Sunday, August 14, 2022

The Malua Bay Cave

The dog people are all on the beach when we trolley down. It is a friendly bunch with happy dogs and most days the regular dog walkers are there when we come down to launch the boats. On my last paddle day (two days ago), only Les was there with his two old sheep dogs, but he waved me off as I headed out solo into a blustery wind and grey day.

Today it is sunny and the water is clear. We launch in calm conditions after patting all the dogs and head south along the coast. There is not much swell and the water is so clear and green, we can see all the reefs as we paddle over them. We paddle in and out of every little bay sticking close to the rocks. At Malua Bay, we finally find the cave, but the tide is too high to get in, even though the swell is probably low enough.




Just before Jimmies Island we land on a little beach, almost inaccessible except by boat, and share a thermos of tea. The wind is up, blowing the trees behind the beach and we are expecting a headwind on the way back. The temptation to go just a little further to paddle the gauntlet on the eastern side of Jimmies Island, however, is overwhelming, so we scoot south with a tail wind, and paddle the gauntlet back north right into a gusty headwind.

And then back to our home bay, trying to garner some shelter from the wind along the way by hugging the shore again.  No pictures today except an aerial view of the gauntlet on the east side of Jimmies Island.

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