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This post is for Jude. Happy birthday!
This week I went beach exploring with an old friend from my early days on the south coast. She was unfamiliar with the coastline north of here, so we headed out to Bingie Bingie Point where we were blown off our feet by a very brisk wind. We retreated to the sheltered Dreamtime Track behind Kelly’s Beach (also known as Bingie Beach North or Meringo Beach) heading for Grey Rocks. We could hear the roar of the sea on one side, and water glimmered through the trees on the other. When we reached Kelly’s Lake, the walking track signpost was up to its knees in tea-coloured water. We negotiated the steep cut-away sand drop, me barefooted for the first time this spring.
The beach was firm and the sun strong. Inviting rocks stood in the gleam of departed waves. Some were clothed in weed, delicate pink fan shapes white-dotted on the end of the fronds. In one of the deep fissures I spotted movement which resolved itself into a large crab, orange, purple, green and fierce-pincered. A shell, covered in garish green moss, drew attention to itself in a pool on top of a rock. In another rock pool were the delicate circles, almost submerged, of sand anemones. The sea had been busy creating its subtle sand patterns tracing its receding flow after full moon tides.
We rambled amongst the tumble of rocks: a tilted flat one like an ancient altar; a smooth vaguely phallus-shaped one; large rounded rectangular ones – tilted, separated by dark crevices and covered with orange lichen; smaller gibbous orbs; rocks with the waxy smoothness and mottled look of marble patched with obsidian-black; a thick band quartz-like band of pink, grey and browny-orange running through speckled grey rock. One day, I’ll know the all their names.
We left the beach pleasantly sun-warmed and rock-tired and reached the car in spitting rain.
Lucid Gypsy said:
Oh what a lovely stretch, I can feel that sun on my face despite the breeze and the sand feels good between my toes. Beaches are perfect for birthdays, especially ones like Bingi. Thanks Meg 🙂
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morselsandscraps said:
I’m glad you enjoyed a beach walk with me. J and I went back on Sunday: warm and sunny and it looked different. Or I saw it differently. I also had shoes on, so we went out onto the rocks.
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Lucid Gypsy said:
That’s because you notice different things!
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morselsandscraps said:
Sometimes wonder whether I see with my eyes or his!
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Heyjude said:
Oh, thank you Meg. A day on the beach is perfect for my birthday – last year I was on the shingle of Chesil Beach after a seafood lunch. This year at home, unusually, but we weren’t sure where we’d be with the house move. So now I can happily go out and stroll around a park having already dipped my toes in the ocean and poked my nose in the rockpools. Next year I hope to be on a beach close to home…
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morselsandscraps said:
I’m glad you enjoyed your birthday beach. Your own beach next year – sending wishes. Is progress being made?
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Heyjude said:
Still waiting patiently for the council to approve the diversion of the footpath… hopefully it will be all done by Christmas 😕
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restlessjo said:
The third one down looks like a rock turtle, Meg. A big fella! 🙂
Thank you so much for reminding me about Jude. I thought her birthday was later this month and was wondering why she wasn’t around last night. Must have been the celebrations, lasting all weekend. 🙂
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Heyjude said:
OH took me out for dinner so I could try the sticky toffee pudding the hotel is famous for that I had no room for last time 😀
Lovely sunny day today so we are off for a walk in the park – see you later!
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restlessjo said:
Lucky lass! Back to cool and grey here 😦
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Heyjude said:
Well the sky clouded over and the mist has started to form, but overall a good afternoon. It may make it as a walk 🙂
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restlessjo said:
Still grey here and I’ve been busy on catch up as no James this week. Heaves sigh of relief. Can’t make my mind up for tomorrows walk so haven’t started yet. After tea/Strictly I’ll have to go for it 🙂
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Heyjude said:
You seem to be in a bit of a dither this week Jo. Feeling restless after your two holidays? I suspect you’ll be back in Portugal soon.
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restlessjo said:
22nd November 🙂 I still have most of my Portugal stuff to post. It’s just a case of what/when? 🙂 But a friend keeps dangling the Azores under my nose for an amazing price. And I so want to go there. Plus there are exciting events on at Chatsworth and in the Trossachs this month. No wonder I dither. 🙂
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Heyjude said:
Ooh. Trossachs pleeeease… and Azores. How can you not jump at the chance?
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restlessjo said:
It begins with a capital M.
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Heyjude said:
Oh, just do your own thing. You went to Bristol on your own didn’t you?
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restlessjo said:
The Trossachs isn’t so easy because I don’t drive, but I may win with that one. Azores is Stansted and I’ll not get him there. We’ll see… 🙂
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Tish Farrell said:
‘sun warmed and rock tired’ – just how one should feel after a day at the beach. You’ve made me realise that I’ve not been on one for ten months, but this post is an excellent substitute. Happy Sunday.
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morselsandscraps said:
Long weekend this weekend and splendid weather really for the first time this spring, so visited more beaches. I even put my swimmers on, but beach-sitting and looking was enough. The surf was flat and the beaches crowded – ie there were a few people on them – I usually have them to myself. Three, maybe four, beaches in a weekend! I’m very lucky.
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Tish Farrell said:
Sounds utterly blissful, whatever the time of year.
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