We Must Go Down To The Sea Again

The DF&C and I made our first foray of the season to our favorite beach earlier this week, a secluded stretch of seacoast in the Mid-Atlantic region that will remain anonymoose because we like it just the way it is.

A report:

OVERALL CONDITION: A relatively mild winter left the beach substantially intact, but the dune line has shifted seaward. How can we tell? There was about three feet of visible snow fence on the dune line on our last visit in October 2007. Only two or three inches are now visible.

CLEANLINESS: Clear water and spotless beach.

WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid-50s F but warming up quickly. It took about five minute of wading in the surf to anesthetize our feet and ankles.

WILDLIFE: Too early for dolphins, but there were a pair of magnificent osprey who probably nest on the bay side of the barrier island who went fishing for brunch and snagged two foot-plus fish. Only a few shore birds; nesting season for most of them is a ways off.

OTHER WILDLIFE: Two surf fishermen well to the south, a couple with two white Labrador retrievers a little closer and one parasail nut.

BIG HAPPENING: The wind mercifully came around from the southeast, chasing away the flies and gnats, and blew briskly from the southwest. The parasail nut arrived, put on his kit and scooted well offshore and then tacked back. He went out a second time and when he turned shoreward, a gust of wind hurled he and his sail onto the beach and he landed with a sickening thud. The DF&C, who is a nurse, ran over and made the guy get back in touch with all his limbs. He was okay.