Maui Day 2

The most ridiculous of all of the early starts on this holiday.  The in room alarm went off at 2:45, for a pickup just outside the dock gates at 3:15.  Today was the day that Dave would ride the volcano.

Haleakala Volcano is the highest point on Maui, and advertises itself as the world's highest dormant volcano at just over 10,000 ft.  Mountain Riders truck you up to the top, let you admire the sunset if you are lucky with the weather and then you free-wheel back down to the ocean 39 miles away.

Today, the sun-rise was perfect - clear sky overhead, cloud beneath us, and, best of all, no wind.  Before the sun rose, the sky was filled with more stars than I have seen anywhere outside of the Australian outback (there are some serious telescopes at the top of this volcano, also some bits and pieces of Reagan's "Star Wars" program).  The sunrise itself, over the edge of the crater, was spectacular.  There were probably around 300 people watching at the summit.

After the sun had risen, we kitted up in fetching blue or yellow wind breakers, and headed off down the volcano.  The bikes are basic - little suspension, but big disc brakes!  It took around 4 hours to reach the bottom, including photo stops, disrobing stops as it got warmer and a breakfast stop half way down.  The scenery changes all the way, from bare volcanic rock through alpine meadows, eucalyptus forests, sugar cane and pineapple plantations, until it finally ends at a (surfing) beach.  Great fun, especially as there is practically no pedalling involved - just a vertical drop of almost 10,000ft!

As this day was also thanksgiving, we had arranged to eat with friends on board.  Prior to the traditional turkey dinner (OK - actually sashimi and red snapper for Dave), we made use of one of the private karaoke booths on board to pass an odd hour.  Somehow, Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple is never going to sound quite the same again...