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| Sand Dunes |
On Saturday, my daughter and I went to the beach with one of her friends (my late friend A's younger daughter).
The original plan had been for daughter to go with her friend and the friend's friend. I was to drop daughter off at her friend's place and her friend would give her a ride back. But, plans changed as the other girl couldn't make it, after all, and I asked if I could tag along because I have been longing to go to the beach! In fact, it was on my wish list of "7 before 70".
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| Surf |
I love the ocean, but, the last time I had gone to the beach was when daughter was in high school! The nearest beach is not that far from where I live, about an hour's drive away, but, going there seemed to be a lot of trouble and that beach tends to be rather crowded.
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| More Surf |
The first beach we went to didn't allow dogs and my daughter's friend had her little dog with her. Plus, it looked rather crowded. So, she drove to another beach and dogs were allowed there and it was not at all crowded. There were a few people, but, no one within 20 feet of us and I felt comfortable enough to not wear my mask.
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| I took way too many pictures of the ocean! |
It was a lovely, sunny day, with a high of 68F at the beach, which was quite comfortable. Perfect fall weather.
We had brought some water and granola bars with us, but, daughter's friend made a stop at a nearby grocery store and picked up turkey sandwiches, a bag of chips, and a couple of bottles of flavored water to share. So we lunched at the beach and spent a couple of hours there, walking along the beach and enjoying the sunshine, the sounds of the waves, and watching the sail boats and birds.
I took my library book to read while I was there, but, I only read a few pages as I preferred to just sit and enjoy being there.
There were seagulls, too, but, I was more interested in the pelicans. This was the best my cell phone camera could do.
Eventually, we left and drove back to daughter's friend's place where I had left my car. Then, daughter and I drove home, picking up some hamburgers, fries, and two ice cream cones on the way. What's a visit to the beach without an ice cream cone?
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| Mountains in the Distance |
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| A Sail Boat on the Horizon |
I took my library book to read while I was there, but, I only read a few pages as I preferred to just sit and enjoy being there.
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| Pelicans |
There were seagulls, too, but, I was more interested in the pelicans. This was the best my cell phone camera could do.
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| More Pelicans |
Eventually, we left and drove back to daughter's friend's place where I had left my car. Then, daughter and I drove home, picking up some hamburgers, fries, and two ice cream cones on the way. What's a visit to the beach without an ice cream cone?
After we got home, daughter took a nap. I did a load of laundry and relaxed. It had been a lovely day and I was grateful for:
- Being able to take a trip to the beach
- My late friend A's daughter for taking daughter and me to the beach
- A safe drive there and back
- Perfect weather for a fall day at the beach
- A safe drive there and back
- Perfect weather for a fall day at the beach
- Time to relax
My joyful activity for the day was spending time at the beach!
What a joyful afternoon in a beautiful place. Walking by the water is balm for the soul
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely afternoon, Angela, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself just being there and experiencing the sound of the ocean, breathing in the salty air, and remembering the years I spent living across from the beach when I was in Sri Lanka. :)
DeleteYour pictures give a good sense of how beautiful and peaceful your visit was. I'm glad you got to go.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. It was very peaceful and the only sound you could really hear was the ocean and the occasional seagull.
DeleteLovely photos, and great to hear that you have had a proper outing. I know you've said that you are quite happy staying at home, enjoying the garden etc., but (speaking for myself) a change of scene and being out in the world is good for the soul. I am definitely a homebody, and sometimes I don't realise how "hemmed in" I have been, until I break out.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very long time not to have seen the sea, especially considering what lovely options you have, so close by! I love wandering on sand dunes, and I am interested in the pelicans. When I come to visit, we should pencil in a trip out to the coast and I will bring my camera in the hope of close-ups. (I will also keep my eyes open for weather vanes as I think more effort is required on this front!)
LE
Thank you, Lady Ella. Yes, I am content staying at home and I doubt very much if I would drive myself to the beach (it would have taken me about 2 hours from my house to get to this particular beach), but, I did enjoy being driven there and back! I got to enjoy the scenery (we drove through a mountain pass and farmland and plant nurseries) from the back seat without having to concentrate on the road and it was good to spend time with my late friend's daughter and being with my daughter is always a pleasure. I didn't see a single weather vane on this trip, though. I saw strawberry fields, orange and avocado groves, a herd of goats, a few horses, several boats, and roadside farm stands and a pumpkin patch! But, no weather vanes!
DeleteTwo afterthoughts/questions: is the water warm, and will the pelicans come quite close to humans (eg. like gulls), or are they warier?
DeleteThe water was not at all warm. I did see one lady swimming, although there were signs posted warning people that there were no life guards and there were rip currents. The pelicans were all flying over the water, completely ignoring the people on the beach. I don't know if they ever approach humans on the beach. The gulls were quite used to people and might have been interested in our sandwiches, but, friend A's little dog made sure the gulls kept their distance. :)
DeleteSt James' Park in London has some resident (freshwater) pelicans, which are very bold. Sometimes they even come and sit next to you if you're sitting on a bench!
DeleteWow! I didn't know that pelicans would get that close to people! Brave pelicans!
DeleteWhat a lovely day you've had! The beach looks wonderful. It's been many years since I've been to an ocean beach. Your visit sounds peaceful and relaxing. How nice that you could share it with your daughter.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely and relaxing, Celie, and yes, I'm very glad that I could share the experience with my daughter. I took a couple of videos of the ocean waves and I can relive the experience every time I watch the videos. :)
DeleteI like the footprints on the sand, and the pelicans. I was surprised how long it was since you had been to a beach, so it must have been such a treat. There is something very healing about listening to the waves and watching them. We sometimes get little waves down by the river when a power boat has passed by far across on the other side, and I find it relaxing to see and hear them.
ReplyDeleteThere were foot prints and paw prints from the dogs and I pointed out the tracks of some gulls to daughter. I was surprised by the number of pelicans; I'm not sure if they were the same ones, flying around in circles, but, while one flock flew in front of me, I could see an earlier flock in the distance, flying away and another flock approaching from the other direction. They did seem to fly in the same direction, from left to right as I sat watching them.
DeleteIt's been too long since I last visited the beach. I have often mentioned I'd like to go to the beach, but, we never went. I used to live in an apartment across the street from the beach for several years when I lived in Sri Lanka; I could watch the ocean and ships passing by and went to sleep listening to the sound of the waves.
Oh, Bless! What a wonderful trip out. And it looks so beautiful there. I can just imagine you relaxing, and breathing in the wonderfully fresh sea air. I hope you can go back again soon. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. It was lovely being at the beach. I do hope I can visit again, in the near future.
DeleteIt sounds as though you had a really good time at the beach. I'm so glad you got to go. Seeing the Pelicans would have made me happy too!
ReplyDeleteI did have a lovely time at the beach, Sharon. For some reason, I wasn't expecting to see pelicans and I was fascinated by them. :)
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