Bits and pieces again...

Thursday February 18. Windy, coolish, dry, settling down later. Nice day.

MAUI REPORT:

After the usual leisurely healthy breakfast we took a look at the clear skies at the crater and decided to take a run up to the top. Although it is only 12 miles from our cabin here at Kihei, if we were crows, it is 48 miles of winding but interesting roads to get there. That 48 miles takes just under two hours of driving.

Th weather was outstanding, clearest we have ever seen it. Sometimes it is socked in up there and the temperature does go below freezing in the winter. The crater gets an average of 35 inches of rain per year, the same as London, England. Hard to believe but true.

Today we could see the Big Island of Hawaii and it's two volcanoes 80 miles to the south.

The last flow of lava from the crater was about 800 years ago. The main activity was between 800,000 and 1,000, 000 years ago apparently. That is clouds in the distance, not snow. We were above the cloud level.
Even walking is more of an effort here. The altitude is about 10,000 feet, Kilimanjaro just over 19,000 feet and Everest about 30,000 feet, just to put it in perspective.

This is a Silversword plant that takes up to 50 years before it blooms, then dies. Sort of like us humans!

Not Kilimanjaro but a nice feeling nevertheless, even the car had a bit of trouble with the carburetor on the way up.

THE LANGLEY STIMULUS PROGRAMME:

The front of the house being prepared for plaster and stone work.

Doug's playhouse, also getting ready for plaster.

THINGS AT WORK:

The 'management' had a 40 foot banner made for Olympic stimulation. They have decided to put up a Canadian flag for each medal we win. [This is the side of the building that faces the Trans Canada Highway were tens of thousands of cars pass each day.] Believe it or not, Canada has been projected to win over 20 medals.

The Manager of Canada Ticket, hanging up number six yesterday.