Nothing quite ilke a 3-day weekend. Big thanks to King Kamehameha I for having his 200th birthday on Friday! I got up early and drove out to a fun surf spot on the west side of O'ahu. Fortunately, the whole isn't wasn't off work, the waves were 2-3ft and super glassy, and there were only about 5 people out. After a lot of fun catching waves and seeing a large turtle, I paddling closer to shore for some final fun. While sitting about 200ft from the shore, I spotted a dark object about 50ft out... "Oh, cool, BIG turtle... ". I paddled out to see it (not knowing that you're not meant to), got within 10ft, then realized that something wasn't right - the "turtle" had a dorsal fin. Sitting parallel to the beach was a 8-9ft long tiger SHARK!!!... A quick retraction of the landing gear, and some finger paddling back to shore! I caught a few more waves then called it good. Wow, what a day!
Saturday I actually woke up early enough to make the 730am BME Racing group ride - A hygenic loop with a venture into Lanikai and Holomaluhia Botanical Gardens before getting caught in a downpour, then roasted on the ride back home through Hawaii Kai. This was my last Pali loop with team mate Casey Tucker before the Navy ship him off to San Diego after the HI State Road Race on the Big Island this coming Sunday, so I'm happy I dragged my carcass out to ride!
There was a criterium scheduled on Sunday afternnon over at the Marine Base at Kaneohe. I wasn't full commited to racing it, but decided last minute to meet up with Casey Tucker at Pali and ride over to the race. We cruised over in about an hour and watched Tony Lang win the Masters race. I rode around in the Elite race with Casey and Ben Abney, took a couple primes, had a little dig on the final lap, then sat up with about 300m to go, rolling across the line for 7th. After picking up my $40 in cash from primes, I threw on my backpack then rode home over the Pali back to town. The ride home was rather miserable and I bonked super hard at the end of Kapaa Quarry Road, making full use of the 39 x 25 to get over the climb. As soon as I got home, I grabbed a spoon and attacked half a jar of crunchy peanut butter, then washed that down with a Corona. It was one of those days that had me in need of an ice cold beer! I spent the rest of the night inhaling real food.
