Checkerboard shoes

Shoes are like and extension of our bodies, taking us places close and far. Life is good when it's warm and I am able to wear my flip flops, but today it's wool socks and casual leathers. Sometimes it's to the mountains to play and other times to work or the library. My music has taken my mind far from here to distant places and I'm wishing there were no shoes at all on my feet, toes pressing into sizzling white sand as ocean waves crash nearby. Are there white sand beaches in India? My stomach reminds my brain of it's ever present desire to eat as I think the flavours and spices found in Indian food. Before long it will be time to follow my feet to get a coffee or a nibble of food. Any interest...where will your black and white striped shoes take you?

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Ian and I spent around 6 hours exploring Volcanoes National Park and hiked almost 8 miles that afternoon. First we drove around the main crater and then hiked a trail along the rim that descended to the sea of lava below and then strolled acrossed the crater before climbing back to the rim on the opposite side. I was amazed by the various vegetation growing out of some cracks in the lava.




We also wandered into the depths of a lava tube, the first section had an exit at the far end and contained faint lights while the second section extended to a dead end in absolute darkness. I put on my headlamp and we explored the 1000ft long tube sharing the meager light from my Tika. While this tube had the dampness of other caves and lava tubes I've been it was pleasantly warm and laked any chill.


Exhausted after a long day that began in Honolulu just before 4am, a flight to Hilo, a drive and hike to almost 14,000ft followed by a long afternoon hiking and exploring in the park, we took advantage of the couches in the Hilo Airport before moving on to our gate and evening flight back to Honolulu.

Mauna Kea

Ian and I spent Monday exploring the Big Island. After arriving in Hilo we immediately drove up Mauna Kea and hiked 5 min to reach the 13, 796ft summit where the shadowed slopes were covered in frost and ice.




Some of the doors on the buildings that house the telescopes were damaged in the earthquake a few weeks ago and repairs were in progress. The air on the summit was incredibly clear and crisp. The clouds in the distance rolled off the sea and covered Hilo to the east.

Post-HIFF

Finally the film festival ended. I wasn't able to see as many films as I had hoped but the few films I did see were fantastic. The trade winds that didn't exist before the festival blew steadily during the festival, and then vanished after the festival when Oahu had some serious rain and flooding.