I'm going to go back an entire month here. This is when I ventured off on my saddle in attempt to hit up the Kona side of the island to meet up with none other than one of my closest friends in the entire world, Miss Carolyn Cooper.
The day was Monday, and I worked until just after 1pm, a little late to be starting such a grand journey, but that's the way things roll. Vehicle of choice was my giant cross bike, food was 2 larabars, a pack of cliff shots, water and two bananas and route of choice was Saddle Rd -- the belt road that runs right in between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea (the two highest peaks from ocean crust to summit in the world). I headed up towards the Uni to the upper highway. This is where the fun begins. The start of the pretty-much relentless climb to 6000ft in a mere 20 or so miles. By the first few miles I could see all of Hilo Bay waaaay below and behind me, and was soaked to the bone in sweat.
I must admit, I hadn't rode over 90min in a long time and my giant bike only has 16 speeds (aka no granny gear). But I had a goal -- Caro !! And nothing was going to stop me from getting to see her in time so she didn't have to make the drive back to Hilo alone!!!
At about 4000ft, after hill after hill of standing, grinding my way. I had to pull over and stop. I was 2.5 hrs in and exhausted. I ate my larabar in hopes of gaining some gusto, but to no avail I was still tired. More water. Nothing. ANOTHER bar. Nothing. I hopped back on, did some self talk, and kept climbing.
There's something about being up on that road on my bike, alone, in the middle of those two mountains, perfectly smooth winding asphalt -- surrounded by rainforest, drier forest, then eventually open lava fields. Looking up to see the rounded shield volcano of Mauna Loa and the snowy peaks of Mauna Kea. The smells, the sights, the emotions, the emotions, the emotions. There was so much going on in my body, in my mind, in my spirit. It's a cool, cool, unique feeling up there. I was full of both eeriness and awe.
I made it another 2000ft until it pretty much evens off -- slight uphill grades feel like speeding downhills! Love that feeling. But I'm not gonna lie, my legs were bonked. I had bit off a bit more than I could chew. There was mist around me in the desolate atmosphere, as it began to pour down. It was cold up there, really really cold!!! I grabbed my arm warmers and while I was at it, threw my thumb out!! A few cars passed as I was contemplating what to do next (I was 3 hrs from anywhere) when a truck pulled off in the near distance. Please I hope its not a crazy man! But it was a woman, in her late 60s... thank God!
"Hey there beautiful, this mountain is relentless, you need a ride, cause I'd sure love some company!"
Perfect timing. I love it when the Universe hears our pleas and responds in the most hilarious/wonderful of ways. I popped the front wheel off my bike and loaded it into the back of her pick-up. Her car was full of junk and random gadgets -- a hula girl on her dash, jars of coconut oil and lavender oil, jugs upon jugs of fresh aquifer water.
She...was...great. She told me about how she grew up on the Kohala Coast, her connection to the land, her properties, her secrets to a lovely life (which included coconut oil, lavender and fresh water!) She gave me her number, her name was Gail, and asked that I come visit her at her place on the red road, that she'd set me up and show me the tide pools and we could talk story over dinner some night. To be quite honest, if she haddnt' have picked me up, I'm not sure what I would have done. It began to pour rain, the one lane road where she found me was covered with fog, and there were still a few ruthless uphills I'm unsure I could have gotten over. She dropped me off at the turn-off to the town of Waikoloa, where I rode around the quaint little community. I watched part of a little league soccer game, rode past homes and flowers in full bloom that actually brought me back to memories growing up in Ontario. I love nostalgia -- its bitter sweet, but more sweet than bitter.
Then I headed down to the Hilton Waikoloa in the pouring rain, rode down to A-Bay, showered off, and threw on some clothes on just in time for a famous Kona sunset.
I love this island, I loved solo adventures, but most of all... I loved Carolyn Coops greeting me from behind my newspaper and peppermint tea at Starbucks!
There are beautiful side roads to go explore.
Plenty of hibiscus flowers and other bright colours surrounding my sights.
To my left, the green Kalapana church that was saved when the town was overcome by lava.
At the bottom of the descent, -- a tsunami warning bell at the bottom! I hope I never have to hear the sound of one during my stay here.
And then to my right. There you are Pele, fire Godess. She is having so much fun lately -- spilling her lava out into the ocean, creating billowing clouds of steam and sulfur.
I was feeling a bit risky. Nah, its just that during the day you're not allowed to go past the barriers. BUT its so much better, you can go way further and see so much more. Feel more, breathe more, see more, explore more.
People have actually built their houses atop the old flows. Knowing very well all of the action going on beneath their feet. I'm assuming they don't have lava insurance and that property taxes are fairly cheap ;)
Bright red ohia buds are one of the only plants to grow on fairly new lava flows.
This is where it starts to get mysterious, a little eery, all the while extremely captivating.
Acres upon miles of nothing but lava. No one to be seen, but me.
See, you get so much closer when no one is there to stop you. It's probably because there are lava tubes the size of subway stations running beneath my feet...
Snack of choice. Pretty good. But really anything tastes good after 2 hrs.
After nearly 4 hrs, I got back and stopped at a neighbours house, Joe and Veronica. Joe is an Ironman athlete who built a two lane 25m pool in his yard. 
Joe heats his pool using homemade solar panels. How cool is that. This is Joe's dog, Wally.
