So I am in Hawaii this week for a bit of work but I have managed to carve out a little time to grab a rental bike and get it dirty. The destination for this excursion was the north-east shore of Oahu to ride the Ma'akua Ridge Loop and the Hau'ula Loop Trails.



I have always wanted to be able to give these trail directions, "Just past the trail sign, turn left at the engine block".



Got Chunk? There is a creek crossing in Papali Gulch that will put most people on their feet.



The trade winds were bringing lots of puffy clouds across the windward side of the island so there were lots of transitions from bright sunny conditions to threatening patches of rain clouds. The terrain was often tricky in spots with bits of roots and rocks.



After climbing up along a ridgeline for quite some time I came to this exception section of trail where the ridge had eroded down to a 3 foot wide knife-edge section about 50 yards long with vegetation covered cliffs to either side. The flora hid most of the exposure but was certainly there. The photo does little justice.



Before long the trail reached the highpoint of the loop and the trail turned back towards the ocean and a run down the Ma'akua Ridge proper. It was quite a blast and I only stopped for a couple of pictures.



Once I reached the bottom of the loop and connected up with the Hau'ula Loop Trail which goes up a series of ridgelines to the north of the Ma'akua Ridge I was just on.



There was some significant difference in the flora along this trail as there were stands of pine trees on these ridges. While I'm not sure of the exact species of the pine it was something along the line of a Douglas fir. While I had been sprinkled on a little earlier in the ride, and really nice storm cloud blew through and gave the ground a good and steady pelting for about 10 minutes while blowing through. I waited it out under thick foliage tree and stayed basically dry.



One thing that was pretty awesome along this trail was the wild tropical fruit growing along the trail. Snacking on Guava and Lilikoi (Hawaiin Passionfruit) right along the trail truly gave the impression of being in a tropical paradise.



What was not paradise was the numerous roots that had now become wet which turned the normally challenging trail features into full on treachery.



The last half of this loop was mostly downhill and the descent through pines was pretty freaking cool and not what I expected in Hawaii. The trail pops out about half a mile from the ocean and my waiting car at the Hau'ula Beach Park. Before driving back to Waikiki I scrubbed off all the mud and muck from the ride with a nice swim in the Pacific. Life is good on a bike.

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www.MountainBikeBill.com

Bill! I am in waikiki and would love to buy you a beer! I am hiking Diamond head in the morning and cruising up the coast in a rental car for the day, and already have afternoon / dinner plans so late evening or wednesday some time? Let me know!

Nice Bill. I feel for you on the slip factor after a rain there. I remember that clay soil being like hitting ice patches when its wet.

Last I rode there I did a ride on the northwest point starting around Dillingham Airfield. Mokuleia and Kuaokala Forest Reserves area. I think I parked right by the Stearman Biplane Ride area. It was a pretty fun one if you've got time to investigate. A mix of dirt roads and singletrack. One singletrack was heading due west and ended up on a knife-edge ridge as well. Only there wasn't much brush to catch me. And the winds were pulsing from zero to maybe 30mph blasts. Had to turn around, as it got too nerve racking.

You must really hate your job, Bill

Awesome pics!

Cool TR Mr Porter.

Having a rider (you) in the picture sure adds much to the perspective. It is very evident that you have the self-pic system down pat now.....impressive and kudo's for that!

When backpacking it was common to attach a camera mount to the hiking poles for self-timer pics.....you seem to finding suitable places to set up the camera without (not easy).

Bill,

Looking at the v-brakes on your bike, I see the islands still offer only the finest crap for rentals.

The images from the new lens are looking good

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"No matter where you go there you are" BUCKAROO BANZAI
My Pinkbike page http://www.pinkbike.com/u/lambertphoto

Shouldn't you be on a beach or in a hotel room with your bride????

Couldn't stay off DT for at least one week????

Maybe the new DT slogan should be "Better than a Hawaiian honeymoon".

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

LOL thats what i was thinkin,,,,,,but I cant blame him, I"m addicted too

Jeez, I need a vacation.

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Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy. ~Milan Kundera

Thanks, I'm pretty stoke with the system I have setup. I brought a RF wireless shutter release for my camera that uses a handheld remote. With needing both hands on the handlebars I modifed the remote wiring and created a remote for the remote that is basically a microswitch and a small cable. The microswitch closes the button contact on the remote. I had an old velcro strap mount for some bike accessory laying around that I modified strap the remote to the steam. A small velcro strapped used to position the microswitch on the handlebar grip. All I have to do to fire the camera is to move my left them a little to the left and it fires the camera. Depending on the state of the batteries it works well out to as far as 30 to 40 yards.

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www.MountainBikeBill.com

bill, i am having serious internet problems on the laptop and the hotel wifi so i will text or call you around 1 or 2 when i get back from snorkeling hanauma bay, your the expert here let me know what the spot is for some frosty beverages. i have two australian girls that have invited me and "the wife" on a college pub crawl of some sorts around 7pm so if you want to roll out let me know. ( one of them has her eye on the wifies D's so the other is fair game) either way expect a text around 2 and you name the spot. (i also have a pass from the wifie for an after we get back from snorkeling ride if you would rather ride first and drink later) (beginner / slow fat guy ride )

[quote="Los"] one of them has her eye on the wifies D's so the other is fair game) quote]

OK, now you have our attention. These new style honeymoons are cool.

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

....or video.

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Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy. ~Milan Kundera