There’s a certain kind of magic that surrounds the ocean. Perhaps it’s the ever-changing waves that perpetually keep rolling up the sandy banks. Maybe it’s the fact that you can hear the ocean if you stand very still and listen as you put a seashell to your ear. Or the hive of activity from kids building sandcastles and women tanning in the hot Summer rays. Whatever it was, Rupert loved the beach.

It has often been thought that the beach is no place for a rabbit, but Rupert didn’t care. His fluffy white fur which was so beautiful and soft would get all wet and clump together every time he went swimming. Carrie, his owner, would be very cross because she’d been worried sick that he might get swept out to sea and be lost forever. But from the very first day that Rupert had taken a trip to the beach with Carrie, a part of it had stayed with him and he couldn’t seem to separate himself from it.

When Carrie would catch the school bus at 7:45am in the morning, Rupert would get himself packed for a day’s adventure at the beach. He would put the white zinc on his twitchy grey nose, wear his Summer hat that Carrie had bought him for Christmas the one before last and a pack a picnic lunch full of carrots, apples, cauliflower leaves and grain. Then he would hippity hoppety bop down to see what adventures awaited him at the beach.

On this particular day the sun was a blazing ball of beautiful glory, sending warm rays that gave Rupert a happy, excited feeling all over. It was beautiful weather for a swim in the cool ocean waves. When he reached the beach however, Rupert was surprised to see it was packed full of school children, running around in an excited confusion of nervousness, anticipation and fun. There were extra lifeguards out on duty, sitting up in the tower wearing their brightly coloured red and yellow uniforms. They too were all sun screened up and wore pretty silver whistles around their necks. Which Rupert particularly liked as they glistened and sparkled as the light bounced off their shiny surface.

A few metres ahead of him Rupert thought he caught of glimpse of someone he very much recognised. He tip-toed over cautiously, using a shrub as cover as he knew he would be in a lot of trouble if he got caught down at the beach yet again! To his astonishment, right before his very eyes stood Carrie! “Oh no!!” he thought – “how could I have forgotten today was the swimming carnival for Carrie’s school”. This was bad news for Rupert. Not only was Carrie there for her school swimming team, but sitting down on a beach mat with umbrella set up shading them from the sun were Carrie’s parents too! “Not good at all” thought Rupert and he made a swift turn of direction and hopped over to explore the rock pools instead.

It was safe over by the rock pools. The rocks were too dangerous for the children to swim by and all the parents stayed on the soft sand and avoided the hard rocky surfaces of the rock pools. Rupert loved it over by the rock pools. It was his favourite area of the beach. He loved how each pool was like a whole new world. Some had starfish in them, others were shallow and only contained sea-weed, coral and shells. Some were so deep he wasn’t able to touch the bottom, even if he held his breath and swam as far down as he could. It was here by the rock pools that Rupert had first met his now good friend Sigmund the sea turtle. He was a very old sea turtle, was Sigmund. He was 80 years old now and said he was still in his prime, even though he was a great, great, great Grandfather to many other baby sea turtles. 

Rupert loved listening to Sigmund’s stories of all the underwater creatures and their strange habits; like how the anemones - where the clown fish live, are poisonous to all other sea creatures except them! But what Rupert loved even more than listening to Sig’s ever so captivating stories, was going swimming with him! Now rabbits are not particularly well known for their swimming abilities, and Rupert was no exception. But Sig had made a harness out of seaweed that he strapped around his shell. Rupert was easily able to hold onto this and let his body float freely in the cool water. Sig had even made a snorkel out of a piece of dried coral so Rupert could breathe underwater.