wildwahinepaddler

Nice!

The last two days were so windy.  The swell is backing off but the wind is still with us.  The wind is a very good thing…..we couldn’t survive without it…… but it’s been so unpredictable lately.  This morning I tried the early morning strategy and walked from the beach instead of coming home.  The ocean wasn’t calm and still an occasional set of waves were breaking on shore.  I watched it for awhile anf just about the time I decided I wasn’t going out….. It all backed off and it got really nice!   That was 8:30 a.m. and I grabbed my board and out I went!  It was still bumpy but it was beautiful.  It stayed nice for about forty minutes tops!  At least I got out there.  My swim was nice although the water visibility is still poor.  These south swells really mess up the conditions.  Soon after my swim….. It all got funky again.  I was glad I was done because the wind was starting to kick up with white caps just waiting to roar in!  Now it’s very funky out and overcast too…..

I tried out the same early morning strategy as yesterday to beat the wind…… But it was windy from the start and blowing from the north.  I paddled in choppy conditions down to Kam 2 and then turned around.  I was waiting to see if the ocean was going to calm down.  But it was just a windy day today.  After I came in the wind backed off a little and my swim was pretty nice.  It stayed nice for only about thirty minutes!  Then the wind came in again.  It was a beautiful day anyway!

It was an early morning!  It seems that lately the only way to beat the wind….is to go out super early.  I was out on my board by 7:15 a.m.!   Even then the wind was threatening and it was a bit overcast so the wster was dark.  I headed south but got half way past Kam 2 and turned around!  I paddled north into the wind and just as I passed Charley Young beach ….. The sun came out and the wind backed off and it got perfect!  Then I didn’t want to come in!  It was great!   But I wanted to swim too so I came in.  Swimming was wonderful!   It was very clear and I saw lots of fish down at the reef.  What a beautiful morning to be at the beach!

Oh my gosh…..I went paddling!  I didn’t think I was going because the sky and ocean looked so stormy.  The conditions seemed to be changing by the minute, though, and suddenly the sun peeked out!  Then the ocean calmed down and it was so nice.  I hurried out because by then it was already 10:30 a.m.  It was beautiful!   I was so happy to be out on my board!  Well, it didn’t last.  The wind kicked up out of the south and it got choppy!  I paddled against the wind down to almost the end of Kam 2 and it was a workout.  I kept hoping it was going to back off but no luck with that.  I could see very dark clouds in the direction of Makena and it looked like it was raining pretty hard.  I turned around and paddled north with the wind at my back.  I made it back to Kam 1 with the push from the wind.  Then the wind backed off!  I decided to continue paddling down to Charley Young beach.  It was nice again!  On my way back…. the wind picked up again.  What weird conditions today!  It stayed windy until I went for my swim and then the wind backed off again and the sun came out.  The dark clouds were still looming out farther and now white caps were visible.  My swim was really nice though and the visibility was quite good as well.  The wind finally came in and took over about noon so I hurried off the beach.  Now it looks really stormy so I don’t know what tomorrow will bring…… I am glad I went out paddling today!

 It sure was a beautiful day today and yesterday……. But this wind has been so unpredictable.  Yesterday I just didn’t trust it…… So I just swam.  Today the wind wanted to play games!  I prepared to get my board down twice….. And both times the wind kicked up and there were even white caps!  Then it would back off.  Finally I said enough games!  And took off for a swim.  The ocean feels so good!  I headed north in case the wind came up again and five minutes into swimming….. A turtle showed up!  I quickly turned around to swim with the turtle.  The turtle swam right up under me twice……and then to my right side.  Together we swam between two tourist guys!  I don’t think they had a clue!  After a few minutes the turtle headed out to sea and I continued down to the reef.  It was not as clear down there but I saw numerous Unicorn fish and a Rainbow fish.  When I swam back…the wind was still playing games!  Oh well at least it blew the hazy skies clear.  I’m still hoping the wind patterns get back on track soon……..

Thursday nights sunset went from orange to pink within minutes!

So the wind finally cooperated a little bit today.  It started out mostly nice and glassy….. Then a south wind kicked up.  The wind was blowing from the south but the loopy swells were coming from the north!  I decided to paddle into the wind so I headed south.  It was so great to be back out on my board!  I got to the end of Kam 2….. and turned around.  I didn’t trust the wind that much!  I had a feeling the wind was blowing north way out and that is what was generating the loopy swells I was paddling over.  I sure didn’t want to get caught in the crazy wind!  I paddled down past Charley Young beach and then turned around.  The wind was still blowing from the south so I ended up paddling against it back to Kam 1!  At least I got a work out in.  By the tome I went swimming……the wind was still blowing from the south!  I decided to swim south against the wind but on my way back…. I heard wind howling in my snorkel.  Sure enough….. the wind finally switched directions.  Now I was swimming against the wind again!  What crazy wind!    It sure was a beautiful day though, and there was even a rainbow around the sun!  I love Maui!