Turtles gather at certain spots to be cleaned, and fish at others. Personally, I find the nipping mildly annoying, it almost tickles. I'm never quite sure whether they are trying to tell me to leave, or if they find me tasty.
The wind was blowing early this morning (it usually waits until after my swim) so I ended up swallowing lots of sea water during my hour traversing the deep. This spotted eagle ray was intently feeding as I passed by. It was so busy feeding that it forgot to be camera shy. Fortunately for the ray, it was down too deep for me and I had to struggle to get close to it.
I also saw a very large barracuda, but it did not forget its aversion to cameras. They usually follow large schools of smaller fish, which I did not see today. The next time out I will look for the big school and, who knows, I may see some other large predator fish lurking.
Spinner dolphins came by for a brief visit this morning. Four of them were extremely active and continually swam circles around me. As I swam faster, two of them began crossing back and forth in front of me, one even brushed me with its tail. The main pod was in sleep mode and kept their distance.
A south swell is building, surfers were arriving as I left. A series of four large swells hit while I was on the edge. I kept low, hugging the rocks, and the waves broke over me. The water tried to pull me across the jagged lava rocks and out to sea, but I managed to hang on. I felt some panic while it was happening and as I watched each subsequent wave arrive, but escaped whole with only a few small scrapes. A bit scary, but really no big deal.
Our DVD and book collection used to teeter in vertical stacks on an array of shelves. Whenever I selected a DVD from the bottom of the stack I risked serious injury. We searched Maui and no shelving solutions existed at any reasonable price. The online stores would not ship to Hawaii. What to do?
A friend (thank you Evelyn) suggested shipping to a family member on the mainland. All they have to do is print a Priority Mail label on their computer and, presto, two days later it is in Hawaii. Many, many thanks to my brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Marisa, for their assistance. And, of course, Doug is the one who made it all possible. Mahalo. What a difference!
Maui's most feared insect is the Centipede which gets to be a foot long. When they feel threatened (such as when you try to brush one off after it has fallen on you from the ceiling in your sleep) they wrap themselves around you and repeatedly bite. Mildly poisonous and very painful. They are "known to eat bats, catching them in midflight, as well as rodents and spiders."
I saw this guy out on the street this morning, so I took a couple of photos and a little video, but otherwise left it alone. Click HERE (or Below) for the short video. Maybe it will tell its family that I didn't try to kill it, word will get around, and I will be spared a painful bite in the future.
Two really cool Mauians, Nancy and Jami, put on a fun race series called the Aluminum Man Biathlon. Nothing serious, just show up and swim and run, or just swim, or just run. Lots of work for them, lots of fun for us. The photo is of Jami patrolling the swim course. Thank you Nancy and Jami.
Since today's Aluminum Man began where our Sunday swims take place, I decided to join in. And am I ever sore! First the race then the usual Sunday course. Oh my!
I searched and searched, but it wasn't until the end of the swim that I finally located the manta ray I swam with the other day. I'm happy that most of my friends got to swim with her too.
The jumping-off rock saw lots of action from the younger generation; including seldom seen flip dives. Our newest swimmer, Cara, said "I would only jump so that I could say that I had done it." My sentiments exactly. Been there, done that.
Without a doubt, I had a wonderful morning. Click HERE (or Below) for today's video.
