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The beach at high tide
October 10, 2014
Before our hike we lived at a ski hill, about 20 minutes away from our current home, at the base of a small mountain. Now we live by the ocean. I can walk there but when my foot hurts I take the car.
To make the most of this beautiful location I've been going to the beach every day.
If my foot feels tender, and not up for walking the length of the beach and back, I sit and knit, listening to the waves gently lapping the shore. (I'm actually trying to work on my meditation skills.) Other days I explore the beach with the kids finding sea glass and fossils.
I'm not knowledgeable about the tides but yesterday there was no beach to walk or sit on, only wind-whipped waves crashing against the rock walls.
As a regular haunt, this beach is new to me and in all my previous visits the water has been languid and gentle. So this aggressive surf was unexpected and honestly, exciting. The kids and I laughed in nervous delight, as the waves crashed close and closer to our dry perch. Laurent, seeing a lull in the waves ventured beyond his small promontory rock to a sheltered, and invisible from my vantage point, strip of sand behind some driftwood.
Watching him race back, just ahead of the incoming waves, was like watching a good sports game, complete with raucous cheering.
I'm not sure what I'll do about my daily beach outing when winter comes. We'll figure that out when we get there (one day at at time), but I'm certain the beach will offer new discoveries during that season also. And once I've exhausted or grown bored of that, I'll take to the woods behind the house. I hear there's a good trail back there.
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Monica on Oct. 10, 2014, 12:28 p.m.
Maybe because of the blood moon?
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Anna on Oct. 10, 2014, 1:07 p.m.
I've lived around water for a lot of my life, but one year in New Brunswick I learned to be humble by the tide.
Exhilarating though!
So glad your back the photos are beautiful, and your new home seems amazing
Anna
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Kathleen on Oct. 10, 2014, 4:55 p.m.
Wow. I've always wanted to live by the ocean, even if just for a time. I hope you're able to get to the beach as many days as possible. Also, I hope it's okay to throw this into the mix, but I would love to hear how your family is adjusting physically to being done with the AT. Was it a relief for your bodies to be done or does everyone feel the need to walk/run/exercise more after such an intense physical experience and becoming so strong? I know you are tending to your ankle and I hope that it's on the mend, even if it's a slow process.
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Catherine Forest on Oct. 10, 2014, 9 p.m.
I also sit here on the Oregon coast, spending a few hours a day at the beach, listening and breathing in the beautiful wild sea. I found out when living in Costa Rica that the tides are at their highest at the full moon. It was quite high here yesterday too and even brought a dead seal to shore (to my girl's fascination...).
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Annie Ensoll on Oct. 11, 2014, 10:42 a.m.
Renee, you will never grow bored of the sea....
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Misti on Oct. 11, 2014, 6:08 p.m.
You can easily Google a tide chart for your area, or somewhere very nearby, I'm sure. Maybe even check at a local marina, they may have paper charts.
Love your ocean explorations! I miss being near the sea.
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Eliiejoy on Oct. 12, 2014, 7:16 p.m.
Renee - you are one of my heros!!! So much of taking the road less traveled ( homeschooling in a country where its very much new here) has been inspired from reading your blog. I'm so happy you have this time to refresh yourself, regroup , and near a beach .
Im so thankful for your blog and your honesty.
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Lisa on Oct. 13, 2014, 3:31 a.m.
I've been wondering if you'd have the time to address your stress fracture happening on the AT. Do you believe it was less severe or more severe because of minimalist shoes?
Thank you, I have appreciated ALL of your toe salad videos.
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Laura on Oct. 10, 2014, 11:29 a.m.
It sounds lovely! Good for you!