Day 17: Jurrasic Park Falls

I just realized I have about a weeks worth of posts that yall havent read. Sorry about that, I know yall must be dying to read as much as I am to post, but I havent had service since Kealakekua Bay. Being surounded by high crater walls and mountains kinda puts a damper on reception. So make sure you start at the last post you read.

Starting the day off like only Hawaii has done, wild horses sure enough greeeted us when we pooped out of the tent. Told you! And the day was finally sunny and nice. We fed them Mexican animal crackers and they let us pet them in return. They were all brown and black and very beautiful. A bit on the small side though. 

We ate our breakfast next and then frollocked on the black beach, enjoying the sun like we hadnt seen it in a week...oh wait. And then the waves were huuge so we had to jump in them of course. Omg they thrashed us so bad but it was so fun. Bathing costumes were even nearly lost. Bad waves! Just hope no one got blinded by my now extremely white tush. 

On the way back to the tent some Mexicans pulled up next to us and started grilling. We struck up convo about the water fall and next thing we know they are shoving grilled steak fajitas in our hands and cokes and beers. Big score. And they were cooking enough chicken to feed Thailand on top of the steak. Really nice guys. They invited us to ride with them to the falls so we went. But when we got there the roads didnt go up to the falls, not even close. They were leaving so we decided to stay and check it out on foot. A local guy told us we had to swim and that it was a very hard hike. But me turn down a sha'lounge?! NEVER! So we start walking. 

One of two trails lay before us. A nice beaten no trespassing path to the left of the stream or the not so worn no sign path to the right. Left it is :) But soonly we get to a different sign thats all criminal this and legal that so we back track and just go right. Immediately we are tossed back into jungle. Awesome. The hike starts off nice and easy but then gets rocky and more white water. The scenery is just amazing and evrrything is super overgrown and huuge. Fronds on these little palm tree things at least 15-20 feet. No lie. And massive elephant ears. We got pics. Sorry Mom, should have dug them back up for the ditch. 

At this one point where the trail just leads straight into deep water there is this family coming out. They say its at least an hour to the falls and that they are heading back because its 4 and they dont want to be stuck in the dark. Sun sets at about 7 so we're wondering what to do. Naturally we press on. 

We hide her purse and my camera bag with everything in it and I take off my shoes thinking I could keep them dry. Sara just plunges in like a champion. Seriously there is something wrong with this girl because she is fearless and doesnt complain one time, even when she slips and cuts herself, which was considerable. AND she not only keeps up with me but leads the way most of the time, leaving me behind even. Are ALL girls from Sweden like this? Geeeze :) 

So after we swim and find the trail again, we understand why they said this was a hard hike. Huge rocks, slippery with moss and algy, extremely steep muddy climbs, wading on said slippery rocks time and time again, making our own path and litterally climbing up huge rocks, you name it we climbed up and through it. Needless to say my bare feet didnt last long but I tried.  

We get to a bambo forrest even and then we can finally see some progress as the base is about 100-200yards away, still climbing. We even run at some points because we are in a race for the sun remember. Towards the last part we dont really have a trail and push on through the water and rocks.

Then we turn this bend, and there she freaking blows captain. The 1000'+ water fall. About a 100 feet from us. I CANNOT even begin to describe the view we have and how unrealistically beautiful it is. Seriously this is straight CGI right in front of us. We continue to the base and its just unbelievable. Extremely windy and misty and loud. I have vertigo when I look up its so high and the greenest walls just climb so impossibly high. They form this U shape with the falls at the bottom of the U. The walls form the rest and they are just incredible. And this really high rocky and green hill sits in the middle of the U and has the best view of the area. Im KILLING myself for not being able to bring my camera but we had the underwater camera at least. Hopefully those come out. My only thoughts are complete awe and anger than I cant stay longer.  

With insane regret we head back after swimming under the falls. For some reason my breath was actaully taken away at one point while under because this huge gush of water dropped on us. Indescribable again.

We ended up getting down pretty quickly and record time Im sure. And to prove how random this island and trip continues to be, who of all people do we run into back on the road...the weird New Jersey dude! Seriously how is this possible! We are over an hour away from him and down in a valley on a back road to nowhere. Mad crazy, we're still tripping over that one. 

We walk back to beach where we then run into these two really rough and worn guys. They just got back from a wild boar hunting trip about 9 miles hike into the valley. They had dogs with them that had gashes from the hunt and they showed us a video of them stabbing and killing a huge hog while the dogs were all biting it and holding it in place. Brutally hardcore stuff. 

So now really exhausted and ankles sore we relax and enjoy our last night in the valley with coqui frogs and the sound of the ocean.