wildwahinepaddler

It was great to get back out on the water today after a brief break.  After the Fourth of July, there were a few things interfering with my paddling workouts.  Today was a treat, too, with a few scattered clouds and calm conditions!  The south swell that had things kicked up is calming down, but the water visibility is still poor.  Down at the boat ramp was the only place I could see down into the water and that’s where I saw my lone turtle today.  It was swimming near the bottom and it never surfaced where I was.  I was just glad to be out paddling and swimming and just being grateful for that!  On shore, I could see the white caps out further, so I knew the wind was on it’s way.  A beautiful day though, as you can see!

Beautiful conditions for paddling!

http://www.athleta.net/chi/2011/07/01/give-back-make-a-difference/

Check out this link to read it!  Happy Paddling!

A perfect start to the holiday, paddling in perfect conditions.  That is, until 10 minutes into my paddle and a north wind kicked up!  When I started out it was so perfect that I decided to take along my mask and snorkel.  I haven’t yet devised a good way to carry my mask and snorkel on my board, so I used a strap that usually goes over my mask to keep it from tearing out my hair.  I looped my gear through the strap and attached it to my lower thigh fastening the velcro strap.  It looked funny, but it seemed to be working.  I needed it to be secure, yet out of the way of my paddle.  I wondered if the wind was going to get worse like yesterday, but I was already on  my way.  I ran into my first turtle just outside of Kam I and it was a big one!  When I arrived at the boat ramp, the wind backed off and the conditions were nice.  I picked a spot where the coral is so beautiful,  put on my mask and snorkel and slid off my board.  There were so many fish out today,  I was in fish heaven!  I even  saw two large schools of fish and I also some of my favorite fish, the Hawaiian Damsel fish.  Suddenly I was joined by two turtles and I got to swim with them!  Now I was in turtle heaven.  The conditions were so perfect that I swam for 30 – 40 minutes,  loving every minute!  Finally it was getting late and the sun was getting more intense, so I climbed back onto my board and started to paddle back.  Suddenly the north wind roared in again, and I was immersed in chop and white caps!  It took me forever to paddle back, paddling against the wind and chop and over the wind waves.  By the time I got back, the whole ocean had turned into a washing machine of white caps and I was glad I had been able to take my swim already!  The ocean always reminds me how unpredictable it can be, so I never take it for granted and  I was thankful today that I could rely on my strength to get me home.

Breezy conditions this morning early.  Paddling was quite a workout in both directions since the wind was alternating from the south and straight on shore creating very bumpy conditions.  I paddled only as far as Kam III because I wasn’t sure if the wind was going to get stronger.  Outside of Kam II,  I saw something in the water surface and then go under and it wasn’t a turtle, dolphin, or manta ray….. so that’s what I thought (was that a shark?).  I just kept paddling instead of checking it out!  The conditions smoothed out for my swim, and then the wind came up again.  It was a beautiful summer day though!  Here is a sunset to share for Sunday, it was quite beautiful.

Beautiful Maui Sunset!

What a beautiful day on Maui!  I paddled in a calm, glassy ocean and outside of Kam III, I encountered two large turtles.  When I arrived at the boat ramp, I was lucky to find four more turtles to hang with!  Two of the turtles were definitely youngsters, and so inquisitive.  I was so excited to finally be surrounded by turtles again!  On the way back, I paddled out in the quiet zone.  The clouds were arranged in the sky in a way that created a silver shimmer on the water.  Then there was a blue shimmer, and then silver again…. I wished my eyes were a camera, so I could share it!  It was hypnotic in a way and it made me want to just stay in that spot.  About the time I paddled back, the wind had come up from the South, and the smooth conditions disappeared.  What a treat for Saturday!

Just as beautiful as yesterday!

I admit it, I really had to force myself to go paddling today, but I’m sure glad I did.  This morning was as perfect as yesterday with just a little bit of overcast.  I paddled down to the boat ramp and couldn’t quit thinking about Roxy…I am just so sad.  Suddenly a turtle appeared just outside of Kam III, surfaced a couple of times and then just hung out with me for a while!  I was so glad, because I really needed to see a turtle today.  It was so calm down at the boat ramp, I just laid on my board and enjoyed the scenery.  When I headed back, the trade winds started to blow from the North and as I paddled toward Kam I, the wind strengthened to the point that I had to get down on my board in order to move ahead!  I got a good workout from paddling against the wind and over the wind swells, but best of all, it totally took my mind away from my sorrow.  I really needed that kind of break today!

Today was the most beautiful day.  Calm, clear ocean and a slight breeze.  Only patchy clouds in the sky with the top of Haleakala completely clear.  Even the island of Lanai was fully visible today.  I was so glad to get into the water since I had such a heart breaking situation at home.  I paddled down to the boat ramp, and on the way caught a glimpse of a turtle’s fin as it dove under the water just off of Kam I.  The water was glassy and smooth, the most ideal conditions for paddling.  Back at home I had my dog, who was dying slowly, and it was heart breaking to watch her struggle so much.  By 3:30 p.m. we were at the Vet’s office, waiting for him to come into the room.  He gave her a sedative and I rubbed her head as she relaxed.  When it came time to put her to sleep, I couldn’t bare it, so I went out to my car and cried my eyes out.  Thank goodness for my husband, who stayed with her until the end.  We also have a great Vet, who has cared for Roxy for over 12 years and I know he was sad too.  Time will heal and I am glad I dedicated my paddle today to Roxy….RIP   2-14-97   –    6-30-11.  She was a great friend and she will be greatly missed.  Tomorrow is another day……

This is one of the best dogs in the world!

Today was just the opposite of yesterday!  I got a little later start than I wanted to and it was already breezy with Kona winds.  The sky was mostly overcast which made the water look really dark, but it also made it much cooler for paddling.  It almost looked to the point of stormy, but when I got down to the boat ramp, the wind backed off and it was very calm.  The water was still clear too.  I ran into a paddling friend, so we chatted and paddled together for awhile.  We kept seeing what looked like fins popping out of the water about fifty yards away from us, so we paddled out further to check it out!  We were hoping for some dolphins, especially since it was my paddling friends birthday today, but when we got out there, we saw nothing.  The turtles must be hiding out somewhere because I haven’t seen many of them lately.  The ocean stayed calm all the way back to Kam I, and half way through my swim.  Then the wind roared back, this time from the North, and it was a sea of white caps!  Happy Birthday Eli!

The day started out very calm, then a Kona breeze blew in.  I paddled against it going down to the boat ramp and got a good workout.  When I arrived at the boat ramp, the breeze backed off and it was very calm again.  The water is super clear down there and it made me wish I had brought my mask and snorkel!  I visited with a paddling friend and then headed back.  I saw a large turtle between Kam II and Kam III, but it disappeared as quickly as it emerged!  I don’t know where the turtles we usually see, have been hiding out lately.  A little bit of cloud cover kept things cool, and then the Kona wind kicked up again and it was all white caps!  Still a beautiful day for paddling.

On the water, that is!  After taking a couple of days off from paddling to go help my daughter, I was very glad to be back out on the ocean today.  It was so beautiful this morning with calm, glassy conditions. The clouds were hazy enough to keep me cool, and the haze covered the summit.  After about fifteen minutes into my paddle, a Kona breeze began to blow.  By the time I got down to Kam II, it had turned into a Kona wind!  I paddled against it all the way down to the boat ramp and was hoping it continued in that direction, so I could ride the wind back.  At the boat ramp I did see one lone turtle, but that was it and then  I was lucky enough to paddle back with the help of the Kona wind!  It’s always great to be out on the ocean!