Maui Kayaks, Whale Watching - Tom Barefoot's Tours
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Maui Kayaks, Whale Watching - Tom Barefoot's Tours
I've been going on Kayak trips with my Dad since I was a kid that was so small could barely pick up my own paddle. This one I can honestly say I will remember for the rest of my life. This kayak excursion will be permanently etched my memory to me for three reasons: the ocean conditions, the company I was with, and the whales. The ocean conditions this morning were amazing, there was not a breath of wind in the air and the surface of the water was as still as a sheet of glass. These conditions are about as ideal as they get for kayaking, paddling was fast and effortless as we glided across surface of the ocean. The next reason why I so thoroughly enjoyed myself on this trip is because of the company that I brought with me. My step brother Justin came along with me today which was special because we have opposite work schedules and generally do not get to spend much time together. I'm glad I got to share the experience with him, and I am also glad that I have a witness to help share the story of our whale experience at future family events. The third reason that I will never forget this trip is because of our whale encounter. We spotted a group of whales from a distance and paddled towards them. When we got to a safe viewing distance we stopped paddling and watched the whales. Then after we stopped the mother Humpback Whale and her calf began slowly but surely swimming towards us, stopping along the way to spout water on the surface. At one point both of the whales passed right between our kayak and another one of the kayaks in our group. These things were huge, the calf was easily as large as our boat and the mother was much larger. To be able to see these incredibly huge creatures so close up from the vantage point of a kayak, with my family, on a perfect Maui morning is something I don't think I will ever forget. -Jake Barefoot
