#Turtle Cay

[infodumpingaboutnature]

Merry belated Christmas everyone!!! I’ve been wanting to make a post for a while now but things have been pretty hectic between coming back from my trip to Florida and helping my family with last minute preparations for Christmas. After that my brain needed a few days to just be goop but I’m back now and want to talk about something pretty cool! So while I was in Florida me and my bf went to go visit this wetlands called Green Cay where you can walk around a board walk and see some pretty cool birds and reptiles. The day we went was pretty cold and cloudy (it was like that for most of the time I was there) so that meant there weren’t many reptiles out but it also meant there weren’t many people there either so we got to see a lot of really cool birds!

As soon as we pulled up to the parking lot we were seeing birds such as blue jays, northern mocking birds, common grackles (of course), a red-bellied woodpecker, mourning doves, and a bunch of squirrels. I know none of those species are rare so it makes sense that I would see them but I think it’s so cool to see species that I’m used to like blue jays, squirrels, and woodpeckers hanging out in palm trees.

(Red-Bellied Woodpecker)

Next, we went into the visitor center where they had a few exhibits with animals. The first was a display about native frogs Vs invasive frogs that had Cuban tree frogs and cane toads for the invasive species and green tree frogs, pig frogs, and southern toads for the natives. Sadly, I could only find the Cuban tree frog, cane toad, and pig frog since the glass was super foggy and the frogs like to hide anyways. They also had an American kestrel named Kilee and an Eastern screech owl named Oliver in little flight cages. Both birds were born in the wild but now have injuries that prevent them from flying so they have to live the rest of their lives at the center. The sign said Oliver had been hit by a car and for Kilee it just said she had problems with her wing feathers so idk what happened to her. There was also two tanks one that had turtles (peninsula cooters, Florida softshell, and Florida red-bellied) and a second tank that had some baby American Alligators.

(Pig frog, Cuban tree frog, Kilee the American kestrel, Oliver the Eastern screech owl, peninsula cooter, and American alligator babies)

In the actual park we saw lots of cool species since there weren’t many people out. Like I said no alligators though since it was pretty cold out but we did see plenty of iguanas, a massive Florida Softshell in the water, and a basilisk lizard sitting in a tree!

(Large male green iguana and either a brown basilisk or a green basilisk who isn’t showing off his coloration we couldn’t tell)

That’s all the pics I can add to this post so I’m gonna make a part 2 with all the birds we saw.

[rabbitcruiser]

National Reptile Awareness Day

Every October 21 is National Reptile Awareness Day. Godzilla. Reptar. Yoshi. The Geico Gecko. Those two lizards that always hang out around your back porch. These are just a few of the famous reptiles we love. But on October 21, we celebrate all of our cold-blooded friends. This day is observed to educate and raise awareness of  threats to the natural habitats that our reptilian companions rely on to survive.

History of National Reptile Awareness Day

While the history of reptiles may go hundreds of millions of years back, National Reptile Awareness Day has an unfortunately short history in comparison. Additionally, it wasn’t really until 1966 when the first Endangered Species Act was passed that awareness of the needs and threats facing reptiles (or any animal, for that matter) started to make its way into our cultural mainstream. 

With the passing of that act, a mid-century push toward conservation started taking the forefront. Updates were passed in 1967 and 1969. Additionally, in 1967, the Environmental Defense Fund created their historical efforts to ban DDT from usage in the United States. Much of this was movement was sparked by Rachel Carson’s seminal book, Silent Spring, which documented the adverse effects pesticides and other chemicals have on the environment. 

National Reptile Awareness Day wouldn’t exist without the efforts of that movement. In fact, many reptiles wouldn’t be around today without the help of the Endangered Species Act. While National Reptile Awareness Day may have a small history compared to its subjects, its still part of a historically important movement to help protect and conserve all species of animals.

National Reptile Awareness Day timeline

315 million years ago

Prehistoric Reptiles Evolve

Reptiles are considered to have evolved from amphibians around this time. While many have perished along the way due to mass extinction, many (such as crocodiles and sea turtles) still remain

66 million years ago

The End of the Reptilian Era

The end of "The Age of Reptiles," a period of time where dinosaurs and other massive reptiles roamed around as if it were Jurassic Park. This began "The Age of Mammals," while, despite the name, reptilian species continued to diversify and thrive but at a much, much, much smaller size. 

1978

The Loggerhead is Listed

The loggerhead sea turtle, one of the more famous reptiles, is listed as endangered, mostly due to bycatch in fishing gear but also because of loss of nesting habitats. 

1987

See Ya Later, Alligator

The American alligator is officially removed from the protected species list, making a remarkable comeback from near extinction after spending twenty years on the list.

National Reptile Awareness Day FAQs

When is National Reptile Awareness Day?

National Reptile Awareness Day is every year on October 21. 

How do I celebrate National Reptile Awareness Day?

There are many ways to celebrate National Reptile Awareness Day, such as donating to a reptile conservation, visiting a national park, or learning to identify reptiles. 

Is a turtle a reptile?

The placement of turtles within the reptile kingdom has historically been up for debate, but so far they are still considered to be reptiles.  

National Reptile Awareness Day Activities

Donate to a reptile conservation programThere are a lot of different organizations that want to continue educating the public about our reptilian friends. One way they do this is by also advocating for us to have the ability to keep reptiles as pets. Donate to your favorite organization to help them continue being the voice for reptiles.

Visit a National ParkRegardless of what part of the country you live in, reptiles play a major part in your ecosystem. By visiting your nearest national park, you're helping promote a place that is dedicated to preserving the natural habitats for all animals that live in that area - including, of course, the reptiles. Some notably reptilian parks are Joshua Tree, Big Bend, and the Everglades.

Identify a reptile (or two, or three)Consumer science is an important part of helping researchers understand where our cold-blooded friends live and their population densities. Many identification apps are created by institutions to help draw in that data. If you see a lizard or other reptile, use an app to ID it. This helps scientists understand where certain populations live and how well they're adapting among us. The Audubon Reptiles & Amphibians app is a great place to start.

Why We Love National Reptile Awareness Day

Their body armor: Reptiles are known for having thick skin, literally. Their armored body is made up of scales or boney plates (yes, some have their bones on the outside) to protect them from the daily wear and tear. How cool is that?!

Lizards, turtles, and snakes, oh my!: Because some of the most awesome characters/creatures on TV, or in the films we watch, are reptiles. They are sometimes dramatized to be huge and scary, like Godzilla, and other times are hilarious, like the Geico Gecko.

They make the best pets: No backyard to have a dog? No problem! Most reptiles can be kept indoors in naturally adorned tanks. They are easily maintained and make for an educational experience for kids learning about the environment.

[justalunaticfangirl]

thank you so much!

alfhghdlgjglfkdhdk i just noticed i’ve passed 200 followers! thank you guys so much, i’ve made so many friends here on tumblr and i love all of you so much <33

to celebrate i was thinking of doing a hair reveal or something like that. idk you tell me if that’s a good idea lol

mutuals and followers: ily!!

tagging the moots:

@call-me-frosting-or-not-idc @typingwithmyhandstied @petrichorandarson @writergracethepanda @queenpiranhadon

@will-the-mushroom @ebony-reine-vibes @electricguitarhasmyheart @rxry-lxves-jess @roselovesthestars

@over-the-oceancall @123letsgobestie @aesthetic-writer18 @juliette-cai-enthusiast @neck-thats-made-for-bruising

@glcive @thoughtlescat @yasyassie @hungergameswho @urfav-mirrorball

@im-on-crack-send-help @imobsessedwiththeatre @oh-quiznakles @myfairkatiecat @percabeths-blue-cookie

@strawberryapologist @dailytraingirl @dobry-slimak @daonedaonlyskh @daydream-of-a-wallflower

@fish-ofishial45 @giveuthemo0n @hijabi-desi-bookworm @hijabi-flavored-nerd @kale-of-the-forbidden-cities

@kimu-dem @keefe--sencen @lisalovesapplesauce @cockadoodledoooooll @vintagetee13 @cherryswift13

@beingfunnyinaforeignslay @some-fantastic-kay @crowgenius @crowleybrekkers @imthatweirdratinthecorner

@thatrandomlemononyourcounter1 @thatpersonwithbooks @brokendarkfairyempressforever @brenninthetaylorverse @bet-u-wanna

@anne-is-okay @the-slowest-turtle @nerdy-girlramblings @iam1withthepeggy @book-girl4evaaa

@squeliy @annotated-catastrophe @padfoot-lupin77 @shuhuaspookie @crying-in-converse

@baguettes-and-biscuits @ashippingpotato @auroraofthesun1 @exvelovly @figure-skating-avocado

sorry if u didn’t want to be mentioned or i missed u!

[accio-victuuri]

wait.. i’m literally on here or weibo almost 24/7 ( as you can tell lol ) but I feel like i missed something. i’m seeing clowning related to xz’s photos and how it looks like he is a groom and it’s a wedding photoshoot. the place is also famous for wedding shoots ( allegedly, idk. i’m not from there ) so turtles are imagining again. lol. freakin coincidence that wyb’s GRA photoshoot was done at a wedding shop. plus the “wedding outfits” for weibo night. which is all clowning and galaxy braining.🌌

now, we’re joking around, like where’s yibo? he should be taking photos with his partner.

then i see comments that there is this one song WYB recently listened to. meaning, as recent as when XZ flew to singapore which is called 超人不会飞 (superman can’t fly) by Jay Chou. i know WYB and everyone else is a big fan of Jay Chou but the clowning comes from the timing of when he listened to it. let me get to that first.

here is the song if you wanna listen to it. 🎶

turtles are interpreting it as WYB longing to “fly” to where XZ is and be with him but he can’t because of all his work commitments. he wants to take a breather. thinking about what his life is and the constraints, and at times like this, when they spent days in Beijing, but now they have to be apart, it affects him even more.

however when i read the lyrics, it could also be because he can relate to what jay chou is singing about. here’s the english translation i found here. i have bolded the ones i felt like WYB relates too. literally no need for explanation. just read it. It fits with his status in life so much that it’s almost scary.

妈妈说很多事别太计较

ma ma shuo heng duo shi bie tai ji jiao

Mum said one should not be too fussy over most matters

只是使命感找到了我 我睡不着

zhi shi shi ming gan zhao dao le wo wo shui bu zhao

But my sense of mission found me and i can't sleep over it

如果说骂人要有点技巧

ru guo shuo ma ren yao you diao ji qiao

If scolding someone requires some skills

我会加点旋律你会觉得 超屌

wo hui jia diao xuan lu ni hui jue de chao diao

I will add a tune and you will feel it's very cool (diao)

我的枪不会装弹药（弹药）

wo de qiang bu hui zhuang dan yao (dan yao)

My gun is not loaded with ammunition

所以放心不会有人倒（人倒）

suo yi fang xin bu hui you ren dao (ren dao)

So don't worry, nobody will collapse

我拍青蜂侠不需要替身 因为自信是我绘画的颜料

wo pai qing feng xia bu xu yao ti sheng yin wei zi xin shi wo hui hua de yan liao

I don't need a double for The Green Hornet because confidence is the coloring for my painting

我做很多事背后的意义远比你们想象

wo zuo heng duo shi bei hou de yi yi yuan bi ni men xiang xiang

The meaning behind the things I did is far beyond your imagination

拍个电视剧为了友情与十年前的梦想

pai le dian shi ju wei le you qing yu shi nian qian de meng xiang

Filming a tv drama is for friendship and a dream 10 years ago

收视率再高也难抗衡我的伟大理想

shou shi lv zai gao ye nan kang heng wo de wei da li xiang

No matter how high the rating is, it can't match my noble ideal

因为我的人生无需再多一笔那奖项

yin wei wo de ren sheng wo xu zai duo yi bi na jiang xiang

Because my life do not need another award

我不知道何时变成了社会的那榜样

wo bu zhi dao he shi bian cheng le se hui de na bang yang

I don't know when I have become a society's role model

被狗仔拍不能比中指要大器的模样（怎样）

bei gou zai pai bu neng bi zhong zhi yao da qi de mo yang (zen yang)

Can't show the paparazzi the finger and have to put on a magnanimous front

我唱的歌词要有点文化

wo chang de ge ci yao you dian wen hua

The lyrics I sing must have some degree of literacy

因为随时会被当教材

yin wei sui shi hui bei dan jiao cai

Because it might become teaching material anytime

CNN能不能等英文好一点再访

CNN neng bu neng deng ying wen hao yi dian zai fang

Can CNN interview me when my English gets a little better

时代杂志封��能不能重拍

shi dai za zhi feng mian neng bu neng chong pai

Can i reshoot the Time magazine cover

随时随地注意形象

sui shi sui di zhu yi xin xiang

I must take care of my image at all times

要控制饮食不然就跟杜莎夫人蜡像的我不像（本来就不像）

yao kong zhi yin shi bu ran jiu gen du sha fu ren la xiang de wo bu xiang (ben lai jiu bu xiang)

I must control my diet or i won't look like the "me" in Madame Tussauds (it doesn't look like me in the first place)

好莱坞的中国戏院地上有很多手印脚印

hao lai wu de zhong guo xi yuan di shang you heng duo shou yin jiao yin

There are many handprints and footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre

何时才能看见我的掌

he shi cai neng kan jian wo de zhang

When will mine be seen there?

如果超人会飞 那就让我在空中停一停歇

ru guo chao ren hui fei na jiu rang wo zai kong zhong ti yi ti xie

If Superman can fly then let me take a breather in the sky

再次俯瞰这个世界 会让我觉得好一些

zai ci fu kan zhe ge shi jie hui ran wo jue de hao yi xie

Overlooking this world again will let me feel better

拯救地球好累 虽然有些疲惫但我还是会

zheng jiu di qiu hao lei sui ran you xie pi bei dan wo hai shi hui

Saving the world is tiring, though I am a little tired, I still will

不要问我哭过了没

bu yao wen wo ku guo le mei

Don't ask me if I have cried

因为超人不能流眼泪

yin wei chao ren bu neng liu yan lei

Because Superman can't cry

唱歌要拿最佳男歌手

chang ge yao na zui jia nan ge shou

(You) must get best male singer award as a singer

拍电影也不能只拿个最佳新人

pai dian yin ye bu neng zhi na ge zui jia xin ren

A newcomer award is not enough if you act

你不参加颁奖典礼就是没礼貌

ni bu can jia ban jiang dian li jiu shi mei li mao

Not attending award ceremonies is considered rude

你去参加就是代表你很在乎

ni qu can jia jiu shi dai biao ni heng zai hu

And if you do, it means you are over-concerned about it

得奖时你感动落泪（落泪）人家就会觉得你夸张做作（做作）

de jia shi ni gan dong luo lei (luo lei) ren jia jiu hui jue de ni kuang zhang zuo zuo

When you won an award and teared, people will think you are fake and exaggerating

你没表情别人就会说太嚣张

ni mei biao qing bie ren jiu hui shuo tai xiao zhang

When you have no expression, others will say you are too arrogant

如果你天生这个表情 那些人甚至会怪你妈妈（妈妈）

ru guo ni tian sheng zhe ge biao qing na xie ren sheng zhi hui guai ni ma ma (ma ma)

And if you are born with that expression, they will even blame your mum

结果最后是别人在得奖 你也要给予充分的掌声与微笑

jie guo zui hou shi bie ren zai de jiang ni ye yao ge yu chong fen de zhang sheng yu wei xiao

In the end someone else gets the award, you also have to give ample applause and smile

开的车不能太好 住的楼不能太高

kai de che bu neng tai hao zhu de lou bu neng tai gao

The car you drive can't be too luxurious nor can you live too high up

我到底是一个创作歌手 还是好人好事代表

wo dao di shi yi ge chuang zuo ge shou hai shi hao ren hao shi dai biao

Am I a singer-songwriter or a representative of good men and good deeds?

专辑一出就必须是冠军

zhuan ji yi chu jiu bi xu shi guan jun

My album must be ranked top once released

拍了电影就必须要大卖

pai le dian yin jiu bi xu yao da mai

My movie must sell well

只能说当超人真的好难

zhi neng shuo dan chao ren zhen de hao nan

I can only say, being a Superman is difficult

如果超人会飞（超人会飞）那就让我在空中停一停歇（停一停歇）

ru guo chao ren hui fei (chao ren hui fei) na jiu rang wo zai kong zhong ti yi ti xie (ti yi ti xie)

If Superman can fly then let me take a breather in the sky

再次俯瞰这个世界 会让我觉得好一些

zai ci fu kan zhe ge shi jie hui ran wo jue de hao yi xie

Overlooking this world again will let me feel better

拯救地球好累（地球好累）虽然有些疲惫但我还是会（我还是会）

zheng jiu di qiu hao lei (di qiu hao lei) sui ran you xie pi bei dan wo hai shi hui (wo hai shi hui)

Saving the world is tiring, though I am a little tired, I still will

不要问我哭过了没

bu yao wen wo ku guo le mei

Don't ask me if I have cried

因为超人不能流眼泪

yin wei chao ren bu neng liu yan lei

Because Superman can't cry

=====

I don’t think there is anything wrong with how cpfs are relating this to cpn cause that’s just how it is. But sometimes, there are other reasons why they do what they do.

SO MY CONFUSION COMES FROM HOW THE HELL DO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT HE RECENTLY LISTENED TO. I can’t seem to dig up how or maybe it’s something we don’t talk about. I have never experienced this kind of tidbit related to them before so I wanna know the source. Or is this like the gaming cpn where certain people know and they will not divulge the boy’s account for privacy? if anyone knows, feel free to comment. If i find out in the future, I will share.

[new-dinosaurs]

Qianlong shouhu Han et al., 2023 (new genus and species)

(Select bones and schematic skeletals of adult [a] and embryonic [b] individuals of Qianlong shouhu, with preserved bones in gray, from Han et al., 2023)

Meaning of name: Qianlong = Qian [alternative name for Guizhou] dragon [in Chinese]; shouhu = guarding [in Chinese]

Age: Early Jurassic (Sinemurian?)

Where found: Ziliujing Formation, Guizhou, China

How much is known: Three partial skeletons of adult individuals and five clutches of 3–16 eggs containing embryos.

Notes: Qianlong was an early sauropodomorph. It is notable not only for the exceptional preservation of its fossils, but also the fact that these specimens appear to be associated with nests, thus offering valuable information on their growth and reproductive behavior. As has also been found for some early sauropodomorphs, such as Massospondylus from the Early Jurassic of Southern Africa and Mussaurus from the Early Jurassic of Argentina, Qianlong appears to have laid its eggs in breeding colonies with adult individuals potentially watching over their nests. Qianlong was additionally similar to these other early sauropodomorph in being bipedal as an adult, but likely quadrupedal as a young juvenile.

Rigid, hard-shelled eggs have been found in multiple groups of dinosaurs, including tetanuran theropods (such as birds), hadrosaurids (duck-billed dinosaurs), and titanosaurian sauropods, as well as their closest living relatives, the crocodylians. As a result, it was long assumed that all dinosaurs probably laid hard-shelled eggs. However, recent evidence has suggested that the eggs of early dinosaurs may have instead had flexible, leathery shells, more similar to those of most lizards and some turtles, with rigid eggshells evolving several times in later dinosaur groups. The eggshells of Qianlong appear to have been leathery in structure, lending support to this hypothesis.

Reference: Han, F., Y. Yu, S. Zhang, R. Zeng, X. Wang, H. Cai, T. Wu, Y. Wen, S. Cai, C. Li, R. Wu, Q. Zhao, and X. Xu. 2023. Exceptional Early Jurassic fossils with leathery eggs shed light on dinosaur reproductive biology. National Science Review advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwad258

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

Bramble Cay Melomys (Melomys rubicola)

(Photo from State of Queensland)

Extinction Date- 2015

Habitat- Bramble Cay

Size (Weight/Length)-16 cm

Diet- Succulents; Turtle eggs

Cool Facts- The Bramble Cay melomys may seem like an insignificant rodent, but these little guys were officially known as the first mammal to go extinct due to climate change. Found on a tiny island off the northern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, these melomys were threatened by a mixture of storms and rising sea level as the entire Cay was only 3 meters above sea level. During surveys, the last known Bramble Cay melomys was spotted in 2009 and they were officially declared extinct in 2015. Their extinction was a massive wakeup call for mammalian extinctions due to anthropocentric change. The Cape York melomys remains on mainland Australia is considered least concern thanks to preservation of their natural habitat and attempts of eliminating invasive species like foxes, cats, and rabbits. 

Rating- 12/10 (Forever remembered.)

[radgritty]

This is La Cay, a Vietnamese black-breasted leaf turtle and I love him.

[idontwantti]

The alleys Ppriehfc 

She he no go to gene hopsitsal come out her mum pososy and another one come out the psiyay and the mom say

“&ewwwww that 1 ugsoy’

0”but that wone cyte 

She pik cup the cute eone and she hit th ushy baby and then at the hom e the baby walking and mom say ewwwwwwwww and then caby awww yaaay and dad say theyie bothe cuet SHSUSTIDPTURPRPRPTOYEOUDOUOFPFPYPYPUPUPPPPPPPPPPPP abd thee das go ekill heimwsl and then tjey go school and mom say BYEEEE HUNNYYY byeee ewwwww and they go in the school and OMG she is poplyar and PRETTY but WHY THAT GIRL SO UGLY SHE POORRRRR SHEEE HAVE NOO GOOD CLOUESSSSSSS SHE SMELPP LEIKEE POOSSAAYYAYYYYYYYYY And then people go ing in the room and she PRETTY BEAT UP THE SGUGKY AND IS DO CUTE AND yaay and BUT she cry and GO HOME and the pretty LIEE SAy SHE HIT ME but Noooo you HIT MEEEE NO THAG IS FAKE YOU ARE LAIR NO NEONJO INIJONOBONONO ONONO AAAAAAAAA MOMSMAMAMSMSOMMMMMM The mom hit the usgky one anndthen she cry and thenennb at the dchoeppl they go to the gym and show power and HOT BABY JAMIESON IS SOSOSOOOO HOPTTYYYYYYTTTTT AND HE IS A comMMONNN DOG but POPULALLRLRRRR GIRLRLLL SISSTAARRR IS COMMMONNNN CAARTTTTTTTT HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA AND THE UGLY POOR SISTER IS SOOOOO PRETTY SHE IS MEGA HYBRID SUPER DUPER OMEGA CAT UNICORN WOLF TURTLE ANGEL WITH GLPWING EYES AND THEN FOUR KNIFHT COME AND SAY you ARE lost PRINCESSSSSSSSS and the mom say WHAT and tuebsiter say NOAOOAOOOOO TAHT MDEEEEEAND THEN THEY VOTH CRYING AND THEN PRETTY MEGA. HYURBSD SUPER DIPER OMEGA CAY UNCIORN WLF GURTLE ANGEL WITH HLPEING EYES GO TO THE PALACE AND MEET HER MUM AND DAD TEHY ARE KUNG AND QUENN AND SHE HAPPY THEY HAPPY SHE PRIMDWSS 

[littlewildfeathersworld]

Okay, here's the thing. Since I've discovered that Jennika and Venus were supposed to be in the next seasons of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I can't help but think to a lot of headcanons. And I really wanted to share with you.

HAMATO Jennika

• Leopard turtle.

• Her color is gold.

• She is 17 years old. The second largest with 5' 8".

• Her nicknames are Jee/J, Jen, Jenny, June, Gold One, Miss Goldy, Big Mama's Daughter, Big sis, Pretty One, English girl, Miss British, Golden Needles, Gold Queen, Heart of Gold, Miss Sunflower.

• She is Big Mama's assistant. Also raised as her daughter.

• During the first moments with her family, she had some conflicts with Leonardo and Splinter because of her connexion with Big Mama. It took her some time to finally have a good relation with them.

• Tough girl but really sweet and caring when she is with family and friends.

• According to Leonardo, she is Big Mama's weakness.

• She and Venus are aware of all the gossip. In New York and the Hidden City. Including the ones about the bad guys.

• The smart brawn of the team. And the one of her family who has the best hand-to-hand combat skills. Extremely proud about that.

• Her favorite brother is Raphael. Then it is Donatello.

• At first she was jealous of April's relationship with the turtle brothers. And a little contemptuous of the human. But they ended up getting on after a heart-to-heart talk. Now they're the badass girls of the family.

• Her favorite music song is rock. Big fan of AC/DC.

• Not a morning-person.

• She drinks tea. Her favourite tea infusions are jasmine, hibiscus and cinnamon.

• She loves to write. If the boys want to read fanfictions about Jupiter Jim, they ask her.

• She had an history with Loathsome Leonard.

• One of her favorite expressions is "Bloody Hell". But because Raphael doesn't want her to be vulgar in the presence of their younger siblings, she just says the word "Bloody" in her sentences.

• She has a british accent. But she can flawlessly impersonate an American accent.

• She speaks spanish and japanese.

• She uses tekki & tekko and a sasumata as weapons.

HAMATO Venus

• Carey Sea Turtle.

• Her color is silver.

• 15 years old, she called herself "Mikey's self-proclaimed twin".

• 4'7" is her height.

• Her nicknames are Vee/V, Silver One, Baby Girl, Miss Silver, Vinny, Cute One, Cutye, De Milo, Lovenus, Detective Love, Silver Springs, Silver Bird, Silver Pawn.

• Her headband is braided.

• Her favorite brother is Michelangelo. Then it is Leonardo.

• When she met Jennika then April, she was so happy to have two big sisters. But it took some time before Jennika really accepts Venus as her little sister. Now, they are really close. And Jennika believes in her skills.

• She lived in the Hidden City as one of the best students of the Conservatory of the Mystics.

• She was raised by the family of Mona Lisa.

• You can thank her for the RaphLisa. They are together thanks to her.

• She and Jennika are aware of all the gossip. In New York and the Hidden City. Including the ones about the bad guys.

• She is the mysticism specialist of her family. She can be very energetic on the subject. Because of that, she had some conflicts with Donatello.

• She speaks french.

• One of her favorite expressions is "Lovely".

• She often meditates. Really close of the ancestors of the Hamato Clan.

• A party-person, she knows the best places to have fun. Also extremely lucky.

• Her favorite music song is pop. That includes J-Pop and K-Pop. Big fan of BlackPink.

• She has an australian accent.

• She uses fans as weapons. Including a giant one. Venus' fighting style shares similar qualities with "Cai Li Fo", a Chinese martial art that uses a metal fan for defensive and distraction purposes.

• Her ninpo is related to the wind and the light.

[sailingangel]

Our New Video is LIVE! 🐟🤿⚓️⛵️🐢🦈 YouTube https://youtu.be/7ktYRKvicMQ or Extended, Uncensored, OnDemand at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/sailingdarkangel/888904585 We leave our terrible shoal anchorage west of Chub Cay and finally make our way to Bimini. We wander between three anchorages trying to find the best compromise between anchor set and swell. Hanging on anchor I make my own entertainment. Dance PARTY! A nice day lures us back to the SS Sapona to dive this wreck turned reef. Turtles, rays, barracuda, reef fish and crabs entertain us throughout. Come and join the Dinghy Dance Challenge! Post your pics 🕺⛵️💃

[seabreeze2022]

2023 Bahama Cruise, Part 12. March 27. Water Cay, Jumentoes, Ragged Islands, Bahamas.

Was this the end of a great day or a bad day? Obviously it was a bad day, since their boat sank. But it was also a great day, since they could have been 5 miles SE in 7,000 ft. of water when it sank.

The day started early in George Town, Exuma. Off the hook by 0730. Conga line of boats departing since this was the first low wind day all week. Five boats including us leaving out the south entrance of Elizabeth Harbor. Above is a beautiful boat named “Ruby”, looked like two guys having the trip of a lifetime. No autopilot, have to work on deck to raise and lower sails. Very manly.

Winds were stronger on our route and directly on our nose, than what I had figured. We had to tack far off course to get the wind to sail to our waypoint. Time was running out on us making Hog Cut at the top of high tide. Kicking myself for not anticipating this and leaving an hour earlier. We might miss the top of the tide by two hours at this pace.

We draw 4’ 9” with out provisions. Always assume 5’ with provisions. The chart is in meters. So at 1.5 meters we are aground. Aground with our wide wing keel is a real problem. Sometimes a thin fin keel sailboat can power through some soft mud or sand. Not a wing keel like ours. Chart has notes of “Strong Current, poor holding” which equates to scoured rock and not soft sand. Raking your keel across hard rock, makes horrible sounds. Followed by horrible sounds out of the Captain! Wind is in our face and the current is ripping at us, as well. Which is good! We have maneuverability while still going slow. Plus we might be able to get free and float back the way we came if we ground. We thread our way through the shallows and out onto the Bank.

During the day we have a nice sail to Water Cay, winds and wave increase as the day goes on. We start wearing our harnesses and tether to the cockpit jackline. By the end of the day, swells are 3-4 ft. on the beam. Like Nancy said, “It was a gradual increase so you get use to it.”

The tip of the pin is where we anchored for 5 days. The wreckage in the top photos is almost due west of us on the chart. I lucked out when anchoring next to “Cheval”. The sun set between two of the islands and we had a clear shot of a disappearing sun on the horizon. We both saw the famous “green flash” two nights in a row. The interesting thing I realized, was the person sitting the lowest saw the “green flash” just before a person standing next to them”.

You know we are getting “out there”, when the chart notifies you that “all positions are approximate” and “portions are unsurveyed”.

David and Natalie on “Cheval” have been waiting a month for us to bring them some boat items. We have been talking to them on What’s App. So we were able to get some fresh greens and vegetables for them in George Town. When we arrived it was Christmas in March.

Nancy went paddle boarding the first morning. A bit windy and lots of current. She checked the anchor on the way back from paddleboarding and snorkeling. Her finds today included a dead milk conch which we kept, a very dark red thick lipped Queen Conch. We are finding more of these around here, than in the Exumas. These are locally called “Samba Conch”. The shell in the middle has a deformity at the bottom. Probable bitten off by a turtle and grew back to the side.

I cleaned the conch and it went into the freezer.

The Houston’s had come up from Double Breasted Cays to meet us here. Around 8 boats in the anchorage by the second day. David has only ever seen one other boat when he was there. Most were big Cats. I think more people are getting Starlink and now will venture further from civilization.

“Cheval” was kind enough to let us tap in to their Starlink. Makes cruising much nicer being able to check weather and emails. Plus the occasional phone call on What’s App. Depending on how the two boats swung at anchor, sometimes we got signal upstairs. Sometimes only one of us would get a signal.

Paul Trammell on “Wind Flower” dropped anchor the next day. So he and crew member Lucy, stopped by at “Cheval” that afternoon while Nancy and I were there. Paul has written about 5 books and does a pod cast on sailors. The last episode he did, Ep. 135, was of David and Natalie. So we were able to listen to some of it the next day.

David invited me to go with them spear fishing during the slack tide on Saturday. The Natalie usually tows their dinghy around, while David does the spearing. She helps spot the fish to be speared and keeps an eye out for sharks.

David speared two lobster and shot a Hogfish that got away. After moving to slightly shallower water, David shot a Grouper that ran under a coral head. The timer started, tic…tic…tic…

As soon as you hit a fish, they give off vibrations in the water. It is the dinner bell gong for sharks. The sharks ARE coming. The only question is, how far do they have to come? Tic…tic…tic.

David worked and worked on getting the Grouper out of the coral head. Tic…tic..tic.

Every trigger fish within 100’ came running and were sticking their nose under the rock trying to get something to eat. The excitement in the water was building. This also gives off vibrations for the sharks to home in on. Tic…tic…tic. Any time now. I concentrated on keeping an eye on the coral head, incase the Grouper tried to sneak away. I was towing the dinghy and needed to keep it as close to David as I could. But not to be in his way when he surfaced, yet close enough he could get the wounded fish out of the water as soon as possible. TIC…TIC…TIC.

Then it all happened at once. David pulled the Grouper out of the hole. Zooming to the surface, then holding the fish above the water. I swung the dinghy over to him. Looking back down and around, I see the shark. He is casually swimming away. David has the Grouper in the boat. He and Natalie are saying, “Shark let’s go”. They both are getting in, as I keep an eye out for the shark. Sharks are so fascinating to see. The threat is over, the wounded and bleeding fish is out of the water. The shark never went into attack mode. Which is apparent when their pectoral fins start angling down. This was probably a Reef Shark from what David and Natalie said. It was at least 6-7 feet long. Natalie had seen it circle us twice while I was concentrating on the Grouper. Most fish on a reef are either down low and not doing a lot of swimming. Or a school of fast fish on the surface. The Shark just has a presence. Large, bold, confident; silently cruising off the bottom in mid depth. They may swim out of sight. Now you are looking all around. Cause they can show up from another direction at any time.

Once the Shark disappeared from sight, I worked my way over the side of the dinghy. It is never real easy, usually several splashing fin kicks to get all the way over the tubes. Of course I am motivated. To misquote the movie Jaws, “You’re going to need a solid boat”. Sitting in an inflatable boat with an hungry and inquisitive toothy critter circling unseen below is a bit unsettling.

We called it a day. David was worn out from all his diving. They had enough meat that they dinghied over later with a bag of filets.

Nancy, Natalie and I walked around on Water Cay the next day. Surf was pounding on the sound side.

Nancy and I swam along the shore later. This was my first time spearfishing in 50 years. It is legal in the Bahamas to spear lobster. Nancy found two, but I was only able to get one out of the hole. Changing spears for doing this in the future.

We did pick up 2 Samba Conch which I cleaned on the stern. Now we have 3 conch and a lobster in the freezer. I had a run in with an eight foot Bull Shark, but will leave that story for another day. The sight of the Bull shark is seared into my old memory bank.

Thursday the wind kicks up so we motor sailed to Long Island on Wednesday.

S/V Sea Breeze

Water Cay Jumentoes, Bahamas.

[waterfunblog]

Discover the magic of island tours in Turks and Caicos.

Turks and Caicos, the land of the tropics, lying in the Caribbean region, is a perfect utopian destination for anyone seeking sun, sand, and serenity. But apart from these world-renowned beaches, there's much more to see. The island tours of Turks and Caicos unfold a completely new dimension, which reveals unexplored treasures, diversified wildlife, and rich cultural heritage of this magical archipelago.

Uninhabited Cays Activity

The most exciting part of any island tour in Turks and Caicos must be the opportunity to explore the many uninhabited cays. Most of these small islands are accessible only by boat, which makes a guided island tour of the ultimate way of seeing them in their virgin splendor. Popular stops include Water Cay, Half Moon Bay, and Pine Cay, where you will be able to stroll along deserted beaches, swim in secluded lagoons, and enjoy a peaceful picnic.

In fact, some tours indeed include visits to Iguana Island, Little Water Cay, home of the endangered Turks and Caicos rock iguana. Visitors can take a walk on wooden pathways while spotting these interesting reptiles in their normal environment.

Adventure Under the Waves

Most island tours include stops for snorkeling or diving, where you can explore the coral reefs for their diverse and colored marine life. Grace Bay is one of those well-liked UNESCO World Heritage sites where you don't want to miss indulging in these activities. It offers you an underwater paradise where you can swim with colored fish and spot sea turtles marveled over the vibrant coral formations.

For the most adventurous, some tours make their way to deeper waters where one could dive near dramatic underwater walls and caverns.

Cultural and Historical Tours

While the natural splendor of island tours turks and caicos is undeniably stunning, the islands are also steeped in a rich history. Some island tours specialise in the cultural and historical aspects of the region. Take in the colonial past of the island at Cheshire Hall Plantation on Provincials, or make your way to the Grand Turk Lighthouse, a metaphor for the history represented by the islands' nautical nature. Guided tours often go through fascinating stories of early settlers, the salt trade, and other peculiar traditions that mould island life over the centuries.

Sunset and Private Island Experiences

Further exclusiveness in travel can be achieved on island trips or sunset cruises. These tours are two kinds of special tours where the beauty of Turks and Caicos is viewed in much smaller groups while enjoying the benefits of a superb sunset over turquoise waters. ### Conclusion An island tour in Turks and Caicos will be a very good deal for anyone who wants to get a view of the varied beauty and adventure that the archipelago has to offer. Ranging from uninhabited islands to rich historical landmarks, tours give a more profound insight into this Caribbean paradise, making the trip quite unforgettable.

[journeysofpatrickandarchana]

Now this is PARADISE

Original Blog post - 13th April 2013

Tobago Cays!

We had to delay our arrival until early light into Tobago Cays. The entrance to the anchorage was tricky and with sudden changes to the ocean depth level and existence of reef it made it preferable to anchor in daylight. After all that we were anchored in only 3 meters of water.

I had been suffering from slight effects of sea sickness the night before and was woken up by the sounds of the anchor chains rumbling. The stillness of the water rid my sick feeling and I was out on the deck to find us in the middle of paradise.

There were a few boats in the anchorage but what was amazing was that we were surrounded by Robinson Crusoe style islands white sands, empty beaches, green mountains and no sign of human beings. Now this had to be rectified. The turtles were visible and very inviting. Following the Swiss couple Phil and Sibylle, Patrick and I changed into our bathers and hoped into the water.....oh yes.... There were turtles and plenty of them as well as stingrays and a multitude of other marine life.

We swam across to the nearest island and found a small path that lead us to the top of the mound availing us with amazing views of the aqua marine waters and other islands and atolls. On the way back we saw a turtle crossing the path and then many big marine iguanas sunbathing. One actually posed for Patrick.

I swam back to get breakfast ready. It was still too early for breakfast but we had a visit from a floating hawker selling fresh baguettes at US $15 each.

Few more vendors passed us including a lobster seller and then came the marine park rangers to charge the fees for the use of this reserve.

It was one of the most relaxing days we have had by far since our adventure began in February.

After a breakfast of fresh blueberry pancakes, some went kayaking and the others swimming or snorkelling. You did not need to dive to see the wonders of the ocean here. The water was so clear and still. It was bliss!

After a relaxing afternoon we decided to leave this paradise, the aim was to leave early while still light and head towards Grenada. Dinner was a spinach quiche that was planned for whilst we were underway.

I know we all would have loved staying here for another day, hell no, another week. But we had to go now.

Just as we left the protected nature reserve, Colin got his fishing line out and even before sunset we had caught our 2nd trevally of the trip!

Since dinner had already been cooked the trevally would have to wait in the fridge until Grenada the following day.

[somethingsherrysays]

SIMPLICITY OF A FAMILY SUMMER VACTION

July 4th through the 15th

My husband, my twin sister and brother in law planned on having this boat trip to the Bahamas. My sister and her husband go just about every summer. My husband Chip and I tagged along this time on their 36 foot cabin cruiser. Beautiful boat and Steve is an awesome sea man.the boats name is LUHR me in. Which I designed for them. Actually I’m quite proud of.

This was Chip and my first trip going to the Bahamas let alone staying on their boat the whole 10 day trip. To tell you that I was excited to go was just an understatement… just the simplicity of hanging out with family… me, my husband, sister Terry, and her husband Steve. Aaaahhh Family Time…

This blog may be a bit boring as I don’t have any drama to add. It was the most spectacular trip we’ve had in a very long time. But I think I’d like to describe myself as this way…simple.. just enjoying the big AND little things brought my way. Looking at life always half FULL. Bumps along the way? Sure, but always workable and thankful for what I have. It was a fabulous trip- - we all didn’t get underneath each other ( as my momma would have said) underneath as in “in each others way or on each others nerves’

We spear fished, bottom fished, snorkeled around looking at the reefs and coral beautiful underwater sites sunken boats. We rode around Spanish Wells island on a Golf carts to take in the beautiful local life. The plants are bountiful from lemons, limes, mangos o’ plenty, jack fruit trees, -amazing btw- avocado and so much more. Everyone we met was so friendly on every island we went to. About the 7th day we headed to Green Turtle Island (just west of Great Abacos) that was the toughest ride. 3 /4 foot swells for maybe one hour then. Que the music🎶 awe awe Aaawwwweee🎶 smooth as glass.

Heaven

I saw a total of four flying fish in my constant bobble head turning from left to right to just take it all in. Even helped Steve …mascerate …read the word carefully…we close but not that close haha if your a boat person - - you know.😉 got to Green Turtle and it rained (only time it rained on our trip) but it didn’t stop our spirits— WE ARE IN THE BAHAMS DAMNIT- - mind soul even spritzers drinks provided by my lovely husband spirits were just fine rain or shine.

Onto Walkers Cay to finish our trip out for a good couple of days… Walkers Cay is where most people come to check in from Florida area. Airstrip / island is about a mile long so there is a little private airstrip.

Breathtaking… again, the simplicity

Bimini, Chub Cay, Euluthera - Spanish Wells, Green Turtle, (black sound/ white sound- little populated areas close to Green Turtle), Walkers Cay, Double- Breasted Island (where the sand is like stepping on pillows).

Unplugged and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.