This year my 4th of July started out with a bang biking the ten mile trail around Polipoli Park on Maui
Photo Above: Morgan getting his dust gear on! Photo by Nick Thompson 07/04/2017!
The day started early, I met 
, & 
at Rice Park at seven in the morning to make the long journey up to the top of Haleakala with the Valley Isle Road Runners (VIRR) on the Polipoli Romp. VIRR hosts fun runs like this all over the island, and every year on the 4th of July they do this run from the base of Polipoli to the top of the mountain, and back down again!
It was a brisk Summer morning drive up the mountain with Matt and Cristina. When we arrived the weather was just right, I did not need that second jacket after all I thought to myself as I jumped on my bike and instantly started sliding into a puddle of Pele’s Tears, and nearly flew off the cliff.
Signing in for the Polipoli Romp:
The race started, it must have been the altitude, I had a lot of energy that morning. I rode behind the runners until I got a chance pass, however it was like the case of the Hare and the Rabbit though for me and I did not know it yet. I rode fast ahead, and let them pass for filming. After doing this a few times, eventually I never caught back up with the runners!
The air is clean, and smells of pine and redwood. Here's a picture of a large redwood tree on the side of the trail:
Eventually the trail got steeper and potholes of cinders were quicksand to my tires. I was literally spinning my wheels in some spots riding like a hamster wheel, it was a blast though!
There are many Native Hawaiian trees once you get up a little higher in elevation. Below is a photo of a large Hawaiian Koa Tree Grove.
At some point the Go-Pro ran out of steem so I did not get all the video I could have, but now that I am in the know about this spot I will be ready to explore more, who knows, maybe next year! The view from the top was spectacular, at one point you could look down and see the windmills that we usually pass on the back way to Hana! THe trail back down was rugged, I almost crashed a few more times, but I was careful and made it back. I am really glad that I went, I can't wait to do more exploring in Polipoli Park! Check out my Go-Pro video from the event:
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