Four Days

On the surface it appeared to be yet another perfect day for an ocean swim, but out of sight a strong current pulled along the shore. All that means is that we had a great workout as we (attempted) to return to our starting point.

Click HERE for more photos from this morning's ocean swim.

Cloudy but Perfect

Except for a bit of cloudiness, conditions were absolutely perfect for a winter swim off Maui this morning.

We had quite a few visitors join us and a select few (me not included) got to swim with Humpback Whales.

Click HERE for lots more photos from today's ocean swim.

Gazillions

A few days of recent rain have brought back gazillions of daisies to our desert clime here in south Maui. Grass is also sprouting everywhere, hiding the brutal jumbled lava rocky landscape.

Snow and Mermaid

 This was one of the more creative sand sculptures I've seen on the south Maui beaches.

Can you tell which way the prevailing winds blow at Kam II beach?

And finally, Maui's snow as seen from the airport terminal Monday morning as I was awaiting my flight.

Meant to Be

My photo shoot on the Big Island was shortened by yet another day, so I am back home on Maui and in the ocean again.

This is the way life is meant to be.

Holiday Dolphins

Maui's Pink Cap Swimmers were briefly surrounded by nearly one hundred Spinner Dolphins this morning. We, of course, continued our swim and the dolphins did, well, whatever it is that they do on a Sunday morning.

Click HERE for lots more photos from today's ocean adventures.

Soaking Up Sunshine

 It was a perfect morning for snorkeling, and posing.

This Japanese White-Eye seemed to be getting a lot of nectar from this one flower, it kept dipping its beak in again and again.

My eye was caught by the strange cloud formation and the sunshine breaking through in the middle over the windmills. Then I noticed the standup paddler who was towing two other boards whose occupants were busy soaking up sunshine.

Tumbling Down

Someone has been stacking stones all along Maui's south shore this past week, but they all went tumbling down in today's strong Kona winds.

Winds? Bring 'em on, was the response I heard from DB and Lynne who were heading out with their sailing Hobies this morning.

There was even a kite surfer skimming the waves, which is an unusual sight down in Wailea.

Lucky 13

I always feel honored to have the opportunity to swim with Maui's Mermaids, and this morning was no exception.

Click HERE for a few more photos from today's ocean swim.

Quandary

The quandary: if I have taken no other interesting photos that day, is it better to post the sunset photos or post no photos at all?

Clear, Clear, Clear

Rich had unbelievably clear water for his birthday swim. Spectacular.

Which more than made up for the lack of whale song and scarcity of critters.

Click HERE for lots more photos from this morning's ocean swim.

Surfing Culture

At first, surfer memorials look like they are surrounded by junk; but that "junk" relates to the surfing culture. Here there are broken surfboards, shell necklaces, and bottles and cans of spirits.

Of course, I had to take a photo of my favorite tree...

Another One Bites the Dust

I thought these housings for expensive cameras were supposed to keep the salty ocean water away from the cameras they hold. Apparently not.

Caught by a Wave

Recent high surf has made getting into and out of the ocean hazardous. For us swimmers and, apparently, for boats at the Kihei boat ramp. This one seems to have done some surfing on its way in to shore yesterday.

The Super Bowl - Our Way

Big surf, plus a desire to shake things up, drove us down to the very end of the road this morning, and it was worth the trek (over debris-covered pavement - rocks and coral tossed there by giant waves).

Usually all the beaches and roads are deserted on this day, but not everyone was watching the Superbowl today.

Click HERE for more photos from this morning's ocean swim.

All Different

 Every day's sunset is entirely different. Especially this time of year when we get to watch Humpack Whales cruising by.