Monday, March 10, 2008

Stormy Weather...

"I must go down to the Sea again" as John Masefield wrote. This morning the sea was definitely calling. I'd heard the weather forecast and the warnings about staying away from the coast, but "the call of the running tide" was irresistible! So I wrapped up warm, jammed a woolly hat down round my ears, and braved the wind and the rain. It was, truly, a magnificent sight. The sea was huge, and looked as if it was boiling. Massive waves were crashing on the shore, throwing up great clouds of misty spray and foam. In fact, there was a very watery sun shining for part of my walk, but everything else was grey. The clouds were so dark and so low, they blended with the sea, making the whole a wild, grey, wind-lashed sea-scape. Seagulls, looking like white dots and dashes silhouetted against the dark sky, were floating, wings outstretched, on the currents of wind. And I was almost the only one walking today - just one or two intrepid walkers scurried along, crunching over stones, shells and seaweed that had been thrown up onto the promenade by the high seas. It was precisely the scene that John Masefield had described in his Sea Song poem.. "the flung spray and the blown spume, and the seagulls cry...ing"

As I walked back home, I met up with the husband of one of my friends; he had a newspaper tucked under his arm, and was suitably wrapped up against the weather. He said that they were planning to go down for a look at high tide, despite the warnings! I may have to go down to the sea again too..

10 comments:

aims said...

Why oh Why do you keep doing this to me girl?? You KNOW I long for the sea and here I am in the middle of a very dry prairie!! Grrrrrrrr.....

So glad you went -

Dusty Spider said...

I love the sea when it's really fierce. Takes my breath away just reading your description. Wish I was there!! What did the high tide look like?? Flick x

Donna said...

Sounds wonderful but dangerous...be careful!!!hughugs

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Sorry Aims, but it was just impossible to resist today. I love the sound of the prairie, though, and would also love some of your snow. M :)

HI Flick, yes it was stunning. I was smiling to myself like a mad person! Wish you were here too! M :)

Don't worry Donna, I wasn't that close - it would have been completely mad to go down onto the shingle. But it was a great sight!
M :)

the mother of this lot said...

The best type of sea!

Gone Back South said...

It's spectacular when mother nature shows us who's boss!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

I grew up at the sea. It never leaves you does it? But you be careful out there.

Maggie May said...

There's nothing like a boiling sea. The might & power of it gets to you. I cannot be away from it for long .... but DO be careful!

Anonymous said...

Oooh rather you than me. I live just 3 miles from the sea and very rarely go near the beach.

Crystal xx

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi the mother - yes, the best and wonderful. Scary but wonderful:)

Hi gonebacksouth - there's no doubt is there . I felt rather inspired by it! M xx

Hi RAC - I wasn't born here, but I do love the sea. Don't worry, the promenade is wide and pretty safe.

Hi Maggie May - no need to worry, I'm careful. It's just so irresistible when it's wild like that. M xx

Hi Crystal - it's funny, but of course we're all different. I love the excitement of it, though maybe if I was 3 miles away it might be different. As it is, I'm only 5 minutes walk away! M xx