The place where I’ve been staying (and am now housesitting for two weeks) has a beautiful little beach at the end of the road and a small dirt path. It’s a locals-only beach and there’s rarely anyone else on it when I’m there. At one end is a huge condominium project on the site of the old Cape Codder hotel, which survives only as the name of the street there.
At the other end is a small path to a slightly larger dirt road that comes out onto a loop of really pricey houses, about half of them newer and larger than the rest. I think I’ve found where the 1% hangs their collective hats in the summer, these houses are massive.
But the beach, it’s for everyone, if you know the path down to the water’s edge. At high tide, it’s a stone beach with a bit of sand, just enough to set down a beach chair and towel and enjoy the breeze.
At low tide, it’s a bit of a mess with the seaweed hiding the slippery rocks underneath. But again, if you’re local, you know that just left of one of the rock piles is a sand path out to the deeper water and that’s the way to go. Floating in the cold water is a wonderful way to cool off at the end of a hot or humid (or both) day.
The beach rocks are fantastic – all different shapes and sizes, and lots of quartz buried in there along with the occasional piece of sea glass. See that little rock that looks almost clear near the center of the photo? It’s mine now 🙂
Some rocks show me the powerful forces that created this area over time. Quartz and granite, in one fused rock about two inches big, are evidence of those pressures.
I really don’t know what to make of this rock. It’s some kind of weird hieroglyphics. If we ever find out that aliens have already visited the earth, this might prove to be the calling card they left behind and no one realized it.
Even on days when the sun is hiding behind a thick cloud layer, there’s beauty at the beach. And a tiny sailboat on the horizon; after all, it is the Cape in summer.
In these crazy times, the beach has become even more of a refuge for me. From political news to screaming leaf blowers, when it all becomes too much, I walk the beach and look for little treasures. Even if I leave empty-handed, my soul has been washed clean of the difficulties of the day.
No words can express the depth of her contentment as she walks along the beach.
Suzy Toronto
The colors of the water in the heading are breathtaking.
I am also facinated with rocks! Nice piece.
I wish I could find some solitude and beauty like that to walk.
Sounds perfect, Annie. Thanks for sharing your quietude.
Oh Annie,
You will so love Gros Morne National Park when you come here. It’s so much about geology! The earths mantle sitting on the surface, and the international site type for the dividing line between Cambrian and Ordovician periods. And fossils to find beach combing (not in the NP!).
Hugs, Sherry