Maui, HI - Part II

 Cycling the Island - Olowalu & Haleakala Route

Around the third day of being in Kihei, Maui, my boyfriend and I decided to try a big, famous ride on the island -- the Olowalu route. This route snaked along the north-western coastline and offered very dramatic cliff views of the ocean, passing along the ferry terminal at Maalaea. This route has some tough hills and you'll battle some very strong headwinds close to Maalaea. 

 

The Route:

I was so focused on just getting through this ride due to very strong headwinds going out, I didn't stop to take any photos. 

 

Another day, my boyfriend suggested we try to ride up part of Haleakala - the tallest peak on Maui at 10,023 feet.

The Route: 

This ride was pure torture. I am not sure why I said "Sure, let's try a mountain climb!" I live in the Prairies of Canada, which is home to flat wheat, flax and lentil fields. There are zero mountains. I stopped often and was so slow going uphill, my boyfriend said he waited at the top about 30 minutes for me.

This route did have some scenic views. We passed two very beautiful churches, which proved a perfect stop for resting my sore legs.

Sorry, I don't remember the names of either church...

We got to about 800m + elevation gain and then to re-fuel, we rode to Paia on the northern part of the island for lunch. Paia proved to be my favourite part of the island. I rode there several more times during this holiday to enjoy fish tacos and gelato after almost every ride. I was sad to read Rock & Brews recently closed due to COVID's lack of tourists to the island. I ate here several times as they had the best fish tacos with mango salsa. 

The final post in this Maui series will feature a drive out to route 37 to Kula, which came recommended by the couple who owned the tree house we were renting in Kihei. See you soon!

References

Cerizo, K. (2020, July 8). Rock & Brews Paia closes doors for good. The Maui News. Retrieved from URL. 

All photos by cutenekko.

Maui, HI - Part I

Cycling The Island - Wailea Route

Before travel was restricted due to COVID-19, in early February my boyfriend and I took a two-week holiday to Maui, which is part of the Hawaiian islands in the USA. We took our bikes to ride the island and see the sights from a slower perspective. While I had travelled with my bike before, it was always by car; this was the first time I would be flying with bike in tow.

Kihei was our home base for this trip; we rented a 'tree house' on VRBO, which was actually just an upstairs apartment in a home. The tree house was a one-bedroom and had its own balcony, which was the perfect spot for our daily morning coffees.

The tree house view from the balcony in Kihei.

 

Kihei proved to be a perfect base for our cycling trips; it was a short walk to the supermarket, beach, and even a local bike shop so we could suss out the best local rides. 

One of the first rides we did was out to the lava fields along the south-western part of the island past Waliea. This area was home to many expensive resorts, rich homes, and a nature sanctuary. A short, 32k out and back with some hills, this route was a good choice to stretch our legs after a long flight the day before. 

 

The route:

 

 

The best part of this ride was near the 15K mark; the road hugs the very edge of the coastline, with black lava rocks against the blue sea creating a dramatic contrast. I got a quick picture of my bike on the beach:

My bike on the lava rock beach

 

At the most southern point of the route, the road changes to dirt, so we stopped there for a water break and I took some photos of the lava fields and volcano hill in the background:

Close up of the lava fields.

Road conditions: Pretty good.

This route was very relaxing. We ended up riding this route twice just to enjoy those coastal views. 

 

Maui is very bike friendly; some professional athletes visit the island to train. You'll see all types of riders, from serious road bikers to casual riders. That said, wear a helmet, take lots of water and enjoy! The next post will feature a longer ride up the north-western side of the island, and is one of the most popular routes for cyclists. See you soon!

References

Hawaii Tourism Authority. (2020). The Hawaiian Islands: Kihei.Go Hawaii.com. Retrieved from URL.

All photos by cutenekko.

Calgary, AB

Short Weekend Break in the City

In summer, I usually participate in a few local triathlon races (swim, bike and run races). It became very clear in April of this year that many, if not most, sporting events would be cancelled. 

 

Only one race ended up being approved by the Ministry of Health, and so, in early August, I attended a charity triathlon event just outside of Calgary, Alberta (Canada). Due to COVID-19 regulations, the race was limited to only 150 athletes. The turnout was smaller; approximately 92 participants attended. Still, it was a great way to test my training and fitness levels and meet some new people. 

My race kit set up in transition. My race bike is a Liv Langma Advanced 2.

The race was called Tri for Evan and proceeds from our race entry fees were donated towards research at Mito Canada. The race coordinator was Be There Races, who host a number of sport events for runners and triathletes in Alberta.  

 

This race only offered the Sprint Triathlon option, which consisted of a shortened 600m lake swim, a 20k bike, and a 5k run. Disappointingly, I completely bombed my swim and finished 14th out of 22 women who attended. Ah well. In the morning, while setting up in transition, the lady next to me also had a Liv bike and so we chatted about our love for these bikes. Liv is a branch of Giant bikes, and are specifically made for women. They are lightweight and have a more sloped top tube. I cannot recommend the Liv brand enough; check out their selection at Liv Cycling Canada. 

After the race, my boyfriend and I headed into Calgary to do some sightseeing and decompress. I hadn't been to Calgary since I was 12 years old, so it was fun to see how the city had changed. 

We explored the downtown area along the Bow River, and walked through Prince's Island Park.

 

Entrance sign to Prince's Island Park.

 

This particular area of Calgary is very pedestrian-friendly; there are many walkways, bike paths, and pedestrian bridges, including the most famous symbol of Calgary, the Peace Bridge.

 

The beautiful Peace Bridge along the Bow River in Calgary.

 

 

 

Armchair view of Bow River & the Peace Bridge in Calgary.

 

 

 

I saw some river rafters floating along the river; however, it's not recommended to swim here at all. The river has very strong currents and so, watching it from a afar is the safest. 

Walking inside the park, you'll get fantastic views of the Calgary downtown skyline and condos whose value are probably worth more than I will ever earn in a lifetime.

 

View from a pedestrian bridge linking Prince's Island Park to the downtown.

On the downtown side, there are a number of cafes and pubs nearby to grab a light bite to eat. 

Alberta and especially Calgary are hurting right now economically; thus, if you're in the area, stop by for a weekend and explore the city. They have a lot of unique sights to see and it's a great base point for visiting Banff and Jasper in the Rocky Mountains. 

Travel Guide

Currently, hotels are charging $80/night CAD due to low tourist numbers. 

 

Masks are mandatory inside all stores and shops in Calgary; social distancing of two meters is required both inside and outside. 

 

Prince's Island Park is located along the Bow River in Calgary. You can park along Memorial Drive for free on weekends. The park itself is free to visitors. There are walking paths, picnic tables, play areas for kids and some flower and water gardens. Canada geese are a common sight.

References to links mentioned in this post (APA 7)

Atlas Obscura. (2020). Peace Bridge - Calgary, Alberta. Retrieved Aug. 30, 2020 from URL.

 

Be There Races. (2020). Tri for Evan. Retrieved Aug. 30, 2020 from URL.

Calgary.ca. (2020). Prince's Island park.The City of Calgary. Retrieved Aug. 30, 2020 from URL.

 

Creative Phenomenon. (2020). Home. Mito Canada. Retrieved Aug. 30, 2020 from URL. 

Liv Cycling. (2020). Liv Cycling Canada. Retrieved Aug. 30, 2020 from URL. 

 

** All photos taken by cutenekko (2020, August 8).