Day four was filled with kayaking, fishing, sandcastle making, animal encounters-- sea turtles, giraffes, elephants--and a five-foot Black Tip shark. Yep, that's right. Shark. Let me back up a little...
The day started out with Philip peacefully fishing in the kayak we rented for the week.
When suddenly a man in another kayak came up asking Philip if he had a camera. (Little did this guy know, it's Philip...of course he has a camera.) Philip says he does and asks what's going on. The man proceeds to tell Philip that he had caught a fish on his line and then suddenly a huge shark came up and tried to eat the fish off his line, but got stuck on the hook! So now, he had a five-foot Black Tip shark attached to his line that had been dragging him around the ocean for the last hour and a half!
When suddenly a man in another kayak came up asking Philip if he had a camera. (Little did this guy know, it's Philip...of course he has a camera.) Philip says he does and asks what's going on. The man proceeds to tell Philip that he had caught a fish on his line and then suddenly a huge shark came up and tried to eat the fish off his line, but got stuck on the hook! So now, he had a five-foot Black Tip shark attached to his line that had been dragging him around the ocean for the last hour and a half!
Yep, that's a big shark.
After taking several pictures, they were able to pull the fishing line up enough to unhook the shark, who quickly took off. Phew!
After Coop and I headed down to the beach, I took a turn in the kayak. I had only been in for a few minutes, when Philip yelled from shore that there was a turtle near me. I quickly paddled over to where he was pointing and found this little guy swimming around. Actually, he wasn't little. He was at least two and a half feet around. It was so amazing and such a fun experience. I followed him for about thirty minutes and it was almost like he was playing with me. He never got spooked and took off. He kept quietly swimming, sometimes in front of me, sometimes around the boat, sometimes under the boat, but never showing that he wanted to get away from the boat. He would often come almost within an arms reach of me, pop his head out of the water and give me a quick look. Almost to say...I know you are there and I want to see what you are just as much as you want to see what I am. I finally decided to give him some space so I backed off, but it was such a cool experience. I wanted to try to touch him, but I also decided I wanted to keep all my fingers.
After taking several pictures, they were able to pull the fishing line up enough to unhook the shark, who quickly took off. Phew!
After Coop and I headed down to the beach, I took a turn in the kayak. I had only been in for a few minutes, when Philip yelled from shore that there was a turtle near me. I quickly paddled over to where he was pointing and found this little guy swimming around. Actually, he wasn't little. He was at least two and a half feet around. It was so amazing and such a fun experience. I followed him for about thirty minutes and it was almost like he was playing with me. He never got spooked and took off. He kept quietly swimming, sometimes in front of me, sometimes around the boat, sometimes under the boat, but never showing that he wanted to get away from the boat. He would often come almost within an arms reach of me, pop his head out of the water and give me a quick look. Almost to say...I know you are there and I want to see what you are just as much as you want to see what I am. I finally decided to give him some space so I backed off, but it was such a cool experience. I wanted to try to touch him, but I also decided I wanted to keep all my fingers.
Coop even took a little ride in the kayak.
While Coop napped, Philip and I enjoyed some time on the beach. Reading, kayaking and just relaxing together.
My view...
Evenings were becoming my favorite of the day. Coop tended to have a little more energy in the evenings as opposed to the mornings. He was a little more mellow in the mornings down at the beach. Maybe because it was hotter and brighter? Not sure. He would play a little, but then he liked to lounge in a chair with a snack and Capri Sun, just watching the ocean. But after naptime, he was full of energy and ready for some beach activity and to watch the sunset.
Discussing what to draw and build in the sand.
Yep, that's a giraffe. It's actually pretty funny...before we left for the trip, we made a list on our chalkboard wall at home of all the things we were going to do and see at the beach. At one point, Cooper said we would see crabs and "maybe see giraffe?". I giggled when he asked Philip to draw a giraffe at the beach.
And if you have a giraffe, you have to have an elephant.
Day four mental picture memory: Coop and I sitting in the sand just where the waves roll in to the shore watching Philip fish at sunset. He's sitting in my lap, my arms wrapped around him, and he's holding my hands. We were giggling and giggling at the waves washing our feet back and forth in the sand.08.29.2011
