Day Two We took a quick cruise to Wainapanapa state park and I went for an early morning ocean swim out to a sea stack, which I could climb up the chossy volcanic rock to reach the top before jumping into the ocean below. A great way to start the day, and even better after we went for another swim in the freshwater caves close by. Back on the road and what a road it was.  Winding through some beautiful scenery, my focus was at times directed towards fallen mangos littering the road.  There isn’t much in the way of amenities along this route, but are a fair number of fruit stands and a couple eating options.  Thai food sounded great so it didn’t take our arms being twisted to get us to pull over.  Ten dollars well spent later, we were back on our way.  Hana is one of those small town hamlets that has a time capsule general store that has managed to eschew the modern, homogenized, chain store façade that it sometimes seems tough to get away from.  The bulletin board acts as a community hub, and their retail selection runs the gamut from ice cream to machetes. And what a machete selection.  Part of the joy of traveling is the people and perspectives you meet along the way, and in the store I ran into a gentleman wearing a leather apron.  When asked what he had the apron on for, his smirked response of “what don’t I have it on for” served as a segue for a great conversation about his life in the area, and was an insight to the product-of-your-environment self-reliance often seen in people living on the outskirts.  I don’t know what it is, but the paradox of some small communities seems that even though it seems people gravitate towards these places or stay there after growing up to get away from or avoid the hustle and bustle, and quite frankly all the people of cities.  Yet these people often seem the most open to talk, and to listen. The road straightened out for a stretch, and the sun was starting to get to us.  Noah decided to start wearing his jacket hood, with the jacket becoming a de facto cape to protect his body from the sun.  Barefoot.  Brilliant. Great views and great weather, with too many sights to make great time.  The phrase great time has never made much sense to me.  You can’t make time; you can only spend it wisely. From here I did a pit stop to do a quick run up the Pipiwai trail which is managed by Haleakala National park, and is a very nice trail leading a couple miles through well built stone stairs, past a couple massive Banyon tress, and through board walked stands of bamboo leading towards a waterfall.  Obviously doing something like this means leaving your bike for a bit, and I didn’t have a lock with me.  Out of sight out […]

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