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Writer's pictureKandy Thietten

Crunchy Crab

Abe saw some fellow campers as they were leaving, and they handed him two boogey boards. They had bought them for their time here, and didn't need them any more. Saturday and Sunday, Abe and I took them out and hit the waves. I'm pretty sure boogey boards were invented by parents as a way to trick their kids into getting exercise. We spent our time pushing through wave after wave, trying to get to the bigger ones that we could ride. I think it took us about 20 minutes of hard work to get out where we wanted to be. The closer we got to our destination, the bigger the waves we had to go through were. The bigger the waves were, the further they pushed us back towards shore every time they hit us. Finally, we started seeing some large waves coming at us that we wanted to catch, so we'd face the shore, lay on our boards, and start kicking. Most of the time, we missed it and it just went over us, or it would carry us a measly few feet, and we'd have to work our way back the short distance. We did catch a few. I started getting really tired, so when I'd see a big wave coming at me that I didn't want to fight, I'd turn around and lay down to let it wash over me. Most of the waves I caught were because I was just trying not to fight them. Abe spent more time looking for the perfect wave. When we were both thrilled to get a calm period where we could take a break from the waves, we decided it was time to come in. We were only out there for about an hour and a half both days, but I don't remember the last time I was so sore. Abe was hurting pretty bad, too. On Sunday, they were hitting HARD, and I spent a bit of time being tossed around like a load of laundry. I was beat up and a little sick from swallowing sea water, but my sinuses have never been so clean! And that was the most fun we've had in a very long time. I can't wait to get more warm, sunny weather so we can go back out.


We have been given so much from people throughout this trip. I've felt very strongly that God had a use for us on this trip, but so far we've been taking a lot, but we've seen little opportunity go give. I was thrilled when Abe was given the chance to help out some of our neighbors. We met a man on our first walk on the beach, and ended up visiting with him quite a bit. He gave us some shrimp that he's salted and froze (it makes them rubbery so they stay on the hook better), and when he heard that Abe was a handyman, he asked for some help with his generator. Abe was able to fix it and install an inverter for him. And his wife made us tortillas that she brought over, still warm, in the morning just as we were getting ready to eat scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. It was perfect timing. We got their address and phone numbers, and plan on stopping by their place to see them on the way home. There are some people you meet in life who are just good people, and these were really good people. It was a blessing to get to know them. These last two weeks, we've been surrounded by wonderful, friendly people. Everyone at this campground says hi when they see you, and they are quick to stop for a chat. This morning, almost everyone packed up and left. We will leave in two days, but I want to come back here some day.

Last night, we were told that tons of Portuguese men o' war had washed up on the beach north of us, so we went for a walk to check it out. We went barefoot. That was probably a foolish decision, but who can resist a barefoot walk on the beach? I was hyper aware of any blue sacks on the ground, watching out for both Abe and myself and pointing out every one of the hundred or so men o' war, as Abe carelessly walked along the edge of the water, barely paying any attention. I was relieved when we turned back and, luckily, neither of us had been stung. We walked back on the other side of the seaweed and refuse that had washed up on shore, and I spotted something that caught my attention. Was it a pepper grinder? No. Was it a China doll? Maybe. I checked my path carefully before stepping around the seaweed to get a closer look. It was a soggy, washed up tuber. That was a disappointment. Abe called out, "Marley!" Then he realized that was the wrong name. "Look down!" I looked, and my big toe was a fraction of an inch away from a pretty blue Portuguese man o' war! I swore a bit and jumped back as fast as I could. Of course, it was the one of us that was actually paying attention that almost got stung. I guess Abe was paying closer attention than I realized. I am very thankful that I wasn't the tiniest bit further forward. I don't want to think about how much pain I would have been in. (Insert melodrama here:) It would have ruined the whole entire trip.


Today, we took the dogs on a walk and I did something I shouldn't have. I know better, but I left my phone in the RV. I've done that way too much the last few days, so I don't have many pictures to share. I wish so much that I would have been able to take a video. We saw a cute little crab like this one on the beach, so we checked it out. It wasn't afraid of us and aggressive like the ghost crabs we'd seen earlier. It never brandished it's claws or tried to pinch us, and it didn't even really try to run away. We watched it for a bit, when Truffle decided to check it out. He started pawing at it and sniffing it. I watched, expecting him to get his lip pinched while he sniffed, when all of a sudden...CRUNCH! Half the crab was in Truffle's mouth. Two more bites, and it was gone. Abe and I were sad as we walked away. We didn't want to hurt it, and we definitely didn't want to kill it! Truffle pranced along with a big grin, exceedingly proud of himself and happy about his tasty treat. Mean ol' dog!


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