Vacation Day 3: Shell Island

daddy and Rachel

suckers and sand are definitely a good mix!

Mommy and Rachel

"papa, my future's so bright, I gotta wear shades." --BFM

I think I prefer the sand!

Nick...way up on the rocks

a quick excursion with daddy

gorgeous beach babe!

the water's so calm!

Hey, this is no big deal...I like it!

I think day 3, Monday, was the day we went to Shell Island. (All the days have run together since we got home.) Shell Island is a small little island located in St. Andrews Park (I think that was the name). Anyway, we drove into the park and hitched a ride on a schoolbus to a large ferry pontoon boat that carried us to the island. Bradley was very scared of the bus ride and squeezed my finger very hard while we were in the bus and whimpered or cried for most of the 5 minute ride. The boat was cool...all open and a great breeze, but Bradley wasn't sure about that either. He's just not a boy for an adventure into "the unknown". It's gotta be something familiar otherwise he's uncomfortable for awhile. Even when we got to the island, there was a short walk to the main beach and we were in a kind of natural walkway of sand with water on both sides. Bradley made Papa hold him and wouldn't get down to walk. He was just unsure, and if he's unsure about something, there's no coaxing or convincing him otherwise. But, we all really enjoyed the island. There were huge rocks that went around a large part of the island and water pooled in between the rocks. You could climb on the rocks or wade in the shallow waters or watch the seagulls. There was a large portion of beach that wasn't on the main gulf, so it was very calm and you could swim in it if you wanted. There were lots of people there since the ocean had been categorized as "double red" flag which means NO water activity of any kind. And, the riptide was so strong that they had had 5 people drown over the past week at the regular beach! Sad! So, we walked around and waded in the water, climbed on the rocks, did some exploring in the watery caverns and played in the sand. Rach loved all of this. She was all over the water...running, splashing, enjoying herself. Bradley stayed in the sand for most of the time and then right before we were going to meet the ferry to go back, he got in the water and loved it. (Always in his own timing!) It was lots of fun and I would love to go back again and stay longer!