Sunday driver

We decided to go for a leisurely Sunday drive after church, on a road we hadn't already both seen, so we went up the road to the Mauna Loa Observatory, off Saddle Road. 

We didn't see anyone around at the top to pester for a tour, so we headed back down, taking this picture along the way. On the way down, we did pass a couple operators heading up to AMiBA for the night - hi, Sarah and Tony! 

Then for lack of anything better to do, we cruised west, photographed some Blackhawks landing in Afghani...er, Pohakuloa, and wild turkeys flocking right next to the road, stopped in Waimea for food and ($4.39/gal) fuel, and came back to a dark and rainy Hilo. 

A good 151-mile road trip and a good workout for the Escape, which handled it all with aplomb.