Lumina tells Karen all about it.

Karen Sota: Lumina, ready for your interview?

Lumina: I’d like to thank the members of….

L: How about some extra squid?

L: Yeah, I’m another one of those emaciated “Barnacle Bill” turtles. I was so weak and moving so slowly that the barnacles were erecting condos on my carapace, and renting them to leeches! But I had a plan: make it to shallow water and I just might be able to survive. Once there I’d use what little energy I had left to just sink down to the bottom to get some food. Turns out there’s a lot more food in deeper water.

L: She was visiting her grandparents (Karl & Linda Allen) and was really worried about how bad I looked. She asked them for help, and they knew just how to get it. They called Nancy Fahey, the Coordinator for the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project, and a member of the NC Sea Turtle Stranding Network.

L: That lady takes her job very seriously. She’s got a bag full of tricks for catching sea turtles (and I say that from experience!)

L: I try to stay away from boats, but this lady and her turtle tag team dogged me like I was Moby Dick. They waited until I couldn’t hold my breath any longer, and I was stupid enough to surface right beside their darn boat.

L: Everybody started shouting and pointing at me, and then this poor guy who thought he was just out for a nice boat ride is ordered into the water to “save” me. I saw him coming and thought I’d have a little fun. He grabbed me in a big bear hug and I rolled him over a few times – what a riot! I was so busy laughing that I didn’t notice what was happening behind me.

L: There’s a lot of conversation about how bad I look, and what a strange color of yellow I am. They decide the best place for me is the turtle hospital, and the easiest way to get there is straight up the waterway on that boat. So, that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

L: It’s the best place in the world for a sick turtle. I know you’ve successfully treated and released so many of us “Barnacle Bills” that you’ve got the routine down pat: a whole regimen of antibiotics, vitamins and most importantly lots and lots of great food. Look at me now; I’m all cleaned up, fat, happy and the star of turtle cam! If you don’t believe me log onto www.topsail-island.info and see for yourself.

L: Can I thank the other people who helped rescue me?

L: Nancy’s husband (David), her nephew (Brian Hutchison) and his boat (The Medication), the innocent bystander who tackled me in the water (Mark Winborne – sorry Mark), their friend (Nick Sanchez) and anybody else whose name I didn’t catch. Bet they never thought they’d be rescuing a sea turtle when they got up that morning!