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We had one more corner of the “Big Island” of Hawaii left to explore before moving on to Oahu. It was a late addition to the schedule. The younger kid who is pursuing an undergraduate degree in geology wanted to see an unusual formation. However, this request didn’t materialize until we were actually in Hawaii. […] The post Hawaii, Part 8 (Big Island: South Point) appeared first on Twelve Mile…
I ve mentioned previously the difference between windward and leeward, and how it s particularly pronounced on the Big Island of Hawaii. We used the windward side as our home base so we had our share of tropical moisture and verdant vegetation. It rained every day where we stayed south of Hilo. However, we never had what [ ] The post Hawaii, Part 7 (Big Island: Windward) appeared first on Twelve…
Mauna Kea on Hawaii s Big Island is a massive shield volcano that rises majestically 13,803 feet (4,200 metres) above sea level. By some calculations it s also the tallest mountain in the world if measured from its base deep below the ocean. Mauna Kea formed over the Hawaiian Hotspot over the last million years, still an [ ] The post Hawaii, Part 6 (Big Island: Mauna Kea) appeared first on Twelve…
The Big Island remains the most volcanically active of the chain, perched directly above the Hawaiian hotspot. Magma continues to bulge from the depths of the earth, ever increasing the size of this young island. Unfortunately we didn t observe a lava flow in person because the volcanoes took a little break during our visit. However, [ ] The post Hawaii, Part 5 (Big Island: Lava) appeared first on…
Maui was all about fun in the sun, and now now we transitioned to a more active phase of our adventure as we moved to the Big Island of Hawaii. The entire state is called Hawaii of course, and so is it s largest island. But more importantly it was the island s other designation, the County [ ] The post Hawaii, Part 4 (Big Island: Kona) appeared first on Twelve Mile Circle - An Appreciation of…
Eventually I tired of beach life and I wandered into interior Maui, a place they call Upcountry. The elevation rises slowly but steadily at the base of Haleakala, a massive shield volcano dominating the larger eastern portion of the island. Beaches give way to farmland and the climate starts to moderate as the road climbs. [ ] The post Hawaii, Part 3 (Maui: Haleakala) appeared first on Twelve Mile…
I knew our trip would involve three separate islands, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii. However, there were many ways to figure a path. The route simplified when I realized we could take a direct flight from the mainland United States to several Hawaiian islands, not just Oahu. We had multiple options inbound [ ] The post Hawaii, Part 2 (Maui: Kihei & Wailea) appeared first on Twelve Mile…
This was supposed to be the year I finally finished Hawaii, with my fourth trip to the islands. There are only five counties in the state and I needed three more: Maui County, Hawaii County, and Kalawao County. I should be able to capture that small remaining set for my County Counting list. This should [ ] The post Hawaii, Part 1 (No Cigar) appeared first on Twelve Mile Circle - An Appreciation…
Skyline Drive hugs the crest of Virginia s Blue Ridge Mountains for 105 miles (169 kilometres), down the length of Shenandoah National Park. I ve traveled every section of it, in whole or in part several times, as recently as 2022. So it felt like I rejoined an old friend as we undertook a day-trip from our [ ] The post Skyline Drive North District appeared first on Twelve Mile Circle - An…
Michigan was fun but now I needed to drive through Ohio for the last bit of unfinished business. Only three counties out of 88 remained unvisited in Ohio, aligned in a single contiguous row heading due south. It felt like bowling pins lined up for an easy spare. So look out Paulding, Van Wert, and [ ] The post Finish Ohio & More, Part 3 (Swipe Down) appeared first on Twelve Mile Circle - An…
Sure, collecting the remaining Ohio counties was a major goal but not the only goal of this particular trip. The Ohio portion focused on the drive up and the drive back. Michigan was the destination. We spent significantly more time, several days in fact, based in East Lansing near Michigan State University. So despite the [ ] The post Finish Ohio & More, Part 2 (Last Chances) appeared first on…