Botanical Beach

In spring, the temperate rain forest abounds in water. Paths are often muddy and water pools in boot prints. Everywhere is the sound of running water, trickling, rushing, dripping.

During the mile hike to the beach (if you take the loop trail), the sound changes dramatically. Fresh water sounds are subsumed in the pounding of the surf as it crashes against the rocks. Anticipation builds as the booming crashes become louder.

Emerging from the forest onto the beach is like walking from twilight into full sun, especially on a day like today. This beach is strewn with rocks and tidal pools both deep and shallow. In the far distance sits Cape Flattery, the northwestern most point of the contiguous United States.

On this blue sky, marshmallow cloud day the colours are intense. Green waves of sea plants are harmoniously juxtaposed with frothy seas. 

Wave after wave forms in the blue, piles up energy, then smashes against the rocks, disintegrating into a million pieces of nothing.

My gaze swivels between the larger landscape of wave-struck rocks and the abundance of life in the tidal pools. A Glove Sponge clutches tightly to a rock, but even that weighty grip has not prevented it from being tossed like a pebble into a shallow pool.

The ceaseless waves rise and fall in unending rhythm. I think of ee cummings' words - "i thank You, God for this most amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes"

A lone Blood Star sprawls in a shallow pool partially obscured by the fine bars created by waving eel grass shadows.

I try to capture the curl of the wave as it falls over upon itself before collapsing in a sea of foam on a less rocky part of the beach.

Finally, as the shadows barely begin to lengthen, we turn our backs on the sea and climb once again through the forest. How quickly the sound is deadened. 

I've uploaded a 20 second video that will give an idea of the sound. We'll see if it actually works!

Linking to Thoughts of Home on Thursday, hosted by Laura of Decor to Adore.