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On the Island

So we have been touring around and sitting at the pool.  No one will call me tan, but I am less white than I was a few days ago.  The ocean sounds can be heard and the ocean itself can be seen from our condo deck.  Word had it the weather has taken a turn to below freezing again in Vancouver as well.  We are happy just sitting here in the sunshine perhaps feeling just a bit smug about our good timing.

The Black Sand Beach - with a sea turtle sunning itself

Here's another clue both a black and a green sand beach.  Yup, you guessed it we are on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Our condo is close to the Punaluu Beach Park, which is a black sand beach, and even though we have been there almost daily, no green sea turtles have been sited until today.  But perhaps the highlight of the trip for me has been our adventure to Papakolea, the green sand beach. (-1 off the bucket list!)

Yes, this is a Green Sand Beach

Papakolea is formed by a large deposit of a semi-precious stone called olivine.  Over time the ocean has ground this stone with the lava to create a light green sand.  I have heard and read about this beach for years but also know it is a 4.5 mile, not kilometer, round trip walk, with no shade over a tricky terrain.  So we did what any people at a certain age do, hitched a ride on the back of a 4-wheel drive pickup, driven by Paul, a true local (not to be confused with Paul with whom I live).


Our ride down to the Green Sand Beach

We bounced around with the red dirt swirling in our faces, burning all the way.  Once there we spent about 45 minutes taking in the sights and watching, Paul, the driver and his son boogey board in the surf.  The sun was blocked by clouds during this time and on the ride back, thankfully.  Within 5 minutes of returning to the car the skies opened up and a typical tropical shower poured down for about 10 minutes as we made our way back to the major highway.  And although you are not supposed to take any green sand, I know some is lodged in my sandals for life.  An inadvertent souvenir.

Knitting, well yes some happened recently, but not much.  More about our volcano viewing tomorrow.





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