Anseth Family Adventures: A bicycle built for two (a two year old)

March 30, 2018 was set to be not just Good Friday but a “good” Friday as well. Team Anseth had no formal plans so we could hang by the pool or go for a snorkel or sleep in for that matter.

Surprisingly, we were all up and at the buffet by 8:30ish. Another great breakfast of fresh pancakes and French toast, fresh fruit and vegetables awaited us. Grace had a little french toast to start breakfast but, she quickly switched to cocco krispies. Once on the krispies she consumed like 6 bowls. I had a light breakfast and boarded the ferry to the Intercontinental Le Moana which is situated on Bora Bora. My plan was to rent a bicycle from the resort and ride around the island a little bit.

As usually things didn’t go as planned. When I showed up at Le Moana they had me set up for a cruiser bike with one gear . I informed them, that I understood I would be gettting a mountain bike. Now the selection is not great they have 2 bikes a a black and a red one. I raised the seat as much as possible and it seemed OK. I selected the black one, which will now be known as Little Blackie. This is not to be confused with Black Beauty, the sweet fat tire bike I had in Nantucket. I also didn’t have any other choices, so I decided to take it out. Very quickly I realize the seat was too low and the bike was too small. Every time I pedaled, my knee come way too close to my chest. I am basically trying to ride around Bora Bora on a kids bike. I take off out of the hotel and head left along the coast line. There is only one road that runs around the island so it is hard to get lost. I eventually get into a rhythm which only occasionally was broke by cars passing me tightly on the left.

The coast is dotted with houses and shops and restaurants along the way. Occasionally you see a church. Once the concentration of houses gets big enough you get a gas station and a grocery store and you have a town. Then it thins out again as you go. It is a hot and sunny day so great for riding a little bit.

Here is my GPS map of the bike ride.

Here is a church along the way. It was pretty full with families on Good Friday. Like a lot of island countries, Bora Bora was pretty much shut done on Good Friday. People were either in church going to church or a the beach cooking and hanging out. The smell of home barbecue came over me several times during the ride.

Another church, this one is in town

Church in paradise

From here, I continued up the coast. If you look at my GPS map, spot 2 is were I stopped next. It took a little work but eventually I found a trail so that I could hike up to an old WW II artillary bunker. There is supposedly one on each corner of the island. Pretty steep hike up but worth it.

One of the turrets with the gun removed

The artillary still hiding in the forest

The gun and the bunker behind

One in color. The light was really intense so it was hard to get any pictures that looked decent

The view out towards the lagoon.

Seeing the artillary and island does give you a sense of how awful it must have been to fight in the Pacific. You have islands which are basically volcanic fortresses. There is a very small area to land and if you are there first you can build bunkers to shell would be invaders, without mercy. If you are in a boat out in the deep blue sea, you are alone on your boat.

From here, I continued around the island. At this point, point 3, the heat and humidity were starting to get to me. The houses were starting to thin out so I wasn’t sure I was going to get a water stop. Luckily a guy on a moped passes me and then pulled over to have a beer. I pulled in behind him and got 2 1.5 liters of water and 2 Cokes. I am not sure what this Polynesian lady thought. She was minding her own business when this overweight, pale guy, sweating profusely in a man/bear/pig had showed up and leans across the counter asking for water. Then I ask her to break a 10,000 frank note. At this point I was willing to buy as much water as needed to make this transition happen. She made change, wiped down her counter and sent me on my way. I chugged one Coke for the sugar and about half the water and was back on the road. Refreshed and revitalize, I developed a nice rhythm again stoping occasionally for a drink and a picture.

The mountain from the road. You probably think you have had enough photos of this mountain.

Up to the mountain

Almost home.

Up by the artillary

Proof of life. Waiting for the boat back.

When I returned back to our resort we ate lunch as a family and then hung out by the beach. Everybody, except Grace, took a turn on the paddleboard. Grace checked out the water from the beach but eventually retreated to a chair saying something like “scissors won’t cut water”

Ashley out for a cruise

Katie almost running over a stingray

Come on Scotty get to paddling

After paddle boarding, Kari and I hit the spa and the girls chilled in the bungalow. For dinner it was a Polynesian buffet. I thought the food was pretty good for a buffet and the Hinanos were cold. We enjoyed a Polynesian show as well but the girls refused to go up and dance. The best we could manage was a picture at the end.