March has been my eleventh month in Maui, Hawaii, and during all this time I had to deal with desperation as I couldn't find any used sea-kayak on sale that I could buy and I couldn't afford a new one. But finally my prays were listened and the add appeared in a local newspaper ... "touring kayak for sale" ... Fate wanted it to be a Perception Scimitar, and in a very good condition, and better price, so I didn't doubt and bought it. It was already the afternoon and the day was rather cold ( if there is something close to cold in Hawaii ) and very windy, with 2 feet choppy seas. As you can imagine, living all this time surrounded by water, without a kayak with which to enjoy this wonderful coast so plenty of life and beauty, it took me only a few minutes to be testing it. Cove Park Beach is a very protected shallow mini bay, with no reef, and so one of the favorites for the surfing schools. Coming from a Nordkapp, I didn't put much expectations on the Scimitar, but it resulted much better than I supposed to. More stable, much more maneuverable, easy to roll and excellent response to leaning strokes. After playing around for a while, and gaining some confidence, I headed into the wind. The further out of the coast, the bigger the waves I met, so decided to stop when they were about 3 feet, changing directions and paddling parallel to the shore. It felt glorious to have some action after such a long time .... Kihei looked fantastic from the water, with its extense sand beaches well guarded by palm trees and the magnificent HALEAKALA rising 10000 feet behind. Half an hour later I reached the northern limit of the city, and the start of "Sugar Beach", well known to be a favorite spot for sea turtles to deposit their eggs. As the wind grew stronger I was about to turn back home when I suddenly saw them ... two ? no ... four ... five ! The size of a truck's wheel, floating on the surface, as if letting go with the wind, five turtles, imperturbable, so close that I could easily touch them if I wanted .... so peaceful .... but I only took a couple of pictures and headed back, grateful of the encounter. With the wind and the waves coming from the back surfing was a pleasure. While laughing alone like a fool, I couldn't resist to look around for the stouts the whales make when breathing. Yes, this is still whales season. Humpbacks come from Alaska to procreate and give birth, proving this small peace of land is not only paradise for man, but for them too. But as you know Humpbacks are protected, and reaching them with any kind of vessel is prohibited. Even though they have to support a huge amount the touristic and licensed motorboats and ships, whale watching is a strong industry here too. But, (there's always a "but"), nothing can be say if a whale comes towards your direction, approaching you. Then the encounter would be accidental .... And so I was thinking about that and dreaming evaluating my chances ... but the surf called my attention again so I kept playing and having fun. I finally reached my beach again so I headed to the shore. Waves coming from the side now, some of them braking, the wind blowing noisily, and the sun setting at my back ... and then at my right ... but no, it couldn't be possible .... new kayak ... fun and surf ... turtles ... and now whales ... that would be too much ... so I kept paddling my way. But then again, this time closer, probably a hundred feet .... and then again ! yes, a mother with a calf, like dancing so smooth, so gentle, so big .... I always dreamed of kayaking with whales but I never had the chance to do it. I stayed astonished to such a lot of beauty and let myself follow them for a while, respectfully keeping my distance. And then I thought of all my kayaking friends, and I thought of you at paddlewise, and remembered those of you who shared similar stories, and I realized once again that this was my way to share the moment with you, because living it is not enough if you can't share it. Sharing ... how important it is .... Fortune has smiled to me and gave me a grate return. Maybe the kayak is not the best, but is more than enough to give me all the possibilities to explore the island in a way I've been dreaming for long. But ... there's always a "but" ... that wasn't the only surprise reserved to me these days ... but I'll leave that for the next post. Fernando Lopez Arbarello --------- Kayak Argentina --------- http://home.earthlink.net/~kayakargentina kayakargentina_at_earthlink.net ( whose neighbors are worried because they cannot clear the smile from his face ) .... *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Apr 03 2002 - 06:27:58 PST
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