Perfect paddling conditions!

It was a gorgeous January morning on Maui today! Mostly clear skies and the vog has somewhat dissipated, so the island of Lanai was starting to be visible again.  I paddled  down to the boat ramp, and as I was arriving, there were about six paddlers paddling out.  After they moved out, I had the place to myself!  The ocean was so calm and beautiful.  Initially, I didn’t see a single turtle, so I wondered if it might be one of those rare days when no turtles show up.  I sat on my board and just enjoyed my surroundings and I noticed that  the top of Haleakala was completely clear.  After a while, I was considering paddling back, but suddenly turtle #1 surfaced to reel me in!  I paddled over to it, and then turtle #2 popped up.  I paddled out a bit farther, and three turtles surfaced all around me!  Then I saw turtle #6 swimming underneath my board.  I was happy to see six turtles today and thought that might be it, until three more surfaced all around me, again.  Then I heard a big “swoosh” behind me and when I looked over my right shoulder, turtle #10 was surfacing behind me!  Ten turtles were a nice surprise and the conditions on the ocean were just as calm paddling back.  I had time so I stopped at the Quiet Zone to sit for a few minutes too.  The wind never came in and my swim was nice too.  Some days are like that…..just perfect!