Deep South

Volcanoes National Park

To get to Volcanoes National Park from Kona, you have to drive to the southern most tip of the United States. South Point has a windy rugged landscape with horses, a wind farm, incredible cliffs and great fishing. There is a slightly creepy feeling as you head out on the road to the deep south, mostly due to the fact that one of the wind farms closed leaving the huge wind mills to fend for themselves against the elements.

The green energy junk yard at the end of the world was that necessary reminder that for all of our brilliance we fundamentally lack the ability to take care of what we have already created. I think the Natural Energy Lab should move a satellite office here and re-open the farm, I am sure the research will have a far wider application then the wild stuff they are working on over at headquarters.

Speaking of satellites, look at the other weird shit at the end of America. There were no signs, fences or visible security systems making me wonder whether someone really just thought they would set-up camp out here in the middle of nowhere. Don't be surprised if this land becomes the first US area to secede, then promptly launches an attack to take over the world.

Other than that weird, slightly apocalyptic scene, South Point was quite lovely.

We then put our fleece jackets and rain coats on and went up several thousand feet to begin our trip into Volcanoes Park. What we encountered was a strange and beautiful landscape.

The earth really shows its struggle. Some areas are placid, flat and smooth while others have mounds of rock frozen as they surge towards the surface.

The rock still holds the form of liquid, it is sharp and light, in places it is glass and has these dark rainbows that glitter.

While I am sure you don't need too many more photo journals of this trip, I wanted to pass along Donal's website, where you can see many more photos taken from much greater heights (he is 6'5") and in full color. The three of us are quite ridiculous, we have five cameras between the three of us and all feel the need to capture each place on our own. The photo collection is already close to 1,000.

As a complete aside, this morning while cooking breakfast, Donal found a cook book by a woman named Cresent Dragonwagon. I have friends with some crazy names but this name clearly takes the cake. In case you want to know more Ms. Dragonwagon has set up a website with the story of how that became her name.