After the long weekend I just have to say a couple of things.... If you are visiting a beach there are a couple of things you should know. Most of them are common sense, but some may not occur to all.
You visit - we live here. It is home to people, birds, fish, mammals, etc. You are guests. My mother always told me to leave a place better than I found it. Treat it like it is your home. Please pick up your trash, your cigarette butts, your plastic bottles and bags. In a few months we will ban these/plastic bags from the beach and from stores using or selling them. We love having you come and make memories here. We just want them to be good memories.
Don't poke, prod, or step on dead creatures. Many of them can sting and emit poisons even though they appear to be dead. If you are stung by a jellyfish don't pee on the sting. Apply vinegar to the sting. It will neutralize the poison. Most life guards keep a gallon or two on the stand just for this purpose. If you are going to a beach with out a life guard. Please take a small bottle of vinegar with you.
Speaking of things to bring to the beach:
A gallon or two of water - leave in car. Great to wash sand off your feet and hands, flush eyes that get sand in them.
A small bottle of vinegar. Helps neutralize bee stings and jellyfish stings.
A bag for your trash.
Towels, leave at least one clean towel in your car.
Small first aid kit - again this can be left in car.
The number one thing is SHOES. Shoes that can get wet. Do not walk through the shoreline in your bare feet. All winter long we have been fishing and discarding our broken lines and hooks. They have washed ashore and are buried in the sand. Just waiting to get caught in your feet. I have a bowl full of nothing but various hooks and sinkers that I have found on my morning walks.
Watch the weather. Storms blow up quickly and go just as quick.
Rip Tides - these are extremely dangerous. If you find yourself being pulled in the current - go with it. Do not waste your energy fighting it. Lay on your back or pull your feet up so you are not being dragged. Then swim parallel to the shore line till you are able to swim in. Most drowning deaths are caused by these rip currents. If you come to the beach once a year you need to be very aware of them. Remember do not panic. You are not going to be swept out to sea - maybe 50 yards but that is swimmable. Some one will rescue you or use a surf board to help you.
Fresh oysters are to be eaten in the months that have an "R" in them. Otherwise you will get sick from them. If you want to know why - email me and I will thoroughly gross you out.
Enjoy the beach - make some precious memories.
note : Katie asked me why the hooks were discarded in a public place...They are broken off or caught on things, they are not deliberately discarded in the water. Some of these hooks are rather large - I will take pictures, so they get caught up on the ocean floor. I personally don't fish I am just a shore walker. Shore fishing is a big thing here. Flounder is the big catch.
Each morning I try to start the day off with a little walk on the beach. Sundays and Mondays are usually the best. The beach is usually deserted. Just me, the sea gulls, the wind and the surf.
Although it was warm, the temperature is affected by the wind. This guy looked pretty cold or maybe just tired. I think they sleep and rest in this position. The gulls will follow you on your walk. I think they dream that you are going to feed them. They ask you not to here, so I don't. I do enjoy their company though.
This island is made up of "hash" which is broken down bits of shell and rock. You can really see some of the small bits of shell in this picture. I loved this worn and full of texture shell. Sometimes they are more beautiful than the "perfect" ones. Sort of like people. The more they have seen, done and been through the more interesting they are.
This is the channel that leads from the ocean to the inner coastal waterway. When the waves and wind are brisk it stuns the fish and the birds go on a feeding frenzy. Today it is this migrating group of brown pelicans. There were hundreds of them. I love to collect their feathers. They make beautiful bouquets and quivers to write with.
After my walk I had a ton of errands to run. As I finished my last one and headed for home I turned to see this full rainbow. I immediately pulled into the first parking lot and started snapping pictures. it has been quite a while since I have seen such a beautiful sight. I liked the irony of this one. The name of the shop below the rainbow is Thrill of the Hunt. That about says it all.
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