wildwahinepaddler

Another beautiful day here on Maui and a great day for paddling!  We’ve had a bit of a swell which has stirred up the water again, so I will have to wait for another day to visit my fish friends down by the rocks and reef.  I didn’t see any turtles today, but a big Manta Ray swam right by me off of Kam III!  I followed it for a little while, and then went on my way.  I love paddling!!!

Today was “manta ray day” at Kamaole Beach Park I!  Three large manta rays were out in front of the lifeguard tower, but when I paddled down towards Cove Park,  I was suddenly surrounded by about ten manta rays!  The large group was just hanging out there and the stand up paddlers and kayakers were in heaven.  First I paddled around with one of the manta rays, then I came across another one and paddled around with that one for a while.  I think I paddled with at least five of them!  A couple of them came right next to my board, flapping their fin against it and they were so close I was tempted to reach out and touch them!  It was amazing.  And just when I  thought the day couldn’t get much better than that,  I came across a turtle on my swim and swam along with it for about ten minutes.  What a great day out on the ocean!

It was a great morning for paddling, but I was lamenting to myself that I did not see any sea creatures today.  Then on my swim, a turtle appeared beneath me and I swam with it for awhile until it turned and headed out to sea!  What a nice surprise!

It’s a gorgeous day here on Maui, and about 75 degrees.  The wind has not kicked up on the south shore yet, and it made for perfect conditions for paddling this morning.  Just being out on the water is so tranquil and seeing two turtles made my day!

Yes, we have had some windy conditions which provided some extra challenge out paddling.  I did see one turtle today which is nice because it is often harder to see anything when the water is stirred up and choppy.  Beautiful weather for March though!  And of course the ocean is always warm.

A beautiful spring day here on Maui!  A few minutes after I took off for my morning paddle, I saw the water stirring and paddled over to it.  It was good sized Manta Ray and it was swimming towards me!  Just before it got to me, it flipped over on it’s back and swam right under my board…great start to my morning!  Down at the Boat ramp, it was  a turtle fest, several turtles surrounded me and then all but one swam away.  The one that remained was quite friendly, so I hung out with it for a few minutes!  After I came in from paddling, a mother whale and her calf appeared right out in front of the lifeguard tower.  I couldn’t believe how close in they were, just cruising by the shore and spouting!  It was a great day on the ocean!

Another beautiful morning for paddling on maui!  As I was starting out on my paddling workout, I heard a big splash….I looked over my left shoulder and a novice paddler had hit the water.  Then another big splash and this time over my right shoulder, I saw another novice paddler hit the water!  A lot of people were out today trying out stand up paddling for the first time.  I don’t miss the days of falling off  “until you get the hang of it”.

As  I continued on my paddle, I saw a turtle just off of Kam III, so I did what I usually do, I stopped paddling and got down on my board to watch it.  It popped it’s head up a couple of times to look at me and then suddenly I realized the turtle was swimming over to me!  It became clear to me that it was either going to run into my board or end up on my board with me!  Just before it hit,  the turtle quickly dove under my board and swam away!  I had a good laugh and continued on.  The water was so clear I enjoyed seeing all the rocks and coral just looking at it from on my board.  Then another turtle appeared, but this one had no interest in me and it dove down and was gone.

Spring has sprung… and it is a gorgeous day on Maui!  After the Tsunami, the water was stirred up some, but now it is crystal clear and the fish abound.  Perfect glassy conditions for paddling today!  I was sitting on my board down by the boat ramp and a turtle swam over and popped it’s head up and looked at me, then it dove down and was gone.