The View ... Peace.

The ocean is a peaceful place for me.  It is constant, it has a rhythm, it can be quiet and it can be loud.  And sometimes it can be fierce! Gratefully I have only seen its fierce face on TV.  Being this close to the ocean when it is in a bad mood is not an adventure I seek out.  But on this weekend, the ocean was quiet and mostly at rest.

Nothing graces my eye and mind as the ocean, the sand, and the birds  ... elements in harmony along the continent's edge. Even with eyes closed, the sounds have a slow steady beat punctuated by intermittent bird cries. In the off seasons of fall and winter, the lack of human sound at shore line is like music.   Sadly, I get to visit seldom. But thankfully the ocean changes little from visit to visit.

The view my first morning from the deck.

 

It is all in this picture taken the first morning there.  All my favorite things. The ocean, small waves, the dune, my coffee, my knitting, and the sunrise with reflection on the water.

I am an early riser generally.  Not by choice, but because my legs get irritable in the morning and I have to move or sometimes just get the heck out of bed!  So it was that morning.  And for a change my legs did me a favor.  Because I was up early before everyone else, I didn’t miss this beautiful sunrise image.

At a later time I captured these shots.

Unlike my walks at home that usually are done with my husband, I get the greatest pleasure walking alone, especially on the beach.  I don’t enjoy walking on soft sand, so on my own I am free to stop when I choose, to take pictures of something that catches my eye, to just stand and take in the glory of the ocean or watch the sea birds as they putter around on the sand.  Lately I have been in some turmoil and it was wonderful to just empty my mind out onto the shore line and let the ocean take it all away for a short time. 

I did cut over to the side walk along Ocean Highway for a bit to get my heart rate up and circulate the blood.  The view there is not much different than any other city, but it easier to walk when you have a temperamental left knee that doesn’t appreciate uneven surfaces.

But the beach walk was just for me, the birds and the ocean.

Next up: The Art Center