wildwahinepaddler

It’s hard to believe that it could get any better than yesterday, but it did, and today was  perfect for paddling!  Mostly sunny skies with intermittent clouds, and no wind.  I paddled down to Cove park and made my turn south, and when I got near the end of Kam I, I ran into a paddling friend.  She had been down to the boat ramp already and told me she didn’t see a single turtle.  I was heading that way so I asked her if she wanted to go back down to the boat ramp.  We paddled in perfect conditions all the way there and when we arrived, my friend spotted the first turtle out by a diving float.  Then we saw turtle #2.  I paddled over closer to the boat lane and suddenly 5 turtles surfaced and were all around me!  I motioned for my friend and yelled that I was again surrounded, so she paddled over.  Some of the turtles came so close to my board and one of them pushed out of the water to take a dive and he had the biggest head!  We’ve seen another turtle there with a big head, so I wondered if it might be the same one.  We hung around there just enjoying the scenery and the clear water for a while, and then we paddled back in the same perfect conditions.  The wind stayed away during my swim too, so it was an ideal day for the beach!

Lovely sunset!

ENJOY!!!!

Beautiful Sunday Morning!

It was a picture perfect Sunday morning on Maui.  The wind was already starting to kick up though, with gusts coming from the South.  I decided to go out anyway since I missed paddling the last two mornings, but I was unsure of the wind conditions.  It was bumpy for the first ten or fifteen minutes and then I ran into a paddling friend as I was nearing Kam II.  She had already been down to the boat ramp but decided to paddle back with me.  The skies were mostly sunny with some periods of overcast, which made the water look dark.  When we got down to the boat ramp, there were a couple of kayakers there.  We didn’t see any turtles when we first arrived, but we were willing to wait!  Suddenly I heard a turtle behind me, coming up for air, but when I turned around it had disappeared.  Then my friend saw a turtle out by the kayakers, and then one surfaced in front of us!   We paddled out a little further and two turtles surfaced,  and I took my place between them.  One of them was very big and  friendly and came right next to my board and then one more turtle joined us.  That was a total of six turtles for today!  My friend and I decided that any day we get to be with the turtles is a great day, no matter how many of them we see.  We paddled back in good conditions because the wind had backed off and luckily we had a current that was pushing us all the way home.  The wind stayed away all the way through my swim and the water was warm and clear.  Just another day in paradise!

Wow, it was almost 9:30 a.m. before I got out on the water.  I guess I turned off my alarm and that was it, but I am sure glad I decided to go for it any way.  It was a perfect morning, mostly sunny and no wind.  There was a little bump out there, but the conditions were really nice.  I hadn’t got out past the buoy when I noticed a turtle right next to me!  Instead of paddling north first today, I stayed with the turtle.  Then I ran into a paddling friend and I told her I had a “buddy” with me.  She and I hung out with the turtle for a while, until it took us to Kam II, and then we paddled on to the boat ramp.  She had already been down there earlier with another paddling friend 0f ours,  and they had actually seen the first whale of the season!  As soon as we got to the boat ramp, the turtle show began.  We counted about 9 or 10 turtles in all, and after my friend left, two more turtles surfaced!  I was just about to leave when one more turtle popped up.  That was 14 turtles in all!  Since it was late I decided I should paddle back in case the wind came up, so I didn’t look back because I knew if I saw any turtle shells glistening in the sun, I would have to go back there!  The conditions stayed perfect all the way back, with the bumps pushing me forward.  My swim was equally as perfect, with the wind only just starting to come up as I left the beach.  Better late than never I say!

After yesterdays rain, I wondered what the conditions would be today for paddling.  The day was mostly overcast with a breeze blowing from the south, but the conditions were okay.  I ran into a paddling friend that has been gone for a while, so it was good to see her again.  Then I paddled down to the boat ramp hoping the south wind would prevail and give me a boost on my way back.  When I arrived there, I didn’t see any turtles and the overcast was creating a shimmer on the water making it difficult to see any thing.  I decided to sit and wait, and while I was doing that, the wind backed off and the ocean got glassy.  Suddenly I spotted my first turtle, so I paddled out to it.  It was a pretty big turtle and friendly!  It stayed with me for quite a while and then some other paddlers came by, and one of them said, “Hey there are two more coming up behind you!”  I looked over my right shoulder and sure enough, two more turtles were joining us.  The other paddlers moved on and before I knew it,  three more turtles surfaced on my left,  surrounding me again!  My favorite place to be…..right in the middle of six turtles!  After awhile, I decided I should start paddling back in case the wind picked up again, but before I left, one more turtle surfaced and I HAD to spend some time with it!  On my way back, the wind never came in, so it was a workout paddling with no wind at all.  I swam in a pretty calm ocean too, and then something really magical happened.  I was on my way back, when I came across a big turtle missing its front right flipper.  It looked like it had been bitten off and only a nub was visible outside of its shell.  The turtle was healthy looking, though, and seemed to be moving well with only three flippers.  I decided to swim with it for a while and see where it would take me.  We swam along for a few minutes, and then the turtle started to surface right under me!  I backed up and it came up right in front of me, so I rubbed its shell, then it surfaced and took in some air.  When it swam down again, I was behind it so I tugged on its back flipper!  It pushed away from me, but then turned around and looked at me, then started to surface again!  The same thing happened…..I rubbed its shell, and then tugged on it’s flipper….and it pushed away from me and turned around and looked at me!  This happened a third time and I was so amazed.  It seemed like the turtle was actually playing with me and enjoying the attention!  It took me down almost to Kam II, so I said good-bye and it swam on without me.  I swam back to Kam I and was marveling at how enriched my life is by paddling, swimming and interacting with sea creatures!  It was a magical day for sure!

Maui sunset

I forgot to share the Maui sunset last evening…. so here it is!

Beautiful Halloween Morning!

It was a beautiful morning on Maui, but the wind was already starting to come up.  I paddled north until I smelled cane smoke and saw it blowing over from the valley.  I really hate cane smoke and it makes me cough, so I quickly turned south and paddled away from the smoke.  Luckily I got away from it and paddled down to the boat ramp.  When I was passing Kam II, I ran into a paddling friend who had just been down at the boat ramp, and she told me she saw some turtles there.  When I arrived, there were a few other paddlers in the area, mostly passing through.  I paddled down to the spot I usually go to, and didn’t see a single turtle.  I had time so I just hung out enjoying the day.  The wind had backed off and it was really nice down there too.  All of a sudden, turtle #1 surfaced on the right of me, and then #2 surfaced on the left of me!  Then the rest of them began appearing one at a time.  Another paddler joined me when she saw the turtles and before we knew it, five turtles surfaced at once and we were surrounded!  I was afraid the other paddler was going to fall right off her board, she was so excited to be surrounded!  By this time I had counted eleven turtles.  The other paddler left and I was all by myself again, until turtle #12 showed up and it was a big one.  There was a guy snorkeling near by and he came up behind us and spooked the turtle.  It panicked and took a dive under my board, splashing me as it tried to get away from the snorkeler!  Suddenly turtle #13 surfaced and hung around with me for a few minutes, popping its head up and down.  I was just about to paddle back when turtle #14 popped up right next to me!  I was having another great turtle day so after the turtle disappeared,  I decided to paddle back.  There were a few bumps to paddle over on the way back, but it was fun!  The conditions stayed nice all the way through my swim too.  Happy Halloween!

Well it started out being a windy day….. but I decided to paddle any way.  No glassy ocean or even a sunny sky today, the conditions sure can change fast.  It was a bumpy ride down to the boat ramp, but I am addicted to those turtles, so I just had to go!  Despite the choppy ocean, there were quite a few paddlers and kayakers down at the boat ramp when I arrived there.  I think I need to stop telling so many people about that spot!  I almost just turned around and paddled back, but instead I paddled away from the others to sit by myself.  The turtles just seemed to be absent today, so one by one, the others left.  Suddenly a very big turtle swam up beside me and just popped its head up briefly.  It was staying about a foot under the water, but still hanging by my side.  Then it dove under my board and then came back.  I thought that was some odd behavior, but then it started to swim forward, so I quietly paddled along with it.  The turtle took me way past the boat ramp, but was still staying by my side!  Another paddler came by and said, “It looks like you have a buddy”, and I just smiled and stayed with the turtle.  After about 15 minutes, the turtle swam out to sea, so I headed north.  Before I knew it, another large turtle surfaced and I hung around with that one until a boat came roaring in and we both scattered!  I was still heading north, and another turtle popped up in front of me.  This one swam around me and then dove under my board.  On the way back, I ran into another turtle out in front of Kam III.  It popped up a few times and then disappeared.  That was only four turtles, but sometimes it is the quality time that counts!  It was my personal turtle day, one on one, and it was pretty special.  By the time I started to pass Kam II, the wind kicked up in a frenzy! It was merciless and wind waves were breaking on me!  It was a tough paddle home, for sure.  Just as I was getting back from paddling, the wind backed off some, but by the time I was finishing my swim, the wind came back again with a frenzy!  By the time I left the beach it was a sea of white caps.  I certainly got my work out today!

It was a gorgeous morning on Maui, with just a slight breeze and scattered clouds.  There was a mixture of wispy white and silver clouds,  and puffs of clouds adorning the top of Haleakala.  It was pretty perfect.  I paddled down to the boat ramp in ideal conditions, and when I arrived there, I was the only paddler.  As usual, I didn’t see any turtles at first, so I decided to hang around.  Then the turtle party began!  The first turtle surfaced next to me on my left, and then another one on my right.  Then a big turtle swam right at the nose of my board, popped its head up, and then dove right under me!  Before I knew it I was surrounded with three more turtles joining in.  I had the place to myself, until two other paddlers showed up.  They were visiting from Alaska and had rented SUP boards.  They seemed nice and the three of us enjoyed the turtles.  The visitors were ecstatic that the turtles were swimming right between us and so close to our boards!  We must have spent at least half an hour immersed in turtles.  I stopped counting them after I got to twenty!  They were everywhere and we were having quite a time.  The three of us decided that tomorrow we would come to this same spot and bring our snorkel gear.  I paddled back in the same ideal conditions and the wind stayed out during my swim.  As soon as I came in though, the wind was starting to show up.  By the time I left the beach, the ocean had turned into a sea of white caps.  I had the timing just right today!

Wow…. it couldn’t have been a nicer day today.  Mostly sunny skies and perfect paddling conditions!  There was a slight breeze blowing from the north, just enough to keep it cool.  I  got a late start today but I paddled down to the boat ramp anyway.  It was a smooth trip and when I got there, I was the only paddler around.  As usual, I didn’t see any turtles at first.  Then  the turtle show began!  Two turtles surfaced, one on each side of me, then turtle three, four, five and six popped up too!  Then I looked down into the water and could see several turtles just swimming around under the water, and I could see a couple of them just sitting on the reef!  It looked like they were sleeping, but maybe they were just resting.  I am not sure how many turtles there were in all, because just as I was really enjoying myself, a tour boat came over to where I was and dropped off a dozen tourists to snorkel.  This is the thing about a lot of tourists…..they splash, yell to each other, and then some of them dive down and chase the turtles!  This is exactly what happened too.  I stayed just out from where they were snorkeling, and I could see some of them chasing the turtles.  I was about to leave when up popped two turtles, one of each side of me!  I paddled a little further out, and three turtles joined me.  Maybe they were trying to get away from the tourists!  I continued to move away from the tour boat, and two more turtles joined me.  Finally it was getting late and I wasn’t sure how long I stayed down at the boat ramp, so I started paddling back.  It was perfect paddling back with the breeze still keeping it cool.  I was amazed that the wind still had not come up by the time I went for my swim!  The water was clear and warm and felt so great.  I swam down to the rocks and coral reef and spotted three Ulua fish cruising the area.  Then I saw a small Spotted Eagle Ray  and started to follow it.   It was moving away fast, and then I saw a guy snorkeling and he was chasing the Ray!  I decided to just hang around and see if it was able to ditch the snorkeler, and pretty soon it showed up and the snorkeler was gone.  The Ray swam with me around the reef for about 15 minutes… it was not trying to get away!  Suddenly a turtle cruised by and I swam with it for a few minutes while it checked out the reef.  When I came back to the spot where the Ray was, it was nowhere to be seen.  I swam back and was amazed to have had such a sea creature day.  The conditions stayed incredibly nice and by the time I left the beach, the wind was still not in.  What a day!