Trolls in Hawaii - Paradise Post 5

(map courtesy of  Lonely Planet)

Time to drive around the island of Hawaii to see what we can see.

Monet Troll along the coast of Hawaii

Lil Dude Troll along the coast of Hawaii

At Akaka Falls State Park

Akaka Falls

At Wailuku River State Park

Waianuenue (Rainbow Falls)

Lunch at Punalu'u Bake Shop - the most southern bake shop in America

At Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park

Punalu'u Beach

Punalu'u Black beach sand

Near several Green Sea Turtles who have crawled onto the beach in
preparation for digging nests and laying their eggs. Green Sea Turtles
are endangered.

Toltec Mounds in Arkansas

Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park

A National Historic Landmark, the Arkansas Toltec Mounds site located in Lonoke County between the towns of Scott and Keo comprises one of the largest and most impressive archeological sites in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. The park preserves Arkansas's tallest American Indian mounds. Three mounds remain where 18 once stood surrounded by an earthen embankment 8 - 10 feet in height, a portion of which is still visible today. The two tallest mounds once stood 49 and 38 feet tall, astounding since the mounds were built one basket of dirt at a time. These ancient earthworks are the remains of the ceremonial and governmental complex which was inhabited here from A.D. 650 to 1050. Mound groups like this one were religious and social centers for people living in the surrounding countryside. The Toltec Mounds site had a small number of residents who were primarily political and religious leaders of the community and their families. 

The largest mound still remaining

There are no clues as to why the site was abandoned or what happened to the native Americans who built it.

Mound Lake is next to the mounds (you can see one in the background here)
and contains a large population of Cypress trees

Petit Jean State Park - Part 2

Petit Jean State Park, known for the Petit Jean legend, is Arkansas' first state park. Lil Dude Troll heads there on a regular basis to hike the trails, take in the wonderful scenery, and sometimes spending a long weekend in the historic Mather Lodge.

Looking out of the window at the beautiful scenery at Mather Lodge

Inside the historic Mather Lodge.

In the Petit Jean gift shop.

Lil Dude riding on a hand-carved wooden tractor in Mather Lodge

Start of Cedar Falls Trail, one of the great hiking trails in Petit Jean State Park

Lil Dude checking out the view of the valley behind Mather Lodge

Acton State Park, Texas

At Acton State Park, the smallest state park in Texas and site of the grave of Elizabeth Crockett, widow of the Alamo hero Davy Crockett, and two of his children.

At the gate of Acton Cemetery

Texas State Historical Marker

Lil Dude & Monet Troll paying humble respects to the
wife of Davy Crockett. RIP.

Route 66 State Park in Missouri

East of Eureka, Missouri is the Route 66 State Park.



State Park sign at Visitor Center entrance



Burma Shave signs in the Visitor Center





Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
Lil Dude Troll was born to be wild!