The Beach & More

We've out of touch from the Internet for 3 days.

Once again, I must say there is something magical about the beach.

It was busy this weekend meaning that there were about 30 people on 5 miles of beach. We bumped into one gringo who was always smiling. He asked us why everyone is always smiling. What was in the water? What was in the air?

It's simple...the beach.

We watched a flock of Pelicans fly over. These large, ungainly birds fly in a "V" formation. They have a huge beak, head and neck with a wide wing spread.

And they fly s-l-o-w-l-y. They were flying into a head wind of maybe 10 knots, a light breeze. It took them forever to pass us so we watched for quite a while.

The lead bird flaps it's wings once and only once. The two birds behind the lead one on each leg of the "V" then flap once. This proceeds down the two wings of the "V" until mid way.

Midway, the birds flap twice. Then toward the end, the birds have to flap 4 or 5 times.

Then it all starts again with the lead bird flapping once. The lead bird is changed out every couple of flaps.

This must be uber efficient because they glide throughout the whole process of one bird after another flapping their wings, in a flock of maybe 75 birds...maybe 20 seconds.

Well, are you bored now?

On to Olga's.

I met a couple of interesting guys this morning.

One was an MD who specialized in exotic disease. He spent the better part of his life living in huts with mud floors in some remote corner of the world. He also is the father of 3 prominent guys living in the community.

The next guy taught people how to climb trees...that's right...trees.

Apparently there is a big demand for this from the scientists that study life at the top of the canopy in the jungle and forests of the world.

Now there is a kids' grown up type of job.

Equally amazing is that he started when he was 40. His main climbing instructor is 70.

We had a spirited discussion about almost everything. I had to tear myself away to get back home to pick up Yella for the day's activities.

This will be an interesting day. Tonight, I start play rehearsals.

HHMMMM?????? Houston, we have a problem....