Surf's Up!

Today I took a surfing lesson with Tara from Girls Gone Surfing. It was awesome! Definitely harder than it looks - I am going to be sore like I just did my first yoga class in a while. It's actually pretty similar to yoga, with lots of upward dog and jumps up. My back was not used to constantly being arched so I could see while paddling. My shoulders and arms also got tired, from pushing up when catching the wave and paddling back in from the beach. But it was a lot of fun! The first wave I was going to catch was bigger than I expected, and I did the one thing you shouldn't do...look at the board - I saw the nose go down. Caught off guard, my arms weren't locked so there wasn't enough weight on the back of the board. I tumbled into the wave and felt the board tug hard at my leg...and then it was gone. The little loop that the leash attaches to broke! Apparently that only happens a few times a year...a first for Tara herself. oops! I surfed one wave without the leash, then we beached it to find another string. Once we fixed it, I caught a bunch of waves (with the help of Tara) and took them all the way in. A few times I headed towards the rocks and/or other beginners and either sat on the board or bailed. A few times I got nervous about someone else being close and I fell off. Got a little cut on my foot from the reef, but kept on going until my knees, toes and inside of my elbows were feeling too raw. Definitely thankful for the rashguard I did have. Oh, I also learned that you should wear your tightest bikini bottoms, or a one piece. I may have to keep learning in San Diego...

After shopping and surfing in Lahaina, I headed north to Ka'anapali for dinner. I ate my first meal at a sit down restaurant alone and it wasn't that bad. Tried the Lava Flow & Lanai Sunset drinks and had a grilled Mahi Mahi sandwich with jerk seasoning & pineapple salsa, with a side of delicious fresh pineapple and strawberries. I watched a Tiki man jump off Black Rock in front of the Sheraton after lighting tiki torches along the way. I saw a beautiful sunset. I shopped more (but held back - thank goodness I know I have no paycheck coming for a few more weeks).

Tomorrow I am driving around Haleakala on the road to Hana. It's supposed to be a very wind-y, slightly scary drive that goes to lots of waterfalls. Then I leave paradise in the evening :( It was been an amazing vacation and I can't wait to come back to Hawaii. There is so much to see and do!! I really didn't spend too many days just lounging on the beach...I haven't even finished my first (of 3) book! I will be posting all the pictures from the trip in the next week or so, once I get my apartment in San Diego set up with internet, cable, a TV, an air mattress, all my stuff, and no furniture :) For now, here are pictures from today (out of order)!

Tiki man gracefully diving off Black Rock

Sunset

Palm tree

What I should look like when riding a wave

Resting

That's me with my arm up, keeping my balance

Paddling out

Now an official surfer girl!