By 1 am the moon is high in the sky sitting right behind the lodge, shining down on us so bright you can actually walk around outside without a flashlight. Looks like it's going to be a clear night and perfect for viewing so I set my alarm clock for 4:30 am.....the things you do to get a few pictures.
It's dark when I'm jolted out of sleep but I grab my headlamp (great little gadget) housecoat and slippers to roam about the lodge,peering out of the windows to see if I can see the moon. I'm not quite sure where it will be at this ungodly hour. I can't find it. I do know the general area too look but nothing, maybe it's lower now than the hills and trees. Oh well I gave it a shot. Back in our bedroom about to dive in under the covers the forest is illuminated as clouds rush by and the full moon is revealed.
For the next 2 ½ hours I alternate sitting by the window waiting for the clouds to move on and being out on the front deck taking pictures. The show was only half way through when the wind picked up and thick dark clouds rolled in obliterating the moon and stars thus ending my sky gazing. You might be wondering where Mike is during all this, well, in bed. I told him if the eclipse was something he wouldn't want to miss I'd wake him up but to tell the truth isn't wasn't as spectacular has they had proclaimed it would be; so I let him sleep.
With a full moon comes a high tide and with a high tide comes flotsam.
We're noticing an increased amount of timber making it's way into our bay this year. I love driftwood and hunt for interesting pieces, either to sand and varnish or place in a location to be viewed when walking by. It was a bust our first year, the currents and waves leaving behind almost nothing not the case this time round. Logs of all sizes have been a regular sight out front, drifting in on the high tide, finding themselves beached when low and than moving on to a new location on the next high.
It's not only the number of logs that is unusual this year but also the amount of debris. No matter where you go in the world today you are apt to come across some evidence of garbage while walking along a beach. On Sunday I took a beach walk, with camera in hand and these are all the things I came across.
A light bulb sitting among rocks totally intact.
A perfectly good fender which I picked up and put in the crew shack.
An island of debris is heading towards the west coast, as much as 20 million tons, created by the devastating tsunami in Japan last year. Articles I've been reading claim that the bulk of it will not be seen on our shores till 2014 but I wonder if small light items have made the journey already.
This is just a plastic bottle but it was the design that made me photograph it. I don't recognize the symbol but maybe you do.
Another bottle but I don't recall ever seeing this particular picture on a screw top.
Sponge...first time I have ever come seen this washed up.
I also have a habit of picking up shells and have told myself this year only the most perfect or unusual make it into the collection.
A long black piece of rubber strapping..not very interesting but the shells which have attached themselves to it are absolutely beautiful.
You would almost think it were a exotic flower.
Driftwood....definitely one worth saving and if I can manage to manhandle it (roughly 4 ft long) closer to the lodge I will.
The cat.....no walk along the beach or anywhere for that matter is complete unless the 'princess' is tagging along.
Can't finish without at least one picture of something to eat. Mike's been asking me for ages to make him some chelsea buns, I prefer buttery light cinnamon buns topped with cream cheese icing (figured out yet I like my sweets) but chelsea buns it is.
Till next week,
Heather & Mike
You will have to keep on the look out for stuff from Japan. The earthquake debris has hit our coast near Tofino...perhaps some will show up on your shores soon!
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted!