Monday, May 26, 2014

Our Coquina Vacation


Recently my honey and I got away for a few days to Daytona Beach.  It was a wonderful, relaxing few days, watching sunrises over the ocean horizon, listening to the rolling waves, and walking the beach morning and evening.  


On our first walk, my husband, who grew up in Daytona, introduced me to what became the delight of this vacation.  It was a perfect evening.  The temperature was perfect. The breeze was perfect.   The water was perfect.  As we walked along, we looked for the little holes that show up as the tide goes out. Just for fun, we like to try to find the tiny crabs that Colin calls sand fleas.  I was about to rediscover the 5 year old in me.


“Ah, no sand fleas - just periwinkles.  Did you see the periwinkle dig its way into the sand?” 


“No.  I didn’t know periwinkles dig into the sand.”


And so I watched.


“Oh I saw it.  I saw it.”  I squealed excitedly.  “I can’t believe I never knew about this in all the years we have been coming here.  This makes my night.”


We continued to stroll along looking for the tiny burrowing clams.  Later we found out they weren’t periwinkles at all, but coquinas.  Though I may have seen them on prior visits, the nice thing about being over 50 is that I often get to experience things again as if it’s the first time.  I was so captivated by this new discovery that I looked forward to researching what I could on the net and getting back to the beach for further observation.


Each day we learned something new.  I would spend hours on the beach just watching.  I not only saw them burrow, but discovered them rising from the hidden homes by the millions.  As the tide comes in, they slowly poke out, until the timing is just right for the waves to wash them further inland.  It is an amazing site to behold.  They rise in mass by the millions all along the beach just to be pulled by the waves a few inches to a few feet.  Many of them die in the process.


If you take the time to watch the video, (It’s only about 40 seconds), look to the top to see the tiny creatures rising up from the sand.  Then wait to watch the multitude of shell creatures tossed forward by the waves only to borrow back down.  What an awesome Creator to have conceived such incredible creatures.  

 

There are more video posts on you tube which may be better than my attempt.  We decided to call this our coquina vacation since we spent so much of our time enjoying and exploring the life of the coquinas.  I'm not done discovering yet.  

On another note, there are only a few more days to submit your 500 word piece for the Write Club Competition.  It closes May 31st.  Hop on over to D L Hammons to check out all the particulars of this exciting writing competition opportunity.  

Write Club



32 comments:

  1. I spent New Year's Eve (1983) on Ormond Beach in Florida. I love looking out on oceans. My all-time favorite picture of my children is when we went to California to visit the in-laws for Christmas one year. They had so much fun on the beach on the way to MIL's house from the airport.

    Cool that you put in a word for Write Club. :) I love that name! What a wonderful opportunity! I feel blessed to start out my week having read your blog!

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    1. I love the beach too, LuAnn. We have also had many happy family times by the ocean. Wish I could do write club, but I will start thinking about it for next year. They least I could do was let others know, right!? Thanks for stopping by. God bless, Maria

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  2. Interesting. I've never heard of these creatures before. I love being outdoors and discovering new things.

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    1. I love discovering new things too, Medeia. Learning in the spice of life, I think. Thanks for visiting. God bless, Maria

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  3. Mmm. You make me anxious to take my own beach vacation. We're only an hour away from the beach, but we don't get there very often. The best is when we're staying in a hotel right on the beach. SO nice. I'm still looking to find a vacation home we can rent right on the beach, but haven't found one in a reasonable price range yet.

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    1. We were blessed to stay right on the beach this trip and you are right, Crystal. It is the best. It's crazy the way none of us seem to take advantage of the things so close. I live near DC and it seems I hardly ever get there to enjoy what is so close. Thanks for your visit. God bless, Maria

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  4. I used to live in Florida, and I enjoyed watching the coquinas burrow like that. They are pretty neat.

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    1. They are neat, Sherry and it's even more crazy fun to watch them rise in mass. Thanks for stopping. God bless, Maria

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  5. I love the beach. Unfortunately I"m far from a coast in the DFW area of TX. Nothing like walking on the beach and watching unique creatures. Glad you had a nice getaway

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    1. Thanks Joanne. It is a special experience. Thanks for the visit. God bless, Maria

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  6. Ooo, what a neat video! I haven't been to the beach in years. It makes me want to go back. :)

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    1. It was a wonderful experience. Sounds like it's time for a beach break for you too. Thanks for stopping by Cherie. God bless, Maria

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  7. SO cool! We've been talking about taking a beach trip for my birthday. I love walking on the beach in the morning and evening, but during the daytime hours, I have no use for it. I hope there's enough there to occupy us from 10 am to 5pm or so! I need to start looking into it.

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    1. I agree Stephanie. It is pretty cool. I hope you are able to get to the beach and enjoy your birthday there. Thanks for your stop. God bless, Maria

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  8. Ahhhhhhh....I miss the beach...especially at sunset! *sigh*

    Thank you for helping to spread the word about WRiTE CLUB! Just a couple days remain for submissions and then we start lacing up gloves. :)

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    1. I miss the beach too and I was just there. Appreciate your visit, DL. Hope all goes great with Write Club. I'm going to try to keep up with it and consider an entry next year. God bless, Maria

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  9. Very cool, I always thought they were Periwinkles too. Nice to explore and learn new things, even at my advance age, lol. Road tripping and continuing to blog a-z in May
    Also your newest follower
    Sandy at Traveling Suitcase

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    1. So my husband isn't the only one who thought they were periwinkles. That's good to know. He is always teaching me things about his home town and this time, he got to learn right along with me. Glad you stopped on your road trip. I've been enjoying mine too. God bless, Maria

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  10. There is no place quite like the beach. I love it and would be there everyday if I could! ♥

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    1. Oh me too, Kathy. There's a wonder and a freedom that comes from being on the beach. Love it, love it. Thanks for visiting. God bless, Maria

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  11. Amazing indeed. It reminds us of the simple thing in life and how relaxing it is to watch things in creation that don't scurry about madly trying to acquire things.

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  12. Thanks for coming by, Joy. Yes the simple things of life can bring such joy, can't they!? God bless, Maria

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  13. Nothing like a great vacation seeking adventure and beauty of creatures. It an added boon to the soul:)

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    1. Amen. Thanks for your visit. God bless,Maria

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  14. I loved this post thank you Maria! How lovely to re-find a childlike joy in our Creator's manifestations! I'll be going down to the sea towards the end of the month .. there is nothing I enjoy more than the greatness of the sea and its tiny creatures that inhabit it on the shore line!

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    1. Have a wonderful time Susan. I am always blessed by your comments. God bless, Maria

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  15. I am LOL about your many new discoveries now that your 50! I can so relate!

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    1. How nice of you to come by, Ginger. I'm glad we have reconnected. Thanks. God bless, Maria

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  16. This is so cool, Maria! Thank you for sharing. :D

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    1. Thank you for saying so Carrie. God bless, Maria

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  17. That sounds like a delightful vacation. It is always wonderful to watch the wonders in this amazing world that God created! Thanks for sharing!
    And thanks for the blitz comments!

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    1. Well thank you for the return visit. I imagine that is quite a chore to try to visit everyone when you are blitzed. You are a special lady to do it. God bless, Maria

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