The Hawaiian Volcano National Park is very (too?) close to Van’s house – so on Monday morning, the plan was to cycle along the coast and then straight up the “Chain of Craters” scenic road that climbs right up to the Kilauea volcano. A mere 20 miles, we thought …
Our host offered to drop us off by car at the start to the unmade coast road – plan was for him then to drive up to the peak with 4 days of supplies for the holiday home we have rented there in a village imaginatively named “Volcano” ( no, really). So the main thing we had to carry was enough water for the climb – 2l each was the estimate. It had been chucking it down with rain all night but started to clear up as we set off – a hopeful sign.
We trundled along this gravel track ok, till we hit areas of pumice stone pebbles that we just had to walk over. At this point, all was fairly flat … But up ahead we saw a huge ridge looming..
Long story short …. It took us 5 hours of cycling, mostly in bottom gear, against squally winds …but it stayed dry and we MADE IT (really not sure how, I was wrecked after 3 hours). Van met us an hour from the top bearing extra water bottles , without which it would have been even tougher.
Some light relief from this road sign ( Nene is a native goose, descended from the ancestor of Canada Geese) which were nearly extinct a few years back
Marilyn wanted to take a triumphant picture at the Visitor centre at the top, but Lianne and I were only fit to get a shower and collapse.
I have to say, that does not sound like fun!
We are not here to enjoy ourselves, you know ….
Well, it was , in parts. Other parts got very sore.
I’m impressed -we clearly need some training before joining you on a ride!
I realised WE needed some more training !
Bloody well done!