Kauai 2012: Day 8 Beware the urchins!

Eric had to work today so we loaded up the kids and headed for the beach!

Our first stop was at the Habitat for Humanity thrift store to pick up some essentials. We got 4 beach chairs, two sets of fins, three snorkels, one mask, and some more sand castle making tools. All for about 40 bucks. That is the same as one set of mask, snorkel and fins at Costco.

We stopped at the store to pick up some water and some alcohol to disinfect the "new" snorkel stuff then it was off to Poipu beach!

London didn't really appreciate Popee putting a bucket on his head but Lori was quick enough with the camera to catch it!

We are pretty easy to amuse. Kailin, London and Popee spent a fair amount of time just looking at our feet in the sand while the waves washed over them.

London and Kailin walking toward the "Sand Bridge" where the two coves are divided.

Check out this optical illusion of the foot print when it is turned upside down.

This is the sand bridge looking back towards the beach. Pretty cool the way the waves come at it from both sides and run into each other.

Nanee, Kailin, London and I go out to check the tide pools.

Nanee and Popee went out snorkeling first while Lori watched the kids and then Lori and Popee went out. There were fish all over the place. I won't even try to describe the different ones, but there were some real colorful ones and some big ones that kept swimming past us in schools.

Sea urchins, the porcupine of the sea!
While Nanee and Popee were out snorkeling, Nanee got between the waves and some rocks and was pushed into them. As she was trying to get over the rocks she had to put her hands down and there were sea urchins everywhere.

There are seven embedded stingers on the end of this finger....

And two shot under the fingernail! OwwEEEE!
A few other nicks and scrapes but this was the worst. Lori took her over to the lifeguard station and he bandaged up the scrapes and suggested soaking her finger in vinegar to dissolve the brittle needles. Her fingers hurt, but she soldiered on with us.

While I was digging in the sand with a bucket, this little guy popped out of the side of the hole. It is about the size of a silver dollar.

Packed up the gear and headed for the car and found this hen and chics walking around the parking lot. Did I mention there are CHICKENS EVERYWHERE!

Next stop was for lunch at Puka Dog!
Yeah, I know it sounds like puke a dog, but Puka means hole and they make there own buns and poke the dog down into it with whichever condiment you pick from the list. Very good! I could have eaten several of them!