LOST on Pepper Park Beach

DIRECTIONS DID NOT HELP MUCH

 Lost is my favorite TV drama show of all time

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=lost+tv+series

and my fav reality show is Survivor

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=survivor+44

I might possibly have been inhabiting both series on my odyssey on Pepper Park Beach, North Hutchinson's Island Fl on Friday March 3, 2023.

here is the link most of what they talk about was unseen or invisible to me on that day 

https://www.stlucieco.gov/things-to-do/recreation/beaches/pepper-park-beachside

 and will preface my story by telling you that I come from a beach addicted family. Both sides. My parents even had a verb used for our beach visits. Beaching, My dad would say"lets go beaching". Rockaway, New Jersey, and Florida were our places.. My father would walk the beach until he disappeared on the horizon. My mother and I did the water,

so what happened to me is sort of incomprehensible

Friday March 3, 2023

	We found an online blurb that there was a beach nearby which offered a plethora of shells, driftwood and other beachy collectibles...Lets try it.  There were two of us setting out for this adventure. The host and friend's hub were staying home porching and TVing.	GPS helped us get there... we landed, plopped our spare necessities down... the beach was thin... high tide obviously reached the top of the grass... the water and waves smashingly loud and mesmerizing, the water colors of layers of blues and greens and white foam

and I set out walking solo. My friend and I do that., I took my phone and a zip lock bag expecting to stuff it with shells.from this beach of shells,  After about 10 minutes I realized this beach had no shells.

NO WORTHY SHELLS

It had unusual rocks, I switched my mission to rocks. I had set my goal to walk to the white house at the end of the island, except it kept getting farther away, Into the second hour I knew I was in trouble The people I had passed on the way were returning. I turned around into a ferocious wind, so strong that I could barely go forward, with a haft mile more

A GORGEOUS BEACH WITH NO SHELLS

I was 

dehydrated 

Burnt

sand 

in my teeth

Ears (hearing aids)

hair

Feet cramps and calf twitches that made me sway and look unsteady

My iPhone had gotten wet from a tsunami that attacked me and was inoperable for a bit 

I had applied sunscreen but the wind and sand blew it off  and my white sweater billowed up around my head so as to expose all unsunscreened parts to the elements. It kinda looked like a sail.

I was carrying the rock bag which was now quite heavy

I pulled muscles in both arms switching the rock bag back and forth 

My beach mate's phone was in security lock down and her Apple Watch had no juice 

Could not ask her for help 

The entire walk was all white condos for 8 miles 

I could not distinguish one from another

No landmark stood out 

Why would they? We had never been here... those who I had passed going had left... the wind was that punishing...even the veteran beach goers had given up

it was me and the gulls

yep I stopped .and talked to them

MY FRIENDS

Finally I reached the other end of the island  and knew I had to get to the street and ask for help

I must have walked by my friend

the belongings we had were flat, borrowed, unfamiliar... so easily missed, My friend was also walking, so no upright human to spot.

I sat down to rest and got bitten by sand fleas 

I reached the jetty at the island’s other end and knew we had not come this far 

THINKING OF MY MAMA

 

we had not crossed this inlet. or seen fishing folks

I texted my friend for help ...my phone had dried out

with the last juice of her phone she answered with landmarks. Oh and I did have a mobile charger in my bag she could have used but I was too delirious to recall that

She gave me the building landmarks 

I wobbled along with excruciating leg and feet cramps

I was barefoot and wearing a light white sweater which kept blowing up in my face due to the fierce wind

I still recorded my travels with photos (see above)

in case I expired on the beach there would be a record of my travails

 

And in those conditions 

now 3 and 1/2  hours of walking 

barefoot

Wind battered 

cut up by sharp glassy sand

the wind was so strong I could not move forward 

had to stop and walk sideways 

no ID

no money 

but I had my rocks

Near what I thought was the end 

I thought of others and their suffering

Kiev

And 

the Holocaust 

(yes, I went there)

and Jeff Probst and his famous Survivor line "call the medics" 

and my 15 1/2 old dog Liam waiting at home

LIAM AT HOME

 

 

 

 these thoughts are what kept me going the last 2 miles which I did not know were the last two miles

Now in the fourth hour

I stumbled

got up 

refused to give up my rocks

My cramped feet like curled claws

legs muscles throbbing and spastic 

 muscles in both arms were seizing and screaming

THEN

 

I saw my white shirted friend waving by the shore a short distance away

I was never so glad to see someone 

Ever

ironic we both were wearing white, the universal symbol of surrender

Turns out I had walked nearly 8 miles and attained almost 19000 steps according to my Fitbit

 

back at home, Jim S, the host, had attained 1751 by walking to the porch and back

 

if you look at the stats it stands out that my sleep the night before almost equaled my walk, 

I slept 4 hours 51 minutes and walked almost the same

MY FITBIT TELLS THE STORY

 

Oh and the rocks  are coral  and quite worthy of being collected 

ROCKS ARE CORAL

and I know all the things I did wrong but feel free to weigh in...I tell stories for participation and feedback and  growth

MY BEACH COLLECTIONS FROM THE ENTIRE TRIP, FEW SHELLS FROM THIS OUTING THOUGH

 

 and being it was near St Patrick's day, this iconic Irish blessing swirled in my head, the first two lines

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face; 

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, 

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

now that I am back in NY I have to say it was worth it. This Irish/Scottish gal got a story and got some coral, and met some gulls and lived to tell...

 

 

woof, woof