Tuesday, January 27, 2009

It was nice to be able to sleep without bundling up first and loading the blankets on the bed. I listened to the winds all night and sometimes over the wind - the surf of the Atlantic as it slapped onto the Shore of Jupiter Island. Where we're anchored at, Jupiter is very narrow. It's a barrier island, hence composed of a lot of sand that's skinnier in spots than other parts. We're anchored at one of the skinnier spots so the sound of the waves comes through quite nicely when the wind in the rigging lets up.

Well the water line was scrubbed clean today all around the boat and then we lowered the dinghy and went over to Jupiter Island to take in the beach there. It was really pretty and kind of deserted. I was taking pictures at the Hobie Sound Wildlife Refuge of the waves, sand, seaweed, etc... and came upon this pile of seaweed that looked like it had an exoskeleton of a crab in the debris. I thought, "oh cool - I can get a picture of the jointed exoskeleton" and started to touch one of the legs and move the debris away from it. Well it wasn't a corpse but thoroughly alive and paying attention to my every move. The crab jumped out at me and scared me as much as I probably scared it! Woosh! Anyhow I took a few pictures of him trying to get around him for a back shot. He was having none of that. It felt like we were doing some kind of dance on the beach and I'm sure I looked a little strange to anyone watching me. He was a cute little fella - well actually not so little for a _______ crab. (Extra Credit time - who can tell me what kind of crab he is? I already know but do you?) He was a little bigger than the size of my fist and I wasn't going to put my hand next to him for scale - he was ready to attack me when I came near with my camera! I got some decent shots of ocean spray and waves, but my favorites are the ones of the crab and of the boat as we came back to the other side of the island.

Wayne's napping while I write this but it's time to wake him I think. Steak, salad and sour dough bread for dinner with apple pie for dessert (of course). The wind has continued all day so we've been running the wind generator all day - it seems to be holding its own against the refrigeration and my computer so far (Yay)

By the way - if you don't know the type of crab - I'll post it in a few days for any one interested.