Summer holiday 2004
le Cap D´Agde − France


Thursday, 15th July

It is in the beginning of the afternoon and we haven´t done any spectacular things since this morning, just lying about actually. And by now you must be familiar with our morning ritual, so I didn´t want to bother you (just for a change) with that again. Now, if you will excuse me, at the moment I am quit busy doing nothing at all!

It is around five in the afternoon when my oldest son and I decide to take a walk. We go to the "Plage de la Roquille" beach and stroll through the shallow surf towards "Plage du Mole". Halfway in between both beaches are the rocky outcrops that appear at low tide. Here we stop and wander around, inspecting the many tide pools to see if we can find some marine animals. And we do, and lots of them as a matter of fact! It is a regular maternity ward out here. Lots of young fish, and crabs in all sizes, and an awful lot of them as well!

Then all of a sudden it strikes me. It is the daily feeding time! If the tide sets many of the very small fish are caught in these tide pools, unable to escape, and it is these fish that the small crabs prey upon. In large numbers they come out of the rock crevasses in which they hide away. They stay motionless until a fish comes close enough. With their large claws they then very quickly grab hold of the fish. Once caught, they take the fish above the water table and start to consume it bit by bit. Everywhere you look, you can see the glistening silver belly´s of fishes that are being lifted out of the water and carried away, in order to be devoured. It is a regular crab feeding frenzy that takes place under the setting sun.

Having observed this feeding spectacle we now return to the apartment across the "Plage du Mole" beach.