Too Much Marine Wildlife

We spent some time today on the bay. The place we are staying allows us to check out kayaks and life-jackets and take a little jaunt around the bay. We enjoyed paddling through very shallow water and seeing the little critters that live there. We collected lots of hermit crabs:



and this very strange creature that our friends said was a slug. This is what it looked like when it would move outside the shell. It was slimy and icky, but fascinating.


Our son loved paddling the kayak as well as wading around in the murky water.


Our daughter, however, wasn't so excited. She had left the house without her sunglasses which is a big mistake for her. Bright sunlight is really hard on her light colored eyes, so she sat on the pier with my sunglasses on and a towel draped over her head.


Later in the day, we went back to the state park we had enjoyed so much yesterday (I took my camera this time...hope to share pics later). The water was not a calm as the day before, so it wasn't possible to see any wildlife in the water. The kiddos liked the choppier water, because they could jump in and/or ride the waves.


That is, until our daughter got stung by a jellyfish! I saw it being washed toward her by the surf, but was unable to warn her in time. It was about the size of a grapefruit with six to eight inch tentacles. This was a much too close and personal encounter with the marine wildlife!

You can probably imagine the screams that ensued! This just wasn't her day! While screaming and crying she said, "I don't ever want to do this again!" I thought (but didn't say), "yeah, that's what I said right after you were born." Later she told me, "tomorrow, when we go to the beach, remind me not to get in the water."

I'm happy to report that she is fine now. The appropriate creams worked their magic and it wasn't long until she was back to herself. She's even almost let me convince her that one bad event doesn't have to ruin her whole trip to the beach.