So Much to Write About…Part One

Since today's post won’t be able to cover every exciting thing that’s been going on the last 2 weeks, I’ll start with what’s furthest back, and work from there...

Tuesday, August 10 was the first official meeting of a group called Soul JUICE!

Soul JUICE stands for Justified by God, Under the Blood, In Christ Forever, Changed by the Holy Spirit, Empowered by His Love. The Vision, as inspired from God to Annamari, the leader, is to “…unite Christian athletes in Kona to encourage, strengthen, support, and inspire each other in Christ.” (Note Annamari on her bike, pedaling up, up and up Kaloko Drive [yep...the same Kaloko Drive that Lance found challenging!])

Soul JUICE meets Tuesdays from 7-8pm at the Banyan Tree Café at the University of the Nations campus on Kuakini Highway, and all are welcome to attend! Please contact me if you have any questions!

Later in the week there was a birthday celebration for Annette, who will be moving to the mainland to begin a new job and new adventures…we’ll miss her! The pictures are from the first gathering on Friday evening, then the surprise gathering halfway through our Saturday morning “Coffee Talk” bike ride – she was surprised!

And speaking of SURPRISED...I had the biggest and best surprise on Sunday, August 15! Tune in next time to hear all about it…

Biiiig Fish…More Climbing…More Beauty

Friday night was biiiig fun on the pier as the biiiigest fish (a Pacific blue marlin) was brought in, at the very end of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, weighing 779 pounds!

Saturday was more fun and beauty in paradise! First, I did a long ride, then Cliff rode up Mauna Kea volcano, about 8 miles and 2,700 ft. “to the stars.” He joined friend Gerd who had already ridden over 45 miles and climbed over 6,400 ft. Cliff was thrilled (my word, not his :) to climb so high and so fast. At the Mauna Kea Visitor’s Center, there are souvenirs to buy, as well as lots of information, including the helpful “Beware” sign pictured above. Being from Wisconsin, this gave us a good laugh!

And, Saturday was my mom’s super-special, double-golden birthday…77 on August 7th! Thanks for being such a great mom, mom…we appreciate you so much!!

Sunday…well…Sunday always starts out great when we go to church first thing! Then it was on to a 3-hour ride, and 2-hour run, complete with a coral message on the lava rock to encourage us, “Jesus Rocks.”

We sure are thankful for all the opportunities we have here to experience fun and challenging workouts, with great friends, amid so much beauty!

A "Kaloko" Kind of Weekend

On Saturday Cliff, friend Gerd and niece Allison (who did an awesome job designing my blog!) rode 6.5 miles and 3,000 feet up to the top of Kaloko Drive. It was a first for Allison – yea!! The guys continued an extra .7-miles/500 feet up to the tippy-top. That climb had been a goal of Cliff’s, so he was happy to make it, but he’s still working on his other Kaloko goal…hitting 60mph on the way down…he only hit 57.5mph!

Then it was off to The Club for a special 2-hour Summer Beach Party RPM (spin) class and a jump in the ocean. The instructors, including Cliff, went all out for the occasion!

Today started with a great run on the Hao Street trail that is part way up Kaloko. The temperature went from 80 degrees to 62 as we drove higher, but it was perfect for running. The trail is beautifully green and lush, with a running surface of lava rocks, dirt and roots. At the end is Makalei Golf Course, known for roaming peacocks. We didn’t see any peacocks today, but did enjoy the sheep!

Sunday’s always a good day at Solid Rock Ministries Church! The message was on generosity…defined as liberal in giving and sharing; not petty in character and mind; and magnanimous. Magnanimous? That’s defined as courageously noble in mind and heart; and unselfish. So few words, but a lot to aspire to!

The “active” part of our day ended with the 51st Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament Parade on Alii Drive. It consisted mostly of the fishermen here to compete (from all over the world) riding in cars and trucks, waving and throwing candy…but our favorite was the “walking billfish!” Over the next five days we’ll enjoy watching the boats as they start their day at 7am, then bring their “catches” to the pier to be weighed.

Ahhh, gotta love life on the Big Island...which, by the way, was just named the “No. 1 Island to Move to Now” in the August issue of Island Magazine :)