komohana
July 10th, 2009, 10:32 PM
Our first 'official' Ninjette.org Forum Member's scheduled ride went down Friday July 3rd. All 4 forum members were in attendance for what previously has been a 2-member riding affair.
I've had the pleasure of accompanying what had been the only other local forum member on weekend rides. I met Kelly <kkim> soon after purchasing my pre-gen, and we were both jazzed to find someone else in paradise that rode and appreciated the nimble 250.
So whaddaya do when your riding buddy happens to commute on arguably the best twisted road ribbon on the island? Not to mention that he's been making this trip to and from work for the last 35 years? (that's right, 35 years!)
Well you ride THAT road of course!
The Waimea Tech. Center is where we met face to face for the first of what would be many canyon runs. Our initial pre-ride discussion was straight forward. Stay within your limits. We're not racing. Relax, enjoy, and don't forget to breathe. You know why he's saying this as soon as you're on his tail through a series of twisties. If track knowledge is half the battle, this guy's gonna win the war! Awesome watching him navigate this road. That first ride was a breakfast run to the Lodge at Kokee State Park.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlfvDHLqNxI/AAAAAAAAAQM/UBhvFZhs4Xw/s800/kokeelodge.jpg
The Lodge at Kokee
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slfv0F1nxLI/AAAAAAAAAQY/DkNdPnWvBwE/s800/ph-10065.jpg
Morning Introduction: Blue meets Green at Kokee Lodge
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlfyfRiWgCI/AAAAAAAAAQg/u6gzW_XyunQ/s512/ph-10069.jpg
Going Down: View towards Niihau (obscured by volcanic haze) on lower Kokee Road
We'd share more meals at the Lodge, and at Kelly's Kokee job site I like to call 'Bat Cave'.
Our rides begin with concurrent weekend availability. Time to rally at the Tech. Center parking lot has been a steady 0830, with weather confirmation via phone or Ninjette.org PM's no later than 0730 that morning. An early start tends to favor the traffic flow, which you all know can be a @*($^& along the best set of twisties anywhere.
There are 2 routes from sea level. Waimea Canyon Drive intersects Kokee Road roughly a quarter of it's length up, and our rides are a combination of climbing and descending each, along with a run up the hill as far as we can go, which is the Park at Kokee Lodge due to the poor condition of the road beyond and up to Kalalau Lookout.
Waimea Canyon Drive, leading up to Kokee directly from the Tech Center parking lot, offers a steep, but faster lower to mid section as the road makes it's way up the western ridge of Waimea Valley. It tightens up as the road traverses smaller gullies and dips of what is now the rim of the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", Waimea Canyon. Semi tractor trailers and tour buses are unable to use this route. Kekaha Road has more of a gradual ascent, making for a quick dash for the first few miles, it then snakes its way through thickening forest growth the rest of the way towards the intersection and beyond.
Google Map of Waimea Canyon Dr. & Kokee Rd. (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116353789560871950289.00046e64ec216889cb10c&ll=22.048732,-159.669113&spn=0.168017,0.216637&z=12)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf1nrS_lJI/AAAAAAAAAQo/4OY6hZjpm5w/s800/100_0188.jpg
Weather Permitting: Back yard view from Kekaha towards Kokee
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf0oqf33nI/AAAAAAAAAQk/X3I4I7Ggd8Q/s800/100_0189.jpg
Moss-covered grounds at the 'Bat Cave'
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf1raByDSI/AAAAAAAAAQs/VCxLwiKeh0U/s800/100_0192.jpg
Canyon Falls
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf10AbI3JI/AAAAAAAAAQw/zcFJXHTsdDI/s800/100_0291.jpg
Waimea Tech Center
Keeping runs exclusively on the hill was the unspoken mutual choice. So I was surprised when kkim suggested we ride to the East side of the island. Specifically, we'd do some back-road riding instead of a straight-shot on the main highway.
Cool!
We traveled back roads through areas between Kalaheo and Poipu, Lihue and the Kapaa/Wailua areas. It's been years since I had been on a lot of these roads, and was amazed at how much development has occurred. Roads that were bordered by only the fences of cattle pastures were now sectioned and individually owned, complete with driveways and mail boxes. Yet most of Kauai's natural beauty seems to exist amid all the changes. Where ever you go. Everywhere you look.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf7f4P_ytI/AAAAAAAAARA/n_jdBU4CpvI/s800/DSC05362-1.JPG
Whaler's Cove, Poipu
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf7aZe5MgI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/p6k-FXMpNLk/s800/DSC05365-1.JPG
Menehune Fish Pond & Haupu Mt., Kipu
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf7c42taGI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/PzCVAL19qz0/s800/100_0287.jpg
Cycles at Fish Pond Lookout
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf7njUaDUI/AAAAAAAAARE/6ZlgBsIdEEg/s800/100_0289.jpg
Wailua "Fantasy Island" Falls, Lihue
The addition of forum members Houkan <Isaac> and rogue.guineapig <Mac> has brought our local forum member count to 4. Houkan joined kkim and I on a run up to Kokee for breakfast at the 'Bat Cave', then onto some back road action. This was Houkan's first ride with others, so our pace and placement during the ride were discussed. A safe and pleasurable run was enjoyed, and it felt good having someone else along. Traffic from Waimea to Kalaheo seemed heavier than normal. We were able to depart the slower flow once we left the highway at Kalaheo, taking our back road route around Kalaheo, through Lawai and Omao, and into Poipu.
We headed back to Kalaheo, and after a brief stop-over at Hale-O-kkim, Isaac and I headed west, marking the end to this day's ride.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf-vWVVZiI/AAAAAAAAARg/WLOGwiwueeo/s800/Houkan0628.jpg
Houkan & kkim at the Bat Cave
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf-y7x_UsI/AAAAAAAAARk/W9SDUK_AJIM/s800/250houkan_0628.jpg
Isaac's Ride
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf-3kjHUWI/AAAAAAAAARo/U4lDSNaJUcE/s800/EX30668.jpg
Then There Were 3
With some coordination, we were able to announce the scheduled ride for Ninjette.org Forum Members over the July 4th weekend, choosing the 3rd, Friday, as our day to ride. The morning found favorable weather on the west side. rogue.guineapig noted some rain in his area on the eastern end of the island, but nothing that would keep him from heading west. With weather checked and our plans set for go, we rallied at the Tech Center parking lot at our scheduled 0830 time. After completing introductions, a pre-ride brief and a head call, we ventured up the hill along Waimea Canyon Drive with me and kkim bracketing our foursome. This was Mac's first time to Kokee on 2 wheels, making another trip previously with the family cage. Keeping the pace slow and steady, we rode Waimea Canyon Drive to the intersection and took Kokee Road down to Kekaha town, with Kelly and myself switching group positions. kkim and Houkan slowly pulled away turn after turn, and to his credit, rogue.guineapig kept himself in his safe zone as I trailed. We regrouped at the bottom of Kokee Road, turned around and headed back up with myself leading until the intersection where kkim took over to signal us where gravel threats were located. Pre-determined hand signals were utilized to make everyone aware of gravel on the road. Trucks have been bringing loads of gravel to perform badly needed road repairs between the Lodge and Kalalau lookout. With these vehicles and tight corners, shoulder gravel had migrated onto the roadway which was heavy in particular areas. Thanks to Kelly, we were able to make our way safely. Our destination was kkim's job site. We spent breakfast getting to know one another more through personal stories and rider histories, likes and dislikes, gear preferences and stories of the road.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlgaeUaXCLI/AAAAAAAAAS8/20b8JTc1ddA/s800/DSC05383-1.JPG
East Meets West: Mac & Steve
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlgaZdRGvgI/AAAAAAAAASo/Hh1CDf3Y7uU/s800/DSC05382-1.JPG
Then There Were 4
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slgap0kIJ-I/AAAAAAAAAS0/yJZIGqlzXIw/s800/DSC05385-1.JPG
Houkan & rogue.guineapig at the Job Site
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlgbAZdDfiI/AAAAAAAAAS4/vzA6heGE3Bw/s800/run0703a.jpg
Expanded View: The Bat Cave
Continuing our ride, we left the job site and headed down Kokee Road with myself leading and kkim taking over again bringing us through the gravel zones. Taking Waimea Canyon Drive at the intersection, we rode down to Waimea and into the Tech Center parking lot to discuss our course. With Mac having to head home, our group took eastward in island traffic. We departed the Highway in Puhi, as kkim turned to take the Lihue Bypass Road. An alternate route to relieve congestion, the bypass road is a combination of back roads and old, now paved sugar cane hauling roads joined together. The bypass offers some twisties through flat areas and small valleys, with a couple of one-lane bridges. Lane width seems smaller along these older back roads.
From the bypass we headed to the eastern side of Lihue, where Mac separated from the group heading home. Kelly, Isaac and I rode to the Lihue Stadium parking lot in the hopes of going over the license course with Isaac. Unfortunately, markings of several licensing exams dot the parking area, and we were unable to decipher the code of lines and colored dots.
Lunch followed by a ride into Poipu, and a back road exploration of Kalaheo's mauka, or mountain side of town brought the day's ride just about to a close, with Kelly riding us to Port Allen where we each went our separate ways.
More from paradise later...!
Aloha
I've had the pleasure of accompanying what had been the only other local forum member on weekend rides. I met Kelly <kkim> soon after purchasing my pre-gen, and we were both jazzed to find someone else in paradise that rode and appreciated the nimble 250.
So whaddaya do when your riding buddy happens to commute on arguably the best twisted road ribbon on the island? Not to mention that he's been making this trip to and from work for the last 35 years? (that's right, 35 years!)
Well you ride THAT road of course!
The Waimea Tech. Center is where we met face to face for the first of what would be many canyon runs. Our initial pre-ride discussion was straight forward. Stay within your limits. We're not racing. Relax, enjoy, and don't forget to breathe. You know why he's saying this as soon as you're on his tail through a series of twisties. If track knowledge is half the battle, this guy's gonna win the war! Awesome watching him navigate this road. That first ride was a breakfast run to the Lodge at Kokee State Park.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlfvDHLqNxI/AAAAAAAAAQM/UBhvFZhs4Xw/s800/kokeelodge.jpg
The Lodge at Kokee
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slfv0F1nxLI/AAAAAAAAAQY/DkNdPnWvBwE/s800/ph-10065.jpg
Morning Introduction: Blue meets Green at Kokee Lodge
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlfyfRiWgCI/AAAAAAAAAQg/u6gzW_XyunQ/s512/ph-10069.jpg
Going Down: View towards Niihau (obscured by volcanic haze) on lower Kokee Road
We'd share more meals at the Lodge, and at Kelly's Kokee job site I like to call 'Bat Cave'.
Our rides begin with concurrent weekend availability. Time to rally at the Tech. Center parking lot has been a steady 0830, with weather confirmation via phone or Ninjette.org PM's no later than 0730 that morning. An early start tends to favor the traffic flow, which you all know can be a @*($^& along the best set of twisties anywhere.
There are 2 routes from sea level. Waimea Canyon Drive intersects Kokee Road roughly a quarter of it's length up, and our rides are a combination of climbing and descending each, along with a run up the hill as far as we can go, which is the Park at Kokee Lodge due to the poor condition of the road beyond and up to Kalalau Lookout.
Waimea Canyon Drive, leading up to Kokee directly from the Tech Center parking lot, offers a steep, but faster lower to mid section as the road makes it's way up the western ridge of Waimea Valley. It tightens up as the road traverses smaller gullies and dips of what is now the rim of the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", Waimea Canyon. Semi tractor trailers and tour buses are unable to use this route. Kekaha Road has more of a gradual ascent, making for a quick dash for the first few miles, it then snakes its way through thickening forest growth the rest of the way towards the intersection and beyond.
Google Map of Waimea Canyon Dr. & Kokee Rd. (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116353789560871950289.00046e64ec216889cb10c&ll=22.048732,-159.669113&spn=0.168017,0.216637&z=12)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf1nrS_lJI/AAAAAAAAAQo/4OY6hZjpm5w/s800/100_0188.jpg
Weather Permitting: Back yard view from Kekaha towards Kokee
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf0oqf33nI/AAAAAAAAAQk/X3I4I7Ggd8Q/s800/100_0189.jpg
Moss-covered grounds at the 'Bat Cave'
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf1raByDSI/AAAAAAAAAQs/VCxLwiKeh0U/s800/100_0192.jpg
Canyon Falls
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf10AbI3JI/AAAAAAAAAQw/zcFJXHTsdDI/s800/100_0291.jpg
Waimea Tech Center
Keeping runs exclusively on the hill was the unspoken mutual choice. So I was surprised when kkim suggested we ride to the East side of the island. Specifically, we'd do some back-road riding instead of a straight-shot on the main highway.
Cool!
We traveled back roads through areas between Kalaheo and Poipu, Lihue and the Kapaa/Wailua areas. It's been years since I had been on a lot of these roads, and was amazed at how much development has occurred. Roads that were bordered by only the fences of cattle pastures were now sectioned and individually owned, complete with driveways and mail boxes. Yet most of Kauai's natural beauty seems to exist amid all the changes. Where ever you go. Everywhere you look.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf7f4P_ytI/AAAAAAAAARA/n_jdBU4CpvI/s800/DSC05362-1.JPG
Whaler's Cove, Poipu
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf7aZe5MgI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/p6k-FXMpNLk/s800/DSC05365-1.JPG
Menehune Fish Pond & Haupu Mt., Kipu
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf7c42taGI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/PzCVAL19qz0/s800/100_0287.jpg
Cycles at Fish Pond Lookout
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf7njUaDUI/AAAAAAAAARE/6ZlgBsIdEEg/s800/100_0289.jpg
Wailua "Fantasy Island" Falls, Lihue
The addition of forum members Houkan <Isaac> and rogue.guineapig <Mac> has brought our local forum member count to 4. Houkan joined kkim and I on a run up to Kokee for breakfast at the 'Bat Cave', then onto some back road action. This was Houkan's first ride with others, so our pace and placement during the ride were discussed. A safe and pleasurable run was enjoyed, and it felt good having someone else along. Traffic from Waimea to Kalaheo seemed heavier than normal. We were able to depart the slower flow once we left the highway at Kalaheo, taking our back road route around Kalaheo, through Lawai and Omao, and into Poipu.
We headed back to Kalaheo, and after a brief stop-over at Hale-O-kkim, Isaac and I headed west, marking the end to this day's ride.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf-vWVVZiI/AAAAAAAAARg/WLOGwiwueeo/s800/Houkan0628.jpg
Houkan & kkim at the Bat Cave
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf-y7x_UsI/AAAAAAAAARk/W9SDUK_AJIM/s800/250houkan_0628.jpg
Isaac's Ride
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slf-3kjHUWI/AAAAAAAAARo/U4lDSNaJUcE/s800/EX30668.jpg
Then There Were 3
With some coordination, we were able to announce the scheduled ride for Ninjette.org Forum Members over the July 4th weekend, choosing the 3rd, Friday, as our day to ride. The morning found favorable weather on the west side. rogue.guineapig noted some rain in his area on the eastern end of the island, but nothing that would keep him from heading west. With weather checked and our plans set for go, we rallied at the Tech Center parking lot at our scheduled 0830 time. After completing introductions, a pre-ride brief and a head call, we ventured up the hill along Waimea Canyon Drive with me and kkim bracketing our foursome. This was Mac's first time to Kokee on 2 wheels, making another trip previously with the family cage. Keeping the pace slow and steady, we rode Waimea Canyon Drive to the intersection and took Kokee Road down to Kekaha town, with Kelly and myself switching group positions. kkim and Houkan slowly pulled away turn after turn, and to his credit, rogue.guineapig kept himself in his safe zone as I trailed. We regrouped at the bottom of Kokee Road, turned around and headed back up with myself leading until the intersection where kkim took over to signal us where gravel threats were located. Pre-determined hand signals were utilized to make everyone aware of gravel on the road. Trucks have been bringing loads of gravel to perform badly needed road repairs between the Lodge and Kalalau lookout. With these vehicles and tight corners, shoulder gravel had migrated onto the roadway which was heavy in particular areas. Thanks to Kelly, we were able to make our way safely. Our destination was kkim's job site. We spent breakfast getting to know one another more through personal stories and rider histories, likes and dislikes, gear preferences and stories of the road.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlgaeUaXCLI/AAAAAAAAAS8/20b8JTc1ddA/s800/DSC05383-1.JPG
East Meets West: Mac & Steve
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlgaZdRGvgI/AAAAAAAAASo/Hh1CDf3Y7uU/s800/DSC05382-1.JPG
Then There Were 4
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/Slgap0kIJ-I/AAAAAAAAAS0/yJZIGqlzXIw/s800/DSC05385-1.JPG
Houkan & rogue.guineapig at the Job Site
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iEwquIIvHvE/SlgbAZdDfiI/AAAAAAAAAS4/vzA6heGE3Bw/s800/run0703a.jpg
Expanded View: The Bat Cave
Continuing our ride, we left the job site and headed down Kokee Road with myself leading and kkim taking over again bringing us through the gravel zones. Taking Waimea Canyon Drive at the intersection, we rode down to Waimea and into the Tech Center parking lot to discuss our course. With Mac having to head home, our group took eastward in island traffic. We departed the Highway in Puhi, as kkim turned to take the Lihue Bypass Road. An alternate route to relieve congestion, the bypass road is a combination of back roads and old, now paved sugar cane hauling roads joined together. The bypass offers some twisties through flat areas and small valleys, with a couple of one-lane bridges. Lane width seems smaller along these older back roads.
From the bypass we headed to the eastern side of Lihue, where Mac separated from the group heading home. Kelly, Isaac and I rode to the Lihue Stadium parking lot in the hopes of going over the license course with Isaac. Unfortunately, markings of several licensing exams dot the parking area, and we were unable to decipher the code of lines and colored dots.
Lunch followed by a ride into Poipu, and a back road exploration of Kalaheo's mauka, or mountain side of town brought the day's ride just about to a close, with Kelly riding us to Port Allen where we each went our separate ways.
More from paradise later...!
Aloha