Toucari Bay

I am so glad that we went! For our Thursday Activity this week I considered just walking to the beach nearby but finally decided to go to the bay instead. I want to see more places and I won't see them unless we go. The driver arrived and we loaded up. Our neighbor came with us and we picked up Chelsie and Liz with Emmy so we were ready for fun. As we passed Purple Turtle Beach I thought about stopping there. Then we passed Douglas Bay and I thought, "That was nice. Maybe we should stop there." We went on and the road got very narrow and we started going down hill. I was very interested to see what it would be like when we did stop. The beach was very small because many storms have taken all the sand. There was a small patch so we laid out our towels in the shade and slathered sunscreen on our faces and backs. I took pictures and then we were ready to go snorkeling. Ben, Marissa and Xiomara went with me. Kemiah cried and wanted to come with me but stayed with Chelsie and had fun playing with Emmy. Ben and Marissa had snorkels and Xiomara had goggles. I would tell her when to look, she would take a breath and put her face in the water. I would point and she would look. It was great to share it with her. They wanted to go back before I was done so I took them back to the beach and then went back out to go farther. It was so fantastic! There were so many schools of fish and so many things to look at. We really had a fantastic time. We ate lunch, played in the sand, saw a little octopus that didn't want to be seen (it was hidden in a crack in a rock), and played with a starfish. It really was a wonderful day! So, here are the pictures to prove it!

Coastline on the south edge of the bay.



Coastline on the north edge of the bay. I'm not really sure what those posts are for, unless they tie boats to them.

Xiomara playing with Emmy. Those are the goggles she wore when she went snorkeling and I think she really liked it. I wonder how much of this she will remember. Most of it will probably come from the pictures.

Chelsie brought cake and shared it with everyone. I loved watching how happy Kemiah was while eating the cake from Chelsie. Chelsie is one of Kemiah's favorite people. We will all miss her when she leaves.

Chelsie made the biggest sand ball I have ever seen. This is who taught Emily to make sand balls.

Emily enjoyed swimming with Emmy and Emmy enjoyed gumming the floaties.

Everyone loved the starfish. It was really neat and extra fun for me to watch the kids in this special moment.

Xiomara actually wanted to hold it but it had to be upside down so she wouldn't feel it wiggle.

Really, they all got to hold it and feel this sea creature try to crawl in their hands. Way cool.

Have you seen enough of the starfish yet? It was probably happy when we finally left it alone and allowed it to swim away.

And here's a picture from Kristen, our neighbor, who was snorkeling with us. I'm holding on to Xiomara and Marissa while Ben is swimming next to me - without floaties! He did such a great job swimming along. Usually I have him wear floaties just in case but he didn't need them.