Here come the turtles!

It’s winter here on Maui…..it is a lot cooler than it has been….and the weather has been unpredictable in the last few days.  This morning started out perfect with no wind and calm seas.  Not many people were out paddling either which was surprising.  The tourists are still here, although many of them have returned home after the holidays.  The morning was cooler and so is the water!  I paddled down to the boat ramp and about fifteen minutes into my morning, clouds started coming in.  Then the wind started up and the surface of the water changed to ripply.  As I paddled into the boat ramp area, two turtles were waiting for me!  I happily cruised up between them to sit.  Then it was a waiting game.  Finally I spotted a turtle out farther so I paddled out.  It hung around for a few minutes and then dove down.  Suddenly another turtle splashed behind me!  I quickly turned around and it swam under me.  Then I waited some more and another turtle surfaced near me.  I paddled over to it and it popped its head up a couple of times, swam around to the front of my board, and then dove under me!  The water was clear but it was hard to see due to the overcast skies.  The wind was not backing off either and the water was still not calm, so I decided to head back.  Just as I was passing from Kam II to Kam III, I heard a huge splash pretty far out, so I looked in that direction and caught a glimpse of a whale breeching!  Then I saw its nose push up out of the water and splash down.  I was so excited to see a whale out there, but too bad it was so far out.  Unless the conditions are really perfect, I won’t go out that far.  Hopefully one day soon the whales will come in closer like last year!  I paddled back and came in so I could get to my swim.  The water was clearer today than the last time I swam, but it still is not that great, so no reef again today.  The clouds continued to hang around and it even sprinkled for a few minutes!  Tonight it is very windy out so I wonder what it will be like tomorrow.  I have to remind myself that it is winter and there will be more days like this, but I always hope I will wake up to a perfect day!!