Day 6 - Honokaa to Waimea

Honokaa is again one of the small towns on the Big Island. Less than half a mile long, downtown consisted of small shops. Its slow pace is best summarized by a store's hours described as attempted hours. Breakfast again was the papaya/toast/coffee combination. Papaya must be in season this time of the year. Trouble in Paradise When it was time to leave, one rider noticed his rented bike missing. Left unlocked and unattended monentarily in front of the hotel, his bike was gone. A frantic look around the neighborhood proved fruitless. It must have been a crime of opportunity as other more expensive bikes beside it were left untouched. This is a good lesson that even in paradise, there are thieves. Never leave you bike and belongings unattended and unlocked. We had to wait for the local police to take a police report just in case the bike is sighted. By some luck, another rider's wife driving a rented car joined the group days before. He may have lost a bike, but he still had a way of following the group. By the time the excitement was over, it was almost lunch. So back to Tex for lunch. It's only 15 miles to the next destination, Waimea. Instead of going back to the highway for a direct route, we take a parallel scenic detour. Go towards the signs pointing to the town of Ahualoa. Remember that cyclotouring is not about taking the fastest most direct route to your destination. It's about the most scenic and most interesting route that matters. It's a less travelled road, well paved and shaded by giant trees on the first half of the way. Bounded by small ranches and farms, it is a delightful ride not to be missed. Along the way, look for wild cherry guavas on the roadside. They are edible and free for the picking. Past the halfway point, road opens up to cow grazing land. Pavement gets a little bumpy but still better than smelling the fumes on the highway. The grazing land is actually part of the vast Parker Ranch, one of the biggest landowners in the state. Aside from cows and horses, there are lava caves you can explore.

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