Sand Castle Days 2010

Turtle Lady Legacy Begins Creating Ila Sand Sculpture 2010
Team Turtle Lady Legacy at the beginning of the sand sculpture competition on South Padre Island, Texas

On October 23rd, Team Turtle Lady Legacy arrived at Isla Blanca Park bright and early to compete in the annual Sand Castle Days on South Padre Island.

Team members included Lucy Guillen Tudor, Mary Ann Tous, Raymond Tous, Dee Garza, Ben Tudor, Esteban Torres, and Guy Blatnik, all of whom were committed to create a sculpture in sand to both honor Ila while continuing to raise awareness for all that she did.

With shovels and buckets and a firm determination to build a fitting tribute to the lady who devoted so many years of her life to sea turtles, the group set to work with energy and enthusiasm.

 


As luck would have it, the day was exceptionally windy and therefore sand whipped everywhere, stinging mercilessly whenever it met bare skin. Yet the team continued on with their mission and, ever so surely, under Lucy's expertise, the sculpture began to take shape on the beach.

Sand was shoveled, buckets of water were carried from the nearby sea, and the detail of the sculpture was painstakingly applied throughout the day.

Lucy Guillen Tudor leads Team Turtle Lady Legacy in 2010 Sand Castle Days competition
Work continues throughout the day at Isla Blanca Park


Turtle Lady Legacy competes in Sand Castle Days October 2010
Ila and the turtles take form


While work on the sand sculpture went on, more and more people stopped to watch, intrigued by the story behind the sculpture.

There were also many who shared their memories of Ila from years long past when they had visited her home as a child and first learned about sea turtles.

And so even though the sand version of Ila was destined to be only temporary, eventually succumbing to the elements, her legacy continues to live on as it becomes clear that her message has not been forgotten.

 

Finally, by late afternoon, work was complete and when the judging was over, Team Turtle Lady Legacy was declared the first-place winner in the Amateur Adult category.

Despite aching muscles and minor windburn, everyone was very pleased with the outcome and of course all of us at the Turtle Lady Legacy thank each of the volunteers who contributed to the success of the project.

Ila no doubt would have loved it.

Turtle Lady Legacy wins first place in Amateur Adult division at Sand Castle Days 2010
Mary Ann Tous and Dee Garza with the Turtle Lady