The first great release

Day off! Wahoo! Except I used it to get lots of important things done. Continued organizing the RV. I had some of my gear stashed in the compartment under my bed but I’ve moved it all due to a potential unannounced resident. The previous night I definitely heard a mouse. The noise at a trailer park really fluctuates. Some nights you can hear conversations like the people are sitting right next to your bed, others, it’s DEAD quiet. Every noise that was once considered silence now echoes. I just pictured the little furry fellow chewing through my new rain jacket, my balls of yarn (yes they’re considered gear), my pack, or my fins.

So reorganizing was a must. Then a few of the interns and I made the journey to H.E.B. (the local grocery store) to do some necessary shopping. We hopped on “the Wave” which is a free bus service provided for the whole island.

Blah blah blah. Lots of stuff happened…

THEN! We headed off for our first turtle release! Two of our Atlantic Greens were going back to the big ol’ blue.

Hilton - Came into the center in December of 2011. I'm pretty sure he/she suffered
from hypothermia...but i need to double check. oopsy poopsy

Lucky 2012 - The man who found Lucky spotted him from his hotel room and noticed fishing line tangled around his head. He was amazed by the beach goers that did nothing for the turtle. They would stop and look at the
 stranded turtle and remark "Oh that's so sad" then keep walking. Lucky's rescuer used toe nail clippers to removed the mono filament line then immediately called STI. wahoo!

The whole experience was a blast. The turtles were celebrities. Before placing them in their pools on the boat there was a red carpet experience. Less red carpet more boat dock - but still plenty of photos and lots of questions. It was great to see some familiar faces of visitors that had stopped to the center that week.

We were all eager to jump on the boat and send the little dudes off. But first we had an hour long dolphin watch. Pelicans were diving left and right of the boat in search for a salty meal and a few dolphins dangerously danced at the bow. I was in a great place.

I really didn't think i'd get tearful at the actual release - and i didn't! But I was darn close. 

I apologize this is so choppy - but it's my day off and the sun is out.

 oh and pictures will get better I promise