Snap, snap. Crackle. Pop !
"Dave, honey, what is that noise ?
It almost sounds like electricity running through the boat ! "
Snap, Crackle, Crackle, POP, snap.
"Don't know dear, don't know..."
Snap, POP, crackle, POP, snap.
Why, they're snapping shrimp, of course !
Snapping Shrimp. They are tiny things, possibly the length of a finger, with one claw that is as long as their body. We've never seen one (yet - however, rest assured, we will now be on the hunt for these tiny creatures!) but we've been hearing them since, oh, Hampton (VA).
What happens is that the one oversized claw snaps shut quickly and the loud crackling noise sounds like a bowl of very loud Rice Krispies as you add your milk to it ! Or like electricity running through your boat or like knuckles being cracked (believe you me, it's LOUD).
The water that shoots out after the claw snaps shut generates a low pressure bubble that bursts with a snap (called "cavitation") and produces a sort of sonic blast, a shockwave, which can stun a passing crab ! And of course more science indicates that the collapsing bubble can reach high temperatures, as well as producing a light that is not visible to our eyes. Naval submarines can hide in beds of shrimp and remain undetected.
Underwater warfare to the Nth degree !
Today we took advantage of our kind and generous chauffeur to visit West Marine where Dave found some goodies, and the grocery store, where I stockpiled on even more (and then, just for good measure, added a few more) things "we needed". Ok, maybe we didn't need everything we got at this very moment, but given that we now walk and carry everything, and believe you me, juice and laundry detergent gets heavy after a while) the time to stockpile is when there's a kind and generous chauffeur around !! Thanks Libby !!
With all that underwater stuff happening below us, and poor Dave in shock at another wheelbarrow (or two !) of "STUFF" coming onboard, I sent him on deck with lunch, and the camera where he took some pictures of the GOODYEAR blimp flying overhead.
"The Spirit of Goodyear" has been flying overhead since we arrived here, and as we later came to find out, was there to provide aerial coverage of the second annual Carrier Classic basketball doubleheader on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown.
We later found out that the men's game was cancelled as the evening condensation on the deck would've made the court too dangerous to play, however the first ever women's game to be played on a carrier, had been played that afternoon.
As the sun set, we joined up with David and Libby and headed back to Charleston for an evening drive about of the city, but first, an official greet from Brody.
The drive into town over the cabled bridge, built in 2005 led to an impressive view of the Cooper River.
Charleston is known as the "Holy City" and the second largest city in South Carolina (the first being the capital, Columbia). The eye of Hurricane Hugo, in 1989, came ashore here causing alot of damage. As we drove around in the evening dusk, the setting sun on the historical mansions and gardens gave way to amazing sights.
A meal shared at the Irish Pub, followed by some amazing Belgian Gelato (one scoop of pistachio and one scoop of chocolate chip, and two spoons) finished the evening off quite nicely, and we couldn't wait to get back home for some much needed ZZZzzzz's.