Completed: 11/08/2014
Chillin' before the test run
As should already be known from
previous posts, I plan an annual two-day trip for a small group of students in
my college. The past two trips have helped me to achieve a few items on my
bucket list. But this year, I didn’t intentionally plan to fulfill any this
time around. In fact, I actually planned it around something my boss had always
wanted to do: a flume ride down an old irrigation ditch in the historical
Kohala district of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Group picture outside the tour office
Amusingly, fate would have it
that I would get to check off another thing from my bucket list instead. It was
unfortunate that my boss didn’t get to do his activity because of some damage
from falling rocks that rendered the tour inoperable around the time we would
be on our two-day excursion. Instead, we were lucky enough to reschedule for
another tour offered by the same company that does the ditch ride: an ATV
adventure.
Ready to ride
For this tour, we arrived at ATV
Outfitters early on a Saturday morning. We were greeted by very laid-back,
friendly folks from the tour and fitted with our gear. We got a head sock-like
thing to cover our heads before putting on a motorcycle helmet, goggles, and
riding gloves. We then signed waivers and reviewed important safety information
with the crew. Afterwards, we got to go onto the ATVs to do a practice run on a
smaller nearby track before heading out on the actual tour.
Line of ATVs at first pit stop
We rode through small hills and a
ranch where we got very close to a herd of cows and baby calves before hitting
our first pit stop: a private beach with waters that they likened to the
conditions of the North Shore of the island of Oahu. We then rode through a
macadamia orchard before making a second pit stop at a section that intersected
with the flume ditch ride. We could see that the water level was really low and
not suitable conditions to kayak down. We then continued on our way back
through even more muddy hills where we rode in all-wheel drive before heading
back to our starting destination. Overall, the tour took about 1.5 to 2 hours,
which was just the right amount of time.
Both groups reunited at the private beach
It was an awesome experience to
ride in the whipping wind. I thought I was going pretty fast, only to look down
at the odometer registered about 12 miles per hour. I was able to reach speeds
of 20 miles per hour, which was quite exhilarating. The hills and curves along
the trail definitely added to the excitement of the experience, though I will
admit there were times when I was slightly concerned that I might topple over.
There was also one part of the trail that had an especially large puddle of
mud. I paid too close attention to the ground in that section that I failed to
duck in time for an overhanging branch. The branch conveniently hooked right in
the eye area of the helmet, pulling the goggles off my head, with almost the
helmet doing the same. Luckily, I was able to pull the helmet and goggles back
into position at some point along the trail.
All in all, it was a great
last-minute back-up activity. Not only did I enjoy the outdoor activity, I
think the students found this thoroughly entertaining as well and weren’t at
all disappointed by the change in plans. On top of that, the guides were quite
humorous and down-to-earth. If anyone happens to be in the Kohala area for
vacation, I would highly recommend this tour. As for my boss, I hope he
eventually gets to complete the tour he’s been longing to do for quite some
time now!
Riding off
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