Beaches

We are on a "go to the beach every day" plan while we're here. So here are the beach pictures. So far I've been right up there with the whitest people on the beach. Not my proudest moment. Hopefully with the careful application of sunscreen I can balance getting fried with getting tanned and turn over my white guy mantle soon.

The picture at the top and the two below are Makapu. Awesome beach with a strong shorebreak.


Lorian and Kyle on Makapu beach



We went to lots of other beaches but so far our favorites are Waimea and Sunset. Our friend Kathy lives about 200 feet from Sunset so we have been spending lots of time there. Waimea bay is just down the road and has been flat so it's perfect for laying out and snorkeling.

Sunset beach at Log Cabins

Sunset at sunset

I don't know why but we didn't take any pictures of Waimea. The two pictures below are not mine but represent Waimea as we see it (calm) and how it is in Winter.





We have been to lots of other beaches including Kailua and Ala Moana but don't have pictures

Friends and Family

Probably the best part about Hawaii is seeing friends, and since Lorian lived here for 20 years there are many. They're the kind of friends who you may not have seen in years, maybe a postcard or Christmas card from time to time but not much more. But, when you are together it's like no time has expired. Obviously this makes for a very good time for everyone.



Here's a picture of Kyle and David on the porch where we are staying. David is a very nice guy, Hawaii native and an excellent friend.



Kathy and Barb hanging out on Lorian's birthday. Barb on the left was Kyle's catcher when he was born as his dad Steven was out to sea. Kathy is our host on the North Shore has known Lorian forever. Today is Lorian's Birthday and people are getting together for a very relaxing time.


Birthday Girl

Jim and Becky at the Hale Kulani hotel listening to Hawaiian music

Kyle and his Tutu Nancy, she's 80 and probably does more than all of us put togther


John and Lorian at the Hale Kulani hotel listening to Hawiian music


Labor day party at jeff and Mercy Schade's house

Our trip so far

Hi,

Since I'm starting this after we have been travelling for a few days, I'll bring you up to date.

Lorian and I flew from Phoenix to Honolulu and Kyle flew from Tucson to Honolulu. By the end of the day we were all together. It's been almost 10 years since any of us were here and I think we all forgot forgot how nice Hawaii is. We are fortunate to be staying with Lorian's friend David Ing. He has two houses along Nu'uanu creek and we are staying in his lower house right along the creek. It's the house in the picture above.

We don't really have a plan, but pretty much have been waking up whenever, hanging out until we do something, then maybe doing something else then hanging out some more. Did I mention we're on our first "real" vacation in quite a while? Oh, I forgot. Sometimes when we are hangin out or doing something, we eat.

-John

Hawaii Trip 2006

Hi,

Lorian, Kyle and I are in Hawaii for 2 weeks so we thought we could keep a daily diary of our trip. Kyle is having fun taking pictures so we should have some nice pictures to upload.

More to follow --John

24 Hours in the old Pueblo

Well, we just got back from the first big test of the biking year and all in all things went very well. Never having done a 24 hour race everything was new so there was lots to learn. Above all I learned I'm on the right track for La Ruta. The bottom line is my bottom line took a beating and between chafing the skin off of my you know what and my knees screaming out, I cut the ride shorter then I wanted. Even so I came away with a 40th place, 8 laps and 120 miles under my belt. Above all I learned I need to fit my bike better and to spend more time aboard letting my body get used to the geometry. Beyond racing the weekend was excellent. My wonderful wife Lorian and I camped with my nephew Jason, his wife deven and his race team from the Sonoran Institute. No one could ask for better people to spend a long weekend with then these guys. We partied some, told lots of tall tales and met many fine people from around the world. I highly recommend putting this race on your schedule as it runs very smoothly, blazing through the desert at night is awesome, the people are laid back and fun and how can you beat Tucson in Feburary? www.epicrides.com is the place to learn more. I guess that's it for now.

How about a picture so you know who I am?

Here's a little picture from an excursion to Sedona a while back. I'm happy to report I have lost weight since this picture and am hapy for that. For people who don't know where Payson Arizona is; we are located just below the Mogollon Rim in the east central part of the state. the Mogollon Rim starts west of Sedona and is responsible for the famous red rocks. We are about 70 miles southeast as the crow flies but still below the rim although it is quite different then Sedona. This is Zane Gray country, with thousands of indian ruins, cattle ranches and millions of acres of national forest.

How it's been going so far

Since you come into this somewhere in the early stages, I thought I would let you know what's gone on so far. Pretty much I decided I wanted to do something I had no idea if I could do so I declared I would do the La Ruta de los Conquistodores race in November 2006. To say some people are sceptical is an understatement. Of course I understand but as they say "you gotta do what you gotta do" and I gotta do this.

To date I have been a middle to back of the pack cat 4/5 road racer and similarily successful sport level mountain bike racer. When I decided to ride La Ruta I stepped up my training to around 40 hours a month on my bike and hitting the weight room at least once a week. After two months I hit the wall and completely ran out of gas. Since it was around the holidays I figured it was all the garbage I ate. When it didn't get any better after I came home I took a look at what I was eating and found out I was eating too few calories and what I was eating wasn't the best nutrition. Since then I have straightened out my eating and everything is different. So now you are up to date. Training is going in normal peaks and waves and so far so good.

This is the start of a whole new place

Hi,

I live in Payson Arizona and love cycling. By love cycling I mean riding bikes both road and mountain and doing some racing from time to time. On top of that I love professional cycling and if you have never been to a bicycle race, I highly recommend it.

Over the course of the next year I am going to race several races far harder then anything I have ever done in my life. I thought it would be fun to keep a record of how it goes and share it with whoever cares.

Take care and check in from time to time