The winds of Ironman

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/57548338 . Hawi to Kona 85kms - end of trip.
We met a cyclist at breakfast this morning who spends a few months a year riding in Hawaii. From him we learned that wind is a national obsession with triathletes (and there is pretty much no other type of cyclist in Hawaii due to the Ironman event) on the big island. He described for us in minute detail how the wind would or could be for us riding the Ironman bike course from Hawi to Kona (that's a part of it it, anyway) today. Simply boiled down it means that you will fight a howling hot headwind straight off the lava fields, no matter which way you go. I guess that's why Ironman athletes like this event so much, they're crazy.
He was right, it was hot, the headwind came straight off the lava fields. Also it was very boring, not at all scenic. No shade anywhere, nowhere to take a break without going miles off the highway. I rest my case on Ironman athletes. And we saw plenty coming the other way, training. On the plus side, we stopped at Hapuna Beach state park and had a great swim in the ocean.
End of trip, end of blogging. Great trip, nice people, amazing scenery, interesting cycling, challenging hills every day. Good time had by all! And Cathy turned out to be a fitter, stronger cyclist than she probably realized, which I'm sure she will feel encouraged by.