Day 5: Tuesday. Phase two of the 2006 Big Island Adventure begins in the truck, headed north toward the lush valleys. We grab some delicious pastries on our way to Waipeo Valley, one of my favorite spots on the whole island! Larry 4WDs the truck all the way down the steep road into the valley and parks right by a river. A curious wild horse comes over to us, hoping for food. Sunny weather caused the river to be low enough to cross (first time in a couple years!) so we walked all the way on the black sand beach to the distant part of the valley, then turned inland on a trail leading to the distant waterfalls. We climbed up to the fourth waterfall and pool before turning back to lower ground. We gave a hitch hiking girl a ride up the steep road out of Waipeo, then drove east around the top of the island towards Hilo. Larry's connection for housing landed us in the town of Volcano, which has my favorite restaurant on the island, Thai Thai. That night we slept in a house that could easily be mistaken for a small museum, with the fancy architecture and antiques.