OH...MY...GOSH!!! Today was, by far, the longest day of my LIFE!! We woke up around 7:30am, ate breakfast, and got ready to go on our hike that we had all planned out. Our plan was to stat at the Thurston Lava Tube, and hike a big loop. We hiked 8.75 miles today!!!!!! Our feet are KILLING us!! It was crazy!
We started in the Thurston Lava Tube which was amazing! It was lit inside so that was good. I was a bit nervous to go inside and have come to realize that I'm a bit claustrophobic. That's ok, because later we found out that Matt is a bit afraid of heights. After we went through the tube, there was a gate with a sign on it saying 'feel free to explore this undeveloped lava tube'. No lights!! So we whipped out our flashlights and headed in. It was ok, until the light behind us eventually faded. The only light was our little flashlight. So we braved it a little bit more to find the end, and realized what we thought was the end actually was NOT the end, so we decided to turn back. I had no objections!!!
The entrance to the lava tube
We started in the Thurston Lava Tube which was amazing! It was lit inside so that was good. I was a bit nervous to go inside and have come to realize that I'm a bit claustrophobic. That's ok, because later we found out that Matt is a bit afraid of heights. After we went through the tube, there was a gate with a sign on it saying 'feel free to explore this undeveloped lava tube'. No lights!! So we whipped out our flashlights and headed in. It was ok, until the light behind us eventually faded. The only light was our little flashlight. So we braved it a little bit more to find the end, and realized what we thought was the end actually was NOT the end, so we decided to turn back. I had no objections!!!
The entrance to the lava tube
Thurston Lava Tube
After the Lava Tube we hiked out through the rain forest! That was very cool! Then we went across the street and started our loop! We were at the top of the mountain, and had to hike down to the lava flats! It was a long way down! But we finally made it! Then we walked across the lava flats and to the rim of a crater. THAT'S where we found out that Matt is afraid of heights. They don't bother me, so I walked out a little closer to the edge to get a better picture and Matt was telling me to come back. It was funny.
Jen on the lava flats
We made it all the way to the crater!!
Jen on a chunk of lava
After the crater, we hiked BACK across the lava flats in a different area, and then FINALLY came to the bottom of the mountain. It was time to hike back UP it!! ICK! It was TERRIBLE! Almost straight up!! With sweat on our brow, we came to a cross road. As we look at our map, we discover that WE WENT THE WRONG WAY!!! We weren't supposed to go up the mountain on the trail that we did!!! So we had to take a slight detour! By then we were ready for the hike to be over.
We're ALMOST dead in this picture
This trail tried to kill us
FINALLY, 8.75 miles later, we found our car!! I'd never been so happy to see a car!! We got in and turned on the A/C!! On our way home, we passed a road called Chain of Craters Rd., so we took it (we wanna burn up all our gas in our rental so it's not wasted). We wanted to drive all the way to the very end of the road (20 mi.) and see where the lava flowed over the road in 2003. So we did. We got down there, and realized that the lava that flowed over the road was 1/2 mile from where the road was closed off!! With tired feet we said, "Why not?" So we started trucking down the road to see the lava. Got there, took a few pictures, and turned around and headed back to the car.
Matt on the lava that flowed over the road
We were toying with the idea of taking another small hike to see the Petroglyphs, but our feet said NO! 9.75 miles is our limit, i guess! WHAT A HIKE!!! And it was truly my FIRST time ever hiking!! Maybe I'll stick to the little hikes ;o)
We started at the left side of this picture, hiked all the way to the edge of the crater, and finished our hike on the right side!
After we saw the lava that flowed over the road, our stomachs told us it was time to eat. And since there is nothing to eat up here on the Summit of Kilauea, we drove 20 miles down to the nearest town, which was Hilo. Matt's GPS told us that there was a Maui Tacos there (my personal favorite), and we found it inside the mall. Maui Tacos was wonderful (as always) and now we're putting out feet up and RELAXING back in our little room.
Today was definitely a full day. Tomorrow we're planning on driving down to the Warm Springs, and then going to see the BLACK SAND beach!!! I can't wait to see that!!!! I think if anyone has the opportunity to come here to the Big Island, they definitely should!! Nature is so amazing!!!!
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