On Wednesday we were booked for watching the sunrise atop the Haleakala volcano followed by a bike ride down the summit to the beach.

Our pick up was at 3AM 😱 in front of our complex. What!!! We were there in the pitch dark hoping someone would come…sure enough they were right on time. Our conductor Dante was up and at it and drove us to the Mountain Riders office. After getting our gear (jacket, pants and glove) and a quick coffee, up we go to the top of the volcano.

We get there by 5:10 and are told that we got there just in time as this place will be packed in 20 minutes. In the pouring rain and strong cold wind, we make our way to the edge of the crater for a prime spot….oh we are ready. We are told that it will be about 6:20 when the sun rise so we have over an hour to wait…a long miserable, freezing and wet hour. As the sunrise hour approach, it became more cloudy and cold. <<<<<<<<
eptical but stayed there in the hope to see this amazing sunrise…..it was not to be…we all made our way back to the van cold and wet.

Our amazing upbeat guide got us all set up with our specially built bikes with brakes from scooter to be able to handle the descent!! With our big helmet and our full rain gear, we set out, staying in a single file, basically gliding down. After multiple sharp turns, we arrive at a great spot where the sun is out and the rainbow is showing. The volcano is at 10,000 feet elevation and each 1,000 feet of descent brings us to a new weather pattern. Pretty neat. We stopped for fun pictures.

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ur ride again when the guide spots a gecko in a bush. Another pit stop for photos.

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the beach after a nice stop for breakfast at 9am in the small hippie town of Makawao.

Back at our condo around 11am where the sun is shiny and we are back to 90F weather, go figure!!

We spend time at the beach and make our way over to our cousin's cottage Lorraine and John in Makena. They pick us up and take us on a great drive along fancy neighbourhood, definitely much more expensive houses!!

We are treated to a beautiful sunset and yummy dinner.

Great conversations to re-connect with families. Our gracious hosts make us feel so welcome.

How fun!!