Rock n Rolling on the Big Island.

Well it has been a few days since my arrival in Hawaii and it has already been actioned packed.

My first morning the island decided to put on a show in the form of a rather large earthquake, what proceeded was a high tsunami warning in Kailua Kona so no swimming off the peir at race start and a number of large after shocks through out the day and night. I later learnt that a tsunami did occur and whipped out the islands in American Samoa, not great stuff at all.

Kona and the big island is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. The landscape is a amazing you are at the foot of a 13,00 ft volcano ( thats taller than Mt Cook) which goes straight up from the ocean. Out on the queen K highway which is what you ride on come Ironman race and it is lava flows as far a the eye can see, it is described as riding on the moon which would be a pretty fair description. Then there is the heat, in town it is hot but bearable but out on the Queen K oh man is it hot, MY SRM read 46 degrees yesterday out in the middle of the lava flows on the way to Hawi. Oh and not to forget the wind, i thought it can be windy in Tauranga but nothing can prepare you for those trade winds out on the bike course. You gotta hold on tight.

The last few days have been a bit of whirl wind really and i am ready to settle down and get into race mode over the next few days. I have just come from the Kona Aquatic center and a pool session which was done with the ironman stars. In lane 1 was 2004 & 2006 Champ Norman Stadler and his team of european Pros, Lane 2 2007 Champ Chris McCormack, Luke McKenzie and NZ's own Terrenzo Bozzone and then there was myself in Lane 3 with 2008 World Champ Craig Alexander and fellow Turners and Grower sponsored kiwi athlete Joanna Lawn, pretty awesome.

I have also been able to catch up with fellow Tauranga athletes Brain Foster, his wife Margie and Lyndy Wickham for a bbq by the beach at sunset last night. I am now looking forward to the rest of the crew to arrive including Craig Kirkwood and moving into our condo along Alli Drive.