wildwahinepaddler

We’re finally back on Maui.   Yesterday I made it down to the beach in the late morning and although it was still pretty calm…. I didn’t trust it enough to take my board out.  Then it got very overcast and looked like it might storm….. So I went out swimming as fast as I could.  It didn’t end up raining and I swam down to the reef, but the visibility wasn’t very good.  It just felt good to be in the ocean!  Then when I came in…… a turtle swimming north popped up right by me and as I came in a turtle swimming south surfaced too!  I pointed the turtle out to a tourist…. But she wasn’t that thrilled.   Today the weather was very nice but a forecasted south swell was definitely building and causing some shore break intermittently.  I am guessing it will be bigger over the weekend messing up the water visibility.  Oh well I did swim and it felt really good!  I can’t wait for good paddling conditions again.  I’m very glad I did get to go out paddling on out trip to Mexico a few times!

Our last adventure was a three hour drive down to Lake Bacalar.  It is an amazing lake!  It looks like the Caribbean Sea but it’s a lake that has multiple colors of blue.  It’s quite a magical place!  The lake has several cenotes in it….. One is Cenote Negro.  It is 250 feet deep!  It’s so deep that the water looks black…. hence the name “Negro”.  We swam in it too!  We also stopped at the mudflats on the boat trip.  You can cover yourself with the mud and it’s like a natural spa treatment!  I was able to get out paddling two of the days we were there and I was so happy!  No turtles in this lake….. Only butterflies fluttering about and birds.  No sharks though, either! Lots of swimming too!  I really love Lake Bacalar and I can’t wait to return on another trip to Mexico…….Adios Rancho Encantado!

Yeah…..it happened again this morning….. I went out paddling!  I did the early bird paddle at 8 a.m. but the wind had already come up.  The conditions were a bit choppy but I was glad to be out there!  The guide today was Alberto.  He was a nice young man. After paddling we chatted for a few minutes and he wanted to know all about Maui!  He said he had only seen pictures of Maui in magazines.  I told him about Jaws since he was also a surfer.  Then I went for my swim.  I saw four turtles ( two big ones and two smaller ones)…… Lots of fish and a big stingray!  Then I went for another swim and saw three turtles…….one that was missing it’s back right flipper.  I’m going to miss hanging on this beach after tomorrow.  In the afternoon… We will be heading back to Vidanta for three days and then our final side trip down to Lake Bacalar!  We have nine days left on our vacation.  There should be paddling at Lake Bacalar too!

IT finally happened….. a paddling day!  I got up early to make sure I got a stand up board and I was ready!  It was a different guy this year and he wouldn’t let me go on my own….. So I had to stay with the group.  They also are now requiring that you wear a life vest……. One more hang up!  I understand the requirement but last year that wasn’t required.  Oh well at least I got to go out paddling!   It was fun too and a good workout.  Then I went swimming and saw lots of fish!  Next we are going to a cenote in Tulum…… I hope to paddle again tomorrow!

Akumal

We went to Tulum.   It’s another of our favorite Mexico beaches.  Last year when we were here……. There was a big seaweed problem and we couldn’t even get in the water.  Apparently this seaweed situation occurs about every ten years and it was pretty bad!  Well this year it is much better.  It is still the worst we’ve seen so far…..but not too bad.  At least it wasn’t piled up as stinky rotting mountains like last year!  And we could get in the water too.  It’s really a beautiful area!  We really like the town of Tulum…… It has a very international vibe.  Stay tuned…..

I love the location of this resort!  It’s right on the beach…… Noisier of course but right on one of our most favorite Mexico beaches.  They have stand up boards!  The room is a typical hotel type room but it has a big jacuzzi tub on the balcony…… Sweet!  More to come……

What a nice day at the beach!  Swimming was great and I watched a medium sized turtle munching on sea grass and a smaller turtle too.  There were lots of fish and two sting rays!  We ended the day with a dinner of  seared Ahi tacos at the Turtle Bay Cafe in Akumal.  They have the best guacamole around!!!  Muy Bueno!

It was a nice day in Akumal today!  The weather has been great so far.  On my swim I saw so many fish…… even a colorful Parrotfish!  Two big schools of fish zipped past me and a really big fish startled me.  I’m not used to seeing such a big fish here and it took me by surprise!  It looked kind of like a Mahi Mahi with the big head but not as colorful.  I was out for awhile and hadn’t seen any turtles so I headed back.  Just before I came in….. a huge turtle showed up!  I watched it munching sea grass for a bit and then came in.  It was great to be out there!  Tomorrow we come to Akumal to stay a few days…. So hopefully there will be stand up boards there and I will get to use one.  I’m so ready!!

We enjoyed a beautiful beach day in Playa del Carmen today.  I watched this guy going out on a stand up board but it was pretty choppy out there!  I swam twice.  The sea is so warm!  I’m so glad we found this beach!

It was another beautiful day in Akumal!  I swam with a small turtle and watched a big turtle vigorously munching on sea grass.  I am loving the turtles here in Mexico!  The clouds were very interesting today too.  We ended up at the Turtle Bay Cafe again and enjoyed Ahi tacos and guacamole and topped that off with some Lucy’s homemade ice cream…… Excellente!  No paddling yet though….