then have to hike out to the green sand beach.

We started walking, seeing all manner of things.

It's about 2.5 miles, mostly looking like a desert, just along the coastline.

It's a little rocky with green stuff only near the water.

You just keep walking...

   and then walking some more...

Along the way, there is one little spot with THIS, which looked like green sand, but we knew we weren't really "there" yet... so we kept walking.

Again, Eric with the hand full of sand.

We kept walking. I kept thinking about the Israelites.

It must be really annoying for Eric to hike "with" me. He is mostly patient though.

He just takes one step for like two and a half of mine!

We are getting closer...

There it is! Just down a "little seascape" climb - and there is the green sand beach!

Look this way...

Then look at the GREEN sand!

Beautiful.

Oh yeah, I'm really dressed to climb down the sea scape mountain... but, especially after that little hike, I'm not gonna miss THIS! Here I come, graceful as usual. (ha.)

When you get done climbing down, THIS is your reward:

Of course I went in the water a bit. It made putting my shoes and socks back on a bit gross, but that's okay. I will say that the black sand def. looked like black sand; but the "green" sand seemed more of a green/grey/brown to me, but I can see why it's called the green sand beach.

The view up the coast from the green sand beach:

Hey, let's pose for a picture together!

Mainly due to time and our plans for Friday, we decided to take a ride back to the other beach, where our car was. We had hiked out, but that was enough. Some people just drive back and forth, shuttling people (for a small fee) out to the green sand beach area. Two others were up front with the driver, and then this family, visiting from China, rode in the back with us. Yes, I'm aware my hair is special. (hike in the heat with my hair and whatnot, equals LION hair... "Roooar!"

Eric poses with Tony.

After we returned to our car, we started driving back towards the town. Near the coast, all of the trees lean, due to the wind there.

"Head out on the highway... look'n for adventure..."

 We went back through Naalehu, the southernmost town in the US.

Of course, EVERYONE in this town claims to be the "southernmost" something... like the southernmost bakery and the southernmost bar and the southernmost gas station...
  We stopped at this Bakery to get cleaned up a bit (I maybe touched the tire in the back of the truck and got covered in black soot). We got a few treats, which weren't all that good. Hey, I would expect more from the "southernmost...." Ha ha ha. It was just before their closing time though. We did pick up a treat for a friend who helped us with our car earlier that week.

Then, back on the road... traveling for about an hour an a half.

We had to get a few things from the store for Friday. We decided we needed actual food, and I wanted Indian cuisine. The first Indian place was closed, perhaps for ever. The only other one was a bit diffult to find. It was raining, but we finally got to this cute little hut.
  Oh, if only we would have known how bad (more of a buffet, overpriced, not that tasty, we left hungry...) it was going to be, we would have just gone somewhere else. However, we now know NOT to look for Indian food on the Big Island. Ugh.

  Then it was home to get ready for Friday. We tried to get to bed early, but Thursday had been long with lots of driving. We set the alarm for 4:15 AM (yes, there is one of those in the morning, as well) and headed off into sweet slumber land.