There we were, three thousand feet down into the crater of the volcano, and the sole of her boot started parting company from the upper!

We’d left the coast at 3 am and driven up ft to watch the sun rise over the rim of the 10,000ft dormant volcano Haleakala, on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Then, amidst stunning scenery, we headed down Sliding Sands Trail into the crater. And now, near the lowest point on the trail, and surrounded by this fascinating landscape of pinks and fawns, a minor disaster. Fortunately, bound up with spare leather laces from one of the party, and sealed against the volcanic grit with silk Elastoplast from another’s first aid kit, the boots survived. And she knew where to buy new ones on the morrow. During the repairs a passing walker, a local resident who told us he’d worked in Australia with John Elliot!, had recommended ‘Sports Authority’ in Kahului. Pam delights to be asked where she bought her boots!!

On The Big Island we’ll all remember that short morning walk down through the black lava to the bay where Captain Cook met his death. But mainly we’ll remember the 1,500 ft climb back up, in the heat, with a deadline to meet! Then a few fascinating days in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park saw us walking in the crater of the still active Kilaeua volcano. Lots of black lava, some in fascinating twisted ropes. But on the crater walls lush rainforest; the north-east side of this island gets 300 inches of rain a year! So north from Hilo we walked through thick greenery beside many waterfalls, and finished off the trip with a steep drop down to the black sand beach of the Waipio Valley.