Friday, July 17: Helicopter tour with Paradise helicopters from the Hilo airport at 9:30 a.m. Took the coast route for our reservation. We left at 7:25 assuming 1.5 hours as most folks told us. The GPS told us 9:14, which I didn’t believe. Well, there are very few passing zones and people don’t move over to let other cars pass, just going with the flow. Rainy and foggy on the way and in Hilo as well. I was wondering if the flight was going to go.We arrrived at 9:15, we were supposed to be there between 8:45 and 9:00 a.m., oops!

The flight was fantastic and spectacular as mother nature usually is. Great photos!

We hoped to hang out in Hilo and were ready to go the beach but it was still rainy and foggy. Breakfast was at Ken’s Pancake House. Fair, written up in the “Hawaii, The Big Island Revealed” book, but recommended by the staff at Paradise Helicopter. Fair was the review from us, the pancakes were lacking taste.

We took the Saddle Road back over to Waikoloa because of the weather in Hilo. It felt like a shorter drive, but people tell us, the 2 roads are within 15 minutes of each other, depending on traffic. The views on Saddle Road are spectacular, especially at the crest of the road, between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The road on the west side IS rough, at the crest is a NEW freeway and is undulating, up and down on the Hilo, wet side. I think I prefer it to Highway 19, through the north shore.

Did the pool pupus at 5:00 p.m. for dinner. Sandy made her 7-layer bean dip, good stuff!

Thursday, July 16: Lazy morning getting Douglas adjusted to the time zone and new place.

Harry Potter afternoon movie day. All 4 of us went to see Harry Potter, the half-blood prince down in Kona. Great movie, a little long but entertaining. Went after the movie to the Kona Brewing Company for pizza and my favorite brew. We picked up a growler of Wailua Wheat for later consumption as well.