wildwahinepaddler

We had a great time in Mexico and I got to learn how to use the underwater camera! I am going to treasure the photos and videos I managed to get there.  After being gone a month….. though….. I was ready to be home on Maui……..

So it finally hit.   The predicted king tides and south swell creating shore break and murky water.  Well it was a good day for a walk and some back stroking!  It was still beautiful though and feeling like summer today.  It’s also a holiday weekend so extra crowded.  The schools are out now too so it won’t be long until the summer vacation tourists arrive.   Hopefully the swell will not last very long so I can get back to paddling and my turtles……..

It turned out to be a really nice day today. Even though the “wind line” was moving in and out….. I wanted to go out paddling. I headed south but the wind was actually blowing onshore which made it work paddling to stay on track.  I just didn’t trust the wind, so I turned around at the end of Kam 2….. but not before a turtle popped up next to me!  I managed to get two photos!  I was glad I turned around because the wind made the water very choppy.  Just about the time I went swimming….. the wind backed off again!  My swim was great with good visibility.  It was windy most of the afternoon and evening but it was a nice sunset!  I hope tomorrow is nice…..

Today the wind decided to blow from the south and then north.  The ocean was kicked up and a slight swell had the sand stirred up making the water visibility limited.  It was still a beautiful day and swimming was good!  I hope the wind relaxes into a more normal pattern by tomorrow…… but we’ll see……beautiful sunset too!

Nice!!!!

Beautiful windy day!  Earlier in the morning it was calm but that changed.  It was a swim day and I headed out with the underwater camera hoping to see a turtle.  Well….. no luck today….. but I did get some photos that I will share when they get loaded into the computer.  I’m dying to get some photos and video here on Maui underwater since I learned how to use the camera while in Mexico!  Maybe tomorrow……

Just wow!  Fourteen turtles all in one day……. it’s been awhile since that happened.  So the ocean was a little choppy but I went paddling anyway …. heading south.  It was still not calm when I arrived at the boat ramp but I stayed around.  Suddenly the water got calm and the turtles started to come up!  There was a kayak with a tourist couple on it paddling around……. but when they saw me surrounded by several turtles….. they hurried over!  The turtles were everywhere!  I sat in a turtle triangle and turtles swam under my board while I tried to get photos.  The tourist couple was frantic trying to photograph the turtles from their kayak.  After thirteen turtles….. I decided to paddle back.  It was nice conditions all the way back.  On my way in….. three tourists on rented boards were going nuts over a turtle surfacing.  One tourist told the other two that they should snorkel with the turtles saying ” you can dive down and touch the turtles too”…. uh NO you can’t!  I strongly informed all three that harassing the turtles was illegal so not to do it!  How maddening!  My swim was very nice too.  Just an all around nice day!  Maybe tomorrow too!

Beautiful!!!!

Yesterday the wind was acting unpredictable.  Today looked similar but I decided to go out paddling anyway.  It was a beautiful day!  I headed south and expected to have to turn around…… but just as I neared the end of Kam 2…… the wind backed off!  I kept paddling and ended up at the boat ramp.  A boat was just leaving and there were two other paddlers there.   I spotted two turtles near the other paddlers and then a turtle popped up behind me!  Then two more turtles surfaced!  I had three turtles around me.  I shot some photos and then two more turtles popped up!  I was in turtle heaven!  Then I spotted a turtle down closer to Kam 3 so I paddled there.  That was eight turtles for today!  Then the wind seemed to be building from the north so I headed back.  Just as I made it to Kam 2….. the wind strengthened and I had to paddle through choppy water and some white caps!  It took me awhile to get back.  By the time I swam….. the wind had picked up some more.  I swam against the wind almost to the end of Charley Young beach……. and the turned around.  The wind gently pushed me back with minimal swimming.  I hope the wind cooperates tomorrow!

It was a beautiful morning on Maui!  I couldn’t wait to get out on the water!  I headed south down to the boat ramp.  Paddling was great!  I didn’t see any turtles down there today though.  I paddled for an hour and then I went swimming.  I ran across a turtle who was pretty friendly!  I swam with it almost as far as the end of Charley Young beach and then it circled me and then headed out to sea.  I was thrilled to swim with a turtle!  I hope tomorrow is just as nice……it’s good to be home!