Flashing Lights

Finally! My new kayak was put to the use for which I bought it, I took it swimming. I can't tell you how many lessons I had to give it before it learned how to swim - OK just kidding.

I dragged it behind me with a rope tied around my waist, and it was as if it weren't even there. It took more work to drag my old camera along. Now that I know how very easy it is to take it on my swims, I will do it more often.

It was GREAT swimming in the deep water with only a fraction of the anxieties. I no longer have to worry about boats not seeing me, and I can get out of the water if something frightens me. Plus, I no longer have to swim all the way home if I get carried away and go out too far.

I heard lots of whale singing during the swim but saw no large creatures. I did see quite a few of these jellyfish. They're really cool. They have little lights which run up and down and up and down. And yes, they sting (which is why I didn't get a better close-up photo).

Shhhh

In spite of the rainbow and clouds in the distance, it has been a glorious sunny day. Which means I'm spending most of it running errands and sitting in front of a computer working. Don't tell my boss but I may try to sneak a little kayaking in this afternoon, we'll see...

Pleasurable Exercise

I managed a pleasant little 7 mile paddle this morning before beginning work. I was stroking easily on my way out to sea, and hadn't seen sign of any whales yet, when one quietly surfaced fifteen yards from me. It swam alongside me taking a few breaths before diving out of sight.

At my turnaround point I took a dip in the clear blue deep water. The singing of multiple whales was magnificent; I saw nothing but dancing shafts of sunlight converging far below me. After climbing back into the kayak seven whales surfaced together about one hundred yards away. Nice.

Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying this kayak?

Bountiful Harvest

My first reaction to this guy's catch was: what a waste keeping fish that small. I always see much, much larger fish on my ocean swims and these small silver fish are ridiculously manini in comparison. Then I thought back to my childhood summers on a small lake, and we used to fry up pan fish (sunfish, bluegills, etc.) smaller than these for dinner. This guy will get a really filling meal from the five fish he brought in on this one throw.

First (Real) Swim of 2009

Lots of people turned out for the first Sunday ocean swim of the year. We had a much smaller group on New Year's Day - good thing too - the water was too murky for safety so we only swam to the arch and back. It hardly qualified as getting wet.

We stayed in for the full distance this morning. It was another fast and serious swim, but we still managed to see a group of five eagle rays. I also saw a sting ray, which was only the second time I've ever seen one. Manta rays and spotted eagle rays seem to be much more common on Maui, or at least easier to find.

New Growth

It continues gloomy and wet here in the desert of Makena - and the wild mushrooms couldn't be happier. They're popping up all over the place. The snails and flowers are pretty satisfied with the status quo as well. Now if we could only get our mainland visitors to smile a bit...

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou

May 2009 be filled with unlimited supplies of spiny lobster tails for you and yours (they're always washing up on my beach, empty, of course).