Florida!

Yesterday we went to Sanibel Island to swim and sunbathe. The weather was spectacular, temps in the lower 80s, stiff onshore breeze. We found a parking place, paid the fee and walked along the narrow beach until we found a nice place, not too crowded. Though it's Spring Break, there were no college-age kids (possibly because it costs six dollars to take the beautiful white bride to the Island). The water was almost warm, but there were lots of waves crashing at an angle onto the white sand, which had a band of white shells marking the high-water mark. But once into the water we noticed a powerful current pulling us parallel to the beach. It was difficult to stand upright, and almost impossible to walk against it. The waves were irregular, some high, some not, and they seemed at times to split in half as they came in. Soon we were laughing because, as my sister exclaimed at one point, "it's like being in a washing machine!" We had to come in to rest after about twenty minutes, and then I realized we were the only ones in the water; everyone else was either sunbathing or walking along. some picking up shells. Still, after a rest, we went back out. My sister tried the experiment of lying on her back, butt down and feet up, and the rip current grabbed her and moved her surprisingly swiftly down along the shore - fortunately not outwards. It was amazing.