A Road Between Two Massive Volcanoes

Back to Hawaii :)

Saddle Road. One of the most......no, the most dramatic road I've ever driven on. The landscape and views keep it at jaw dropping levels most of the way.

The road is an 85 kilometer stretch going between two massive volcanoes on Big Island, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, with each end of road at ocean level, running through different climate zones, and ear popping altitude (6500 feet)

The Hilo side where we started is green, lush, rainy with almost low visibility and you quickly hit arid volcanic rocks with extinct crests and cones of  old eruptions, (that's when the air pressure makes the ears pop) and then you're back to the ocean on the other side of the island. You get why dramatic, right? 

Here's pictures:

The large dunes to the left which extend into the horizon are old volcanic fissures of lava called Pu'u(s)

Mauna Lea up ahead

The volcano slope visible in the background......these volcanoes are nothing like the picture we have in mind, not sharp conical, but gentle and long slopes reaching upto massive heights.

Both sides is just volcanic rock, black with absolutely no growth

A little further from the volcano, and you see that growth has begun

Further off and more growth

The volcano looming large at far end

And from that stark and arid landscape, one turn and you suddenly feel you're driving right into the ocean again

One of those times where no description I add will bring out the experience..... again, one of those most dramatic landscapes of a volcanic island.....different !