The week before Christmas we went to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to visit some of my family. One morning, my dad and husband and I took a cold windy stroll at Crescent Beach State Park.
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| Peaceful to look at, but boy was it chilly! |
I'm fascinated with the ways sand and wind and water interact. Check out these fractal-like ebb patterns I found in a patch of black sand.
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| I'm not sure what the black sediment is, but it makes a pretty pattern! |
I also found windblown sand ridges further down the beach. Years ago I took a winter walk on a beach during a snow storm that frosted every tiny ridge. We had no snow on this hike but shadows made a fine contrast instead.
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| Ripples in the sand look like frozen motion to me. |
It was fiercely windy. Sometimes fine sand whisked past in ghostly swirls.
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| A haunted beach?? |
In addition to dislodging the sand, the wind also whipped up some vicious waves. Mist sprayed high in the air each time the waves crashed over some rocks just offshore.
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| Brr. |
At one point we wussed out a bit, and walked inland part of the way back to escape the wind. Near the start of the inland trail we found these fluffy seedheads glowing in the sun.
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| The wind was much reduced here. Whew! |
Eventually we returned to the beach and headed back toward our car. The wind was still gusting but at least it was at our backs. Out on the waves a couple lobsterboats rode by, seemingly oblivious to the biting wind.
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| Kudos to the stalwart lobstermen. |
To finish off, we decided to thaw out at a nearby coffee shop, The Local Buzz. They serve locally baked pastries, coffee, café-style food and even beer and wine. We curled up in cozy armchairs to enjoy scrumptions pastries and decadent mochas. Yum! I highly recommend this cafe if you’re ever in the area.
Today's location:
