Random Thoughts about Maui

1. Fresh Mint in Paia is a really amazing restaurant.  I ended up eating there every night I was here and ate a different meal every time and enjoyed every one.  All Vegan Vietnamese.  Highly recommended.
2. A 10,000 ft mountain in Colorado is not very big.  When you start at sea level on a bike though, it is really big.  Probably not the best idea to do it in the winter when you are out of shape, but really, when else would you come to Maui?  Again, highly recommended.
3. Riding past Kulu to the wine country and then the desert is really cool, but we have plenty of desert a lot closer to Boulder.   Also, riding it from Paia adds up to more than 7,000 ft of vertical, probably not the best plan the day after riding Haleakala.
4. When VeloNews says the road is rough, trust them.  I was thinking of riding past Kulu all the way to Hana.  I have never seen such a rough road that could still claim to be paved.  I imagine 5,000 people each with a bucket of tar dropping it on the road and smoothing it with their boots.  I turned around after a mile or so.
5. 6 foot waves don’t look like that much, especially when you drove to the sheltered side of the island after seeing the waves twice as big.  As soon as you try to body surf one you realize just how much power there is in the ocean.
6. The road to Hana is really cool.  An awesome ride.  Hana itself though is pretty boring.  Also, once you are there you realize you have to ride the 45 miles back.  Lots of little hills and some not so little ones make it really hurt.
7. 4 days on Maui is either to long or way to short.  I came here for riding, but I can’t do these rides day after day.  I’m thinking a month would be a good amount of time.
8. Paia is a really cool town.  It is however on the rainy side of the island. Cool health food store, vegan restaurant (see #1), lots of other cool shops.