Lazy Days and Learning New Things…
Recharging your batteries through Mother Earth
"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun."
— Sandy Gingras
The glorious spring weather has finally arrived here on the south coast, UK. My garden is starting to grow after a slow, wet and cold start. The green leaves on the trees are unfurling, the alliums are popping in the borders and plants that I thought had perished over winter are making a ‘come back’. The cucumbers and tomatoes are starting to grow in the greenhouse. The background music is the glorious sound of the garden birds, a relief that the abundance of spring is finally here.
At the weekend it was a real treat to be able to bundle Audrey, our Norfolk terrier into the car and head off to the coast for a change of scene and some vitamin sea. The Jurassic coast was bustling with families and dogs. It was a wonderful sight to see, people sitting in the park, swimming in the sea and having picnics on the beach. Audrey’s favourite past time is rock pooling and her main aim is to coax us to the shoreline as quickly as possible for some exploring.
It was a lovely couple of hours spent just pottering and pondering around the rock pools. Spotting little crabs, tiny flitting see-through fish, mussels, winkles and limpets. Time spent in the moment, bare feet on the rocks and sand, trousers rolled up and sunshine on my back and just for a few hours, not a care in the world.
The tide was far out and so I was able to see the coastline in a different way. Observing strange shapes and patterns that are normally covered by the waves. I noticed pebbles with perfectly round holes in them. They looked like someone had used a tool to drill holes through them. I picked up a piece of broken off rock to inspect it. It didn’t feel like a pebble, it felt almost soft and was easily broken. The rocks looked like Swiss cheese. It was fascinating and of course needed more investigation, after all it was Sunday afternoon and Audrey was in no rush.
As I wandered and pondered I could see in some sections of the rocks small whiteish coloured molluscs wedged in the holes and deduced that this was their doing. There were many holes which would have occurred over many years. These little sea creatures had changed and shaped the environment and whilst spending a lazy afternoon rock pooling, I had learned something new. This section of the Jurassic coast has rock that is made up of ancient peat and the bore holes that are perfectly round have been made by sea creatures, likely molluscs, called common piddocks.
That afternoon was so special, the sun, the sea, the sights and the sounds. A change of scenery where I was able to focus on something different. Feeling relaxed and recharged. Taking energy into my body through the earth, which was being recharged by the sun’s rays. The simple things in life which I don’t take for granted. I hope you enjoyed our trip to the coast.
Resources
Jessica’s Nature Blog - https://natureinfocus.blog
Earthing, The most important health discovery ever! Clinton Ober, Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D, Martin Zucker
Hi Clare, not sure where you were but the pictures look a bit like dancing ledge. If so those circular pillars are carbonised trees.
Enjoyed your pondering as always.