Just got back from Virginia Beach. It was pretty cool. My sister and family were there for some military school her husband is going to, so my parents, and the Lady and I all flew out to do the family thing for a couple days. I didn't take any pictures, but if anyone else got any good ones, I'll post. It was beautiful. Throughout the weekend, I probably walked 9-10 miles of beach (enjoying my new smoke-free lungs). I fucking love beach walks. I could walk forever. Did some swimming on Saturday. It was pretty cool. Then got home today and did laundry to wash the sand and salt out of everything.
One of the highlights of the weekend had to be saving a stingray's life.
Yeah, you read that right. We were on the beach on saturday, and the guys near us were fishing. One guy started acting like he had something that he was fighting. This fight continued for easily 15 minutes, as whatever it was that he had got closer and closer to shore. Eventually, we all noticed something very large flopping around on the beach, and these two jackasses standing around it with dumb, "um, now what?" looks on their faces. My girlfriend, dad, brother-in-law and I ran over to see what it was, and there is was: a beautiful, grey stingray, flopping around, gasping for air, large hook in his mouth. I couldn't believe my eyes. He was all gray (white underside), had a three-foot wingspan, and his life was clearly fading. I was horrified by what I was watching. Such a beautiful creature, slowly suffocating right before our eyes. One of the fishing jackasses slowly knelt down in front of it and was able to get the hook out without trouble, then stood up again, apparently not sure what to do. I couldn't stand it, and I stepped near. The guy and I apparently had the same thought at the same time, as we both knelt down and started trying to gently push the ray back into the ocean, keeping a very cautious eye on its tail. We got him in to the water, and at first, he didn't move at all. Then got him in a little deeper... then one small flap... then a big flap! He was still alive! He started flapping again, and slowly made his way back out to sea. Hopefully he's doing fine, back to being beautiful and doing... well, whatever it is that stingrays do.
So yeah. Not only did I get to touch a live stingray, but I got to save its life. It was pretty cool.
One of the highlights of the weekend had to be saving a stingray's life.
Yeah, you read that right. We were on the beach on saturday, and the guys near us were fishing. One guy started acting like he had something that he was fighting. This fight continued for easily 15 minutes, as whatever it was that he had got closer and closer to shore. Eventually, we all noticed something very large flopping around on the beach, and these two jackasses standing around it with dumb, "um, now what?" looks on their faces. My girlfriend, dad, brother-in-law and I ran over to see what it was, and there is was: a beautiful, grey stingray, flopping around, gasping for air, large hook in his mouth. I couldn't believe my eyes. He was all gray (white underside), had a three-foot wingspan, and his life was clearly fading. I was horrified by what I was watching. Such a beautiful creature, slowly suffocating right before our eyes. One of the fishing jackasses slowly knelt down in front of it and was able to get the hook out without trouble, then stood up again, apparently not sure what to do. I couldn't stand it, and I stepped near. The guy and I apparently had the same thought at the same time, as we both knelt down and started trying to gently push the ray back into the ocean, keeping a very cautious eye on its tail. We got him in to the water, and at first, he didn't move at all. Then got him in a little deeper... then one small flap... then a big flap! He was still alive! He started flapping again, and slowly made his way back out to sea. Hopefully he's doing fine, back to being beautiful and doing... well, whatever it is that stingrays do.
So yeah. Not only did I get to touch a live stingray, but I got to save its life. It was pretty cool.
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I'm happy the creature is okay. Those guys are awesome!
That guy needs to share his supplier. He's got the good stuff.