So begins a new story, Long Way from Home. In case you’re wondering — why yes, I did get the title from the old spiritual, Motherless Child. Thanks for asking! Paul Robeson recorded the most well-known version, and that’s the version I will break out into while washing the dishes. Don’t know why, just feels right in that context. I’m a big fan of Robeson, whose Here I Stand is great reading.
Also a big fan of sea turtles these days. Currently reading Voyage of the Turtle: In Pursuit of the Earth’s Last Dinosaur by Carl Safina. If you dig evolutionary history, natural history, and turtles, it’s the book for you. I got all my main info for this page from there. Sadly, these critters are endangered by rising sea levels that wash out their clutches, loss of beaches to tourism and bright lights that confuse baby sea turtles trying to find their way to shore, and giant fishing nets that catch them up (along with sharks, dolphins, porpoises, and other non-tuna.) You can find out more about it from the World Wildlife Fund.
Lots of sea turtles where I live. Not the “big ones” like in the cartoon, but I can see them every time I go to the beach.
I’ve accidently caught one with a hook while I was fishing. They cry like a baby and you can feel the sound coming up the fishing line. It’s heartbreaking and sets off a panic reaction in you as you fight to free the turtle from the hook and line.
I forgot to tell you, I live in Kealakekua, Hawai’i. That’s on the Kona side of the Big Island.
That sounds like a beautiful place to live. I live an hour or so from the Oregon coast and try to get to the Pacific as much as possible. One of these days I want to move to Astoria or Manzanita or one of the coastal towns and roost.
I can imagine your panic! The last thing you want to do is hurt one of those guys. Do you come across their clutches or baby turtles heading out to sea?
Not often. There is a black sand beach in the southern part of the island that is famous for it though. Punaluu Beach Park. It’s an interesting place to swim as well. It’s a partially protected cove with a strong current.
I’ve seen turtles, reef fish, eels, sharks….
The panic that sets in when you accidently hook up a turtle is unreal. Then, on top of the knowledge you are stressing the turtle is the knowledge of the fines and possible jail time you can get for bothering the turtle. In ancient Hawai’i, the turtle (we call it a honu) was a food source. I think in some of the remote areas it still is.
On a separate topic, I would love to set up underwater speakers on a full beach like Waikiki, and when the water is full, start up the theme song from Jaws. Du-DUM……Du-DUM…..du, DUM – just to see how long it would take for the water to empty.