Category: Uncategorized

Participants:  Ken Lew, Don King (organizers), Andrea Ebner, Gina Thorn, and me (Nikki Grimes)

April 27

Flew from Oakland to Kona.  Don met me at the airport then left me to see his friend off. I tried the walkie-talkie to reach Ken and did – just as he drove up in front of me.  Gina and Andrea were in the van with Ken.

Eventually we got to HP Bike Woks where Andrea and I were fitted with rental bikes.  The bike has three chain rings so I’ll get to try that out this week.

After that we went to a bowling alley for lunch/dinner.  High class stuff – ok, maybe not, but we were trying out the ‘locals’ food.

We stayed in a nice, large condo but on the third floor!  (Surf & Racquet Club, Keauhau)  My “friends” made me stay up late to adjust to the three hour time difference.

April 28

The rental bike uses Shimano shifting which is different from the Campy system I’m used to.  I get to try that out too.

We left the resort and headed north before getting onto Hwy 11-south. Tried to avoid a big climb at the very beginning of the ride.  Found Spider Man on the road so had to pick him up! There was a lot of climbing on Hwy 11.

We veered right near town of Captain Cook to take a side road.  There were great downhills on the side road. Saw the Captain Cook monument across the bay.  Stopped at St. Benedict’s Painted Church. The architecture here is so different – the buildings are open to the outside (not little boxes like I’m used to).  We rejoined Hwy 11 at Keakea.  It was mostly hot at the beginning of the day.  We stopped at Mr. Bill’s for lunch.  It was a pretty spot but the service was s – l – o – w.  (Hawaii time?)

After lunch, we got rain. The ride into Na’alehu had a great downhill even though the ground was slightly wet.

We stayed at Becky’s B&B. Doug & Debbie (brother and sister from Alaska) run it. Mating mynas, highway traffic and rain made for disjointed sleep.

April 29

Rain, monsoon! After getting up early, we decided not to ride the bikes. Instead we all drove to South Point (Ka Lae).  Ken and I walked to the beach and created “So, where’s Al?” sign out of coral. Of course, we took a photo for Al.

It was still raining so the group decided to do two runs in the van to get everyone to Volcano.  Gina, Don, Andrea and I started out with the bokes loaded onto the van.  We only got so far and the road was closed due to flooding.  The water was gushing over the highway, out to the ocean.  It was so deep, it came 2/3 of the way up on the tire of a huge equipment tractor.  After getting back to Na’alehu, we tried coming up with various ways around this problem.  The rain finally stopped around 4pm and the flooding stopped a bit later

Ken did a great job of creating a car top carrier with tarp and rope.  He got all the baggage on top and the bikes and people inside of the van.  We then drove the “Jed Bus” to Volcano where we stayed at My Island B&B.  We were in the Jade House.  It was a nice place and we were able to do laundry (smile).  Slept well.

April 30

When we went down for breakfast, we met our host, Gordon.  Breakfast was in a separate building and all the guests in the various houses, came there to eat.  We had a delicious breakfast and met several other guests.  Met Bruce from New England.  Also met an older man (Dave?), his sister and her husband.  Dave has leukemia and is on his “dream vacation.”  The company was good so we stayed for awhile to visit.

Today’s ride started with a trip around Kilauea Caldera.  We stopped to look into the caldera on Crater Rim Road.  Walked through a lava tube then went back to Jade House to pack and head out for Hilo.

The ride to Hilo was on a nice road and was down hill.  We zipped along.  While waiting to regroup, we met Roberta who lives in Na’alehu.  She just got back from a two month bike ride in New Zealand!

When we got into Hilo, we found a bike shop so Don could buy a new tire.  We stopped at Big Island Candies and peeked through the windows to watch the workers making candy.  After lunch at Don’s Grill, we found our hotel – Dolphin Bay Inn.

Don was not feeling well at the end of the day so we left him to rest while the rest of us went to a local bar.

May 1

My turn to drive SAG this morning.  I lost the group as they turned off the main highway at a different spot than I did.  Found them again before the turn off to Akaka Falls.  Glad I was driving – what a climb!  Saw Akaka and Kahuna Falls.  While we were there, buses came up and disgorged a lot of elderly people.  Most of the people were substantially overweight and out of shape.  It was sad watching them try to walk to where they could see the falls.  I do not want to end up like that.

After the break, I traded driving for cycling.  I managed to stay with Gina most of the way (‘cause I was fresh and it was mostly down hill).  Loved the ride!  Finished up the day in Hanaka’a.  We went to Tex’s for dinner.  The rooms at the motel are large and airy.  I can see the ocean.  A dog barking woke me at 2:30am.  PITA dog!

May 2

Toast, guava and tea for breakfast to start the day.  Learned we’d spent last night in a haunted motel (Honoka’a Club Hotel).  Might need to talk with the organizers about that!

As we got off the main highway onto a quiet country road, we saw two huge hogs.  Most of the road was nice but got very bumpy in parts.  The cows seems curious about us.  Eventually we got back on Hwy 19 and into Waimea.  After checking into the hotel, we headed out to do a loop to Hawi and back.  We rode out on Hwy 250 and came back on Hwy 270 to 19.  There was lots of climbing but then an awesome down to Hawi.  We followed Ken, who was in the van.  We had to slow down for him!  Stopped for lunch and then continued on.  After Hawi, more climbing and then down, down to the ocean.  Ken and Gina waited for me and we all jumped into the water.  If felt so good after being so hot.  Don and Andrea (who were in the van) found us just as we were getting cleaned up and ready to go.  The last eight miles were all up hill.  I didn’t quite make it to the hotel.  Don came back in the van and I jumped in – less than ¼ mile!  Cold headwind and mental attitude did me in.

May 3

We left Waimea on Hwy 190.  Then cut over on a road to Waikoloa Village.  We stopped there to look around and met up with Bruce (see Apr 30).  Visited a bit an then rode on to Hwy 19 (south).  Stopped to see the petroglyphs and then continued down Hwy 19.  I finally gave up and got into the van.  Tired, discouraged, hot, and deceiving terrain wore me down.

Got back to Kona and turned in the rental bikes.  It felt good to shower, get laundry done and rest.  We went to Driscoll’s for dinner and it started raining – hard.  We had fun re-living the week’s adventures as a group.  Slept well.

May 4

It is still raining but not as hard.  Don is flying home today.  Gina went scuba diving.

This evening we rented a movie, “Legally Blonde,” and laughed and laughed.

May 3, 2017

More about Pino Lella and “Beneath a Scarlet Sky:” Pino is currently living in Italy and his eldest son, Mike, is my neighbor.  I went over to Mike’s house and knocked.  Mike was on the phone but answered the door.  He was talking to his Dad and then gave me the phone after I said I’d just finished the book.  So, I got to speak directly to Pino!  What a treat!!!

My cough is causing more trouble for my voice than the swollen throat did.  I sound raspy.  At rehearsal yesterday, I was sort of ok.  Could not reach the high, high notes.  Will be glad when all is healed.  Special rehearsal tomorrow…we’ll see how I do then.  I think I’m going to try no more speaking for today and hot water with honey.

Had a fun lunch with several of my friends from our now defunct Weight Watchers group today. Ate on the outside deck at Priest Station Café. Great weather, great friends…what more could you want!?!

After my trip to the Bay Area, I went home only to meet Jess, Jenn, and Sam the next day at Knights Ferry for a short bike ride together. It was a fun ride with the wind at our back…well, until we turned around.

Time always seems too short when with those you love.

Two days later and this crew plus Dan met in Hayward for a breakfast before we flew Jenn away with us for a few days.   Several games of Farkle (which I did NOT win) had us laughing and enjoying the evening.

The next day, we met our friend Ron. I rode on the back of his Harley while Jenn rode on the back of Dan’s BMW. We took a ride through the countryside to Twain Harte where we had breakfast at The Sportsman.  Ron is a good rider. I felt very comfortable with him. So now there may be a little competition on who is the smoothest driver – Ron or Dan.  No comment from me.

The day we flew Jenn back to the bay area, we intended to go to Half Moon Bay for lunch and enjoy the cooler weather on the coast.  Well, it was cooler and foggy just over the airport!  So we couldn’t land and flew to Petaluma instead.  Had a nice lunch there and then went back to HMB to see if we could get in and we could and did.  It was nice and cool as we wandered around looking at the fishing boats and checking out what they had for sale.  As we were doing this, we were all trying to figure out what happened to Jenn’s iPhone. Oh, didn’t I mention that?

When we landed in HMB, Jenn got out of the plane and realized her phone wasn’t in her pocket.  She and Dan both searched the cabin area very thoroughly.  She kept insisting the phone was small enough it could have fallen into the hole needed for the Johnson Bar. Dan was on the ground looking up into the plane (as well as he could).  We went and asked some folks who were working in a hangar for some tools.  High and low, we could not find the phone so now this little worry in the back of all our minds – would the phone block the mechanism that raises and lowers the gear (wheels) on the plane?

We went into one of the eateries for something to drink.  As we were sitting there, Dan said, “It could have fallen out of the plane when Jenn opened the door before we came to a stop.”  Bingo!  We were now on a mission to go back and retrace where we had taxied and hunt for the phone.  And we found it!  So relieved on several levels – no hidden phone in the belly of the plane, found the phone, phone still worked although it was a little scratched up.

After all that, we flew to Hayward to deliver Jenn to her friend Tammy.  Then Dan and I went on home with no further excitement for the day.

 

 

 

Friday evening Susie suggested we go to the Sonora Christmas Festival. So Saturday morning she picked up Dan and me and off we went. 

Susie knows many street performers and jugglers so we went to see her friends Scotty & Katrine and also Captain Jack Spareribs.  We also dropped in to hear the Joe Craven Trio and Golden Bough. I enjoyed all the shows.

We wandered around the fairgrounds and into the various buildings to see all the wares. I ended up buying a book “Tennessee Tears” by George John Curtis.  I’ve already finished it.  Dan bought a belt.  He can attach his own buckle so he’s happy.  I forgot to bring the camera so no pictures but we had a good time.  Its been a long time since we’ve done anything like that. 

As we were having the Pine Cone Performers board meeting, the rain started falling. It changed quickly from rain to snow.  The singers came in for rehearsal at 3. Just as everyone was warming up voices, someone said we need to cancel the rehearsal and get home!  It was a good call.  The director and at least one other person had to drive back to Sonora.   The rest of us hustled out to our cars and started home.  Since we mostly live in the same area, it was a long line of vehicles moving slowly on the road.

We were almost to the high school when the vehicles in front of me came to a full stop.  I stopped a couple car lengths behind the car in front of me.  I looked down for a moment, looked up in my mirror and saw a SUV coming at me.  Before I could take my foot off the brake to move forward, it hit me – hard!  I was surprised at how much my body was thrown forward and back.

We eventually got to a place where we could pull off the road.  It was one of my fellow singers.  She was very apologetic.  She was in her lowest gear but when she went to brake, she just slid.  I was the only one who got out of a car.  Because of the snow build up on both vehicles, I really couldn’t see if there was any vehicular damage.  Since I knew her, I just said I’d call her later and we could check out the machines when the snow was gone.  I also told her I got a pretty good jolt.  She ended up calling me as soon as she arrived home.  We’ll have to let the insurance people deal with all this later.

Our yard. The branches had been bare before the snow Looks like about three inches at this point

The faithful, old pickup truck:

When I arrived at the house, I was pleased to see my fire had not competely gone out. I was able to revive it fairly easily and its kept me comfy all evening.

Dan called to report he was at Julia’s.  I gave him the weather report for here.  He’ll probably leave later in the day tomorrow to allow the roads to clear before he rides his motorcycle back home.  My hope: they are clear for him.

Brand new to creating a site, a story and adding photos. So, here goes. Yesterday Bob was visiting us from the Bay Area. He and Dan wanted to go for a motorcycle ride so I tagged along.

It was a great day to get out and play. The sun was shining, the temps were reasonable, the roads were clear.

No specific plan other than heading to Rainbow Pool to start our ride. We were the only ones there although there was a truck in the parking lot.  So pretty to see and so relaxing to hear the Tuolumne River running through.

After determining it might be too cool to continue heading east, we backtracked a bit and then took Smith Station Rd to Coulterville. Had to stop at The Jeffrey so the guys could have a Kilt Lifter. Met another couple from Sonora who were also out riding their Kawasaki.

The next part of the ride was on Hwy 49 to Mariposa. This is a motorcyclists dream road: smooth pavement, lots of curves and beauty all around. We stopped after passing by Bagby Recreation Area.  This is looking back toward the bridge.

We met several other bikers at the Fremont’s Fort monument. Dan, with a new audience, was telling tales…  (that’s him on his imaginary bike)

After riding through Mariposa and Hornitos, we stopped alongside the road just to enjoy the day.  Here’s Bob with his baby.

Here’s one of the views:

We stopped for lunch at The LumberYard. They are known for their burgers but we were a day late. A big party the night before had left them beef-less. So we had chicken tacos which were pretty darn good.

With full tummies, we headed back home.  What a great day of riding with two of my best buds.