Aug 23, 2015- Yucatan, Mexico

 

The ground was unlike any I had ever walked upon.

These waters were rare, and one of the only places on earth that these birds habitat. Tens of thousands of wild flamingos.

 We came upon them by accident just out having a look down Calle 27 outside of Progresso.  

 Laguna Rosada...  Rose colored waters, speckled with pink as far as you could see.. It was breathtaking. The road Dzemul - Xtampu cut right though it.

Cameras in hand we set foot closer to the flamingos. Being carful not to startle the lanky birds. Dean leading the way. It felt as if we were walking on a giant sponge. The earth dried by the hot Yucatan sun was deeply cracked and soft. Dean stopped for a moment, as men do… and I went on ahead. Feeling the ground become softer..I thought, if I were quick- I could get through this bit and be on the harder sponge again. A few more steps…my left foot stuck- I pulled up only to be pulled down more, fighting back with my right foot, that one too was pulled in!  Every time I tried to pull myself out I could feel my feet getting sucked down deeper. I pulled harder, holding my camera above my head, and just as hard as I pulled up I was sucked down even deeper. Now to my knees and in seconds up to my thighs!  I remembered reading a book called “ The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook”  about quick sand. It was just as they described- so I stopped fighting it and knew I might have to lay out flat in order to get free. I yelled out to Dean! “ take my camera” He started toward me “hurry,” I said with a bit of a fright in my voice.

He reached out his hand, I looked up and grabbed on. He pulled me up and out in one very strong swoop!  Loosing his sandals into the abyss as well. 

“ I turn my back for a minute and look what you get up to!”  we laughed. My heart still beating hard. As hard as it was beating 4 weeks prior when we were standing on the edge of a cliff over the Grand Canyon.  

Do something everyday that scares ya, Dean would always say, lets you know you’re alive. 

Well I was alive….and scared…whew. 

I think it was quick sand!  sure enough-  I would of lost my tevas if not for the strap around my ankles, it was all that held them on, strong velcro. I think I lost my toe rings tho! I said wide eyed, just kidding.

“You almost wrecked your camera, but at least our skin will be soft and subtle” Dean joked.

"You probably should of taken a picture of me stuck in it", I said, after recovering from the initial shock.  

“I would of but you looked in a bit of a panic” he replied.

True, I was. A very uneasy feeling being pulled into the earth against my will…..

After a bit of a shoot at the birds we decided to go to el Golfo de México for a clean up-it was just across the road. Full of mud I was hesitant to get into the car- “throw your tevas in the trunk and don’t worry- it’s a rental” Dean smiled.

 

 

   mentalfloss.com/article/51826/how-escape-quicksand