Day 270, Year 6 Field Trip and a Fair
Date: Thursday, July 21, 2011
Weather: Foggy, Windy, and Warm (mid-80’s)
Location: Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
It was a full day. Both Mark and I went on the field trip with Sam’s Summer Camp class. The National Marine Life Center we visited did not have many “patients” in rehab, but it was still fun for the kids. They learned a little about dolphins and whales and saw the fresh water turtles known as red-bellied cooters that are the only animals being rehabilitated right now. Some of the turtles are being given dietary supplements because their shells are malformed due to a lack of calcium. Another turtle had been a pet in a school and somehow swallowed a staple. Of course, no one knew that, but when the turtle was not able to move its back legs, it was brought to the center. An x-ray showed the problem and a “milkshake” of lettuce and vegetable oil was the answer. There were no seals or sea lions, so the children didn’t get to learn the difference. But in case you were wondering . . .
Seals have ear holes; sea lions have earflaps.
Seals have short, furry foreflippers with long claws; sea lions have long, hairless foreflippers.
Seals have crimped whiskers; sea lions have long, smooth whiskers.
After the field trip, Mark and I walked to the farmer’s market on the square while waiting for the boys to have their lunch at Summer Camp, then we took them home for naps. After nap we went to the Barnstable County Fair, but we had to go without Heather. She got a call earlier in the day and had to drive to Boston to appear on a TV news show. But by the time we got to the fair, saw a few of the animals, went on a couple of ride, and ate dinner on the lawn, Heather joined us after a hectic day of fighting traffic between here and Boston. Both boys enjoyed the rides with Jonah surprising us by going on a couple of “shake ’em up” rides all by himself. Sam loved the race car and train ride and both boys enjoyed the merry-go-round.. Jonah beamed as he rode the Wiggle Worm. And late in the evening, Sam’s friend Talia arrived and the two of them had a great time going on the rides together. I think they went in the pirate ship and came down the slide from the top deck no less than eight times. By this time, Jonah was fading, but then it was almost 10 pm. Good thing fairs are but once a year!
