Enjoying getting back into shape

There is no reason why I shouldn't get into better shape here at Haggai and on this beautiful island of Maui. The facilities come with a first class gym. I do like working out and each machine comes with very good instructions how to use it.



But it is hard to stay in shape when for a very good reason like celebrating a 70th. birthday of a volunteer by having a barbecue and birthday cake.

The couple above are from Germany as volunteers. He looks after the pool that you see in the background.

Another place that makes it hard to stay in shape is the nightly delicious dinners that are prepared for us.

I thought that a good bike ride might help me get in shape but the tour proved to be the easiest bike ride I ever took. 

I got up early this morning (2:00 a.m.) to be in Paia by 3:30 to join up with 3 other couples who would ride a 26 mile ride down the mountain. We are taken up the mountain in a 15 setter Van that carries our bikes on the roof. Once up there we watched the sun rise.

I got a few pictures of the crater that is suppose to be the size of Manhattan.

In amongst the rock there are some very different vegetation.

On the way down the mountain by bike I found an old church that was built in 1918 in memory of the riches man on the island. It was told to me that he owns most of the land on the island and that 90% of the hotels have to pay a royalty to his estate to have been able to operate on this island. The national park at the top of the mountain was taken from him with the agreement that all the beef that this rancher can raise will be bought for the U.S.A. military. That deal has been going on since Vet Nam.

Well, eating all that good food and riding bikes down a mountain instead of up. I don't think I'll be getting into shape very easy.