wildwahinepaddler

When I arrived at the beach, a north wind had kicked up, but  I decided to paddle anyway.  I paddled into the wind until I got to Cove Park,  and then made my turn south.  It was easy paddling with the wind and I got down to the boat ramp in no time.  Suddenly the wind backed off  and it was nicer.  I spotted a turtle a few yards in front of me, so I paddled in its direction.  When I got near it I realized that it was a baby turtle!  The turtle’s  shell was about 12 inches long, and it was so cute bobbing along on the surface of the water.  I couldn’t help worrying that it was just “bite size” for a passing shark, but hopefully it was okay.  I paddled back in good conditions except that the wind had created some interesting bumps to paddle over.  It was all good!  Back on shore the clouds creeped in and the sky got very overcast and it looked like it might rain.  The big excitement on shore was a close call with the lifeguard’s jet ski!  He rode the jet ski in pretty fast and flew onto the sand, and just kept going!  Then he hit the jet ski trailer, and came within a few feet of me, stopping just in time.  I was in shock.  Another beach goer said, “That’s just how accidents happen!, and I had to agree.  The lifeguard did apologize though.  I think he just misjudged his speed.  I got lucky today, thank goodness!

Maui Sunset

A nice end to the Labor Day weekend….. a beautiful sunset to share!  Enjoy!

This morning was just as nice as yesterday.  Calm ocean, sunny skies, a slight breeze blowing from the north …… just right!  The top of Haleakala was completely clear and the island of Lanai was fully visible too.  I encountered my first turtle out from Kam I.  I paddled towards it and then it was gone, then suddenly I looked down  and the turtle was swimming back and forth under my board!  I tried to follow it, but it disappeared into the murky water.  The water still has not cleared up from the swell and surge, so it is hard to really see anything down in the water.  I paddled down to the boat ramp and came across turtle #2.  It surfaced a couple of times and then disappeared.  On to turtle #3… this one was inquisitive.  It swam around me for a few minutes, popping its head up to look at me a few times and then it disappeared!  I was really enjoying the turtles until a jet ski took off from the boat ramp and whizzed past me.  I paddled back in perfect conditions, and then ran into a paddling friend.  We chatted for a bit and then I paddled home.  Coming in I ran into another large turtle, but this one surfaced and it had tumors growing on both sides of its head!  I don’t like seeing that.  There were rumors circulating that a shark was seen in the area, but the lifeguards never saw it.  I was glad I was done paddling!

so perfect before it got windy!

This past week was weird.  All week we had a south swell, windy conditions, shore break, some stormy skies and even some rain yesterday!  I checked the beach cam this morning and finally it looked like a good day to paddle.  This is the photo of this morning and it was calm and perfect!  I thoroughly enjoyed getting back out on the ocean and paddled down to the boat ramp with ease.  The water is still not very clear due to the surges, but I could at least see some of the coral from on my board.  I spotted a turtle near the boat markers and paddled over.  It surfaced a couple of times and then disappeared.  I decided to lay down on my board and just enjoy the scenery, but then another larger turtle surfaced right by me!  It stuck around for a few minutes and then swam away, so I followed it for a while.  Paddling back was just as nice with glassy, smooth water.  I paddled out a bit further and sat in the quiet zone before heading home.  Suddenly, I heard the faint squawk of an Egret coming from the shore and I was thankful for such a wonderful day!

Yesterday the conditions were perfect for paddling.  I enjoyed paddling down to the boat ramp where I ran into a paddling friend.  We paddled and chatted for a while and then we saw two big turtles!  The wind didn’t kick up until 11 a.m.

Today was totally different!  Five minutes into paddling,  a South wind kicked up pretty good.  It was a struggle paddling into the wind, and I didn’t have time to sight see!  I was preoccupied with just paddling and staying on my board.  I only got down to Kam III and decided to turn around and paddle with the wind.  The wind never backed down, so I was glad to get back.  Swimming was not as much of a struggle.  The water was pretty clear down by the rocks and I saw quite a few fish.  In fact, lots of baby fish were swimming around looking for food.  I also saw a large” Humu Humu” fish that was chasing the other fish around and being quite mean to a baby puffer fish!  The things I see in the undersea world!   So fun!

I could really use a dolphin encounter one of these days.  Just as I came in and tied my board on my car, I heard the lifeguard say, “yeah, it’s a dolphin right out by the white buoy”,  and I was already in.  It was a wonderful paddling day though, and I saw one turtle down by Kam III and then at the boat ramp, I came across another one!  The last turtle was a smaller one, probably a youngster.  I decided to follow it for a while, and it kept popping its head up to look at me!  The conditions were very glassy again today which made paddling extra enjoyable.  As I was starting to paddle in, I saw something dark moving down in the water!  I stayed with it, but it never surfaced.  The water was clear so I could make out a long tail, I think it was some type of Ray.  Every day is different and I never know what I will see!  One day it’s going to be dolphins again, I just know it.

Beautiful Maui morning!

The morning stayed mostly overcast, which made it a lot cooler to paddle.  The wind was non-existent this morning which created perfect paddling conditions.  The silver, gray clouds were mostly everywhere, on top of Haleakala and the West Maui mountains.  I paddled down to the boat ramp and it was pure glass!  I only saw one turtle today, but it was really friendly.  It first popped up on the right side of my board, then it swam to the back of my board and popped its head up again!  Then it swam to the left side of my board and checked me out again.  That was one friendly turtle!  Paddling back was just a nice and since it was so calm, I paddled out farther and stopped at the Quiet Zone to sit for a bit.  On my way back, a sea-bird of some kind flew right in front of me, and skimmed the surface of the water!  I don’t see many birds out that far, so it took me by surprise. Swimming was just a nice as paddling today, and down by the rocks I saw a school of Trumpet fish (about 20 of them) congregating.  All in all, it was a great morning out on the ocean on Maui!

Well,  it looked like it would be a day without the wind kicking up, but by 11 a.m., it came in.  Fortunately for me, I was able to paddle in perfect conditions and even got my swim in before the wind!  It was a gorgeous morning with sunny skies, calm glassy ocean, and just a few scattered clouds hanging on top of Haleakala.  I enjoyed paddling down to the boat ramp.  I ran across my first turtle just outside of Kam III, and then another one at the boat ramp!  On the way back, I paddled out to the Quiet Zone and enjoyed some peace and tranquility there for a few minutes.  It was hard to come in because it was so perfect! Some mornings are just like that….. no complaints here!

The wind has been very interesting this summer.  Most days it has been coming up much earlier than usual, which creates some interesting paddling conditions.  Today it started getting windy just as I went out paddling, so I paddled north, into the wind for a while.  Then I turned around and paddled with the wind which was much easier.  Since it was somewhat choppy, I didn’t expect to see any turtles, but when I got down to the boat ramp, the wind just backed off and three turtles appeared all at once!  They floated around me for a few minutes and popped their heads up to look at me, I was so excited, then one by one, they dove down and disappeared.  I paddled out further since it got so perfect and had great conditions all the way back.  Just as I was making the turn to come in, the wind started to blow back in a lot stronger than it had been earlier.  I got back just in time!  Unfortunately swimming was not as perfect as paddling,  but the water was clear, and there was a sea of white caps!  It’s all good!

What a gorgeous morning here on Maui!  The conditions were perfect with sunny skies, some scattered white and silver clouds atop Haleakala, calm water and a  light breeze….just the way I like it.  I paddled down to the boat ramp and when I got there several paddlers were gathered in one spot, so I went to investigate.  Yes, there were turtles!  About six turtles in all, with one of them much smaller, probably a youngster.  A couple of them were very friendly, hanging out on the right side of my board for a few minutes.  I had attached my mask and snorkel to my thigh, so I was ready for a snorkel/swim.  I snorkeled for about 40 minutes amidst the beautiful coral, turtles and hung out with a large school of black fish with a yellow ring around their tail fin.  I will have to look that fish up and see what they are called.  There were also an assortment of other tropical fish and an eel too!  I love going into the undersea world and taking a break from the land world.  Paddling back was just as nice, and out from Kam III, another big turtle surfaced and came within inches of my board.  It was so close I could have reached out and touched it!  What a great day!