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Text Box: back & led us to where a turtle was laboriously digging its nest. While our party watched quietly the 2 wardens in snow white dish dashers carried out a loud conversation while shining the torch on the turtle. Because of this attention the turtle moved off to a fresh location. When David bravely suggested that the wardens be quiet, they just moved closer together & carried on. They also produced a hatchling from a pocket. Which did not impress us.

We advised the wardens that we had seen enough & secretly decided to visit the beach later when the wardens had left.

About 11 p.m. the wardens checked the site, shut off the generator & thankfully left.

When all was quiet we set off like the SAS, stumbling along in the dark, while the sky was ablaze with shooting stars, some splitting into showers, a most wonderful experience. We all hit the ground like commandos when a vehicle's lights appeared, but it was only a vehicle headed for the nearby village.

We reached the beach, stumbling in the soft sand & falling into holes. David who had X-ray eyes went off to search for turtles, while we rested against the rocks & enjoyed the marvellous extravaganza of the night sky.

Panic ensued when a small boat appeared round the headland with a searchlight trained on the beach. We all dived behind the rocks & hoped David would not be visible. He eventually returned & led us to along the edge of the ocean, edged with fluorescence, to a turtle. While we knelt watching it digging, a wave came in & soaked us all to the waist.

The three of us decided we had seen enough & after making arrangements for an early visit in the morning, we made our way back in the dark. Suddenly an animal came out of the darkness & we were initially petrified as many wild animals prey on the hatchlings. Thank goodness it was only the stray dog which we dispatched with some well aimed rocks.

We rose at 5 a.m. & headed for the beach. The morning star was throwing a brilliant reflection across the sea. We searched the nest site for hatchlings & were eventually rewarded with the discovery of one tiny creature floundering around in circles at the bottom of its nest.

Ann was given the privilege of carrying it to the sea & we hope sending it safely on its way. Bernie Dixon