The Saddle Road

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On Saturday we got up early to drive the Saddle Rd. Across the island between the two volcanos Moana Kea to the north and Moana Loa to the south. Older books caution about using this route, but it was a great highway with traffic speeds up to 55 mph. which is more than other highways about the Island (normally maximum 45 mph.). Moana Kea which you can see in the first photo has astronomical observatories at the top. It is recognized as the tallest mountain in the world if you take into account it's base at the bottom of the sea. Mt. Everest is 29,029 ft high while Moana Kea from its base on the ocean floor soars to over 33,000 ft. And is over one million years old.

We could not take our rental car off road so a trip up to the observatory would have to be in four wheel drive vehicle should we wish to go there. One reason the observatory is on Moana Kea is that the air is ver dry and low in turbulence making for ideal sky watching.

The second photo shows Moana Loa way off to the south, with lava flows in the foreground. The last photo is, again, Moana Kea with our rental car on the road side.

We went to the Farmers Market at Hilo and what a great market it was. Lots of fresh produce and flowers and baked goods. I bought a bouquet of white orchids and red anthuriums for $5. A really good deal. We plan to go back to Hilo to go to the Lyman museum and the Tsunami Museum which is only open on Thursdays. Maybe next Thursday!!

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