So I wasn’t planning on blogging today, since doctor’s orders were no swim, bike, run (or yoga 
for two weeks (already counting down the days…!), but I ended up having a rather epic sag tag-along with Etienne, so I figure it ought to be recorded for when I need a smile….
After the crew swam and breakfasted, I hopped into shotgun in the sag van with the bikes. The plan was to drive up past the climb to the Mauna Kea observatory and have the day’s ride be up to the Mauna Loa observatory from the road to Hilo. I was interested to see what i was missing……(next year’s EpicWoman camp dates are already set, so the question is, can I hold this old body together for yet one more??!)
We stopped at a very nice rest area for the bikes to be unloaded and then E and I proceeded up the road to find the turnout to the Mauna Loa observatory. We initially found what we believed to be the correct road, but there was a section of bumpy pavement so we assumed this was not the turn. As we descended toward Hilo, we realized that we must have passed the turn, so backtracked. We ventured up the bumpy road, which turned into smooth asphalt, and so concluded that this MIGHT be the route. But we backtracked further toward the rest stop just to make certain that this was the right route. We returned to the bumpy turnoff and sat in the van at the intersection. I had a very enlightening conversation with Etienne about the positives of my crash/camp experience, and we continued to watch for Maya, Tara, Sarah, Anja and David.
At one point, we noted how it was getting late (and we were getting hungry) and wondered why no one had come by us yet. As time passed, we started to get a bit concerned, and E decided to drive back toward the rest station. When we did not cross paths with the campers, there was a sinking realization that there was a good chance that they turned up toward the Mauna Loa Observatory while we were driving along Hwy 200 trying to find the agreed upon turnoff.
Then, Maya texted me a picture of her in front of the lava field. We pondered how this could be….as the realization slowly dawned on us that perhaps they were in the process of climbing to the observatory at that moment.
We back tracked a SECOND time almost to the rest stop to confirm that they were not there then hightailed it up the bumpy/paved road leading up to the observatory.
I have never in my life ridden shotgun in a minivan at top speed up a volcano in single lane (to pass an oncoming vehicle, one or the other had to pull off on a narrow turnout), roller coaster style. I’m guessing this will be a first–and only–experience….(I sincerely hope so).
We covered the 17 miles in record time, cursing and scanning for oncoming cars and cyclists the entire way. I received another text from Maya saying that they were about 6k from the top, at which point Etienne floored it. We caught air countless times (I KID YOU NOT) as we raced toward the campers (we hoped)…..I clung onto the ‘oh-shit’ handle for dear life.
Finally, we spotted our campers…,and both let out a sigh of relief. It was an EPIC climb on a bike (I can only imagine who it felt on a bike) and windy/chilly at the top, and it would have been a travesty not to be there before the campers; we had food, water and—most importantly–warm clothing layers in our van.
(I told E that he’d probably have to swim back to Canada if he’d not been there to meet them 
)
It was amazing to watch the tenacity and strength of the riders as they ascended the last pitches to the turn around–and I will admit: I was wondering whether I would have been able (were I not injured) to conquer that epic climb?? (I guess I will have to come back next year and find out…..?)
(One interesting thing was that when we arrived at the Mauna Kea observatory, I realized that this was the location of the Mars project site (www.HI-SEAS.org) where an old friend’s son is currently sequestered, nearing the end of an 8th month sojourn; it was cool to recognize the structure that I’d seen online.)
The return trip was much less stressful, and we shared several laughs at how crazy the previous hour had been. It was pretty amazing, in hindsight, that we did not crash! (Although the brakes were a bit cranky on the return trip back up the house, probably due to overheating followed by rapid cooling?)
So one final epic day for me–albeit in the sag van–that I will treasure and relish for the insight and laughs that are now a part of my soul. It has been quite the ride for an old lady…,,