New Swim Speed Record...

SoWal Expert

Aug 19, '07 · 6:14 PM1,992

...Set this afternoon at Grayton by Tootsie, Beachmom, friend of Toots, and Jdarg, who were out blissfully floating in the emerald green waters, only to be disrupted by a MF shark. Thankfully, nice people on shore got our attention and made the shark sign, and we very calmly made our way in.
NOT!!!! :floor:

We were swimming MACHINES!! :lol:

Toots, friend of Toots, and Beachmom hauled a$$, while I paused to yell at Bdarg, who was too freakin' interested in the shark and not saving his wife and mother of his children. :bang:

We spent 5 minutes getting our hearts out of throats, then figured we deserved Red Bar margaritas, which were enjoyed while floating in the outflow. Whew.

Replies

SoWal Expert

Aug 19, '07 · 8:51 PM#27

And a dargarita!

absolutely!!

SoWal Insider

Aug 19, '07 · 8:52 PM#28

absolutely!!

:funn:

superJfunn

Aug 19, '07 · 9:13 PM#29

So how big and what kind of shark was it

that's what i want to know :wave:

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Aug 19, '07 · 9:14 PM#30

that's what i want to know

We didn't stop it to ask.

superJfunn

Aug 19, '07 · 9:15 PM#31

We didn't stop it to ask.

bdarg know everything. ask him.

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Aug 19, '07 · 9:17 PM#32

bdarg know everything. ask him.

He would have stayed out there to "interact with nature" had I not been screaming at him to get moving towards land.

Meow

Aug 19, '07 · 9:20 PM#33

I want to know what you wenches were saying when this went down. Can you even remember? :idontno:

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Aug 19, '07 · 9:22 PM#34

I want to know what you wenches were saying when this went down. Can you even remember?

Well, you know it wasn't "Gee, we need to get the heck out of this water or we are going to be in big trouble".

Meow

Aug 19, '07 · 9:25 PM#35

Well, you know it wasn't "Gee, we need to get the heck out of this water or we are going to be in big trouble".

...uh, no. I was thinking it might have been a bit more colorful. Did you scream or just haul it? I am so curious what people do when faced with these scary things! When I was in that kayak, I just remember being completely silent so I could concentrate on paddling.

SoWal Insider

Aug 19, '07 · 9:27 PM#36

I want to know what you wenches were saying when this went down. Can you even remember?

I'll bet we could've learned some new words, had we only been there.

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Aug 19, '07 · 9:27 PM#37

...uh, no. I was thinking it might have been a bit more colorful. Did you scream or just haul it? I am so curious what people do when faced with these scary things! When I was in that kayak, I just remember being completely silent so I could concentrate on paddling.[/quote]

I am incapable of this.

Meow

Aug 19, '07 · 9:28 PM#38

...uh, no. I was thinking it might have been a bit more colorful. Did you scream or just haul it? I am so curious what people do when faced with these scary things! When I was in that kayak, I just remember being completely silent so I could concentrate on paddling.[/quote]

I am incapable of this.

...it is a miracle, no?

SoWal Insider

Aug 19, '07 · 9:46 PM#39

...uh, no. I was thinking it might have been a bit more colorful. Did you scream or just haul it? I am so curious what people do when faced with these scary things! When I was in that kayak, I just remember being completely silent so I could concentrate on paddling.

I remember that day Kitty. :lol:

That was the first time I met you on the beach. There were two sharks. One about 6 ft or so, and then another about 4 ft we saw before you arrived.

Glad y'all are ok. It's one thing to know they are around, but when you know you're swimming right next to one totally different story.

SoWal Guide

Aug 20, '07 · 6:33 AM#40

I want to know what you wenches were saying when this went down. Can you even remember?

I don't think I said a word. hard to swim like crazy while screaming. I do remember jdarg screaming at bdarg to get moving... :roll: :wave:

SoWal Insider

Aug 20, '07 · 6:46 AM#41

OMG!!!

I've only been worrying if you'd all be safe from Dean. Scary, glad you were all safe. :wave:

By the way...Bad bdarg, safety first, science later.

SoWal Insider

Aug 20, '07 · 7:11 AM#42

I've never been so panic-stricken and I've never moved so fast (even though it felt like I was getting nowhere fast). I must admit that this was a first for me (all of us!). Never until today have I had the "get back on shore, there is a shark" signal from the folks on shore. and we were having SUCH funn out there!!! the water was as clear as I've ever seen it.

the dang shark kept circling back and eventually everyone cleared out from the gulf.

Tootsie, what time of the afternoon was it? I've read to avoid the water early morning and at dusk as for swimming and risk for sharks. I figured middle of the day would be safe. :idontno:

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname

Aug 20, '07 · 7:33 AM#43

Geez, all the excitement happens when I'm not around.

Glad you all are ok!!!!!

SoWal Guide

Aug 20, '07 · 7:50 AM#44

Tootsie, what time of the afternoon was it? I've read to avoid the water early morning and at dusk as for swimming and risk for sharks. I figured middle of the day would be safe.

it was around 2:00 pm. and gorgeous!

Beach Fanatic

Aug 20, '07 · 8:40 AM#45

Remain calm and haul a$$ :shark:

:leaving: I bet that's easier said than done!!!

SoWal Expert

Aug 20, '07 · 8:56 AM#46

Tootsie, what time of the afternoon was it? I've read to avoid the water early morning and at dusk as for swimming and risk for sharks. I figured middle of the day would be safe.

bad math. The girl who was killed by the shark in Miramar, and the boy who was bitten during the same week on Cape San Blas (or somewhere in that area) were both bitten around 11am. Most reports of people seeing sharks around here tend to be between 11am-2:00pm and that is also when most people see Sea Turtles and Dolphins. Maybe it's lunch time in the marine world.

SoWal Expert

Aug 20, '07 · 9:12 AM#47

Remain calm and haul a$$ :leaving: I bet that's easier said than done!!!

It rarely happens on the first occasion. Personally, I think it is easier to remain calm if you see the shark and know what you are dealing with, rather than having people freak out and yelling, "shark!, and he's coming at you!" When that is the case, instantly, a million thoughts go through your mind. Panic! I wonder if it is a HUGE 14' Mako shark? Maybe it is just a small shark. Maybe they just saw a fin of a porpoise. Maybe they saw a Cobia. I would look rather foolish if I didn't come to shore to see how big the shark was and ended up being eaten.

The newspaper reports, "the man appeared to remain calm and peaceful, until the shark took the first bite." (CHOMP)

On my first "Shark" encounter, it swam a few feet in front of me. I was at the far edge of the first sandbar, fishing in waist to chest-deep water, and I think it took me about 10 minutes to run to shore. I was completely exhausted and nearly collapsed when I hit dry sand. Then, it hit me -- that was probably one of those Cobias which everyone talks about trying to catch. Damn! :bang:

My second encounter, only a few weeks later was much more peaceful and it was a shark, about a 7' Black Tip, which swam parallel with the curl of a small wave, only 15' in front of me. Again, I was fishing and a pregnant lady had walked out close by and she was just relaxing in the water. The shark swam by her first and she never said a word, and never flinched. I don't think she saw the shark, and no way in hell was I going to ruin her day, so I did nothing, other than watch the shark pass, with my heart rate slightly increased. Suddenly, I felt a calmness come over me as I watched the pregnant lady gently rubbing her belly, and I knew all was well. We both stayed out there, and the shark continued on its way. I felt rather special and gained an appreciation for nature in my new backyard.