We were on Block Island again last year, but I didn’t add to this blog. I spent my time walking and working on my book, Intersections. It was a writer’s retreat.
It’s wonderful to have a place to visit, relax, walk, explore, and work on a project.
Last year I rode my recumbent tricycle fewer miles and walked more. I would walk from our rented house on Center Street to a beach, walk along the beach to the next beach, and return home—same island but a different way to see it.
This year I returned to the walking trails, but skipped riding my trike to get there. I found unmarked roads that weren’t marked private that I could follow to reach a walking trail without too much time spent on the main road. I finally began to use All Trails as a guide. It’s taken a few years to realize I could follow myself as I walked and use All Trails to make the turn I needed. Block Island has over 28 miles of walking trails. This year I found entrances and connections I’d never seen before.
Scenes along the road or not too far from the road:
Walking along the roadWhat are these for? Do they tighten wires when needed?Scene along the roadFor my friend EdTwo ways to move through the waterAmerican Rambler with a Mondale bumper stickerDigs the ditches for the fiber optic cables that are crossing the islandMonster plane that flew over and landed at the Block Island Airport.Rode my trike to the north end of the island and stopped to visit the Labyrinth on the way back.Trail entrance over the stone wall.Breakfast here a few timesA driveway I didn’t exploreWhat does this mean?
Scenes along some of the 28 miles of trails and less-traveled roads:
I never tire of seeing and smelling the fragrance of milkweed. Dogwood!Need to stop for a rest?Entrance to Jane LaneTrail entrance I’d never tried before from Jane Lane, a road I’d never taken.Entrance to Middle EarthMy friend the chef, who resides in a garden in Middle Earth.Along the Payne Trail.Blue Toadflax: I never see it except when I’m on Block IslandBlue Eyed GrassWalking along the south side of the island when the smoke from Canada was with usAnother view from the south side of Block IslandA favorite trail between Old Mill Road and Cooneymus RoadGray catbird: My walking companionGray Catbird, a little closerFavorite view between Old Mill Road and Cooneymus RoadBetween Old Mill Road and Cooneymus RoadElaine Loffredo Memorial PreserveTo Nathan Mott ParkTree that stops me every year. It’s a landmark for me along the Rodman Hollow Trail.How does this tree survive above the others through hurricanes and winter storms?
I determined to make the most of this last full day by completing the north and south loops. I rode to Old Town, then headed to North Point on Corn Neck Road.
After a three-year hiatus, we have returned to 554 Center Road, Block Island, Rhode Island. For the first time we have our car on the island, along with our two recumbent tricycles.
I started this blog when I was in Hawaii and some are wondering, now that March is over, if I’m still there. I’d like to think so, but I’ve been home since March 7. The up-to-date blog entries stopped when my class, Hawaii, the Myths and the Land began on Sunday, February 24.
I spent the rest of my time in Hawaii, listening, learning, practicing, discovering, and sharing with people who love photography as much as I do. In the past, I’ve caught up on my blog on rainy days, but it almost never rained. After I got home and readjusted to the time (and the temperature) I looked at my work and thought about how I might share some highlights.
People have asked why this class, taught by teachers from Maine, is taught in Hawaii. Meg Weston has a life-long fascination with volcanoes. She had a house on the Big Island for several years and returns often. Elizabeth Greenberg vacations in Hawaii each summer (the only time she can take off time from work at Maine Media) with her husband as they pursue their intense interest in music. Ken Carl clearly loved our location, and showed us how to approach strangers, chat with them, and take their pictures.
We visited places I knew and places I’d never seen before. We wrote to prompts, shared our work, and wrote some more. When the week was over, one of my classmates and I stayed a few extra days and visited our favorite spots again.
First class met Sunday night:
We introduced ourselves with earlier work. I brought pictures from Hawaii and Block Island. My hope was to get more opportunities to photograph lava. My favorite trail in Volcanoes National Park was closed due to last year’s eruptions.
Passion Flower from Botanical Garden in Hawaii
Rusting Metal from Block Island, RI
Beach Grass from Block Island, RI
Tree Fern from the Hotel Garden
Lava from Volcanoes National Park
Spider from the Hotel Garden
Monday
After looking at the work of other photographers, we practiced writing six-word memoirs. One of mine was, “Welcome the familiar. Explore what’s new.” For me, that’s what happened for the rest of the week.
Tuesday morning, before sunrise, we visited the steam vents at Volcanoes National Park:
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A stop for lunch
We stayed long enough for lunch and a writing exercise about what was going on outside. Outside, as if it were planned by Elizabeth and Meg, the sky opened.
We were surrounded by the sound of rain, and didn’t particularly wish it would end.
The journey continued, on Chain of Craters Road, all the way to the ocean, through mounds of lava. Much of the lava, called pahoehoe, has a smooth and ropy surface.
Meg on the Mountain
Pahoehoe
Wave stopped in place
Almost to the end
5. Holei Sea Arch—at the end of the road
Tuesday evening, Elizabeth took a couple of us (others were too tired:-) to Hilo Town Tavern for snacks and to hear the band, Kanakapila. We enjoyed the music, the food, and some hula! Excellent ending for a wonderful day.
Hilo Town Tavern
Kanapila on Tuesdays
Wednesday: King’s Landing
In 1793 King Kamehameha the First let a small raiding party in an attack. During the skirmish, the king stepped into a crevice in the lava and became stuck. After a villager broke a paddle over the trapped king’s head, his men freed their leader and they departed. The name remained—King’s Landing.
A much later story about King’s Landing described a hospital that was washed away by a tsunami. It is said that you could hear the voices of the dead that used to be patients at this hospital.
I visited King’s Landing twice this year. My favorite pictures may reflect something about these stories.
Traveling over new lava on a new road gave us a close-up view of `a`a. (“lava flows that have a rough rubbly surface composed of broken lava blocks called clinkers”) Isaac Hale Beach Park was open. For my first visit I walked around paths farther away from the beach. On my second visit I sat and looked at`a`a and at animals who called the park home.
I enjoyed our visit to Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. Rather than sharing new pictures, I’ll refer back to an earlier adventure where I neglected to protect my digital camera from the rain, and who came to the rescue to save the camera (for which I had no substitute). A visit to Hawaii, 2017
I was hoping to revisit the flower that reminded me most of that adventure, but the side trail was closed for repairs.
From 2017: Alpinia gigantifolia ‘ToniParson’
Friday: A visit to Pops’ place to meet Pops and Maggie Skiba
Elizabeth and Meg took us to meet a local photographer, Maggie Skiba. Maggie introduced us to Pops, who had moved to the Big Island some years ago to be near his daughter. Various people had been building off the grid in an area not too far from Pahoa, when lava from last year’s eruption buried some of their homes and blocked access to others. Pops wanted us to share their story so people can be aware that recovering from the eruption is far from over.
Elizabeth shared with me a message she received from Maggie after we returned to the mainland:
“It’s great to hear from you, Elizabeth. I thought of you a couple times in the last week with Island news to share. First, this cute little video by The Singing Lobbyists about the re-opening of Hwy 132. Neighbors have a meeting with Puna Geothermal Venture about having access through their road.
Always looking forward to seeing more pics, and reading the blog.”
Below is a selection of the photographs I took while we were visiting with Pops and Maggie:
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Friday, March 1, was our final day of class. Two of us stayed for a few more days and revisited our favorite places.
Throughout my stay at the Dolphin Bay Hotel, I took photographs in the gardens and along the building.
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Wednesday, March 6, I said goodbye to the wonderful people at the Dolphin Bay, left from the Hilo Airport, and, after three flights and an airport limousine ride from Syracuse, I reached Brooktondale on Thursday morning, May 7.
I put this blog together after I got home so I could remember my trip, and say thank you to my classmates and teachers. Our week together was a fabulous chance to welcome the familiar and explore the new. We heard Hawaiian myths, wrote to explore our own thoughts and ideas, and visited magical places that I already want to visit again.
Thank you Elizabeth, Meg, and Ken. I’d talk or write more about this class to anyone who would like to know why I thought it was so special.
I’m happy to be back at a place I know where it’s warm in February! I walk as often as is practical to scout for pictures, shop, and just be. Each picture has a caption which I hope you can see if you hover over the picture. Let me know if it works!
Opie helps with unpacking
The garden behind the hotel
Opie looks for entertainment
Rambutans at Island Naturals Grocery Store
Mural I saw in production last year
Idea for the Downtown Ithaca Alliance?
A sign
Another sign
Something I don’t see at home anymore
I don’t know what this used to be…
Photo excursions to an arboretum in Hilo and circling the Dolphin Bay Hotel.
Arboretum has trees from all over the world
Grass Tree
Tree with no sign. So far no ID.
Leave and fruit from mystery tree
False Kamani
Sausage Tree
Flowers I’d like to revisit. No ID.
Grass Tree
Around and near the Dolphin Bay Hotel:
Droplets to come back and visit
Focus stacking for the same droplets
Plantsnap says this is a parakeet flower. Beside the hotel.
One part of the earlier photograph bothered me, and I asked Tim if he saw anything that needed changing. Totally missing the piece I wanted out, Tim said, “Why did you include the hose in the picture?”
This version has two changes. The bit I wanted out is gone, and maybe, in color, one can see that there is no hose:-)
Bags packed and weighed (at home at least), and fingers crossed. If all goes well, I’ll be in Syracuse tomorrow (2/18/19) and in Hilo on Tuesday night (2/19/19). Tim will be guarding the home front, and I will be back at the Dolphin Bay Hotel to visit favorite places and to take a five-day workshop, Myths & the Land – The Hawaii Workshop.
I’ve been practicing at the Liberty Hyde Bailey Conservatory at Cornell. It’s a bit like taking pictures in Hilo, without the rain:-)
Have Trike, Will Travel. 