Well, we lasted the night with no issues and it is such a pretty morning. I stepped out of our shelter and looked at the beautiful blue ocean with white caps. There were a few black and white seagulls flying overhead and the sandy beach felt so good to my feet. I was the first one up and about and thought it would be nice to take a morning swim. I took off my shirt and headed for the water. I noticed how warm the water was for being so early in the morning when it should have been a little colder. Anyway, I walked out so far and dove into an oncoming wave and swam a little ways out. The water felt so good and refreshing. I looked back at the shore and saw that everyone else was getting up and called out to them. I told them the water was great and for them to come on out. Helen stripped down to her bra and panties and came into the water, Peter was taking his time getting his shirt off before running into the water and making a big splash as he dove into the water.
The professor wasn't budging. He wanted nothing to do with the water at that moment, so he just sat and watched us frolick in the water like children. We were splashing around and dunking each other and having so much fun despite our situation. However, it was difficult to not notice the dolphins swimming nearby. I had never seen a dolphin up close and they seem to not be bothered by us either because they were coming closer. One swam right up to Helen as she reached her hand out and slid it along its side. She said it felt so smooth and before we knew it we were surrounded by playful gray dolphins. We watched as they jumped out of the water and back in again. It was fun to hear their clicks and whistles as if children playing and talking to one another. We managed to swim around in the warm blue water for a little while before heading back to shore where Doctor Wesley was sitting there running calculations through his head.
He was so upset about us being stranded on this island until it reappears back to where we started. I fell down on the sand next to him and listened to his ramblings before asking if there was anything I could do. He just rambled some more and was drawing things in the sand. I couldn't make heads or tales of any of it, so I got up and checked our supplies. We definitely needed some food and more firewood. I got together with Peter and Helen and we devised a game plan to hunt for food while collecting firewood. I did not know how much Helen was frightened of hunting, so we sent her on firewood patrol while Peter and I looked for food. We got some stones together and sharpened them on some stones in the water and tore strips from my shirt to tie the sharpened stones to long branches we found. "These would make good spears," I told Peter who was struggling with his. Once we were ready, Peter and I headed out down the dirt path deep into the jungle to hunt. We weren't sure what animals we would come across so we were very cautious. As we got deeper into the jungle we noticed a spotted rabbit sitting on a dark brown log eating some nuts. Peter and I split up and came at it from two different angles as to not spook it. Once we were in place and close enough, I threw my spear stabbing the rabbit in its side and killing it. Peter walked up to it, removed my spear from its side and grabbed it by its long ears. He picked it up showing it to me and said, "well, we have dinner". But we knew that one rabbit was not going to feed us for a few days so we continued to hunt for more food picking berries and nuts as we went along.
Once we made it back to the camp, we had three rabbits, two squirrels, and a very large snake. We placed everything down by the fire and as Peter began cleaning the animals for their meat, I went with my spear into a nearby tidepool and speared a few fish as well. I couldn't believe how plentiful the animals were here, but I knew we should have enough to sustain us for awhile. Helen made it back from a third trip gathering firewood and had a nice stack of it that should last a couple days and so we were setting up to brave the long months ahead. The doctor sat writing in his journal and taking notes before coming near the fire with us. We used our spears to hold the meat over the fire to cook while we chatted about our adventure.
After eating and getting full bellies, Helen and Peter decided to go for a walk down the beach to get some exercise and to look around the island. I, myself, was headed to our shelter for a nap. After swimming, hunting, and then eating, I was quite tired. I removed one of the side panels of our shelter to feel the breeze blowing while I slept. Doctor Wesley was still journaling before coming over to the shelter to chat with me. He informed me of his calculations of being stuck here for months and that we needed to make sure we are prepared for anything, the weather, animal attacks, whatever. I told him I would get right on it after taking my nap. The doctor then got up and went and sat under a shade tree and relaxed watching the waves roll in and break on the beach.
Helen and Peter continued to walk around and noticed a swimming hole off of the beach and decided to investigate. As they got closer, they noticed the huge fish swimming around it. They had beautiful colors and all of them were over a foot long and fat. They would make a perfect meal with just two of them. They continued to walk and as they did, Helen was noticing the beautiful flowers they walked by. Some of them actually looked like they could take a bite out of someone. Peter stated that he had never seen any flowers like this in any books or pictures. Helen felt drawn to some of them and picked a few to take back to camp.
As they got deeper into the jungle on the dirt path they could hear the sounds of a waterfall and headed that direction. They walked through shrubs and hanging branches, Helen slapping the bugs that were landing on her before they came to an opening in the jungle where there was a gorgeous crystal clear waterfall. It had to be about thirty feet high but the sound it made hitting the water below made a soothing sound. Helen and Peter sat on some nearby rocks overlooking the pool beneath the waterfall and sat gazing at it. They noticed quite a few different species of birds hanging around in the trees and Helen just happened to bring her camera and got some great photos.
After spending a couple of hours there, they decided to head back for camp. They found their way back to the path and followed it towards the beach. When they returned to camp, the doctor was snoozing under his shade tree and I was napping in our shelter. I could hear Helen and Peter walk up and sit by the fire watching the waves. They must have sat there for hours talking because when I got up they were still sitting where they were when they returned from their walk. I walked out and headed for a seat next to Helen and they told me of their excursion and all the sights they encountered. She showed me some of the flowers she picked which she was making a wreath out of. She already had one on her head and was making one for Peter. I couldn't believe that we were stuck on this amazing island with no hopes of seeing home for several months. The things were are going to miss at home, but look at what we have discovered here. I think this place outweighs home for now.
Day after day, we will survive on this exotic island. We keep track of the days and months before we would see home again. This was to be our home for the next eight months and will definitely be worth writing about based on everything this tiny island has to offer. All we can do is wait for the next reappearance of this island and our home.
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