Kara's Photos - karalennox

Hotel View
The Hilton Waikoloa Beach resort is an oasis in a desert--literally!

Dolphins
The hotel has a dolphin training facility. You can swim with them! (I didn't.)

View from my lanai


Lava rock shoreline
The entire island is lava. The stuff is everywhere.

Year of the Dog
2006 is Year of the Dog. The hotel has a statue for every type of year.

Year of the Snake
Rob was born in the Year of the Snake (but I try not to hold it against him.)

View of Dolphin Pool
From our lanai we could watch the dolphins.

Friendly sparrow
Sparrows are the same everywhere--friendly beggars.

Common Myna
These birds were everywhere. They roosted by the thousand outside our room.

Whale
I know it's hard to see, but that's a humpback whale.

Two-fisted drinker
on the whale-watch trip. Wearing my Wal-Mart shorts and tee because luggage lost.

Amy on Whale-Watch trip


Whale tail
Wish I'd had a longer lens!

Whale fin


Amy's birthday sushi
We went Japanese that night. Amy, me, and her brother Mike.

View from Kohala
Maybe I spelled that right. It's the oldest volcano on the Big Island (now inactive)

Mountain pass across Kohala
We bicycled down from here.

View from Kohala


Amy at the airport
We had just arrived and I couldn't wait to take my first picture!

View from Kohala


View from Kohala
Me, still in Walmart shorts (waiting for luggage). Lots of ranching on Hawaii.

Another beautiful vista
Pololu valley look-out

Fully-laden coconut tree


Pololu
A very rugged coastline--no swimming!

The Pololu Valley
This is at the northern tip of the island, on the rainy side.

Pololu Valley


Black Sand Beach at Pololu


More of the black sand beach


Trail leading down to beach
I had no idea what I was getting into when starting down this trail!

Mule
This fellow was an accomplished beggar. At Pololu.

Black Sand Beach, Pololu
Big warning signs not to swim because of dangerous surf and undertow.

Mike, looking intrepid
Mike came with his sister, Amy, who was at the conference with Rob.

Interesting carved-out bay


Rainbow
Crossing from east to west side of the island. Camera doesn't do it justice!

River in Pololu Valley
Under my feet is incredibly rich black silt.

End of the trail!
I just climbed up from the beach to the look-out point. I was pretty tired!

Another rainbow picture


Babbling brook, Waipio Valley
This is the most picturesque spot on the island. it was too late in the day to hike down, though.

Waipio Valley
Used to have thousands of residents. Mostly wiped out by a tsuname in '64.

Waterfall, Waipio valley


We hiked this road ...
Only a short way because it was private property.

Volcano National Park
Isabel (wife of another conference attendee) and I took a bus trip around the island.

Sea Turtle on Black Sand Beach
These guys are endangered and very protected. Can't get within 15 feet!

Crater
Volcano National Park. The lava flow wasn't accessible except by helicopter.

Volcano National Park


Volcano National Park


Lava Tube
Tunnels like this one are all over the island. They carry rainwater to the dry side.

Lush vegetation
Near the Thurston Lava Tube.

Orchid Farm
I took dozens of pictures of orchids! I picked out a couple of my favorites.

Orchid


Orchid


Orchid Greenhouse


Rainbow Falls
Near Hilo

Begging Dolphins
They can see their trainers and know they're about to be fed.

Big tree
In Kapaau, near King Kamehameha statue. Where we ended our bike ride.

Splash!
Nothing but tail. I tried and tried to take pix of the dolphins but they move too fast.

After the ride
The ride was almost all downhill with breathtaking vistas!

With King Kamehameha
This is a very famous statue of the man who "united" (conquered) the Hawaiian islands.

Not sure where this is
But it's pretty!

On bird-watching trip
This is a look-out point in the dry forest, where we saw

Rob on birdwatching trip
I made him go with me.

A beautiful sunset from hotel
There was a look-out point for watching sunsets. We also saw whales!

The rainforest
That's our bird-watching guide. He was so cute. Wish I'd gotten a better picture of him.

More Sunset


Mauna Kea
This is the area where we went bird-watching. These little caves--lava tubes--are everywhere.

More sunset


More sunset


Torch-lighting ceremony
This guy blew a conch shell to the four directions, then ran around lighting all the torches.

Last Sunset pic
It just kept getting better and better.

Sandalwood Tree
The island used to have a lot, but they were cut and traded almost to extinction in 1800s.

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Bike Shop in Hartsburg


Boonville, MO
Boonville, named for Daniel Boone's sons (I think) is one of the few towns we saw still thriving.

Booger Hollow, AK
The name says it all.

Booger Hollow again
Very cold canned drinks and fantastic fudge! No wonder I gained weight on this trip.

"Boca," resident cat ...
... at the Globe Hotel in Hartsburg, MO. He likes to dig.

Strange contrail
It was half black, half white.

Old church ...
In Clifton City, MO.

Corn Harvest
We watched them harvesting with a machine that sorts corn kernels from the rest of the plant.

Dotty's Cafe
About the only place to eat in Hartsburg, MO. We had lunch and dinner there.

Deli lunch spot
I'm not sure, but I think this might be in Portland. Sandwiches, Fritos and carmel corn.

Preparations
Rob attaches the panniers to his bike at the Katy Trail Depot in Sedalia, MO.

Junk shop
This was in Clifton City, MO--rather sad.

Pet Donkey
They live at Meyer's Hilltop B&B in McKittrick, MO.

Johanna's convenience store
Seems to be the center of activity in Augusta. We got good ice cream for 70 cents.

Historic Katy Depot
In Sedalia, MO, our starting point.

Boonville Trailhead
Many of the larger towns had these shelters with maps and historic info (and the all-important potties).

Truss Bridge
Near Rocheport. We saw lots of bridges like this with pretty views of the Mighty Missouri.

Karen's friend
I found this little guy trying to cross the trail. He was very shy. I set him off to the side.

Bridge
Near Rocheport

Rocheport Depot


Tunnel near Rocheport
This was the only true tunnel we passed through.

Winery in Hartsburg
I'm actually drinking "Katy Trail Ale." Feeling very mellow after a long ride.

On the train in Boonville
That cool building behind me is being turned into loft apartments.

Motel in Springfield
We stayed here our last night on the road. An authentic Rt. 66 motel!

Karen on the Trail
This is what most of the trail looked like--with a canopy of trees overhead.

Pumpkin Harvest
In Hartsburg, MO. They have a pumpkin festival here, and the darn things are everywhere!

Another view of Katy
In another week, the fall colors will really start to show.

Karen in Action
That's the Missouri River behind me.

A portion of limestone bluff...
... that has avoided erosion. Rob is pointing to a flood line marker over his head, from '93.

Rob on Boonville Bridge
This was our first glimpse of the Missouri River, at the end of Day 1.

Boonville depot


Boonville Depot
I don't know what Rob is doing!

Rob at a Crossroads
The trail only occasionally crossed a road, and there was hardly ever any traffic.

Rob on the Truss Bridge
This was a very pretty view, but there were lots of neat bridges like this.

Globe Hotel in Hartsburg
This was a rustic but charming place. Tiny room, bath down the hall, but a gracious hostess with lots of cats.

Sho-Me Kort in Sedalia
This was our first night's stay, before riding. We love our funky motels.

Rob at winery in Hartsburg
This was such a pleasant town.

Clifton City trailhead
I think this is the only picture we had taken together!

Sho-Me Kort Motel 2
Now you can see the cute neon sign.

Graffiti on tile elevator
It's a shame kids had to deface this one-of-a-kind grain elevator.

Hartsburg Winery
Where we enjoyed a beer

Tile grain elevator
A very unusual elevator. Privately owned, not in use, but just feet from the Katy Trail.

Shy box turtle
He was crossing the trail when we passed by. I stopped and helped him across.

giant milk bottle
in OK City. supposed to be a landmark, been around for ages.

an old McDonald's
with only one golden arch.

making preparations
Amy learning how to load bikes onto her new bike rack; Rob looking on

The capital
in OK City, our starting point.

Amy's new bike rack
Amy tries to figure out how the lock works on her new rack. We discovered that, basically, it doesn't.

funky sign
in OK City

The Mother Road
This is how much of the road looks. Sometimes in poor repair, but almost no traffic.

Lunch spot
Along Rt. 66 in OK City. Great grilled sandwiches.

Cool bridge
Near a lake just outside OK City--beautiful ride.

A lonely picnic area...
Just outside Bridgeport, OK.

old motel
Would you believe it's still in business? Somewhere in Oklahoma.

Cafe
We didn't eat here, but it looks interesting.

motel
This one has been around awhile. Karen has become obsessed with old motels signs.

The pink pavement
This is what the original Rt. 66 pavement looks like, sort of pink. Nice riding.

Amy coming in for a landing
The terrain was starting to be ominously hilly in Western OK, but it never got worse than a few serious rolling hills.

Cotton Bowl Motel
Would you believe this one's still in business?

another motel


yet another motel


An old bank building
That is now the 100th Meridian Museum. We're not sure what's in there.

Amy looking chipper
After riding for 2 hours in a 20 mph headwind. That was a very hard day for all of us.

Texas state line
Notice how the road improves on the Texas side?

Amy and Rob approaching TX


Grapes of Wrath house


A common site
Along Rt. 66. You see some weird stuff.

A motel in Shamrock


Rob and Amy celebrate
crossing into Texas.

Rob hard at work


Rt. 66 Museum
Exhibit in McLean, TX

Cafe recreation
Rt. 66 Museum, McLean, TX

Rt. 66 Museum, McLean, TX
Just about every little town on the route has its own Rt. 66 museum. This one was interesting.

First ever Conoco station
And the U-Drop-Inn (unfortunately closed). Great art deco architecture

First ever Phillips 66 station
Dating from the 1920s

Devil's Rope Museum
In McLean, TX. An entire museum devoted to barbed wire (Or "bob wire"). Actually quite interesting!

Main Street, USA
Chandler, OK, I think. 2003-10-15

Another motel sign
2003-10-16

Cute restaurant
Chandler, OK 2003-10-16

Round Barn
Oklahoma 2003-10-15

More old pavement
Oklahoma 2003-10-16

Scary bridge
Scary bridge. Notice the original bricks peeking through? 2003-10-16

Drive-in theater in OK
A sad sight.

Art Deco church
More impressive in person--this thing was huge.

Restaurant in Joplin, OK
Restaurant in Joplin, MO--there's a storm brewing.

Blue Whale, Catoosa, OK
NOT as impressive as it looks in pictures. I don't know why this is so famous.

Another motel sign


Romantic Times Conference
KC. That's me, holding my little award, on the front row, second from left.

Sunset in Missouri
Sunset in Missouri

Plaza Mayor, Madrid
Amelia, Rob, Jane, Penny, Plaza Mayor, Madrid, 2003

Plaza Mayor, Madrid 2003
Amelia, Rob at outdoor cafe, Plaza Mayor, Madrid 2003

Plaza Mayor, Madrid 2003
Jane, Penny, Plaza Mayor, Madrid, 2003

View of Madrid, 2003
From high-up tower

Museum of the Americas
Holds great collection of ancient Native American artifacts--Mayan, Incan, etc.

Madrid park, 2003
Penny, Amelia, Jane, Rob, Madrid 2003

Palace, Madrid


Peahen at Palace, Madrid 2003


View from Palace, Madrid 2003


Palace, Madrid 2003
Ceiling painting

Palace, Madrid 2003
Ceiling, Palace, Madrid 2003

Palace, Madrid 2003
Chandelier

Palace, Madrid 2003
They had the most amazing ceilings in this palace!

Palace, Madrid 2003


Palace, Madrid 2003
Dining room

Palace, Madrid 2003
Chinese enamel room--gaudy

Palace, Madrid 2003
Sedan chair for a princess

Palace, Madrid 2003
Another ceiling

Armored knight and horse
At royal armory, Madrid 2003

Ruins of old Palace
Madrid 2003

Replacing the Cathedral bell
In preparation for a visit from "El Papa" (Pope JPII) Madrid 2003

View from my hotel, Madrid
The Hostel Madrid, 2003. Quite comfy. The "Museo de Jambon" was across street

Toledo outdoor cafe, 2003
Jane, Rob, Amelia

View of Toledo, 2003


View of Toledo, Jane
We were way lost at this point, thanks to my map reading. A nice lady helped us.

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The mysterious potato
Toledo, 2003

Cathedral of Toledo, 2003
Prime example of Gothic architecture.

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young flamenco dancers

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Amelia, Jane, Rob at the fiesta

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Rob at The Alhambra

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