I couldn’t wait to take a look around the lagoon, and hopefully beyond, if the current isn’t too strong in the entrance. It’s a very large lagoon, with lots of little coves to explore. So, I set out paddling along the north shore, constantly reminding myself to keep the land on the right so I wouldn’t get lost. It’s a very low tide again this morning, so there’s lots of interesting sea life exposed that you wouldn’t normally get to see, like this huge sea cucumber.

Using all his hundreds of little tube feet, he was slowly oozing his way toward deeper water, .

I headed for the entrance to our lagoon, hoping to take a look at the anchorage we had used years ago when we visited Wallace Bight. Al took a look at it yesterday in the dinghy and said we must have been crazy. He says at low tide there are roaring rapids and a huge dropoff. I wanted to take a look.

When I got to the entrance, the water didn’t look like it was running too fast, so I headed through. I seemed to be moving pretty fast, so I decided to turn around to see just how tough a paddle I’d have on returning. I didn’t check the tide tables before I left, so I didn’t know when the tide would turn. Well, when I turned around and started paddling, I was moving backwards. I paddled harder. Still, no headway. Do I turn back around and let the current carry me out and then wait hours for slack so that I can get back in? I don’t think so. I paddled with all my might, and eventually I started making a little headway. It seemed like forever, but I finally got into where the lagoon opens up and the current lessened. Whew!

I slowly headed back toward the boat, exploring the sea life along the shore, as I rested.

I saw lots of rock crabs in one area.

I thought this sea snail was pretty.

Suddenly, my VHF radio came to life. I just about jumped out of my skin. This was my first VHF call. It was Al asking me if I was going over to take a look at the rapids He said it’s near slack, so I shouldn’t have any difficulty getting out of our lagoon. So, I headed back to the entrance, which was still running like a river. There were tiny whirlpools and lots of disturbed water — a regular E-ticket ride. But I hung in there and had the ride of my life!

Al said it was only an eighth of a mile over to the rapids. I’d been paddling for two hours already, so that eighth of a mile felt like 8 miles. But, I finally made it, and he was right. We must have been crazy to go through that entrance, even at high water slack.

I headed back for our lagoon. It was getting really hot, and of course I had to paddle right into the sun. I was dressed for the 50 degree water, so I had on all my layers, including my fleece union suit. I’m beginning to think I’m more likely to die from heat stroke than cold shock. The tide still hadn’t turned, so I had to paddle against the current, again. Luckily it was only running about 2 knots. I eventually made it through the entrance and into where there was very little current. While I rested, I took some shots of a Bonaparte’s Gull. He was taking it easy too.

The Bonaparte stood up and started staring in the water. I thought he was admiring himself. He was a handsome devil.

But then………………….

he sprung into action, catching a little breakfast.

Which reminds me — I haven’t had any breakfast.