Jazz, Black Sand Beach, and a 4WD truck



It has been an event-filled week.

There is live jazz here in Kailua-Kona. We went to Gertrude's on Saturday night and listened to the Jocelyn Michelle Quintet. They also had a wonderful singer added to the group. The sax player was amazing.


We even got spruced up to go out for the evening. Great fun. Outstanding jaz. And, notice in the foreground, Judy got not only a picture of Mike, but a picture of her new favorite drink, a Boulevardier. She found the recipe on-line and the barkeep was able to make a perfect one for her.

We have joined the ranks of real Hawaiian residents: we purchased a 2005 Toyota Tacoma 4 door 4 Wheel Drive pickup truck. Toyota Tacomas are perhaps the most common pickup truck on the island and the truck most in demand. They evidently last forever. And this one has those large, off-road tires that will allow us to go anywhere on the island. So, of course, with the new truck we had to explore new areas beyond the range of our little electric VW.


So, our first exploration on Sunday was a trip south, past South Point (the furtherest southern part of the US) and explored part of the eastern slope of Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on earth. It is lush, green, dense jungle with fantastic views. We started at a famous bakery in the town of Na'Alehu. Oh, this place is dangerous. I think I put on 5 lbs just looking at the array of goodies. I'll bet you can't eat just one!!!




We took a back road (actuallly an old cane road that is wide and paved) from Na'Alehu to Pahala to explore Wood Valley. Along the road we had incredible views and came across an unusual object we think may be some type of antenna. Of course, Mike had to stop and take pictures along the way also.


Can you see the little antenna sticking out of the large volleyball looking object? 

Why not get a little height advantage?
A Tibetan Buddhist temple awaits the intrepid travelers. This temple has been visited twice by the Dali Lama. A peaceful place it even has become a special retreat with rooms for rent--not inexpensively. But if the food is anything like the food we had in Hong Kong at a Buddhist monestary, we will pass. But the temple is fun and interesting.




A miniture Zen garden inside the temple
After driving along Wood Valley drive, we tasted coffee and macadamia nuts at the Ka'u processing center then went to the Black Sand Beach. It was a fitting place to have lunch and enjoy the beauty.
This lilly pond is just before getting onto the beach; a peaceful serene place reminiscent of Monet's garden at Giverney.




And, of course, the house continues to move slowly. The retaining wall forms are being built and, hopefully, by next week the 10 foot high retaining wall will be poured.

We hope all of you are well. We think of all of you often.

Love

Judy and Mike

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