Nature Journal #9 - A Morning at Stinson Beach

There’s something magical about a day spent by the ocean; the rushing and crashing sounds of the waves, the warmth of sand beneath your feet, and the feel of the freezing cold water rolling towards you. Stinson Beach has been a treasure trove of sorts for my family and, so, last winter when I was home for Christmas Break, my mom, my brother, my dog, and I spent a quiet morning enjoying all that it has to offer. My brother’s goal was to brave the cold of the water and take a “polar plunge;” my mom wanted to get Gracie oriented with the ocean and to practice her puppy training commands; I was looking forward to walking along the waterline and seeing what I would come across, the shells and sand dollars and little creatures of hidden underneath the water and in the sand. On that January morning, the sky was heavy and gray with rain clouds, the ocean was dark and churning and freezing cold, and we were so excited to be there. As the rain and drizzle set in and kept many others away, it was like we had the whole beach to ourselves to enjoy.

Over the course of several slow hours, we let Gracie run free, enjoying all of the new sights and smells and sensations in this unfamiliar setting; she explored the waterline and, eventually, ventured cautiously out to meet Cole who was wading through the surf. Eventually, Cole made his way out through the waves and quickly ducked below a rolling wave. After making the plunge, he swam around for a bit, before needing to run out of the water and find my old swim parka to warm up. On my part, I took in the sights and smells and sensations; taking pictures and videos to try to capture the special morning, laughing at my brother as he braved the crashing ocean; and enjoying the drizzle of the rain with an appreciation of the warmth of my many layers of clothing.

While I have to admit that I do not take advantage of living close to Stinson as often as I should, whenever I'm there, I'm reminded of the immensity and mystery of nature. Looking at the ocean sprawling out in front of me, it's hard to comprehend its vastness, just how much of it there is. Whenever we turn the corner on our drive out, and catch the first glimpse of the shocking blue of the water, I always find myself thinking about all of the creatures living underneath its surface and reflecting on all of the life teeming underneath that we're not able to see.





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