The Little Turtle That Could

Well, today we'll tell you about an amazing, convoluted race to the sea. And you can scroll down to the bottom if you want to see it. But along the way, you'll at least have to have a glimpse at what Shirley, Wilson, I, and the rest of our Groupon groupies saw in the canals of the rain forest near Tortuguero over the previous two days. These photos are placed without comment. They speak for themselves.

All right. You've seen some of the critters. Those were the warmups. Now for the main feature -- the tiny turtle story.

We were gathered in Tortuguero, the small town (village, really) next to Tortuguero National Park, and Alex, our guide, was orienting us to what we would see in the 200 yards of small buildings and walkways that we would visit. Then he spotted something moving in that short tropical grass that never seems to get very tall. It was the movement of a gray object about the size of the palm of my hand. It was a baby leatherback, and it was heading in the wrong direction -- toward the river. (This sometimes happens, Alex explained later.)

Alex picked it up, wrapped it in part of his shirt to prevent his contact and body warmth from affecting the little critter, and we walked off toward the beach, less than 600 feet away. There was no cuddling in the hands or any of that nonsense. Turtles are a serious business in Costa Rica, and Alex set the baby on the ground and let it do its thing.

And then, it single-mindedly, and with great determination, began its desperate dash toward the Caribbean, scrambling in almost a straight line toward a destination it couldn't possibly see. As the Grouponites wished it forward, the moment seemed reminiscent of Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade--Cameras to the right of it, cameras to the left of it, onward toward destiny raced the reptilian. Its not to reason why, its but to do or die, into the frothing surf charged the reptilian.

Sorry that the photos aren't always well focused. Assisting the photographer seemed to be the last thing on its mind.

Love, Shirley, Robert
and Wilson