Fourth of July, Morning

Smoke billows high over the road and up into the trees.  The scent of charcoal burning, followed closely by the ocean, of seaweed, hits me as I cross the road into the park.  Golden Gardens, Fourth of July.  People setting up and staking out land for potlucks and bbq's, family and work gatherings.  I change my mind about heading toward the water first, and turn to go check out the pond at the end of the parking lot.  It's higher, a few ducks, evidence of beavers, no turtles yet.

Head toward the beach: the tide is out, way out.  There's more beach than I've ever seen, and it looks possible to get to Carkeek Park and back, so I start walking that way.  A woman stops me and asks if I'll photograph her in front of a big rock, she says her mother likes the rock.  I mention something about walking north, she convinces me to go for it, says I might have to wade on the way back (I do, long stretch near North Beach where the incoming tide is above my knees for close to 100 feet.)  She says it's the lowest tide of the weekend (-2.9), around 11:30 am, I think I have time.

I've always wanted to walk there, but never hit the tides right.  By some fortuitous timing, due to stopping to get coffee and a bagel (Fiore, one of my favorite coffee shops), I hit it right today.  Was actually just going to sit somewhere and write, hadn't been paying attention to the tides.  Didn't get any writing done.  Walked 2/3 of the way back barefoot, easier going, lots of sand and didn't have to worry about my shoes getting wet, and it was faster walking on the sand.  (Heading north, the area close to Carkeek was actually harder to cross with shoes, lots of water flowing down to the beach.)  I just looked it up, about 4 miles roundtrip.

Pictures:

Big Rock, July 4/L Herlevi 2016

Going Out, July 4/L Herlevi 2016

Scallop Shell, July 4/L Herlevi 2016

Where I ended up

Beach. Extremely low tide, I guess makes sense with the supermoon tonight. I wasn't expecting to find that, nor the crowds so early, coulda' walked north for miles. I didn't of course. I attempted to walk to the water's edge, found myself trapped surrounded by water to wade through, but sloshed on through the eelgrass beds. (Finally just got around to rinsing out my shoes.) I didn't see a lot of critters, though I did find these large, green, water dwelling arthropods. (Photo is blurry.)


Green arthropod at beach/LHerlevi

 They looked like super-sized versions of something we used to call "potato bugs." There were other colors, greys, beiges. Someone found a large cockle, and some kids were shouting about a bullhead and an eel. Under the dock were gigantic starfish, and frilled anemones, then a school of salmon circled around, I suppose on it's way to the Locks.

I shot a few pictures but was more interested in mucking around and looking at stuff. Had to rush back up the hill to the bus after the dock, so that I could get to rehearsal on time. Barely made it. I got lucky on both the bus home and the bus downtown. Rehearsal went okay. It was our last one. I asked if we could meet again before the performance to run lines, connect. It felt like too long of a break in between rehearsal and class last week, I felt separated from it. I don't like what I'm doing with my hands, but I did figure out more regarding the first things I say. Also, for the last 45 minutes all I could focus on was the fact that I was hungry. Note to self: EAT before rehearsal. It was super distracting. I was hoping to meet up with a friend, but haven't been able to contact, so will watch a movie instead. Not sure if I like enough of the pictures. Will see how the film turned out. I think they want ten submitted, to choose one from. It's really hot in the house now. The lovely full moon is crossing the night sky very atmospherically behind wisps of clouds.  I think it's gonna rain.