Adventure Day!

We decided to have an "Adventure Day" -- that is, get in the car and just wander without any specific destination.  We headed toward East Maui, where we had spent the least amount of time on previous visits.  So we packed a picnic lunch and grabbed tennis shoes and headed out! 

This part of Maui is very rugged and mountainous and, until you get to the lava fields, it is where the Maui ranches are located -- both cow and goat ranches (including one called the Surfing Goat Dairy).  Because you're basically driving through the base of the volcano and lava fields, there are lots of one lane bridges, hairpin turns and undeveloped roads.  Here are a few pictures of our day:

This person has an interesting way of handling his mail delivery -- hilarious.



 

Mt. Haleakala (the East Maui Volcano):


In Kula, we found a great roadside park so we stopped for lunch.  We were at about 3700 ft elevation at this point and the views were breathtaking.



Lunch at Rice Park in Kula, Maui HI





Great homemade cookies and
chocolate lava bars for dessert



We've been to this area before, but it just amazes me.  There are thousands of round bowling-ball-size rocks that constantly roll with the ebb and flow of the water.  The clacking noise is so loud you can hear it above the crashing waves.



Joe walking down to a rolling rock beach




Some of the rolling rock beaches --
each of these rocks is the size of a bolling ball





Painted marker at one of the black beach entrances


Traveling on up the mountain side.  This is considered the "back road" to Hana:



Hui'aloha Church, est. 1859

 



Black beach




View from one of the cliffs


We drove until dark -- our wandering turned into a 7-hour trip -- but we got to see this outstanding sunset from up in the mountains.



Sunset from East Maui



Such a change from the white sand beaches, but it definitely does have a stark beauty of its own.  Great Adventure Day.