Slept Off the Jet Lag
By the time we picked up our car at the airport, found the right side to get in each time I got out, cruised down the Queen K and found our Condo at Waikoloa, drove up the hill to Waikoloa town for $200 worth of expensive Hawaiian groceries and ate our standard pasta meal it was bed time.
After several attempts over a couple of hours we dragged ourselves out of bed, our bodies still trying to be four hours earlier. So we thought we'd force them into the time zone by getting on our bikes and heading off into the wind. And heat. It was 11:30 by the time we left finally and well into the 30s.
For the next few hours at least we would be free from the worry of being washed away.
I'd cleverly put Kim's together the night before so after I picked up my hire bike and made a few adjustments we headed north to the most reliable coffee we are aware of; in Hawi - which is the turnaround point for the ride for the ironman.
After assuming my normal position on the front and sitting up like the good wind break I am I soon decided that a stint on the back was in order. My legs were tired and the aero tt bike meant that Kim kept soaring past me on the long gradual descents and it took more than a little effort to climb back onto the front up the next hill.
By the time we were 20 odd ks up the road to Kawaihae (or 12 Hawaiian miles) I was feeling like turning around. Kim just charged on up the hill.
Finally found my legs about 10 ks into the climb but at the 7 mile marker I was counting every hot windy mile on then climb to Hawi which doesn't arrive until after the 20 mile marker. The final 6 ks are a genuine climb as you round the tip of the island the wind seems to strengthen and come onto the nose so for the last few ks it is a serious drag. My only consolation was that I'd found my legs or Kim was starting to feel hers too because she wasn't on my wheel after a while.
Coffee was every bit as good as we had remembered. So good in fact that it affected our judgement so much that instead of heading back out of Hawi down the hill and sitting comfortably on 60 kph for the first 5-10 ks we went up the hill further and headed for Waimea (village not bay). We'd both run out of gears about 10 seconds after turning the corner onto road 250. 20 ks later at about 3500 feet there hadn't been much gear changing.
 |
| Waikoloa is a mass of development - all resorts. |
For the next few hours at least we would be free from the worry of being washed away.
I'd cleverly put Kim's together the night before so after I picked up my hire bike and made a few adjustments we headed north to the most reliable coffee we are aware of; in Hawi - which is the turnaround point for the ride for the ironman.
After assuming my normal position on the front and sitting up like the good wind break I am I soon decided that a stint on the back was in order. My legs were tired and the aero tt bike meant that Kim kept soaring past me on the long gradual descents and it took more than a little effort to climb back onto the front up the next hill.
By the time we were 20 odd ks up the road to Kawaihae (or 12 Hawaiian miles) I was feeling like turning around. Kim just charged on up the hill.
Finally found my legs about 10 ks into the climb but at the 7 mile marker I was counting every hot windy mile on then climb to Hawi which doesn't arrive until after the 20 mile marker. The final 6 ks are a genuine climb as you round the tip of the island the wind seems to strengthen and come onto the nose so for the last few ks it is a serious drag. My only consolation was that I'd found my legs or Kim was starting to feel hers too because she wasn't on my wheel after a while.
Coffee was every bit as good as we had remembered. So good in fact that it affected our judgement so much that instead of heading back out of Hawi down the hill and sitting comfortably on 60 kph for the first 5-10 ks we went up the hill further and headed for Waimea (village not bay). We'd both run out of gears about 10 seconds after turning the corner onto road 250. 20 ks later at about 3500 feet there hadn't been much gear changing.
 |
| This is as close as I'm allowed to let Kim get if I want her in the photo. |
 |
| My bright orange rental |
Second morning was almost as bad. Dragged ourselves out of bed and into our running clothes for a run around the resorts. Kim for a few hours me for a leisurely one.
Fantastic blog, I feel like I'm there with you! It's so nice to get a very descriptive narrative of your adventures. Stay strong Kim. Thinking of you both. V
ReplyDelete