Day 3 - Volcano ( a rest day)

After 2 days of hard riding, today is a deserved rest day. It also allows us to explore the most interesting place on the island, a national park located around a volcano crater. In the essence of a true rest day, cycling is optional. It allows some to rest, catch up on laundry using the coin operated laundromats inside KMC, walk to the visitor's center or ride around the 11 mile crater rim road. We opted for the latter. Breakfast was again at the KMC cafeteria tasting a local favorite - the Loco Moco - ground beef with gravy over rice topped with a sunny side egg. First stop was a the Visitor's Center where they had a movie explaining the evolution of the volcanos and the habitat inside the park. It showed active lava flow still occuring at sea level. If it was possible, this is a "must see" occurence. Note that you are at 4000 ft elevation and lava flow is at sea level 20 miles below. After yesterday's ride, nobody was strong enough to ride down and up. Probably down BUT not up. Sometimes, you have to try to make things happen when they seem not to be happening. We asked around if there was anybody willing to drive us down to witness nature's wonders - a lava flow. After a few tries, we got lucky. One of the rangers conducting a tour at the visitor's center was willing to do it after his break, gratis. We agreed only to the conditions that we treat him to dinner and reimburse him for at least gas money. Not only do we get to view lava flow at night but as well meet a new friend, Josh. Whos Nene ? On this side of the island, you see signs depicting a bird called "Nene". The Nene is Hawaii's national bird. It abounds in this area as they feed on certain microorganisms that grow in the warm environment of the volcano. Signs warn you of Nene birds that maybe crossing the roads as well as asking you not to feed them.  From the visitors center, we rode to the Thomas Jagger museum. Aside from housing geological artifacts and exhibits of the different craters on the island, there is also scientific earth movement sensing equipment on the premises. Outside is a good vista point of the Halemaumau Crater.   We proceeded down the crater rim road to ride its perimeter. Next stop was the Southwest Rift, where you see actual land separation as 2 techtonic plates drift apart. The crack actually runs from the crater perimeter to the sea.

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