In November 14, 1959, the Kilauea Iki crater cracked into a half-mile long fissure and, over the next five weeks and 17 eruptions, spewed out enough lava to fill half of the crater you see today with molten rock. At its most dramatic point, lava exploded 1,900 feet in the air(!!!), the tallest eruption in Hawaii’s history. By December 20, 1959, the eruptions stopped and the remaining lava slowly cooled to form the hardened lava lake you’ll walk on today.

(Gushing Hill), the cinder-and-spatter cone created during a 1959 eruption beside the Kīlauea Iki crater caused by lava fountains that shot 1900 feet in the air.

Report written 4-23-2025 as I finally finished the 4-part video. Cousin Wendy planned the Hill Country part of our trip and I planned the San Antonio part. I don't remember the last time I got on a bike, would have preferred a horse as I know how it works . Cousin Wendy, however, has done a lot of biking including in Sedona on the Mescal Trail.

Mission San José, the "Queen of Missions," is renowned for its beauty and historical significance. Founded in 1720, it was the largest mission in San Antonio and offered sanctuary to over 300 individuals. It was also the first mission to build a gristmill in Texas. Before settling at its current location, Mission San José was moved twice due to various factors, including a smallpox epidemic and overcrowding. Major restoration work was carried out in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration, preserving the mission's architectural integrity.

Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1731 by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order, on the eastern banks of the San Antonio River. The new settlement was named for a 15th-century theologian and warrior priest who resided in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The mission was established to defend against French encroachment from the east. The mission was self-sufficient, with Indigenous artisans producing essential goods like iron tools and cloth.

Mission Espada (San Francisco of the Sword), one of five historic San Antonio missions, was initially founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas in East Texas, later relocated to its current location in 1731. It's known for its unique brick archways, a tranquil environment, and the well-preserved acequia (irrigation system) that still operates. Franciscan missionaries taught Indigenous residents new skills like blacksmithing, weaving, masonry, and carpentry in converting local Native Americans to Christianity and solidifying Spanish territorial claims.

Tree Of Life: Memories and Voices of the Earth sculpture. The Tree of Life is an 80-foot metal cast sculpture adorned with over 700 clay sculptures that represent the rich history of ranching in the area.

Our next goal was a Riverwalk to Rita's on the River, but it was closed due to recuperation from the Final Four for the employees... we would find that out the next nite (where we also visited our waiter of last year). We would end up walking another mile and a quarter to finish our day. Tomorrow it was the Trolley ride with a stop at the San Antonio Botanical Garden .

Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

The rock represents a geological phenomenon known as a “batholith” and was created 1.1 billion years ago when molten magma cooled and crystallized into granite far beneath the Earth's surface.