Red Tide

For the last couple of weeks it's been the Red Tide in San Diego (which despite sounding like some awful video game or a reenactment of Normandy Beach is really just an algae bloom).   The algae in San Diego happens to also be bioluminscent which is pretty much Mother Nature's way of proving that she is, in fact, totally magic.

We planned to head to the beach on Monday for Family night.  There is a park there and we thought that we would be able to distract Claire with swings and slides long enough to be able to see the glowing and not have her soaking wet by the time we left.

We, of course, underestimated her ability to instantly become soaked and covered in sand and despite our best efforts she drove home without any pants on (hers being totally wet and covered in sand even though we were only on the beach for 5 min and it was pitch black).  I tried to get a picture or video of the glowing waves but the camera on my phone and my skills as a photographer just weren't up to snuff so I had to steal this picture from the interwebs.

That people, is not enhanced.  It really does look like that. It's amazing.  And if you haven't see it yet you should.  Last night (after $1 baskin-robins scoop night) we drove up the coast because we wanted to see it again.  It was magical--the glowing waves crashing all around.  A friend told me that if you collect a bottle full of ocean water you can recreate the glowing waves at home.  She was right and it was perhaps the best part of the whole deal.  We placed ocean water in glasses when we got home and poured a little bit of vinegar into each one.  They lit up with their greeny-blue glow.  If you live close you should certainly try it out.