wayfaringwordhack: (kickin' it island style)
[personal profile] wayfaringwordhack
A scene-setting photo of the special spot, a panorama to try to capture some of its geologically-crazy glory:

(click to see larger photo)


I am not alone today, despite the new fence and screamingly-red signs blazoned with "Access Dangereux" in bold white letters, put up by the city in hopes of keeping people off the bluff. For the first time ever--being alone and properly shod and blessed with low tide--I climb down to the rocky beach.

I stroll amongst spikes of shell and scales of stone with thoughts of Egyptian pyramids dancing in my head.

scales of stone and spikes of shell

I sit with my feet in the water and photograph ghosts of shrimp while live, blue-clawed ones snack on bits of my dead skin. Who needs to pay to have little black fish nibble at their feet? Can you spot the camouflaged crab in the bottom left photo? You can click the image to see it larger if you need a better view.

wee sea creatures

I can't get better shots of the shrimp because something keeps "biting" my posterior. I'm sitting on stone, and my attempts to swipe the biter from my skin yeilds no results. I stand up and scrutinize the spot where I was sitting. My careful attention finally reveals the culprit:

IMG_8123

I first notice the tiny, starfish-like tentacles because they twitch every now and then, probably trying to lure in prey before the worm thing pops out to devour said prey with a very Dune-sandworm-like mouth. My photos do not do it justice, but the mouth has four "beaks."  Thank goodness it is a small critter (probably not even a quarter of an inch in diameter, which is why I had a hard time getting a good pic). I'd hate to have been on the receiving end of its taste test had it been any larger. 

IMG_8111

And here is the swimming feather. Good job guessing what that macro was in my previous post, [livejournal.com profile] mindseas. The bubbling feather is lovely and merits a photo in any case, but I had to take a picture because it reminded me of what the Sprout said one day when we saw a sailboat at this same spot: "Voile oiseau!" Sail bird. The boats of the Myywen, a people who worship and honor birds in my Witherwilds trilogy, are now called "sailbirds" in her honor. And the name, of course, inspired all sorts of nifty images of their construction and the way they are rigged out.

IMG_8138

And speaking of the Sprout, after she wakes, her papa brings her down the bluff to join me, so that we can swim together before picnicking and watching the sunset.

IMG_8196

While we splash around, others hunt for crabs and contemplate the beauty of the fading day.

amongst the rocks

After a lovely supper, we watch the sun puddle into the sea and the moon rise to take its place.



sun and moon

Sourdough, surf, sand, swimming, sunsets...a very satisfying Sunday all around.

Date: 5 Sep 2012 02:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frigg.livejournal.com
Very cool, is that the beach you usually go to?

Date: 5 Sep 2012 02:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asakiyume.livejournal.com
What a day! And it was a feather--very nice. I love the little crayfish-shrimp right by your leg, and the scary-mouthed creature biting your behind :-)

Date: 5 Sep 2012 03:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] queenoftheskies.livejournal.com
How beautiful!

Date: 5 Sep 2012 04:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mindseas.livejournal.com
Sail-birds! It's wonderful that S. is already contributing to your worlds.

I wonder what that tiny monster is?

Date: 5 Sep 2012 08:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] khiemtran.livejournal.com
Aha! I thought the circles might have been bubbles, but I would never have guessed a feather... That looks like a very beautiful spot.
Edited Date: 5 Sep 2012 08:18 pm (UTC)

Date: 6 Sep 2012 12:32 am (UTC)

Date: 13 Sep 2012 07:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mnfaure.livejournal.com
It is the "special spot" where I like to go to write but not where we go to let Soƫlie swim and play in the sand. This spot is trickier to get to and the beach is a mix of stone slabs (that can be slippery) and tumbled rocks that aren't that easy to walk on.

Date: 13 Sep 2012 07:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mnfaure.livejournal.com
I would like to try to go back and get better pictures of the butt biter. :P

Date: 13 Sep 2012 07:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mnfaure.livejournal.com
It is a lovely, lovely place. I'm going to miss it.

Date: 13 Sep 2012 07:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mnfaure.livejournal.com
I love that she is contributing already. I'll have to always remember to give her full credit. :D

I spent a long time--more than an hour--trying to ID the tiny monster but no luck so far. :(

Date: 13 Sep 2012 07:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mnfaure.livejournal.com
It is a great place to relax and think or just gaze and clear your mind. I'll miss going there. Need to go as often as I can before we move to stock up on the good vibes it gives me.

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