wildwahinepaddler

The water is so warm!

Wow, it was such perfect conditions this morning! I didn’t get out until almost 9:30 a.m. but I was determined to paddle down to the boat ramp.  Just as I paddled out, I ran into two paddling friends on their way back from the boat ramp.  They told me they saw a four to five foot shark!  I asked if it had a white tip on its fin and they said it did.  There is a white tip shark that lives down at the boat ramp and hides in the coral.  I paddled down to the boat ramp in perfect conditions and never saw the shark.  Down at the boat ramp, the ocean was so glassy!  The puffy clouds scattered in the sky were even reflecting in the glassy water!  I saw three turtles today….. which is one more than yesterday….but no photos.  I don’t know where the turtles are hiding right now but they don’t seem to be hanging out at the boat ramp.  I paddled back in perfect conditions and just as I was going in the wind started up.  I managed to get my board rinsed off and hoisted up on my racks before the wind really got crazy.  It was so windy when I went for my swim!  The water is clearing up nicely, though, so hopefully it will be clear tomorrow too.  By the time I went home, the wind was blowing sand around…….not my favorite kind of conditions!  Maybe tomorrow………

Nice day!

Well I hope that the effects of Hurricane Julio have subsided.  The whole weekend ended up with shore break and sandy water…..but today it was really nice!  The water still isn’t very clear but the conditions were good for paddling.  I ran into a paddling friend so we paddled together down to the boat ramp.  I was so happy to get there!  My friend didn’t stay long but I was hoping for some turtles, so I hung around.  Finally I spotted a turtle out farther, so I paddled out.  Suddenly, there was a turtle swimming right under me!  It surfaced a few feet in front of me but it didn’t stay long enough for me to get a photo.  By the time I got out to the other turtle, it swam away!  Oh well, two turtles is better than none!  I stayed for awhile longer, but the turtles just were not around.  The wind was starting to blow out of the south, so I headed back.  Just as I was passing Kam II, the wind changed and started blowing onshore.  Onshore winds make it hard to paddle because the wind pushes you in towards shore.  I kept paddling until I passed the rocky point and then I knew I would make it back.  I had heard from two other people that there were jelly fish out in the water and both said they got stung.  I decided to swim anyway and lucky for me, I didn’t encounter any jellyfish!

Keawakapu

Yesterday we went to Keawakapu Beach and I swam with a turtle!  It startled me at first because the visibility wasn’t very good, but once I realized it was a turtle…… I swam with it for a few minutes!  I need to see more turtles, so I hope the water clears up and the swell stays away.  Maybe tomorrow……..

And it posed for me!!!

Well, after a week and a half without paddling……..I was MORE than ready to get back out there today!  There is still a swell causing some shore break and sandy visibility……but I went out anyway.  Just as I paddled out at Kam I, my first turtle surfaced!  I was so glad to see it!   The wind was blowing from the south, so I headed south.  It was a bit late, after nine o’clock, so I wasn’t sure about the wind.  As I passed Kam II, I spotted a paddling friend, so we chatted and paddled down to Kam III.  The wave action was worse down there and pounding the beach, so we decided to turn north.  That was when my second turtle swam under me!  Then I paddled with it for a bit and when it surfaced, I managed to get this great photo (above…) with a perfect back drop of the west maui mountains with a crown of puffy clouds above it!  I was very excited!  I paddled north and decided to go in at Kam I.  I didn’t make it to the boat ramp, but I did get two turtles and a sunny day…..so I felt good about that.  Even though the water visibility wasn’t good, I went for my swim.  The water is so warm!  I stayed clear of the reef and swam back encountering a big school of fish that swam right through me!  On my way in, I turned on my back to back stroke in to shore……and suddenly about three feet from me, a big turtle surfaced, looked at me, and then dove under!  I never saw it coming since the water wasn’t clear.  Now I was really happy, three turtles for the day…..I was so grateful!  Hopefully the swell disappears soon and I can fully enjoy the usually tranquil ocean again and all my turtles…….maybe tomorrow.  I can hope!

The storm has passed and we were spared here on the South shore of Maui.  The people over on the Big Island were not so lucky and about 6,000 residents are still without power!  A swell popped up, not sure if it is connected to the hurricane activity or not, but hopefully it subsides soon so I can get back out to my turtles!!!