A Beach Walk

Feet sinking in warm, loose, white sand, kicking up fine grains behind me as I struggle through. Each step an effort, planting one foot firmly forward, feeling it slide into the depression made by the weight of the body as the other is pulled reluctantly from the previous dip. Calf muscles working hard while ankles extend and flex as I plod along. Tensing of the thighs as an extra push is required to lift the body up then down to settle into the next step.

A relaxing of the body as firmer ground, with cooler, damply packed sand is reached. Feet leaving slight depressions in the ground with an almost audible crunch as the darker, taupe colored sand shifts with each step. Feeling the texture of wet sand against the sole of the foot, cool and soothing. now walking with ease toward the sun in the distance along the oceans edge.

A plesant cold sensation as water washes over my foot. A faint tugging as it rolls back out to sea. Tiny bits of shell tumbling through the clear current as the water rolls with the tides ebb and flow. The crashing of the waves a soothing, ever changing background music as the ocean spray dots my legs with tiny, cool droplets. a faint mist showing on the oceans horizon as I gaze out over the gray blue waters of the Atlantic.

The burn of the sun heating my face and body while the wind cools it. The warmth becoming more intense as the sun climbs higher in the vibrant blue of the sky. Very few white clouds break up the vivid color on this beautiful bright day. Seagulls casting a dark spot in the sky as they glide through the air.

Noticing small shells as I stroll. Littering the sands like splatters of paint on a wall. Whole shells and fragments with no rhyme or reason to the patterns tossed up by the oceans waves. A blob in the distance. As I get close I see the clear body of a jellyfish sitting on the sand. A little further down I run across a neon splash of green seaweed and later a brownish branch of another sea plant. The ocean deposits items at random, treasures for our eyes to feast on and at times our hands to collect as momentos.

As I turn to walk in the opposite direction with the sun at my back I reflect on all I have experienced. Absorbing the sights, sounds and sensations that only the beach can bring I reach down for a small shell and tuck it in my pocket for safekeeping. As my adventure comes to a close I know I will carry the memory and peace of this walk with me long after my trek on the beach is over.