Turks and Caicos Day 2- Tidal Flat Day

Today was tidal flat day (aka MUD DAY!!!)

It was a beautiful drive out between the islands and onto the platform!

Hook 'em!

Preparing the sediment sampler

Tough life!

MANGROVES!!!

 We sampled some sediment along the way...

and almost caught Jo-Jo the dolphin!

Gooey!

Then we hit the flats!

Mangrove Breathing tubes 

Scratch marks on the microbial mat from wind blowing the plant around. Just like the Ediacaran!

Gastropod shell hash on the "beach"

The most annoying short hike ever! Every step you'd sink either up to your ankles or up to your knees in mud!

Thank goodness for binding mats!

Sponges and Jellies in a little tidal pool 

Taking a core! 

Pleistocene Conch shell

More core!

Binding mats anyone?

Polychaete worm tube

Peloids (poop) on the top of the burrow

Once we were done with the flat, we went to the tidal channel

Quite the current!

Mud (with oxidized (tan) top layer)

"It's like a spa day"

Mangrove roots

gastropods, forams, and mud!

Preparing to swim across the tidal channel! .... and searching for a lost GoPro!

Beautiful lamination on one of the banks

 Some days are just better than others...