A perfect start to the holiday, paddling in perfect conditions.  That is, until 10 minutes into my paddle and a north wind kicked up!  When I started out it was so perfect that I decided to take along my mask and snorkel.  I haven’t yet devised a good way to carry my mask and snorkel on my board, so I used a strap that usually goes over my mask to keep it from tearing out my hair.  I looped my gear through the strap and attached it to my lower thigh fastening the velcro strap.  It looked funny, but it seemed to be working.  I needed it to be secure, yet out of the way of my paddle.  I wondered if the wind was going to get worse like yesterday, but I was already on  my way.  I ran into my first turtle just outside of Kam I and it was a big one!  When I arrived at the boat ramp, the wind backed off and the conditions were nice.  I picked a spot where the coral is so beautiful,  put on my mask and snorkel and slid off my board.  There were so many fish out today,  I was in fish heaven!  I even  saw two large schools of fish and I also some of my favorite fish, the Hawaiian Damsel fish.  Suddenly I was joined by two turtles and I got to swim with them!  Now I was in turtle heaven.  The conditions were so perfect that I swam for 30 – 40 minutes,  loving every minute!  Finally it was getting late and the sun was getting more intense, so I climbed back onto my board and started to paddle back.  Suddenly the north wind roared in again, and I was immersed in chop and white caps!  It took me forever to paddle back, paddling against the wind and chop and over the wind waves.  By the time I got back, the whole ocean had turned into a washing machine of white caps and I was glad I had been able to take my swim already!  The ocean always reminds me how unpredictable it can be, so I never take it for granted and  I was thankful today that I could rely on my strength to get me home.