Friday February 10 Haleakala Crater

Woke at the god awful hour of two am (who does this to themselves on vacation?) to be picked up for my sunrise bike tour. After a safety orientation (keep your feet on the pedals, do NOT cross over the double yellow line, no horseplay) we drove up 10,000 feet to the top of a crater.





It was 31 degrees up there. Luckily, they supplied us with windbreakers, pants and gloves. I had on shorts, pants, tshirt, fleece, my windbreaker, their windbreaker, rain pants, and gloves and I still was freezing my ass off. It was wonderful despite that. We watched the moon set and then got to see the clear night ski. The clarity is so impressive that there are multiple observatories up there.
I patiently waited at the guard railing with all those around me, all of us with chattering teeth and shivering.









It was a bizarre feeling to be standing in the dark waiting to see something you have never seen before become unveiled by the dawn. It was spectacular! The first colors began so slowly and were just a red stripe on the horizon, and with that you could see a solid mass of clouds over the ocean. It was like flying above the clouds and looking down.



















As light gradually increased, the crater’s shadows came out and you could start to see the stark moonlike surface with the sun rising behind. I climbed up to the highest viewpoint once we could see our surroundings for the actual sunrise. From high on the peak, you could see most of Maui and the crater. It was spectacular to see the sunrise lighting up the entire island. For more info on Haleakala National Park check out their website.

We got our bikes at this point and after another safety drill and lining up in order of height, down we went. Hairpin turns and riding the brakes the entire time. The first eight miles it was bone chilling but the view made it all worthwhile. On the bike down we passed through the volcanic ecosystem, the rainforest, eucalyptus groves (the smell was like heaven), ranching land, and finally beach level in Pa’ia.






We stopped for breakfast at the Sunrise Farm where they grow protea flowers (apparently they have over fifty varieties). I bought yet another bouquet of flowers for $3! Roadside stands rock! The entire bike down was two hours.
That bike ride was one of the best experiences of my life. I will definitely do it again someday. You can do it without a tour but it seems like it’s just safer with the van following. I thank the guides at Mountain Riders for getting me down the mountain alive (more) and happier than when I went up.
We rolled back into Wailea at 1:30 pm. All of that seen and it seemed like the day wasn’t even touched!
Watched the sun go down from my lanai and while whales swam by below.
That evening had the best sushi of my life at Sansai. The sushi bar is one of the best places to eat if you are eating by yourself. The chefs are always fun to talk to and watch and the people sitting around you will usually chat you up. Bizarrist of bizarre a guy from the Dalles sat next to me! He gets to travel the world harnessing the wind and setting up windmills. Coolest job in my book, saving and seeing the world all at the same time; though he did sound a bit travel weary.
Used the Japanese bathhouse at the Diamond twice in one day! Once when I got back from my ride and when I got back from dinner. Those Japanese really know how to put water to good use. The bath house is open to the air (don’t ask me how people can’t see you, but they can’t) and it is sex separated (men and women each have their own area). From the bath you can look down to the ocean. There are also areas in the bathhouse with special features like an area where you sit on a stone block and water comes down from the ceiling hitting your back in a way that feels like hands. Heaven! I couldn’t very well take pictures in the bathhouse but you can see a picture on their website.
Today will definitely go down as one of the best days of my life!