James Island State Park - Day Five

LIFE IS A BEACH!  Day five started off with an early run/bike ride at 6:10AM for Daddy-O.  Kids and wife slept in.  Dressed and off for the Beach.  Sharon had to stop in Mt. Pleasant for a Mammo and dad and kids spent an hour or so in Barns and Noble Book store.  Then it was off to the Beach.  Isle of Palms Beach... for splashing around in the waves for a few hours.  We also happened to be around for the 4PM releasing of saved and rehabed sea turtles.  Back in time for the "ice cream social" at the campground.  Then we had a pasta dinner with sweet sausages and roasted red pepper grilled out by dad.

More on the sea turtles:

CHARLESTON, S.C. — June 17, 2011 – Come out to the Isle of Palms for a heartwarming release involving three sea turtles successfully rehabilitated by the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rescue program. A loggerhead, green sea turtle and Kemp’s ridley, the most endangered of sea turtles, will be reunited with the ocean at 4:00 p.m. on June 17, 2011 at the Isle of Palms County Park in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Department. The event is open to the public, those who attend should arrive early, carpool and expect to pay for parking at the County park.

More on the turtles being released:

Santee:
Santee, a 160-pound loggerhead, was found September 14, 2010 by a local fisherman who observed that the turtle was not able to dive or swim away. SCDNR was called and brought the turtle to the Sea Turtle Hospital at the South Carolina Aquarium. X-rays revealed excessive gas build up in the intestine caused by a large impaction of horseshoe crab shells. The Impaction passed on November 1, 2010. Santee’s treatment included antibiotic and vitamin injections, mineral oil tube feeding and regular x-rays. Santee has made a full recovery and has a healthy appetite and is ready to hunt in the open ocean.

Euginia:
Euginia, a 9-pound green sea turtle, was found stranded on April 20, 2011 on Kiawah Island S.C. Euginia was dehydrated, hypoglycemic and covered in barnacles and sea squirts. Treatment included fluids and vitamins, antibiotic injections, bloodwork and radiographs. Euginia has fully recovered and looks like a whole new turtle, s/he is ready to join her turtle friends back at sea.

Edwin S. Taylor:
Taylor, a Kemp’s ridley, the most endangered out of all the species of sea turtles, was accidentally hooked by a fisherman on the Folly Beach pier on April 14, 2011. On top of being hooked, Taylor had some lesions on his/her body. Treatment included antibiotic

injections, antibiotics on the lesions, lots of food and TLC. Taylor has been active and swimming around his/her tank since arriving, surely practicing for the release. Taylor is at optimal health and strength and has been medically cleared.