Yippee!!!

[SandyLS]

We leave for Hawaii on Dec. 21. We are taking the four teenage grandkids with us this time and letting their Mom and Dad tag along too. Two nights on Oahu then two weeks with the kids on the BI. After two weeks (one week on Puna, the other in Kona) everyone goes home except hubby and I. He retired in July, so we are staying on the BI another 3 weeks, then going to Mokokai for a week so I can do the mule ride. We are not taking bikes with us. Transporting them seems so expensive, especially since we are making several inner island flights, and hubby's Goldrush is cumbersome to transport anywhere. We think we might try to find a couple of cheap Walmart bikes to use while we are there, just for bumming around and getting in a bit of saddle time. I know those bikes will make me thankful for my beautiful Bianchi when we get home in Feb.
Veronica, I can't think of a more beautiful place to celebrate a birthday. Honu is a great name for your bike. Have you ever had the chance to swim with them? They are so graceful. One of the homes we are renting is in Kapaho. We have counted as many as 30 of them some mornings while swimming in Champagne pond. Do you have a copy of The Big Island Reveled? It is the best guide book I know of about the island. Have a great trip.
Sandy

[Veronica]

We have a bunch of the Wizard pub books. They are a great read. Thom works for Lonely Planet and their book is not nearly as good. It actually sounds they are trying to dissuade you from going to see the lava.

Sounds like you'll be on the BI the same time we are. If you see a crazy chick riding a red bike, on Christmas Eve/Day that will be me.

V.

[SandyLS]

Have a safe ride, Veronica. I'll be watching for you and give you a holler if I see you.

[SandyLS]

Hi Veronica,
How was your ride around the Big Island? How about a report? Every time I saw a red bike I had to look to see if it was someone that might have been you. I found one gal on a red bike, but that was on Oahu and I know you weren't going there. I fully planned on stopping every woman I saw on a nice red bike on the B.I. and asking her if her name was Veronica, but the closest I came was seeing a large black man on a red bike.
We had a wonderful six weeks in Hawaii. It was sure hard to come home to sub-zero temps. this week!
Sandy

[Veronica]

I had knee issues after the climb to Volcano and stopped in Hilo - 120 miles into the ride. I had hoped to ride some more when we relocated to Volcano from the coast. But we cut our trip short when burglars attempted to rob us a second time, Dec. 27. I was hoping we could hook up when we moved to Volcano. But...C'est la vie.

I wrote about the ride in the Christmas Eve thread I think.

Six weeks in Hawaii! I would love that!

V.

[SandyLS]

Sorry to hear about your knee issues. There were several tours climbing that mountian around volcano when we dove by in the car. They were all working very hard. Looked like challanging climbs. I'm afraid I would have been doing a lot of walking. The high winds did not help at all. As for the burglars, I guess bad guys are everywhere, even in paradise. I'm glad you were not harmed. Perhaps you'll just have to try the trip again for your 41st birthday.
Sandy

[Veronica]

The burglars were here in California.

V.