Leaving Hawaii....

Well folks, the time has come for us to leave Hawaii (and the USA in general!) and head to Fiji.
















We've had a steady last few days in Waikiki, taking in the Thanksgiving Parade on Friday night and Pearl Harbor today. The parade was an eclectic mix of marching bands from all over the USA (including a very impressive band from a high school in Pennsylvania, complete with bearskin hats and a 6-piece bagpipe section!), Pearl Harbor survivors riding in open-top sports cars with cool old-school names like 'Herb' or 'Mack' and other random people, including a troop of bodybuilders and their light-festooned Hummer.




















Today we visited Pearl Harbor, and more specifically the USS Arizona Memorial. After a lengthy-but-worth-it queue, we entered the visitors centre and did a tour of the exhibits, complete with audio from said old-school veterans. Then, we took a boat out to the memorial itself, a large white open-plan 'bridge' over the sunken Arizona. Seriously, Clare and I were very moved by the place and its shocking to think that the bodies of over 900 men still lay trapped in the rusting hulk, barely 6 feet below the water of Pearl Harbor.

I think the memorial itself is a beautiful piece of architecture, see what you think:
















The 'sagging' in the middle of the structure represents the low point of the war, e.g. Pearl Harbour, and it curves upwards to the 'high points' of eventual victory! The whole thing is open plan, with a massive marble wall at the back with the names of all those that died enscribed on it.

Anyways, I think we're both ready to move on now and see what Fiji has to offer (hopefully NOT a military coup!). We will speak to you from our next tropical paradise! We're not sure what internet connectivity is like there, so it may be a while until our next entry.....

-Si

The reign of the trainers is over.....

I believe I have made some sort of world record. The trainers that I bought only 6 weeks ago, have died. With 2 holes, and worn soles, they tell the story of how I have been frog-marched over the mountains and volcanoes. They have been laid to rest in a Hawaiian bin, following a short service, and I am back in my flip flops (Hurray!!!). I hope the previous photos show you that they did not die in vain, but we can't understand it, they weren't even Hi-Tec!

Clare
x

The volcanoes of Hawaii

We've had a great few days on the 'Big Island' of Hawaii. After yet another taxi journey back to the airport here (last time I complain about taxis, sorry) we picked up our 'compact' car that would be our transport for the next few days. And here it is:
















Nice and compact isn't it? With a mere 4.5 litre, 275 BHP engine and doing 21 miles to the gallon (at best), at least this bad boy was ready to take us wherever we wanted to be, even if it was halfway up a mountain. And yes, I did feel manly driving a big truck about, even if it was beige.

After spending a day or two around Hilo, taking in the Rainbow Falls and watching guys throw themselves into pools of water from high cliff faces, we headed out to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This park is home to the most active volcano in the world, Kilauea. And here it is, in all it's glory:






























Not exactly a picture of activity, is it? This is because most of the lava-spewing-based action is down at the coast, where a volcano vent spends all its time spewing red-hot lava into the Pacific. We drove down a dead-end road towards the lava which finished like this:
















Yup, a lava flow had blocked the road. How rude. However, as it started to go dark, in the distance, this is what you can see:
















Pretty cool eh? Looks like a big fire, but it's actually REALLY hot rock.

We've stayed the last few days in the aptly-named village of Volcano, just outside the park. This hostel is right in the middle of the rainforest here, and it's really cool. Best thing is, it gets cold at night so you don't need any air-con to be able to sleep properly. Which is nice. And the internet is free.

On Friday we took the Mauna Loa road, which is a single-track road that takes you halfway (6662 feet to be precise) up Mauna Loa, which is Hawaii (and the Worlds!) most massive volcano. Mauna Loa is huge, forming about half of the Big Island alone. It doesn't look like a volcano though, more like a REALLY big hill. Check this out:
















Anyway, we got to 6662 feet up and parked up the truck. We were just admiring the view when these couple of guys ran out of the woods up there and asked Clare to take their picture. These guys turned out to be Bill and Pat, a couple of guys from Washington state who run up the highest peaks of the U.S. in their spare time. For fun. As Bill said, 'we each have our own game to play'. True indeed.

Clare was impressed when Bill quoted some Dylan Thomas poetry, and seemed to know a lot about Wales (a real bonus, as a lot of people here don't know that Wales exists, or thinks the country is called Welsh). Anyways, these guys were really cool and were as excited about our travels as we are, which was really nice. As Bill spoke, Pat tells his own story through the medium of mime (he can speak, we're not being mean here!) which we thought was awesome. These guys are legends.

Here's a picture of them anyways:
















Bill is on the left, and Pat on the right. Hey guys, you made our blog and are now famous in Wales and maybe even some parts of the rest of the UK. Enjoy!

The day after this was taken, we took a drive up Mauna Kea, the highest volcano in Hawaii. Due to hire car and fuel restrictions, we only made it to the Visitor Centre, at a mere 9000 feet. However, the view from up there was awesome, but the pics are on Clare's camera at the moment, sorry!

We're now back in Waikiki ready for a little more rest and recovery. Planning on going to see Pearl Harbor in the next few days, then it's off to Fiji and yet more serious beach action.

Over and out

-Si

Breaker, breaker, this is Clare..........

Well isn't Si a bundle of laughs? The weather is too hot and the taxis are too expensive. On a much happier note, we are both having a fantastic time here. We are slowly getting acclimatised to the weather. Admittedly, we have both shed a layer of skin, but if it is good enough for the snakes it is good enough for us.

In other news, due to my hardness of hearing and short sightedness, Si sees me as a "wondering off hazard", and therefore has railroaded me in to buying walky talkies. Yes people, the ones that you see mother and toddler with, but a bit cooler and black (Si's words, not mine)! I don't think I was prepared for how seriously Si would take this. I have to say 'Over' when I have finished speaking, and we even have call signs! Picture this, I am strolling the streets of Hilo, with Si's voice blaring in my pocket:

"Unit 2 are you responding? Return to base immediately, Over".

After only 2 days, I have found the stand-by button, and Si still thinks I am out of signal.

OVER.

Clare
x

How about some cool weather in Hawaii please?

Aloha!

Clare and I are currently slowly roasting to death in Hawaii. Not that any of you will have the slightest sympathy.

We flew in to Honolulu last Thursday and spent the last few days doing very little to be fair, apart from swimming in the ocean (our hotel in Waikiki was like, 2 mins from the beach) and chilling out (we've both got ridiculously addicted to CSI: Miami, which is on about 5 times a night here). We did catch a bus one day, and took in some of the sights around the island, like the North Shore, home of some of Hawaii's best surfing. There's a competition supposed to be running up there at the moment, but it's been cancelled apparently because the surf's 'not up to much' at the moment. We met a really nice lady on the bus, who pointed out various filming locations for 'Lost' and various Hollywood blockbusters as we toured about. Which was at least partly interesting, especially for me as I've never watched Lost.

Today we flew from Honolulu (which is on the island of Oahu, geography fans) to the 'Big Island' of Hawaii. Fifteen quid each, on a proper jet, bargain. This is where the volcanoes are. After yet another extortionate taxi drive (15 bucks for a 4 mile ride from the airport to downtown Hilo, not exactly a bargain!) we arrived at the hostel that will be our home for the next 2 days. Tomorrow we're hiring a car to go and take a look at some volcanoes and other cool stuff, which should be good. It's supposed to rain a lot here. It will sicken you all to know that me and Clare are hoping it will be at least cloudy tomorrow, and maybe even rain. Although blue skies will be good for taking photos from mountain tops. Apparently there's normally snow up there, what a treat.

Sorry for the continuing lack of photos, we're on another machine here where the box unit is locked up so you can't put photo's on. More pics hopefully sometime soon.

-Si

The return to San Francisco

UPDATED WITH PICS....

We've had an excellent few days in the 'Frisco. Had a bit of a walk about on Monday, I marched Clare up to the top of Telegraph Hill, with it's excellent views over the bay. We did a bit of shopping (OK, window shopping) too.

On Tuesday we took a morning ferry to Alcatraz. There's a self-guided headphones tour of the prison bit of Alcatraz, which is really great. There were LOADS of people there, but the island is fairly big so you can always find a quiet spot. You were allowed to walk in to some of the cells, even the solitary confinement ones, which must have been hellish. Prisoners were kept in the dark in there 24/7. Apparently the 'trick' to stop yourself going mad is to tear a button of your prison-issue denim shirt, throw it over your shoulder, wait for it to drop, then hunt about for it in the dark on the ground. Then repeat. Until you get released.

Yesterday was also election day here. The locals in downtown voted in the local Fire Station, which I thought was cool. We also took a look at the Transamerica Pyramid whilst we were downtown, an 'earthquake-proof' skyscraper, and the tallest part of SF's skyline since 1972. I think it's a really beautiful piece of work, Clare wasn't so convinced. However, there was a Starbucks opposite it where Clare and I got free frappuchino's. I had a really big one and nearly made myself sick. Thought I'd share that with you.

Today we visited Sausalito, in Marin County over the bay from SF. (Marin county guys, spiritual home of mountain biking!!!!!) It's a really nice little place with a great little second-hand bookshop above the library (Grifter, I bagged a Dale Brown book for 50 cents, bargain!). There's a really great view over the bay back towards SF and Alcatraz.

Tomorrow we leave here for Hawaii. We've both had a great time in the 'continental' USA, it will be interesting to see what the 50th state has in store for us. We've booked a few days in a little hotel that's one block from Waikiki beach, which is nice. I hope.

Here's some of our favourite pics from the 'Frisco:


























































This was taken in Vegas, but I have to include it for my own amusement:
















More from the land of grass skirts and fiery volcanoes.

-Si

All donations gratefully accepted for Clare's new clothes...

At this point can I mention that I do have other clothes, other than this flowery shirt (that by coincidence I am wearing now), but Si said that they were not 'Sensible' enough for hiking. I personally think a red flowery skirt and flip flops are more than adequate!

Clare
x

Yosemite and the friendly folk of Merced

So we're back in the 'Golden State' of California for the last leg of our North America trip. We arrived in Merced last Tuesday, after 'befriending' a couple of ex-cons who had been released from prison that day and were on their way home. I say 'befriending', as we answered their questions politely, laughed at their jokes and hoped to god they didn't get off at the same stop as us. They didn't. Their tattoos looked like these were not people to be messed with!

When we got to Merced station, Clare got chatting to a nice old lady whose grandma was from Wales. In the end, they got on so well that the lady and her husband gave me and Clare a lift to our motel, which was nice. There we met Kathleen, the motel desk lady, who had spent a career in 'law enforcement' and desperately wanted to move to the UK. Anyone fancy trading their job in the UK for a life in sunny Cali? Join the queue!

On Wednesday we took the 7.10 AM (ouch) bus to Yosemite National Park. Now before I go on, Yosemite is seriously beautiful, especially in 'the fall' (sorry, autumn) with its red and yellow tinted forests, but after a few hours strolling about and a picnic, we were about ready to go back. I think we might be a bit 'National Park-ed' out from the last week or so. There's a 'lake' up there called Mirror Lake, that we hiked up to as it's supposed to reflect Half Dome (a big lump o' granite shaped like a half dome) beautifully. This is what we found:
















Yup, dry as a bone. God damn this Californian climate!

To be fair though, this place is beautiful, and there were very few people there when we visited, which made it much nicer to walk around. Check these out:














































We're now in Sacramento, the capitol (capital?) of California. Here's a picture of Governor Schwarzeneggers 'joint' here:
















Not bad eh?

We leave for San Francisco tomorrow for our last few days in the country. More from there.

-Si

Bryce Canyon

Here are some shots we took at Bryce Canyon. It takes AGES to drive there as it's properly in the middle of nowhere, and when you get there, it's a bit of a one-trick pony. Pretty cool looking pony though: