wildwahinepaddler

After numerous days of a south swell and surge…… Finally a perfect day for paddling!  I got out on the ocean by 8:00 a.m. and headed south.  It was gorgeous and hardly anyone was out!  I paddled down to the boat ramp and I had the place to myself.  It was so nice!  I immediately spotted two turtles….. One right behind the other one.  I was so happy to see them!  Neither of the turtles were interested in me though!  Then a third turtle surfaced nearer to the shoreline.  I hung around at the boat ramp just enjoying the sights and tranquil surroundings but then decided to paddle back.  Just as I headed north…. I spotted a Manta Ray swimming towards me under the water!  I whipped my board around to follow it.  Manta Rays move so fast and can change directions quickly, so it took me on a wild ride.  I was hoping it would surface so I could get a photo…… But no luck with that!  Seeing the Manta Ray was an unexpected treat and it’s always great seeing turtles!  I paddled back in nice conditions and went for a very nice swim too.  It was just a perfect kind of day.  I hope we get a few of these days because supposedly there is a Category 2 hurricane brewing in the Pacific and so far, it’s headed in the direction of Hawaii!  Who knows what kind of ocean conditions and weather that could bring into the coming week…..  I’m glad I thoroughly enjoyed today!

Nice!

Yesterday I had a limited amount of time for the beach so I chose to take a beach walk and swim.  The ocean wasn’t calm anyway for paddling.  Today wasn’t calm either!  I really wanted to go out paddling though, so I did.  On the way down the hill to the beach I could already see white caps.  I paddled south into the wind but the wind got stronger as I neared the end of Kam 2.  I decided to turn around.  I paddled north down to Cove Park and could see people paddle surfing there.  The wind was still blowing from the south and now white caps appeared making for a bumpy ride!  I didn’t see a single turtle.  In those conditions, I needed to concentrate on just paddling!  I struggled to paddle back to Kam 1.  By the time I went for my swim…. The wind had changed directions.  It was just a windy day!  Beautiful, but windy…..

Bumpy

It was another beautiful morning for paddling!  I am loving these calm mornings!  I paddled straight down to the boat ramp.  When I arrived, there was a guy on a jet ski roaring in and out of the boat ramp taking people for rides which kicked the water up.   I’m starting to really hate jet skis!  Not only do they destroy the tranquility of the area….. But they also scare the turtles!  I had to wait it out until the turtles came up.  Finally the turtles started to surface!   There were so many little turtles today!  At one point I was surrounded by four baby turtles.  Often the little ones are skittish and dive down but today they were inquisitive!  I really love seeing so many baby turtles.

Baby turtles!

Splash splash!

A paddling friend met me at the boat ramp and on our way back, I saw some thing in the water.  At first I thought it was a jelly fish but it ended up being a Porteguese Man o war!  It was pink and purple with purple tentacles about five or six inches long!  I tried to scoop it up with my paddle but it slid right off.  I have never seen one of those before!  Their sting is more painful than a jelly fish sting.  I wouldn’t want to see one while swimming!

Paddling back after eleven turtles and a Portuguese Man o war was tranquil.  Halfway through my swim the wind roared in.  I almost had perfect conditions for my swim but not quite.  I hope tomorrow morning is just as nice as the past two mornings have been……

Nice!

it was a beautiful calm morning for paddling and this guy was really friendly!  I was talking to the turtle and I am pretty sure it was listening!  Too bad I didn’t have a handful of seaweed to give it!  There was no sign of wind and the turtles continued to delight me!  A paddling friend came with me to the boat ramp and immediately we were surrounded by five turtles.  The turtles were friendly this morning!

Oh boy!

Howdy!

It stayed nice down at the boat ramp and the water was so clear.  I counted a dozen turtles in all!  The conditions were great all the way back but a few minutes after I came in…..the wind roared in and also some clouds.  The overcast skies made it so much cooler too.  I swam in windy conditions but I didn’t care!  It was another beautiful day in paradise!