Traffic to the islands is down 20+% since the failures of both ATA & Aloha.
This has resulted in a domino effect amongst the rest of the tourist related business. While airfare might be now capacity restricted and bargins hard to find - once you get here the hotels, condos and car rentals are deeply discounted. Though prices on everything else is about 20% more - that $5 foot-long at Subway is $5.99 here and the LOGP has been $4.16/gallon.
And of course since I'm off the bike all week I've seen dozens of different cyclists every day. All look serious and race ready - not the coaster type who are affected by the commercial bike ban in the NP. DOH!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Cranky in paradise
Big Girl has been a trooper lately - really trying to go with the flow, but her little body wasn't cooperating. Missed her opportunity the other night to strut her hula stuff at the shops down the block, and actually has been insisting on going to bed early (which is definitely not normal).
Doc says she has a double ear infection - and prescribed some antibiotics are on the attack to assist her recovery. She already has an appetite and a smile has reappeared, though still whisked herself off to bed early. Though she did indicate that we should go to the beach again tomorrow.
Meanwhile Little Girl has been putting on a show strutting her stuff throughout the condo and in the pool this afternoon. Dunked herself with a mis-step in the pool shallows - and came up laughing. I think I might have a lil' mermaid here. She's finally standing by herself unsupported - my guess is she should be walking within the week (twin brother has been a terror on 2 feet for about 2 weeks now and is providing much entertainment for his cousins while his sisters are in Maui with me).
So with three full days before we fly home Tuesday - I hope we'll get some girls giggling themselves silly with sand in all the wrong places, and exhausting their energies on the local playground.
Old G2K touring bike remains on the bike hook unfettered :-(
Doc says she has a double ear infection - and prescribed some antibiotics are on the attack to assist her recovery. She already has an appetite and a smile has reappeared, though still whisked herself off to bed early. Though she did indicate that we should go to the beach again tomorrow.
Meanwhile Little Girl has been putting on a show strutting her stuff throughout the condo and in the pool this afternoon. Dunked herself with a mis-step in the pool shallows - and came up laughing. I think I might have a lil' mermaid here. She's finally standing by herself unsupported - my guess is she should be walking within the week (twin brother has been a terror on 2 feet for about 2 weeks now and is providing much entertainment for his cousins while his sisters are in Maui with me).
So with three full days before we fly home Tuesday - I hope we'll get some girls giggling themselves silly with sand in all the wrong places, and exhausting their energies on the local playground.
Old G2K touring bike remains on the bike hook unfettered :-(
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Maui music
Flying like crazy lately. Work had me to DC & back on a 2-day trip for Sunday/Monday, then immediately off to Maui with the 2 girls yesterday. Over 17 hours of long-leg flying in 3 days.
I'm missing the bike, but that's OK - I think I just need some time away to renew my season (that barely even started for me yet). We'll get some much needed beach, pool and park time.
Weather is a perfect 82 degrees with very light winds (just enough to take the edge off a pale NW'ster) with only the remote chance for any rain until after we leave next Tuesday.
Staying in Wailea's Grand Champions Villa's in a nice 2-bedroom. Big girl will be wiggling her fanny later on at the local shops where they host some music (hopefully the hula band) on Wednesday nights, she'll 'leep good tonight. maybe lil girl will join in the fun.
So no Elma or PR the next week, and the prospect of racing anytime soon is dismal at best. I'll be looking to do some trip trades but it won't be until the Enumclaw Ominuim weekend that I'll have my first crack at racing since my little Easter Crit in Ontario.
In the meantime I'll be lathering up the 50 SPF sunblock and heading out for the day then we'll all be catching some ZZZZZZZZZZZ's; Mahalo!
I'm missing the bike, but that's OK - I think I just need some time away to renew my season (that barely even started for me yet). We'll get some much needed beach, pool and park time.
Weather is a perfect 82 degrees with very light winds (just enough to take the edge off a pale NW'ster) with only the remote chance for any rain until after we leave next Tuesday.
Staying in Wailea's Grand Champions Villa's in a nice 2-bedroom. Big girl will be wiggling her fanny later on at the local shops where they host some music (hopefully the hula band) on Wednesday nights, she'll 'leep good tonight. maybe lil girl will join in the fun.
So no Elma or PR the next week, and the prospect of racing anytime soon is dismal at best. I'll be looking to do some trip trades but it won't be until the Enumclaw Ominuim weekend that I'll have my first crack at racing since my little Easter Crit in Ontario.
In the meantime I'll be lathering up the 50 SPF sunblock and heading out for the day then we'll all be catching some ZZZZZZZZZZZ's; Mahalo!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
What's next?
Big shakeup in the airline industry continues this week as Frontier Airlines goes into bankruptcy, seeking court protection from its creditors. Last week 4 - count 'em FOUR airlines went belly up or plan to.
Honolulu based Aloha led the charge ("aloha" also means goodbye!), followed quickly by ATA (Indianapolis, Indiana), and Skybus (Columbus, Ohio).
Minnesota's Champion Air indicates it cannot compete with the price of gas at $110/barrel and will shut down at the end of May (I think it'd be fitting to shut down a week earlier on Memorial Day, but what do I know).
Meanwhile hometown airline Alaska indicates it'll take advantage of the situation and expand it's wings further into the "Aloha State" with service starting to Maui starting July 17th from Seattle and seasonal service from Anchorage starting in October 31st (Happy Halloween!).
Meanwhile Southwest led the news earlier this month with fines imposed for failure to comply with maintenance issues related to aging aircraft inspections (i.e. corrosion). Shakeup of the FAA's regional management ensued.
Then United had issues with some of its Airbus aircraft. This was followed by many carriers who operate MD80 type aircraft had schedule disruptions caused by a FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) to adjust the spacing of wire bundle ties and taping, and repositioned wire bundle clamps. Alaska only has 9 of these aircraft remaining in its fleet, while American has more than 100. So while it was a minor issue at Alaska, Delta, Midwest, and Continental; American's whole operation was a mess - with more than 300,000 inconvenienced passengers.
Honolulu based Aloha led the charge ("aloha" also means goodbye!), followed quickly by ATA (Indianapolis, Indiana), and Skybus (Columbus, Ohio).
Minnesota's Champion Air indicates it cannot compete with the price of gas at $110/barrel and will shut down at the end of May (I think it'd be fitting to shut down a week earlier on Memorial Day, but what do I know).
Meanwhile hometown airline Alaska indicates it'll take advantage of the situation and expand it's wings further into the "Aloha State" with service starting to Maui starting July 17th from Seattle and seasonal service from Anchorage starting in October 31st (Happy Halloween!).
Meanwhile Southwest led the news earlier this month with fines imposed for failure to comply with maintenance issues related to aging aircraft inspections (i.e. corrosion). Shakeup of the FAA's regional management ensued.
Then United had issues with some of its Airbus aircraft. This was followed by many carriers who operate MD80 type aircraft had schedule disruptions caused by a FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) to adjust the spacing of wire bundle ties and taping, and repositioned wire bundle clamps. Alaska only has 9 of these aircraft remaining in its fleet, while American has more than 100. So while it was a minor issue at Alaska, Delta, Midwest, and Continental; American's whole operation was a mess - with more than 300,000 inconvenienced passengers.
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