Starting the recovery (1st and 2nd May)

Sunday…

We left you with our hopes dashed as we headed to Oahu on our support boat. On the upside, we were able to watch the top male paddlers duke it out at the front of the pack. It was incredible to watch how relaxed they were, and how little time the ama spent in the water, but even the top paddlers have a poor change as we witnessed at one point. They appeared to dance with the water, completely in harmony, changing tempo as the waves came through, and gliding down the face with their paddles held aloft. There was nothing frenetic about it. It was probably an experience we would never have otherwise had.

Top Men duking it out across the channel

Ama flying - yeah!

Making a quick change

mmmm... nice arms

Our poor canoe on the way back to Honolulu

Back on land, we watched some of the competitors finish, and be garlanded with leis, all the while wishing that we were there to join them crossing the line. We caught up with Jim and showed him our canoe. He was very upset to hear of our misfortune, and promised to return our hire fee, offering us a paddle on his boats the next day if we wished.

It was time for a drink (or several). We started at the Pearl with the other paddlers. Word of our misfortune had spread amongst the throng and we had several offers of help for finding canoes in Kauai – one from Kai Bartlett’s Dad, Tom. Sam Williams took us around to meet the other Aussies in Hawaii, and it was nice to hear that they had done so well. It also gave us to an opportunity to meet Les Look (of Makana Ali paddles). He talked with us about the pro’s and con’s of straight shaft and double bend paddles. It made for a fascinating conversation, and we are both firmly of the opinion that we would like to paddle with one of his blades!

Time for a Mai Tai, supped reflectively on the shore of Waikiki Beach. This reflection was strangely interrupted by a call to stand to attention for the national anthem by the bar tender to celebrate the death of Osama Bin Linda. Everyone around us stood with their hand on their heart and sang some lustily, some gently, but all earnestly. After which a young gentleman, apparently serving in the armed forces, was warmly congratulated, handshake and hugged by our fellow cocktail drinkers. It was an interesting patriotic interlude, and one we could never envisage happening in Australia

Monday…

We were still feeling pretty flat after yesterday, so we spent the day wandering around in disbelief, trying to be a bit cheery. Retail therapy offered some distraction – Pokadot bikini, Surfer girl bikini, purple decorated bikini for Shell, full Xcel paddling outfits (from head to toe) for both of us, so we haven’t given up on paddling altogether.

Alex and Jane sent us a suggestion that we might rekindled our paddling delight through extreme canoe surfing down Waikiki beach. They said that whilst it sounded potentially tacky, it was incredibly fun. And it was! (Fun that is). We found ourselves hurtling down an enormous wave, and were instructed by our steerer to stand up! Wish we had a photograph to show you.

We finished the day back in the hotel with an electrical storm roaring above us that sent parts of the city into darkness, comforted by the last of Jo’s culinary treats which have been lucky to last us this long!