Go East, Young Woman (& Young Boy)!

We did it! 137 miles. So, the riding's all pau (finished) for the Envirobuggy's first official tour, and no better place to end such a tremendous journey on the Big Island - home of Pele, Goddess of the Volcano - than at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

The huge plume billowing out of Halema'uma'u Crater on Sunday was astounding, and so innocent looking. Puffy and white, one doesn't imagine the noxious gases that are affecting people's health and crops. Shawn loved Jaggar Museum (where he jumped about to have his very own earthquake recorded on a seismograph and looked through the binoculars to get an even more up close view of the plume) and the Visitor Information Center, where the short safety and highlights films they show fascinated him ... lots of lava explosions!

A huge thank you to Jim & Celeste for sharing this last part of the adventure with me and Shawn on the east side of the island. Sure, we couldn't have done it without you, but it also was just a lot of fun doing it with you!

Our last day was a pleasant ride of 15.9 miles along Crater Rim Drive and Devastation Trail , with stops at Kilauea caldera, Kilauea Iki (where a lake of molten lava could be seen as late as 1959), and the steam vents. We pedaled through rain forest on sun-dappled roads and stopped to walk through Thurston Lava Tube. I once was told that walking through the tube is a re-birth. It felt like it ... and this ride certainly was. I thought after 137 miles (actually, the final odometer reading came in at 139.9) I'd be done with biking. Me? Sit on a bike? Never again! Actually, though, I'm refreshed and excited we did this. And, as always, looking forward to more!

Check back soon to find out which organization will receive 25% of the proceeds raised and what's coming next.

124 Miles & Counting ...

Day 4
7.2 miles

Day 5
50.5 miles. Yes, that's right 50.5!

Back in North Kohala and looking forward to writing more once I get my breath back.

Back on the Road

Aloha from Kailua-Kona!  We arrived Saturday afternoon and it's taken me a couple of days to recuperate, but I'm back and better than ever. We start cycling again tomorrow, so I figured I'd better fill you in on Days 2 and 3 of the ride.

Day 2 - July 4 - 19.7 miles
For some people, July 4 is all about red, white, and blue, fireworks, hots dogs and hamburgers.  For Shawn and me, it's all about honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) and shave ice.  For the second year in a row, we spent July 4th at the Mauna Lani resort enjoying "Turtle Independence Day." It's a celebration of this endangered species that has rebounded so well since gaining protected status.

The Mauna Lani receives turtle hatchlings from Sea Life Park on Oahu and raises them its saltwater ponds.  When the turtles are big and strong enough they get to participate in Turtle Indpendence Day and are released into the Pacific.  

My contemporaries (fellow thirty-somethings) tell me that when they were young, seeing turtles on the beach was a rarity.  Now, Shawn and I see them regularly, sunning on rocks and swimming in the water.  Their beauty is a normal part of our beach experience.  He knows not to touch and has learned about their nesting habits.  So, while I love celebrating the honu on July 4th, I get more of a kick just being around them as part of my everyday life. 

What makes the day truly special for me is seeing the hula kahiko, or ancient hula, that makes up part of the ceremonies (which is understandable since hula is my Sweet Thing No. 11).  This year a dance and chant from the 14th century was one of the pieces performed by Halau O Kupa Aina.  Take your stereotypes of hula as grass skirts and sultriness and throw them aside.  This dance form is a prayer and a lesson in the culture and history of the people of Hawai'i.  That's why I knew I wanted to study it even before I arrived on the Big Island.  Now, I've had an opportunity to taste how rich this art form is  - the layers of protocol that govern your interaction with your kumu hula and with nature, the meanings of the songs and the movements, the smidgeon of Hawaiian language I've managed to learn.  It's all been a rewarding and humbling experience ... 

For Shawn, I'm thinking his favorite part of Turtle Independence Day is the shave ice.  I grew up calling them snow cones in New York, but it's the same concept:  ice chips and syrup in a cup.  Not an ounce of nutritional value, but oh so delicious.  He sees a shave ice booth, and it's a given he'll ask for one.  My sweet tooth has been passed on and every so often I loosen up and let him indulge.  

We started the day at the Mauna Kea resort, biked to the Mauna Lani, and ended our day's ride at Kiholo, a new spot for both of us.   Shawn camped for the first time, an experience that in the end - and only in the end - he deemed fun!

Day 3 - July 5 - 19.3 Miles
Somehow I managed to make it from Kiholo to Kailua-Kona.  The road rose and fell like waves for the entire three days of this journey and by Saturday when I saw the 9,000-th hill I had to pedal up, I just about lost it.  

What was cool, though, was seeing lots of other bikers on the road.  I'm often a solitary figure in Waimea, but during this stretch I saw lots of sleek, fast, and did I mention fast cyclists streaking by.  I bumped into one at a rest stop just outside Kona to ask if they were all practicing for the upcoming Ironman competition, that's how snazzy they looked.  He said some were, but many were just athletic people who enjoyed biking and participated in the shorter triathlons and races held on the island. 

They all were friendly and lovely and it was comforting to have them on the road.  Shawn and I stopped for our usual breaks, and many an inquiry was made into our well being.  

Playing airplane on the lava field was a great part of this leg of the journey.   The pot of gold at the end was arriving at our friends' home for rest and recuperation.  I've hydrated, eaten like an ox, and soothed my sunburn, so back on the road we go!



On the road ... 66.3 Miles

Wow! The last 3 days have been an adventure! It was great seeing so many friends - and strangers who recognized us -  along the way. Thanks for your horn tooting, smiles, waves, cheers and stops to say hello.

Day 1 - July 3 - 27.3 Miles
I hit the road with such a sense of joy.  There before me a wide open road stretched into the distance.  Expansive grassland - sere and yellow and dotted with trees - flanked the road.  To my right was the limitless blue wonder of the Pacific Ocean.  Shawn chose Kapa'a as our first official stop, pointing imperiously to the turnoff as we approached it.  (We had stopped before to chat with a new friend, who recognized the Envirobuggy on the road and pulled over to say hello.)

At Kapa'a, I biked straight down so fast I thought I would wipe out.  As we descended, in the back of my mind was the knowledge that we would have to get back up from sea level to the road somehow, my first real climb of the journey.  With about 60 pounds of buggy, big boy, and provisions behind me, I was a little nervous.  

I ended up pushing the Envirobuggy back up to the road.  The sun's beating down, I'm working hard, sweating but taking my time, reminding myself there is no rush.  Even so, I must have looked a bit tired because next thing I know, I hear wisdom from the mouth of babes:  "Maybe you should drink some water, Mommy."  Good idea, Shawn.  So, off to the side of the lane we go where Shawn and I drank some water and ate an orange.  It was a great impromptu picnic and allowed us to chat with some visitors to the island who pulled over for advice on must-see spots.  

Needless to say, we made it back up to the road and eventually cycled to Kawaihae (where we stopped to eat Mexican food) and on to the Mauna Kea Resort, where we watched the sunset on the beach with friends.   

As I anticipated, a great run.  I'm leaving a lot out now, but will flesh this all out later.  

More to come:
Day 2 - July 4 - 19.7 Miles
Day 3 - July 5 - 19.3 Miles

Some Technical Notes ...

Now that a good number of people know what Envirobuggy Madness is about, I'm going to let this blog proceed in the conventional blog way, i.e. in reverse chronological order. Please scroll down or check the archives if you need background information.

Also, for sponsors: the Web site for Hawai'i Montessori School is http://www.hawaiimontessorischool.com/, if you'd like more information about them. Please pardon that typo.

And speaking of sponsors, a few more have come in - MAHALO! What they stand for will be posted on the sponsors page soon.

You Are There ...


... and we are here, in North Kohala. Birthplace of King Kamehameha I (aka Kamehameha the Great), the creator/unifier/conqueror (depending on your perspective) and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

Shawn and I lived in this historically rich and absolutely gorgeous part of Hawai'i when we first moved here and it is from here that we will begin our Envirobuggy tour.

The little town of Hawi also just happens to be the turnaround point for the cycling portion of the grueling Ironman triathlon. Our first year here, Shawn and I stood together on the sidewalk and cheered and clapped for the awesome athletes who zoomed in, slowed just enough to make it around some cones on the narrow road, and then started their trek back down the Gold Coast to Kailua-Kona.

While I joked that day that I was "Ironmommy" little did I know that I'd be following in these athletes' bikeprints, albeit A LOT more slowly.

We're hitting the road a day later than planned - on Thursday, July 3 - and will bike the first day to Kawaihae. Some of our favorite spots along the way are Kapa'a Beach, Lapakahi State Historical Park, and a secret little spot that Shawn named "Hula Beach" a couple of years ago (it's also where I saw my first whale breach in Hawai'i, actually anwhere). We'll see where Shawn wants to stop and play. Good memories. It'll be a good run, I'm sure.

A hui hou (catch you later!)

What is this "envirobuggy madness" ...

Envirobuggy madness (n): 1. a way to let the world know what you stand for 2. a way to raise money for a great cause that you get to choose 3. a seriously cool bonding experience for me and my son 4. one of the best "jobs" I could think of at 1:30 a.m.

Background
For the past 9 months, the "envirobuggy" has been the primary mode of transportation for me and my almost-4-year-old son. It's my yellow mountain bike and his red and silver buggy. That's how he gets to school, how I got to the "day job," and how we run our errands.

At times, it's been tough - I live in a hilly, windy, rainy town - but it's been worth it. Not only do I get to feel like a celebrity, smiling and waving as best I can to supportive strangers and friends alike as I struggle against what only feels like gale-force winds when you're on a bike, but I've made exercise a regular part of my day and set a great example for my son and his friends. Yup, there's a gaggle of pre-schoolers and elementary students asking for buggies of their own and saying that's how they're going to get their children around when they have them (what foresight!).

Since I got to feeling like a celebrity (see, look, I was in the paper) I decided to do what every celebrity worth her salt should: raise money for and awareness about important things. And thus the idea for the 137-mile "Envirobuggy Madness" tour was born.

Here's how it works:
Check out the 37 things that I think make life sweet and will help keep this planet together in a healthy way. Then let others know about the green and holistic things you think are fabulous by becoming a "revolution" sponsor. What do I mean by "revolution sponsor"?

Well, there are 108,504 revolutions of my bike's wheels in 137 miles. I did the math. You get to sponsor as many of these revolutions as you like with your financial support. By sponsoring a revolution and spreading the word about things you feel are green, holistic, and fabulous - which others may not know about - you contribute to the greater revolution going on around us. Isn't it wonderful how being green, healthy, and holistic is going mainstream? That's a revolution I've been waiting for a long time.

I'll be promoting "Envirobuggy Madness," and the sponsor causes, in person as I bike around the Big Island (for that personal touch), online (you got to this site, surely hundreds of thousands of others will, too) and through conventional media.

Let the world know what you stand for! Sponsor a revolution! And if that's your very own green or holistic business - perfect!

How to Sponsor a Revolution:
After you decide the cause you'd like people to be aware of, use PayPal or snail mail (see sidebar) to sponsor your revolutions (they are $1 each, but the minimum sponsorship is 10, please). Then voila! Your cause and your name, if you so desire, will appear on the sponsors' page. Check out my 37 "sweet things" for information and inspiration. And don't forget to vote on which organization you'd like to receive 25% of the proceeds raised by this campaign.

This is part of my dream "job" - combining my love of biking, spending time with my son on great adventures and learning experiences, and raising awareness about things I feel make the world a more wonderful place - so I am drawing a "salary." Come on, I'm a single mom with no trust fund in sight. We've got to eat.

The ride is scheduled to start July 2 and, if I get sponsors for all 108,504 revolutions, should take about 1-1/2 weeks. I'll be blogging from the road about the trip and my 37 sweet things, and adding (hopefully!) to the sponsors' page. Please check back in!

Namaste,
Karen

And now for my list of 37 Sweet Things

1. attachment /connection parenting
2. urban permaculture
3. rampages of appreciation/gratitude journals
4. nurses and hospice workers
5. holosync meditation
6. abraham-hicks
7. spiritual cinema
8. healthy selfishness
9. the montessori method
10. the passion test
11. hula
12. origami
13. car sharing
14. biodiesel car conversions
15. hybrids
16. free shuttles
17. bike paths
18. freecycle.org
19. electronics recycling
20. toilet tissue made from recycled paper
21. kombucha
22. TREE
23. treating animals kindly
24. composting
25. gardening
26. clean water
27. vinegar and baking soda
28. dr. bronner's
29. idealbite.com
30. slate.com's "the green lantern"
31. green homes/leed
32. public access to beautiful land
33. organic food
34. the green spa network
35. essential oil chakra votives
36. organic cotton
37. bamboo clothes

Meet the Navigator


Well, here he is. My goober, my boubah, my darling boy ... Shawn. The 4-year-old navigator of the Envirobuggy tour. Oh, yes. He will determine route (is it safe?), water breaks (and their consequences), detours ("of course we can go explore that"), and thus trip duration (but we are wrapping this up by July 15).

He's excited about the trip, and so am I. It's a wonderful way to continue on the parenting path that I've chosen, and which is my "No. 1 Sweet Thing," Attachment and Connection Parenting.

Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE being a Mommy. I love hanging out with my son, an amazing being who is so pure, connected, intelligent, and loving. I love that he has chosen me to help him on his journey, and I want to live up to that responsiblity. In order to do that, what do I need? Spiritual and personal growth. And that part of parenting has been just amazing.

There's a trilogy of books I would give every new parent on earth, every old parent, everyone contemplating becoming a parent, and everyone who's ever had a parent. Their titles (and subtitles) easily explain why I find attachment and connection parenting so important for children and adults alike.

1. Connection Parenting: Parenting through Connection Instead of Coercion, Through Love Instead of Fear, by Pam Leo.

2. Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves: Transforming Parent-Child Relationships from Reaction and Struggle to Freedom, Power and Joy, by Naomi Aldort, PhD

3. Playful Parenting: An exciting new approach to raising children that will help you: nuture close connections, solve behavior problems, encourage confidence, by Lawrence Cohen, PhD

This is great stuff, friends, so check out their books even before you have your first.

Rampages of Gratitude

Sweet Thing No. 3

Every night, my son and I write in our "gratitude journal" before we go to sleep. The journal itself is nothing special, just a 5-1/2 x 3-1/2 spiralbound notebook, but the practice is quite special indeed. It's a great way for us to end the day on a positive note, thinking about the bounty that's a part of our lives, even on very long, very stressful days. On those days, one of my entries may just be that I'm grateful the day is over and that I'm going to bed. In writing that, I remind myself to be grateful that I have a bed to lie in and a warm place to sleep.

Talking with Shawn about what he's grateful for so that I can write it down for him helps me understand who he is. Who and what he thinks is important. Of course, I'm happy on the nights when he lists all the fun things we did during the day, or takes the opportunity to share something that happened at school, but I'm equally happy when he takes the opportunity to share something he wasn't grateful for so we can talk about it, find out what he's unhappy about, and turn it around.

The journal is full of artwork, pictures Shawn asks me to draw after we talk, words Shawn asks me to write. It's a little sketchbook of our lives.

Our "gratitude journals" – and we're on our third - will be treasured keepsakes for me. I hope they will be for Shawn, as well. And while I do hope in his older years, he will read them and gain insight into the person who is his mother, I'm not depending on it. The daily practice of love and communication that is a part of our lives should do that well enough.

'Nuff said.

Coming soon ... "The Route"


Of Trees and Tushies

Do we really need to chop down trees to keep our tushies clean?

While tushies are important – I'll be sitting on mine a lot during this Envirobuggy madness – the answer for me is a no-brainer "No." And that brings me to my Sweet Thing No. 20: Recycled Paper Toilet Paper.

Yes, toilet paper. Perhaps not something you think about much. Maybe you just go for the least expensive brand, the one "they" say is softest, or the one you grew up using. But if you do take a moment to contemplate this issue, I'm confident you'll agree that the lifespan of toilet paper is so short that its production shouldn't involve the destruction of an entity that can live hundreds of years.

Toilet paper made from recycled paper. It's just a little thing you can do to keep an abundance of beautiful trees – and oxygen – in our world.

Green Forest and Seventh Generation are two brands I like. To be frugal, I do just get whichever one of those is on sale.

1 + 1 + 1 + 1 .....

Little things (like toilet paper) add up. That's the idea behind Ideal Bite, my Sweet Thing No. 29. It's a Web site that offers "bite-sized ideas for light green living."

Driving your SUV to the local organic market? (That's a paraphase on something the co-founders say a lot.) This site's for you. Non-judgmental, helpful, and funny to boot! You can visit the site daily at www.idealbite.com to get some great tips on making small and easy eco-friendly changes to your lifestyle. Or save yourself some hassle and subscribe to get a daily tip sent directly to your Inbox.

Tip categories include food & drink, work, play, travel, apparel, personal care, home & garden, money, kids, pets, technology, travel & transportation, and free stuff!

Get universal tips or tips customized for Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, or New York. I subscribe to the L.A. bite myself, and drool daily over all the cool organic restaurants and innovative businesses I'll get to support when I'm there because their practices support what I believe in.

Good ideas. Good laughs. Good for the environment.

Mahalo Nui Loa - Sponsors Page

I have a lot to be thankful for in my life, including all of the wonderful people and businesses who are supporting "Envirobuggy Madness."

Please check out the sponsors page and see what they stand for!

Stay tuned for more to come ...

In the News

We're making news with "Envirobuggy Madness." On Thursday, June 26, a story about this adventure appeared in North Hawai'i News with an adorable picture of the navigator. And K-Love did a radio and Internet spot (www.klove.com/news) on Monday, June 30. The station is based in California, but also can be heard in Hilo.