Circle Of Life On the Beach

Another delay...

we were ready to head north on Tuesday morning,

as they say "the best laid plans...were changed.

My husband woke up on Monday morning

had a cup of coffee, looked at me and

asked "is it warm in here", response  "no".

It was downhill from there...the flu bug had taken charge,

Okay I am not going into details but according to my husband

No one has ever been this sick.  REALLY.

Okay I going to stop there because if I get it I don't want this to be used against me:)

SO CHANGE OF PLANS.

Off to the Beach

All I wanted to do is to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

Trying to escape the dreaded "bug".

(I did take my cell phone just in case he really needed me)

So I joined all the other beach people (NO ONE)

with my trusty Aussie, Kix,

and we were breathing the fresh SEA air.

We took advantage of our BONUS beach time.

Lots of swimming and exercise.

We also counted 14 set of tracks that looked like this.

Can you guess what they are???

I have to admit I was clueless the first couple of times I encountered this scene.

Every night this time of year SEA TURTLES come ashore and lay their eggs.

They lumber out of the sea at high tide,

dig a huge hole, drop their eggs and bury them past the high tide mark.

The tire tracks are from the Turtle Patrol.  Each morning every nest is
recorded, date and location.  Unfortunately turtle eggs are a delicacy in some cultures.

After the next high tide you would never know they were there.

I worried that Kix would find the nest and dig up the eggs,

NEVER, EVER has this happened.

For some reason the dogs can not smell them, Kix had never even taken a second look

when trotting right over a nest.

I am told the eggs will sit in the sand, incubate and hatch sometime in late summer. 

THE MOST AMAZING FACT IS THAT THE TURTLES THAT HATCH ON THIS

BEACH WILL RETURN TO LAY THEIR EGGS ON THE SAME BEACH, EVERY YEAR

FOR DECADES TO COME.
Some of the turtles travel as far as 2,000 miles
in the meantime.
(Information via turtles that are equipped
with tracking instruments)

Our little community is very "Turtle Minded"

When you go to the beach you are always reminded the beach belongs to the Sea Turtles.

Starting March 1st to October 31 all lights from the houses on the beach must be blacked out so not to confuse the turtles when nesting or hatching.

In Juno we have a Loggerhead Sea Turtle Marine Center

They rehab any Sea Turtles that are injured in the area.

It is all run by volunteers and they are passionate.

This is Zoe, you can adopt her and keep updated on her progress via the web

 and then a tracking device when she is healthy enough to be released.

I think this would be a fabulous gift for a young person.

I have even designed some of my bracelets in honor of the Sea Turtle.

I have so enjoyed learning about the Sea Turtle

However today I was reminded of the CIRCLE OF LIFE

This afternoon this male Green Sea Turtle washed ashore.

The volunteers from the Marine Life Center in Juno were called

they arrived almost like 911 responders. 

Unfortunately it was too late for this turtle.

The Marine Life Center documented as much as they could

and returned him to the sea.

They sprayed painted his shell fluorescent pink.

This was to alert boaters and anyone that found him that he was "accounted" for.

Credit: Pinterest Picture

I find some strange comfort in thinking

 that perhaps he returned to where he was hatched to

complete the CIRCLE.

 My husband is on the mend,

he has his sense of humor back,

always a good sign

So now I am tapping my Red Rudy Toes hoping to be home soon.

Enjoy!