Beach Trip to the Persian Gulf

Today was very exciting, because several of our friends arranged for us to go on a beach trip with them!  Aramco has a beach about 20 minutes away from the compound, and we all drove as a caravan there.  

Getting to the beach is a bit rough.  Well, more than a bit - it is very rough.  The outside world immediately around the compound is a dump.  There is trash everywhere, and piles of old tires, and mounds of construction waste, all just scattered about on the desert.  Occasionally, you might see a palm tree.  The roads are fine (we didn't drive on that road we drove on when we were here 2 years ago - see picture below), but the drivers are recklessly aggressive.  And the rules of the road are a bit different; for example, we encountered an intersection where we had to cross an interstate as though we were at a four way stop - just pull up to the side of this interstate, wait for a break in traffic, and floor it across to the other side.  We are going to have to buy a gargantuan car to feel safe driving around here.

When we were here in 2009, this sign was a photo op rather than a deterrent.

 

The lovely, wide, sandy beach and the Persian Gulf

Once we got to the Aramco beach, though, it was much better.  We got a spot with three picnic tables and two grills and set up shop.  The boys saw the gulf, and ran to it!  It was their first time to touch the Persian Gulf.  The air was warm, but the water was really cold.  The boys did not care two hoots about that!  Everett paused at the shore long enough for us to roll up his pant legs and sleeves, so he didn't get too wet.  Lawrence just ran headlong into the water.  He did a really good job of staying upright for about 10 minutes, but he eventually did the inevitable face-plant and came up dripping from head to toe.  Did he want a towel?  Dry clothes?  A swimsuit?  "NO MAMA!!"  This translated as "I'm having way too much fun to be concerned with my physical well-being!"  I eventually did get both boys into a swimsuit, and they played and shivered at the water's edge for a long time.  The only thing that got them to come out, get dried off, and put on some dry clothes was Bugles.  We had brought Bugles with us, and they ate Bugles and juice while I dried them off and put them in clothes, and wrapped them in jackets and blankets.  They were still shivering, and had blue lips, for a long time!  

Lawrence and McLean at the shore

Mabry and Everett

Jump in the water!  "Jump, Jump!"

After a good soaking in clothes, it seemed like a good idea to change into swimsuits.

 

When they finally got warm, they played on the sand dunes and at the playground with the other children, and then we all got to eat the yummy chicken and pasta salad and veggies that everyone had brought.  When it got dark, the guys built a bonfire, and we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores.  The kids continued to play in the dark until about 8:00, when we finally had to pack up and come home.  It was a fun day, and the boys were WORN OUT.  Lawrence fell asleep before we left the Aramco beach gate.  The only downside was that we lost Lawrence's brand new crocs that we had JUST gotten in the e-box.  We looked and looked all over that beach, and I know he didn't take them off far from the picnic area.  DARN!  I think someone may have snatched them.  I think this place has a problem with petty theft that I was unaware of.  We'll have to wait until summer for more crocs.  I am still quite irked over that one.  But all in all, it was a good day...a good day to mark the fact that you are older than Jesus.  :)    (P.S. It was my first birthday at the beach - ever!  Actually, it was probably the first birthday I celebrated outside at all.  We winter birthdays don't get much variety, do we?)