Wednesday Jan 18. Gotta leave Whittington today, we both are moving slow as we both really like the vibe here. But by noon we push on. Stopping off at a local market where Todd enjoys communicating for over 20 minutes with a cockatiel named Ki. We bought delicious cookies from the lady.
Today’s adventure was a hike to Podue Bay..this is what was stated in the Lonely Planet: serenity. After a nearly 3 hour hike on lava, we arrive at the beach to find a jeep, two tents and six or more adults. The beach was small and shade scarce. Not real inviting. So we push on to the next beach. Unfortunatly this was not a beach but an interesting inlet of basalt river rock and ponds. Oh well, it was a place to sit in the shade, relax, and anticipate the hike out.
The lava in this area was phenomenal, to get up close to the small craters and collapsed lava tubes, find a skeleton of a wayward goat in the shadow of a basalt overhang.
Back out and on our way to Hookena beach. I have heard this is a nice place and dolphins come there. After a long drive and hot day in the sun, we arrive to Hookena and there is a massive party going on, no place to park, let alone quiet to set up tent. So we tuck tail and drive north to Spencer again, but it was closed for maintenance. Sticky, tired, and hungry we trudge on to Mahukona beach Park. Only to discover another party, but this one in the later stages. We sit on the rocks, enjoy a cheap beer and contemplate what the options are. Finally we commit to staying there, Todd looks for camp, and we eat dinner, crawl into the tent and sleep, not so soundly. Cats! everywhere. The next morning as we were packing up to leave, some guy came by to tell us the cats have ringworm!
So, to get out of the cat stink, we headed south to Mauna Kea beach and relax there, enjoying the warmth, some surf, and rest. I took a good long nap.
We went back north for lunch, it was okay at the truck. Drove south to Uncle Billy’s hotel. I do like Uncle Billy's accommodations. It is cheap, great location, and reminiscent of a time ago when fruity drinks and big parties were everywhere (think 70's and 80's).
We flew out Friday and I thought it would be nice to have a shower before flying home and we both did not want to sleep in cat piss. After a shower and organization, we went to Kona Brewing Company for beer and pizza. A good and relaxing last night on the Big Island Hawaii.
Travel out was a bit delayed thanks to heavy snow in the Seattle area, but Alaska Air treated us well, we stayed the night in Portland, complimentary, and returned to Seattle about one day late.
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