Uncharacteristically Me: The Long Weekend

I wish I could say that the long weekend was worth all the pain I am in today, but I would have to admit that I am on the fence about weather or not I shouldn't have just crawled into my bed and rested all weekend instead.
Friday night wasn't bad, I went to the rehearsal for the wedding and saturday was a long day of wedding photos and celebrations, but when I got home I was talked into going out for some drinks with friends. It was a great night out, since I haven't allowed myself a social life in months, but the end of the night, or more like the start of morning could have gone much smother. My boyfriend and I passed out right before sun-up and woke up 4 hours later to get ready to go out on the boat and sail over to a surrounding island where local seagulls nest.
The trip started at 11:00 and we were off for Outer Wood Island, the sail was a long 30 minutes for Justin and I, hungover and enjoying how the cool ocean air calmed the rough sea that was inside our stomaches. It was a smooth sail and a wonderful day for the trip, not a cloud in the sky all day, but that meant my poor light complected skin was in danger. All day I thought this is great I haven't got any color and thought I was safe from what I am suffering today. When I arrived back at home I was quickly reminded of why I need to wear SPF 60 and will probably die of skin cancer someday.
The main reason for this excursion is a local event called "gulls eggin'," this happens around the end of may and sometimes through june. Friends and family gather together and sail out to a surrounding island that is known to house the nests of seagulls. Everyone brings food, drinks, blankets, wienie rosters and more, we pick a nice spot on the beach to lay our blankets and build a fire. Before the feast begins we all set out for the hills and swamps to look for nests containing 1 or 2 eggs, if there are three in the nest, leave it be, there is no way to tell which two are older than the others and chances are that one or two have already begun developing inside.

Here are some photos from yesterday

carrying wood to the campsite for the cooking fire

Justin and I set off on our hike and found a nest of 4 duck eggs close to the beach, but we aren't here for those.

The view from up on one of the hills, we couldn't have asked for a better day!

Group members off in the distance searching for nest, while adult seagulls fly overhead.

Seagulls standing around the marshy valley between the hills. Muskrat burrows aren't something I want to go poking around so we stayed away from this area.

Another duck egg.

Found some, Finally! These are seagull eggs, what we came looking for! These were the only two that Justin and I were able to find in the 2 hours we were searching. We must have been to the island too early this year because on my past ventures to Outer Wood Island there were loads of nests and eggs, but this year it was hard to even come across nests.

But it was easy to come across these! Muskrat burrows and this was a big one.
I don't remember these being here before and began to wonder if the rise in the
muskrat population is the reason gulls aren't laying eggs here, not sure if that
would have any affect on it.

everyones brought something different to snack on as we all gather together to enjoy the nice day

Loading up and heading back home.

Dad finishing off the last of his drink.

The littlest egg collector packed up and taking home his finds.

This man wasn't sure how to run the boat, so he paddled back with a shovel.

The second load was alittle packed and got stuck on the rocks.

The last load.

Leaving Garth behind to fend for himself, chances are he wouldn't find much to eat considering the small amount of eggs we were able to find, and even those are aboard the boat.

Once Justin and I got home...eggs, sunburn, and all. We decided to make some supper and try out the eggs.

Home and ready to be cooked. If the thought of trying to hatch them our own, I tried it when I was little, but I'm guessing I would have better luck now. Might try it with an incubator next year :P Wouldn't be so bad to raise a baby gull.

In order to check the eggs and make sure they aren't developing inside we test them with water. If they float they're no good to eat, if they sink they're good. Even if they sink, but one end floats up, still no good, chances are it's started developing. Luckily, both our eggs sunk!

Gulls eggs are quite a bit darker than chicken eggs, they're closer to orange, and alot larger.

After busting the yoke you can really tell the difference in color.

And there you have it, scrambled gull's eggs. Turned out pretty tasty!

As far as the taste test of gulls eggs the trip was a success, but overall I'm thinking it would have been better to have stayed home. Before bed I took a photo of how I look after the past couple of days and their events. I can tell you I am not a happy camper and definitely not a pretty one! My mother has just informed me that my eye is now turning from purple to green, that should look pretty tomorrow.