Category Archives: Family

Back from Hilo…

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I’m back from Hilo where I spent a very relaxing weekend doing as little as possible. That little bit did include about 75 miles of cycling including a couple of trips up to the Panaewa Zoo, a lovely ride. Here’s a shot of the Wailuku River as I passed over the “singing bridge” (so called because of the sound of tires on the metal grating) looking up river.
Wailuku River
I didn’t get in quite as many miles as I’d have liked this weekend due to a broken spoke. I really, really, really need new wheels for my old Raleigh. The ones I have are mostly rust.

Aloha!

Tough week…

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I’d really like to complain this week about how tough it’s been…but it’s been tougher for my mom. She had an ICD implanted this week to help out her heart (and she’s got a lot of heart).

She came over from the Big Island and checked into the hospital for the procedure on Wednesday morning. I took a couple of hours off and was there when she checked in. She does have heart trouble, but to be honest she looked great and seemed a lot less worried than either I or my sister Ulu.

Once it was time for the procedure I took off and went back to work. After work I visited again as she out of surgery and back in her room. This time she was a bit groggy, but deservedly so. I stayed until it was time for me to go deal with some volunteer work but a bunch of the family was on the way so my mom wouldn’t be alone for long.

An ICD is an “implantable cardioverter-defibrillator” and is designed to kickstart the heart in case of trouble. I don’t know a lot about them but my mom trusts her doctor and has had second opinions so I’m down with it.
ICD

I asked for a remote control so I could give my mom a jolt from time to time but apparently the docs thought I might just misuse such a device (as if one were even available). Perish the thought. :-)

In any case I’ll be visiting her for a few days next month so we’ll see how it’s all going.

As for me? Well I’m certain I worried more than she did (she may not be so certain however).

I ended up catching a bit of cold sometime during the week, probably stress related though there is one going around. I still managed to ride 110 miles this week even though I didn’t ride on Sunday (or at least not much) and can’t ride tomorrow. That was my goal for the week so life is good. Next week is a light week of only 75 miles so I can recover a little. Then the mileage begins to climb culminating in 175 just before RAGBRAI.

In truth I’m a couple of hundred miles ahead of the schedule recommended as a minimum by RAGBRAI so I’m feeling pretty good about things. I’m also doing 30-60 minutes a day in the gym before work, often doing upper body stuff (which biking does nothing for as far as I know), so I’m getting in plenty of training for an old, fat guy!

Aloha

Broken spokes and more rain on the way…

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Xmas turned out to be problematic bike-wise. I’d decided to ride out to Hawaii Kai for Xmas dinner instead of busing it or taking my moped. The ride itself was fine as far as it went…that was the problem actually, “as far as it went.”

I stopped at one of the Starbucks in Hawaii Kai because I’d gotten there early and I really hadn’t had my coffee yet though it was after noon. While enjoying my book, Louis L’Amour’s “The Walking Drum.” I like a good historical novel and this one fits the bill. Too bad he never got to write the planned second and third novels of the series.

In any case I looked over at my bike and noticed something amiss on the rear wheel. Sure enough I had a broken spoke. These are hand built wheels and I’d not had any trouble in the thirteen months and thousands of miles they’ve been on my Quickbeam. I’m definitely not complaining about the wheel. It did mean I had to take it easy for the last mile to my aunt’s place though.

When I got there I realized I really couldn’t ride home another fifteen miles. I’d been lucky and no other spokes had broken by the wheel was slightly out of true and I expected it would get far worse had I tried to continue. That meant a ride on TheBus or, as I like to call it, TheSagWag. :-)

Sunday I dragged my beater bike out, pumped up the tires, and took my wheel in to get a new spoke. I’d forgotten how much I actually like riding the beater (it’s a great bike to ride and looks like hell for the most part so I can park it in places I might not want to leave a Riv for long).

Since it looks like more rain coming in, I expect I’ll keep it out for a few more days before getting back on the Riv. Mind you the Riv is fine in the rain. It’s got full fenders and I’ve ridden rain before, but as long as I’ve got my beater out…well it deserves to be ridden too.

Here’s a screen capture of the impending rain…

Visiting Hilo…

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I spent the weekend visiting Hilo with a side trip to Kona and had a great time. My folks live there and it’s always great to see them. On this visit I had the opportunity to take their photo for their annual holiday greeting cards. I’ve only managed one really creative shot and that was a few years ago, but this year’s isn’t too bad…they look good even if the photo doesn’t do them justice:

Mom and Pops at Lili'uokalani Park

Flying Hawaiian with a bicycle…

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I’ve been debating getting a bicycle to use on the Big Island while I’m visiting. My folks live there so I spend several weekends a year there and often wish I could get in some riding time. I’d take my BF NWT with me but getting it too and from the airport is the problem. Generally I’m leaving from work and need to stay as late as possible to avoid using up vacation time. In addition I often ride my moped to the airport because I can park it cheaply and avoid a $35 cab ride. So…

I decided I’d keep my eyes open for a used bike while I was in Hilo last weekend. No luck. I couldn’t find anything on Craigslist that even came close to what I want and I couldn’t find any used bike stores. I recall one used to be able to buy used bikes at actual stores, but no longer it seems.

That leaves me with sending one of my bikes over to Hilo and leaving it, which would be okay, or doing the same with a new bike. I’m not really up for giving up one of my bikes in Honolulu so now I’m thinking I should be looking for an inexpensive bike I wouldn’t mind leaving in Hilo.

Luckily it seems I can get a bike to Hilo for only about $35 if I fly Hawaiian…I’ll check both GO! and Mokulele next, but here’s Hawaiian’s current policy:

# Bicycles and Attachable Parts

1. Bicycle Characteristics
Carrier will accept non-motorized touring or racing bicycles with single seats and bicycles with tandem seats.
2. Conditions of Acceptance
1. Bicycles must have the handlebars fixed sideways and pedals removed or pedals and handlebars must be enclosed in plastic foam or similar material.
2. Bicycles and any attachable parts must be adequately packed in a box or hard case.
3. Passenger must sign a waiver of liability upon airport check-in for HA to transport bicycle and any attachable parts. HA will not be responsible for damage to or loss of inadequately/unsuitably packed, uncrated or unprotected bicycles or attachable parts.
4. Acceptance of Bicycles and attachable parts is subject to availability of space and conditional on aircraft size and load conditions.

Exception: If the bicycle only is less than 62 dimensional inches and weighs less than 50 lbs, the above condition does not apply.
5. HA shall not be responsible for the ground delivery of bicycle or any attachable parts that are not accommodated on the flight on which the bicycle or any attachable parts were accepted as checked baggage.
6. Maximum weight for bicycle and attachable parts and container is 70 lbs and 115 linear inches.
3. Charges
Bicycles and any attachable parts will always each be subject to a charge, whether or not presented as a single piece:
1. Between points within the State of Hawaii: $35.00 USD
2. Between Hawaii and points in the Continental USA: $100.00 USD
3. Between points within the Continental USA: $100.00 USD
4. In addition, items exceeding 50 lbs (not to exceed 70 lbs) will be subject to the following excess weight charges:
Between points within the State of Hawaii $25.00 USD
Between Hawaii and the Continental USA or wholly Within the Continental USA $50.00 USD
Note: Excludes unicycles, break-apart bicycles or any other type of cycle which can be packed into a standard suitcase. When in excess, each suitcase will be subject to the excess baggage charge.