Lovely day!

It was another lovely day on Maui, but the wind was already threatening to come in.  The ocean was not calm like the past two mornings.  I paddled out and headed south.  When I got to the boat ramp, I had the place to myself.  I spotted what I thought was my first turtle for the day…… but it ended up being a big Manta Ray!  I followed it around for a while and then it flew out of the water about two feet and then splashed back in!  I wasn’t expecting that!  After it disappeared, I noticed a turtle swimming under the water on the right side of my board.  Then another turtle popped up on the left side of my board!  After those two turtles left, I paddled out a bit farther and came across another turtle.  Soon another paddler came into the area and we chatted briefly and she spotted a turtle out farther.   The conditions had improved and it was quite nice at the boat ramp since the wind had backed off.  Then,  I saw a big nasty cane smoke cloud rising up over South Kihei!  I wish they would stop burning sugar cane!  I wasn’t sure how soon I might be having to smell that smoke, so I started paddling back.  Just as I was passing Kam II, another turtle surfaced!  The wind started to gain strength again, so I headed in.  Half way in I spotted a turtle swimming under the water!  That made six turtles for the day and ONE Manta Ray!  I knew my swim might be somewhat bumpy and it was.  The water visibility was not as good as it was yesterday but I could still see the fish at the reef.  I swam back against the wind.  Despite the windy conditions…..it was still a lovely day!!