On the Beach: Before the Light

[Riley Smith]

It is very quiet and serene on the beachfront before the light. I ran to the store for a biscuit and coffee, and Hwy 90 was alive with traffic but you can hardly even hear it along the water. The remodeling at the Dodge store is very nice, as it was the first time I've stopped since they did it. Beer, biscuits, chicken, and cigarettes are big business for the shipyard workers passing on the highway.

Back with the coffee, I let the quiet and the coffee smooth the edges of a sleepless night while looking over the calm water. A few degrees off due south, the beacon on the ICW blinked in the darkness. You have to use your peripheral vision to see it because it is so dim and so far out.

A walk out on the pier told me what I already knew from experience; not much activity from the finned creatures, although I did see two good strikes at another pier. The salinity is not high enough although I didn't taste to check. I had been watching the river level and in another day or so it'll be much better. Right now there is a slight north wind which makes glassy water at this place

Sonya had taken a girl's trip to Ship Island with some friends. I could have gone but didn't know the captainess and I don't  trust just anyone on THAT water, although the pics were inviting. I wasn't up to a pounding in the powerboat at any rate, and remember another trip with a captain I'll never go back with. Too much testosterone.She was snoring while I chased the sleep I couldn't catch. She said Beth was a competent and safe pilot though, so a future trip might happen.

The day has come and chased away the darkness. The colors right before the sun comes up are magnificent. I have disturbed the house finch that nests in the porch lights enough, so I went inside to write and listen to Sonya's snores. Mowing and chores await, and as always, viewing across the water. That right there is worth all the headaches and troubles it takes.

[Captain Kidd]

Serene is good!

Sorry about the sleeplessness. I sleep pretty well. Sometimes the cat messes me up. But you know how it is: they rule.

[Riley Smith]

I used to sleep very well. Not anymore and 4 hours is considered a good sleep. Which of course puts me up in the dark before dawn. I sort of enjoy that time because it is very quiet and I don't have to deal with people too much. And the pictures are usually pretty nice at that time 

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