20 July 2006 - IndianaJanes and the Lone Palm Adventure

(One gecocacher posted a note last week to say that access to Captain Cook's Monument has been cut off in the aftermath of last month's earthquake. The land route is unsafe due to landslides and the ocean route is closed. Rather sad, as it's one of the main attractions on Big Island.)

We stop for late lunch at the Aloha Angel Cafe, which is in the old Aloha Theatre that's still in use for stage plays and indie screenings. The grub is good and the cookies yummy. I watch in amusement as a Japanese couple share a burger that they have ordered in halting English. It's good to know that we're not the only ones sharing food - I mean, portions served are huge. I can't imagine how the ang mohs can gulp down all on their plates. An ang moh group occupies another table. They are talking property. It seems to be an obsession with the American vacationers. Everywhere we plonk down for chow, there's a group talking about real estate.

We tackle - successfully - a few more caches along Kohala/North Kona. HB's determined to do Lone Palm cache. Now that's one long hike and comes with warnings to bring along lotsa water and have good shoes. The big draw is the varied beaches we have to cross - alternating, white sand, coral, green and black beaches. It's 5.40pm and I tell her if we don't reach it in 1 hour, we turn back. The sun sets at about 7.15pm and I don't like the idea of stumbling in the dark and cutting ourselves on rock and lava.

We park our car at the Hilton - the carpark closes at 8pm, so we really have a deadline to meet. The number of beach-goers peter out as we head. We nearly trip over a couple of turtles. It's really hard walking on soft sand on a slope. In some places, there's only a thin slice of land and we have to dodge waves to keep our feet dry. By the time we get to a'a lava, there is no one about. We can see the lone palm tree - so near, yet so far. But surprisingly, we make it there at 6.15pm. We now know what a naupaka plant is - I can't remember the name, but it's the plant you can find on Singapore beaches.

We hear voices as we make our way back to A Bay, but there is no one about. Finally, we spot an outrigger at sea, the team leader shouting the timing as the boat races against the sun. We too have to get back before dark. At a sandy cove, we are amused to find a girl in string bikini sprawled on the sand as a photographer snaps photos of her. A man carrying a reflector tries to cast some light on her curves. She has to smile despite the discomfort of sand sticking onto her butt as water rushes about her. Aaah, must be for the Hawaii 2008 calendar, we assume. Near the end of our hike, we come across the tail end of a wedding party. The JP is a woman, I assume, as she asks about how the couple meet etc. Rose and orchid petals are strewn in the sand. And all the food in the buffet warmers has been packed up.

We end our day at Island Java Lava, our stop for dinner on the first night on BI. Yes, we've come full circle. We go grocery/souvenir shopping at Wal-Mart and Safeway on our way back to the B&B. HB gets a giant bottle of tabasco for her dad. We get back at 10.30pm and find even more people to share the one bathroom with. Sigh. Our last night, anyway.

Geocache count for the day: 5
DNFs: 1
Total caches attempted: 54
Total caches found: 45