The snorkeling is pretty well out for a day or two. Two of our main beaches are closed. Their respective parks are also closed to the public. Naturally it means a few odd, very odd surfers think that they should challenge the big surf. They probably are not doing badly but we heard that on day one of the big surf there had to be a number of rescues.
There was a Botanical Garden we wanted to check out not too far away. It turns out was closed. Permanently. So we go to Greenwell's Coffee Farm. It has been going for a long time. Some of the coffee trees are about one hundred years old. Our guide takes us around a small tour of their operations. 50,000 coffee trees, I believe. They also have some avocado trees and banana trees. It is interesting to see the multi-step process to finally get a roasted coffee bean. Adrienne does most of the coffee (liquid) sampling. And she buys her favourite beans.
Holualoa Coffee Farm was visit number two. It has the chickens and geese running all around. Very much a `traditional` farm setting. And also very much a working coffee farm. Even though we heard that coffee picking is done from August to February, this crew was busy processing and even roasting coffee beans. (We had to make do in their parking lot to have a quite pick-me-up picnic type lunch. We had packed our own sandwiches and such so it was not difficult to eat standing up.)
Mountain Thunder Coffee Farm was our third visit. I have read about this one before. Not only because they claimed leadership in sustainability and organic farming but because other people claimed coffee could not be grown at this higher elevation. (4000ft.approx.) And they have what looks like a successful business. Coffee is great and Adrienne definitely buys a French Roast to take home.
Photo number one is beside Holueloa Coffee Farm....
At Greenwells Farm we had a good tour guide.
Thurday Feb.25th is Volcano Day and Hilo Day
This is how I am trying to catch up. It is Thursday and a long day and yet I am trying to get these last notes in.
The four of us are on the road at 9am and heading to Kilauea volcano. The roads we take are in good shape. we have two drivers and we do not attempt to take one lane sideroads that go nowhere.
The volcano is perfect for taking ore pictures. I see a little more of the scenery and landscape because I am not driving this time around.
Our lunch is near the National Park Center where there is a picnic table for us. We share with a couple from Israel.
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