Kauai

Once upon a time [1996], an ordinary young woman [me] was invited to speak at a gathering of chief executives in an extraordinary place [Kauai]. When the organizers sent me the form to choose my room and an activity, my eyes popped at the price tag. “It's okay,” they assured me; “just pick one.”

The execs, you see, would be staying at the Grand Hyatt Resort and ... so would I. Not down the road in some ordinary hotel. In a palatial room with a full ocean view, just like the execs.

I could see whales from my room. Not being a golfer, I chose the helicopter tour.

There I found a level of luxury, of service, that I had never come close to experiencing. And expected I never would again. [Wrong.]

This week, I have no obligations other than to relax—a reward for a difficult job done well. This time, I could take the time to extend my visit—more modestly, I'll admit. [I'm the frugal type].

Stress evaporated the moment I stepped into the tropical breezeways at the airport. [That was easy.]

Tired and jet-lagged, I didn't stray too far from my home base. [I didn't have to.]

I found my way to Wailua Falls.

And a view of the Wailua River, which is across the road from ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls.

I walked to the nearest beach, pulled off my shoes, and ... ahh, I'd forgotten the feel of warm sand on bare feet.

Rain was pouring down offshore, in the distance.

I walked as far as I could, ending at Kukui Heiau.

There I watched a young feral cat dart into the rocks and peer at me before disappearing, leaving me to admire Wailua Bay alone.

Oh, how lucky I am!

Calaveras, Take Two

We're back! The hills are still green, and this time we will head down the back side! Yay!

The group was larger this week, and the only rider I knew at the outset was the leader. Despite agreeing that they understood the plan (there would be only four turns to reach our turnaround point), the group shattered at turn number two. “Right turn!” I shouted as they headed left, falling in with a Team in Training ride.

They'd catch up, but I would not be last today. I discovered another bird lover in the group when I assured two riders that the birds circling overhead were not condors, but common turkey vultures. I talked about the bald eagles that formerly nested on a tower we'd pass, before years of dam construction and drought left too little water in the reservoir.

Some riders missed turn number four, too, into the Sunol Regional Wilderness area. I had never been back there—it was a surprisingly long way to the visitor center. A friendly ranger was impressed to hear we'd ridden from San Jose, up the wall, and encouraged us to fill our water bottles from the jugs they'd set out. I see a hike in my future—though definitely not during the heat of summer.

I was content to be off the back, today, with creamy fresh pavement and long-unseen vistas to savor on the back side. Including the site of the slide that kept the road closed for so long. [Okay, I see now. It was big.] They seeded the hillside after stabilizing it.

36 miles, 2,800 feet of climbing, and a peak of only 179 bpm climbing the wall. Better.