Ride Director: Warner Griswold
Ride Co-Director: Alexandra Dronkers
Ride Driver: Maggie Griswold
Report by: Karen Cotton
Hawaii – Circumnavigate the Big Island – 2019
January 4thto January 19th
Ride Director – Warner Griswold
Report by – Karen Cotton
As I write this report in Michigan with 10 degree temps, loads of snow and more on the way, it’s almost hard to believe that just a week ago we were completing our first BAC ride on the warm and tropical Big Island of Hawaii.
We flew into the Kona International Airport on January 4th, staying at the Kona Sheraton for three nights. A meandering pool, hot tubs, and fun waterslide were compliments to beautiful ocean views and sunsets. The buffet breakfasts were generous with local fresh fruits and an omelet bar. On the 5th, those who were renting bikes were shuttled to BikeWorks in Kona to meet the two wheeled vehicle we’d become very familiar with over the net two weeks. (Note to self: next time bring my own seat!)
We had our first introductory Happy Hour complete with wines, local beers, cheese and other munchies, where we introduced ourselves and were given our bright gold specially designed ride shirts and Tupperware sandwich boxes which we would use for lunches throughout the ride. Then we were shuttled to Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill for a delicious seafood group dinner.
Next day we tried out our hill climbing skills by riding in the area just east of Kona, passing a church from 1866 where ukulele music was heard during Sunday service, and avocado, starfruit, and banana trees. We also enjoyed the view (and congratulated ourselves on our first climb!) from a Kona coffee farm, before riding back to the Sheraton by way of one of the great snorkeling beaches of Kahalu’u Bay.
Warner gave us the opportunity of a night snorkel directly in front of the Sheraton with the graceful manta rays. Most of us participated in this thrilling and unforgettable up close and personal encounter with these ginormous and gentle underwater giants as they barrel rolled while feeding on plankton.
On January 7thwe began our counter-clockwise tour around the island in earnest, riding eight uphill miles to Captain Cook and the historic (1917) Manago Hotel where we delighted in hearing crowing roosters at all hours. While in the area many of us hiked the Captain Cook Monument Trail, two miles to the monument commemorating the site of his violent death in 1779. Great snorkeling there and dolphins were sited by some of us in kayaks. A few of us took the optional ride to the Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (City of Refuge) where natives who had broken a kapu, (one of the sacred laws) would flee to as a safe place where punishment would be suspended. Fascinating concept! Next door, Two Step Beach was another great place to snorkel.
We rode to Black Sands Beach by way of Na-alehu, the most southern town in the U.S. We couldn’t resist stopping for yummy malasadas (sugared Portuguese pastries). At the beach, home of huge sea turtles, most of us thankfully accepted a shuttle ride from our dependable driver, Maggie, while a few hearty souls rode all the way to the charming Kilauea Lodge, a former YMCA camp, in Volcano Village. A great dining hall/restaurant, hot tub, and cozy meeting room, Warner really knows how to pick ‘em! During our Happy Hours in Volcano, Warner challenged us to each tell “Two Truths and a Lie” about ourselves and the others would guess the lie. Fun way to get to better know fellow riders.
Even though some of the services and roads at the Volcanoes National Park were limited due to the government shutdown, (don’t ask, it’s political!), there was still much to see and explore on bike and foot including craters, caldrons, steam vents, fissures, and lava tubes. Because of the April 2018 eruption, there were no molten lava or flows to be seen, but that didn’t stop us from having a “blast” on this trip! Sometimes you just have to “go with the flow”!
On our way to Hilo we stopped at the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, the Mauna Loa macadamia farm, the interesting and sobering Tsunami Museum and Rainbow Falls. Huge banyan trees lined the road of the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel where we enjoyed poolside Happy Hours and one evening a pizza party. While in Hilo, some rode to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, while Warren and Maggie took a group in the van to the site of the May 2018 lava flows and a new black sand beach at Pohoiki Park, showing us that lava can destroy, but can create as well.
We loved the Onomea Scenic Drive on the gradual and long uphill ride to our one night’s stay at the Kamuela Inn in Waimea. So surprising to see such a different terrain once we turned inland. Learned about the Parker Ranch, founded in 1847 and the Hawaiian word for cowboy, paniolo.
On January 15thwe had a long scenic climb and then fun downhill to the artsy town of Hawi. Some of us stopped at Lapakahi State Historical Park, a native village from 700 years ago, to take the half mile loop trail. The next three nights we stayed at the luxurious 5-star Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. What a place! While there we could take optional rides exploring other area resorts, beaches, and petroglyphs or just enjoy the pools and beach. We were fortunate to have Sandy Champlin, a physical therapist, on our ride and during two Happy Hours she led us in yoga and stretching moves designed especially for bicyclists, while overlooking crashing waves and stunning sunsets.
On our last day of riding, January 18, we viewed mostly lava fields on our way back to the Kona Sheraton. That night we had a fun dinner together at the hotel with special awards, songs, and tributes and hopes to see each other again on future rides. We surely had a cohesive and easy-going group!
Warner Griswold, our ride director, was fun-omenal! He kept good track of all kinds of details on a logistically challenging ride. We loved the variety of the ride days and hotels. For someone who’d never been to Hawaii before, I got a great intro to the Big Island. Co-director, Alex Dronkers, on her first BAC ride, brought so much positive enthusiasm to the ride. Her level of physical fitness as an accomplished Ironman competitor was inspiring. She led optional runs on several days of the ride and introduced us to a new Hawaiian word every day.
Warner’s daughter, Maggie Griswold, was our driver extraordinaire. This was also her first experience with BAC and she couldn’t have done a better job. Both Alex and Maggie are nurses, always a plus to have on a ride! Maggie diligently reminded us to wash our hands before making lunches and “be safe and have fun”, in that order! She and the van were a very welcome sight at lunch stops. Maggie kept good track of us during the riding days and knew who she was still waiting to see ride up.
Great location, great ride, great leaders and fellow riders. We loved it all!
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org