SPECTACULAR HALEAKALA

OMG - Haleakala crater is so spectacular. With the recent front dissipating and the sky appearing to clear we headed up to the Halemau trail head at the 8,000 foot mark on Haleakala.

We began hiking at 11am. Our destination was Holua Cabin at 3.9 miles down the switchback trail. After 20 minutes of hiking the crater unfolded before us. It was a spectacularly clear day! What a view. 2 hours to the cabin, rest and eat some lunch. Trek through the lava tube and begin our afternoon ascent. Yes! Only an hour and 45 minutes to hike out and I wasn't winded!

Where are the Waterfalls?

It had rained over 2 inches the day before. With more rain in the forecast and a light drizzle we headed toward Hana on a dark drizzly day. Over each narrow bridge we looked for raging streams only to find they were barely running. Wispy clouds hung in the valleys. Bright orange flowers adorned the side of the road. Keanae was peaceful with a steely grey sky and a stormy looking ocean. We never found our waterfall!

Maui No Ka Oi

La Peruse

Spent the last few days touring Maui. Kauhakaloa on the narrow, skinny, scary road. Checking the surf at DT Flemming and Honolua Bay. The blow hole at Nakalele was spouting off.Then Hiking out at La Peruse. Saw a mongoose out there with a 6 inch centipede it was carrying around. Body surfing at Polo beach. The water was great!

Grand Canyon and Prescott Dels

Desert View - East Grand Canyon & Prescott Del's

Carole's first time to the Grand canyon. The Eastern Desert View was most impressive. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and over a mile deep. Up to 18 miles wide and 2 billion years old. The next day Jim took us hiking on the Peavine trail through the "Dels" in Prescott. These rounded granite rocks are 1.5 billion years old. Wow!
I loved watching the Ravens dance on the thermals. Fold their wings and dive. Then soar upward with out a flap of their wings.

Kamaoli Beach Park III

South swell! Grab your boogie board and head to the beach

Hookipa SURF

The national weather service predicts 12-18 foot waves. They were right! It was mesmerizing!

What a great day in November on Maui. The windsurfers were not to happy: waves and no wind!

IAO VALLEY - IMAX in real time

Spectacular Iao Valley: You just can't fit the whole view in. This is 1/4 of the view. IMAX in real time. We have hiked beyond the barrier which says "Don't go" We are on a ridge in the middle of this old caldera. Sheer cliff and a streams flowing on either side. Quickly we are in the bracken ferns waist high with Ohia Lehua tree's on the edge of the trail.

Arizona 75mph - woooohhhh

West Fork of Oak Creek - Sedona AZ.

I don't even drive the ambulance that fast!!! So it was a quick trip! Fabulous highways.
Only a few U turns as the "nag-avator" was top flight. The pilot was on cloud 9 after excelling in her judging program in Phoenix. Of course this is after following the nag-avators advice to practice watching dressage tests on Youtube.com. Practice-practice-practice... I was impressed.
From Phoenix where I died from the heat last weekend at 95 degrees. It was so hot I heard the Ultra dog, and dog-dog competitors from around the country discuss the crazy dressage riders who were out competing in wool coats, are they nuts? Got to meet Forest Gumpie dog-dog champion from Canada. Apparently you can google him and see his 24 foot jump. I only survived by escaping into my good friends wonderfully air conditioned 5th wheel RV parked at the show grounds.
Then a few days ago in Prescott I froze my petuki ( spell check wants to put in Petunia - ya, that froze too) at 28 degrees. My timbers were shivering (shiver me timbers). Fun visiting great friends and touring Arizona. I am thinking if I cant hardly survive AZ in Nov. how on earth am I going to Colorado in Dec. Ha ha - Arizona was a warm up to Colorado. Cabellas.com here I come for winter boots.
I freely admit "I am a Hawaiian wimp." I am so spoiled!!!! It felt like walking into a sauna when I got off the plane. Ahhhh - warm again.