We got up bright and early to finish packing up and eat breakfast. Breakfast consisted of three quarters of a freshly sliced pineapple that we had purchased the night before. Joe and Clare came to collect us shortly after we had checked out of our accommodations. We packed everything into the car and then headed to Paia to start our bike riding adventure.
The four of us met up with Pat and Kazumi and two of Kazumi's friends who had also attended their wedding: Julie and Nick. We completed some paperwork, were given a safety talk, and were fitted for helmets and other gear. We all piled into a van and were driven to an elevation of about 6500 feet (about two-thirds up the mountain) and were set lose on bikes. The driver confirmed that the ride would take about 90 minutes with no stops. The only stipulation was to return the bikes and borrowed equipment by 4:30pm.
At the start of the ride, most of us layered up and set out. The temperature rose as the day went by and we descended the mountain. We were able to shed some layers of clothing as we warmed up. We all rode at our own pace while being mindful of the other traffic on the road. We stopped whenever we felt like it to take a few pictures here and there. We stopped in at Kula Lodge for a lunch break. Almost everyone ordered a passionfruit smoothie with their meals. The view from Kula Lodge's dining room was spectacular. After we finished our leisurely lunch, we hopped back onto our bikes and continued down the mountain. Our next stop was in Makawao to explore their numerous little shops. A few souvenirs were purchased by Clare and Kazumi. We reached the end of our journey (back at the store front of the bike ride company), and were surprised to learn it was 3:30pm. Where did the time go? We thanked the staff for an enjoyable experience and chatted amongst ourselves to try and figure out what we could do until Matt and I had to catch our flight to Kauai. We decided on a quick visit to Hookipa Beach to watch the windsurfers playing in the ocean.
Hookipa Beach is a very popular destination for windsurfers because of the consistent waves and strong winds that are required for their sport. We watched in awe as the numerous windsurfers zipped back and forth across the waves. When we had our fill of watching the action on the waves, we returned to Paia. We invaded Ono Gelato Company and indulged in some sweet treats. Everyone got something different. I got a scoop of lemon gelato while Matt got a scoop of passionfruit gelato. Both were absolutely delicious. Sweet treats wouldn't be complete without a caffeinated beverage to follow it up. Conveniently, we spotted Nellie's Bistro 19, a café that was located a few doors away from Ono Gelato Company. What luck! We sat in their outdoor seating area until it was time for us to go. We said our goodbyes, gave everyone a round of hugs, and promised to continue sharing our adventures through our postings.
Thank you to Pat for organizing the bicycle adventure for all of us. What a fun time! Thank you to Joe and Clare for making sure we got the the airport with time to spare. And now it's time for the final part of our vacation: Kauai!