Day 3

Sea Kayaking

Oh no! the days seem to pass so quickly when you are having a great time.

Since Hawaii is 3 hours behind, leaving at 6am for our Kayak gig wasn't so bad since it's really 9am back home in California.

Kayaking is really a favorite activity for hubby and I everytime we come to the islands for the last 4 years. Kauai has 7 major rivers, only three are navigable. The Wailua, Hule'ia and Hanalei.

We've traversed the Wailua twice. I found this the best river so far. It involves kayaking for a few miles and then hiking for more to a secret waterfall. This is the same river that Harrison Ford and Anne Heche hauled the parts from the amphibious plane in Six days Seven Night movie.

Hule'ia involves the same course except that the waterfall is smaller than the one in Wailua.

Hanalie is the final river we needed to try out after having done the other two. I unknowingly signed up for (by mistake) a bay tour which meant we had to kayak in the sea. I had butterflies in my stomach from the start, not knowing what to expect from this trip. We have not kayaked in surging waters and I can't really swim in the ocean if ever we turn over. The trip also includes a snorkeling trip in a secluded beach. By the time we negotiated the waves through pouring rain (yes, it was pouring on and off) and got geared up for snorkeling, I'd finally overcome my fear.

The water was very inviting, the reef very clear and full of fish. We dove right in with the rest of the group. It was the most enjoyable experience, we were able to go far enough to certain areas where it is teaming with schools of different fish species. How did we manage this? I'd say wearing a life jacket and fins is the way to go! I took a lot of underwater pictures with our disposable waterproof camera. The last time we did a snorkeling trip we had to jump off a boat in the middle of the ocean. I am no water baby and even with a life jacket then I wasn't daring enough to do that at all. I had this distinct fear of sinking to the ocean floor without any chance of being rescued.

Just as we landed and inspite of the rain in the horizon, the water was very very inviting

Who can resist not experiencing what's underwater with a view like this. I couldn't even think if I can do it or not---we just did it!

Then they served us lunch at the beach while we take on the view before us and talked about the fishes we saw in the reefs. The guides had a fish card for us to compare it with.

The weather cleared up by the time we ate our lunch, we certainly got to take all the events in while sitting in the sand to get some rest. Then we're off to return to where we started on the other side of the island

Earlier, we had paddled to the bay where the endangered green sea turtles congregate. We found a couple. They have this compelling fish-y smell brought about by its mostly seaweed diet. Both are both jumbo sized and very shy. In everyone's excitement, one of the couples went under suddenly. Probably a wave slammed them on the side unexpectedly or the wife made a mistake of turning abruptly to catch a glimpse of the elusive turtles which caused their kayak to tip over. It took both guides and a lot of time to get them back up.

It was a blast after we learned how to catch a ride with the waves. By the end of the tour, I was exhausted and already nursing a headache from the ever changing weather, however, we still had time to go and make a side trip to the guave plantation near the area.

Tomorrow will be H's birthday and so I can't wait to finally give him his present.

Copyright 2004 Wandertrekker