I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Friday, November 5, 2010

Quicksand?!?

Hi! Phew, I made it home...a scary experience at the beach: quicksand!

Who knew? [more on that in a minute...]


We had a bit of a storm and some beach flooding yesterday, the sun came out and I rushed home to walk on the beach. The flooding meant I had to walk along the dune edge quite a ways west to find a shallow place to cross to the waterline---where I was just sure treasure lies, lol.


I found a place with shallow-looking water, mostly just wet sand. Took a careful step...and sank into the sand past my knees! Cameras went flying, hat too. And of course my second foot followed to try to save my balance but no...I plowed head first into the wet sand.


Here's my only audience!


Not a human soul for miles. Luckily I was able to extricate the second foot and then scrunch over to dry sand and get to safety. But it was frightening. I'd have been there for a long time before anyone missed me.

Amazingly my cameras survived. These photos are from my binoculars with the integrated digital camera. It was totally soaked and sand-encrusted but I think it survived, the shakiness of the pix is my hands shaking after I got home! I got this camera when they were very expensive. Now you can but them at CVS for $29.99. I think I am going to get a backup, love it for bird pix. 


And yes this did happen to me once before...I took one of my kids---age 3 or 4! stupid!--- on a snowy beach hike, and sank through the snow into quicksand. That was worse, because my boots stayed in the sand and I had to walk home in the snow and ice with one sock and a bare foot! My kid was fine, of course. (We found my hiking boots that next summer in the sand...).

No more storm hikes for me with out leaving a note. 



 love
     lizzy

              gone to the beach.......  


5 comments:

  1. Izzy..
    YIKES!!!
    What a close call!
    and an excellent message to be heeded by us all!
    NEVER leave home without letting someone know your intentions, destination, and return time.
    There are times I've needed solitude..
    It is my nature..
    but, as I grab my camera and equipment,
    I make a simple phone call including the above.
    My cell is in my pocket, turned on, but to no ring, just a buzz. When done and heading home..I make another call to check in!
    Just a simple rule of common sense can save a life!!
    warmest sandy hugs..
    Loui♥

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  2. How scarey!! I can't imagine how paniced I would be. I've only seen it on tv and that is always exagerated, or is it? Glad you are safe Lizzy. I love your posts.

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  3. Wow! Glad you are okay. The photos are wonderful and I hope your camera cleans up alright. Kit

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  4. Thanks for good advice and good wishes, everyone! My cameras seem fine,fingers crossed. Regular digital was in a neoprene case, so it seemed dry.
    I never take a phone to the beach....because I want to focus on "the Now" and my surroundings. But ....

    (Also it might not have survived since it would have been in a cargo pocket and submerged...)

    And Peggy, well, the things on TV are muddier looking but pretty accurate, the suction is awful...and frightening (at least to me, maybe I'm a wimp?). Very rare conition for the beach though...I'll just be more careful where I step!

    love

    lizzy

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  5. Yikes! That would be scary. Especially since you were all alone. From now on, pictures from a distance. Not up close and personal after a storm has been through. :) Glad you are okay. Best wishes, Tammy

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