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Kona Coast, Hawaii

With 8 checked bags (2 for each), Jimmy, Judy and the two of us got on the plane for a two week trip to Hawaii. Our destination was the Kona where we rented a car and stayed on the second floor of a condo just 50 feet from the water. The waves became very rough one day and a native said that happens only three or four times a year. We had a salt water pool and a fresh water pool and a balcony that wrapped around two sides of the condo, offering a wonderful view facing west and the sunset across the Pacific Ocean.
Snorkeling was the main activity of our trip. We must have tries ten different snorkeling spots and all were great. The water was very clear and the fish were numerous, large, small, all various shapes and colors.
One day was dedicated to visiting the Kilauea Volcano National Park. We had hoped to see a lava flow, but the flow was so remote that it could only be reached by aircraft, a disappointment. We stopped at the southern tip of Hawaii along the way which is the southern most point of the USA. (Our journey will take us to the most northern state when we return to the mainland.)

Maui, Hawaii

A 30 minute flight, the following week, and we were on the island of Maui. Maui offers a more lush tropical island and good snorkeling. As luck would have it the clouds hung around for five days, but we toured and snorkeled every day. The water here was not as clear as the big island nor was the coral as colorful. Beautiful beaches, swaying palm trees and flowers adorn the landscape. On the last day we had a colorful sunset and the next morning we woke early to pack for the flight home and found a beautiful sunrise. Of course we took a lot of pictures.

While we were on Maui we drove the “Road to Henna” a winding road around the volcano that has waterfalls, spectacular lava cliffs and splashing waves. Ioa state park is a place where the ancient Hawaiians worshiped and is also the site of a war where Kamehameha defeated the natives to take control of all the islands. He became the first and only King of all of Hawaii. He later became a friend of the United States and eventually a territory. The landscape in this park is made up of projecting pinnacles in a rainforest, surrounded by clouds and fog, very eerie. We also visited a Sugar Mill Factory Museum and Tropical Garden. Sugar used to be the number one crop and main income producer until the tourist started coming. Sugar Cane was planted and harvested in 1871 after the Civil War and became very productive.
We finally had a fantastic sunny day and found a beautiful beach with cream colored sand, sparkling clear blue water, blue skies, with puffy white clouds and flowers at the edge of the sand, a great picture.
Hawaii became the 49th state in 1959 followed by Alaska the same year.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Upon return to Los Angeles we immediately collected Crimson from Anita (Judy’s mother) and our RV from Jimmy’s friend’s house and proceeded to pack for the northern journey to Alaska. Along the way we spent two days in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This is where one can find the largest trees on earth. The Sequoia tree is found in California and China, that’s it. Many of the largest trees are named after Civil War Hero’s because that’s when the naming was done. The General Sherman tree by volume is the largest living thing on earth. Three grow taller, one broader, and one lives longer, but the Sequoia is the largest. We felt like we were in the “Enchanted Forest“. It is a site to see. There were water falls and rivers and vast mountain ranges. We enjoyed a spectacular view of the High Sierras looking toward Mt. Whitney from Moro Rock (a thrilling, scary 400 step and rock climb out onto a bolder standing atop a 6000 foot mountain). These are wonderful places and every American should see things like this. The Sequoia trees are unbelievably large and spectacular.

Time was short and we had to head for Sacramento for more family visiting.

Sacramento, CA

We parked at the Cal Expo RV Park in Sacramento and spent a few days with Mary Ellen's other brother, Billy and Joanne, his wife. They treated us to a fine time with Bar-B-Q steaks, a day at Six Flags and the opening of the new Star Wars movie. San Francisco is a "don't miss" place to visit, but we've been there a few times and Alaska was waiting. It was good to see Michael, Christy, Jenny and Ryan and the Dogs.

While we were in Sacramento we called Jim and BJ Vaughn, our neighbors in Destin who live in CA part of the year. They picked us up one day and took us to lunch at Lake Tahoe, about 65 miles away. Lake Tahoe is one of those “most spectacular scenes” found in the USA. We spent two weeks in Reno a few years ago.

Warren is a Capitols buff and we stopped to see the Capitols of Salem, OR and Olympia, WA before reaching Birch Bay, WA and gathered ourselves for the border crossing. After five nights at a Coast-to-Coast park we trekked across the Canadian border without trouble and no lines. We went about 40 miles east to a lesser used crossing and it was worth the time. We were heading northeast anyway.

Vancouver, British Colombia

A wonderful place to visit, but we've been there a couple of times before, once for a cruise to the Inside Passage. That was a great trip and we recommend it. If you want to go to Vancouver then you should cross at Peace Park boarder crossing on I-5.

Bellingham, WA

We could have spent weeks in areas that we had to pass by, Yosemite, Mt. Shasta, Crater Lake, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainer and Seattle, but Alaska is a long way off, so we wasted little time getting to the Canadian border and settled down for two days at Birch Bay near Bellingham, WA. Here we got our prescriptions, washed clothes, gassed up, got food and generally got ready for the Canadian experience. The Northwest has some of the most beautiful scenes in the world and again we have been there before.

We enjoyed Alaska as you can see!

Salmon fishing with the Grizzlies	Mother and Cubs, Salmon Fishing	How much is that doggie in the window? Skagway.
Shuttle at Denali Nat'l Park	MUSH! Sled Dogs	Hyder Glacier
Homer Spit snagging fish	Mt. McKinley 24,000 ft.	Grey Fox on road

More pictures on the next page . . .

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