Day 7: Haleakala Crater Bicycle Tour

 This was suppose to be a relaxing day. Nothing to do but hang out, maybe some shopping. Didn't work out that way. Our original booking for the bicycle tour was changed from Thursday to Saturday due to a risk of inclement weather. Okay, so another 6:30am pick up for the ride to the crater. Friday at dinner we get a call that we are the only people on the mid-morning tour and would we be willing to take the sunrise tour instead. Not being a morning person the 6:30am was barely on my radar. Since the sun was actually rising at 6:40am the new pick up time was a bleary eyed 3:15am. Ugh! Alarm went off at 2:40 but at least it wasn't cold. With nothing to eat (who wants to at that time) we are standing on the sidewalk in front of our resort for 50 minutes before the van arrives. Someone needs to explain the whole retired and on vacation idea to Bob. I've tried...epic fail.

There is no easy way to climb 10,000 feet to the summit of Haleakala. It's a two lane road, well maintained but pitch black switchbacks. Double ugh! An hour and 45 minutes of that plus the altitude change took it's toll on me. Bob and I knew we would have to have layers for the lower temperatures up there but we were not prepared for 44 degrees with winds of 35-40 mph. I had four layers including the insulated jacket the tour guides provided and still was shivering hard. Bob had several photos that were too blurry due to shivering.

Passenger van and trailer.

Inside the crater just before daybreak.

The Univ of Hawaii has observatories (right). The building on the left is part of the "Star Wars" defense system instituted by Ronald Reagan.

Another photo of the crater.

Arrival of sunrise.

The other volcano on Maui.

Complete cloud cover below Haleakala summit.

While my motion and altitude sicknesses kept me from the bike ride, Bob took the plunge. The group of 7 riders rode a total of 28 miles. The first part was the winding road going back down the mountain  with the van blocking the other traffic. Then we went through some cattle and horse country and through a couple small old towns that are having a resurgence with new tenants and merchants. A meal was provided at a restaurant in Paia at the end of the ride at 9:30 am. Some people had lunch but it was still too early for us.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon was spent on the couch dozing. I still was not feeling well enough to go outside in the 83 heat and humidity. We went out to an early dinner but our first choice ended up being expensive fish on picnic tables so we regrouped at Cafe O'lei. A very nice little seafood restaurant on the second story of the strip by the ocean. They had sushi and oysters available. Carol was not in the mood for raw fish, but Bob had some.  The blackened Mahi Mahi with papaya salsa was excellent and  the waiter was very entertaining with stories and very good service.  Also it was indoors and air conditioned, something we both appreciated with the long day we had.