“I was born under a wandrin’ star. Wheels are made for rollin’, mules are made to pack. I’ve never seen a sight that didn’t look better looking back.” Lee Marvin, in Paint Your Wagon.
The time I spent each year at my coastal refuge has become an essential part of my life. I look forward longingly to the time when I can be here and regretfully leave when it’s time to return home. But there has been a difference this year. This year, I have also been obsessed with outfitting my camper van, Honu. As you can see in the photo - it has a state of the art HVAC and a washer/dryer integrated into the system. {smile}
All kidding aside - my Honu really is a state of the art camper van and the one thing that is easing my transition from my beach retreat to my return home is that instead of taking fast interstate roads, I plan on taking slow country roads and boon-docking along the way. Harvest Hosts - a community based on collaboration between landowners and RVers - has provided reservations at a few sites that sound absolutely charming - a meadery/brewery in rural south Alabama and a winery in north Alabama. So now, I’m looking forward to meeting new friends and checking out new territory during my return home!
All of which does not negate my regret at leaving the coast. ‘The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.’ Isak Dineson
I was lucky that my friend Margaret visited me last month and even though the weather was cold and windy, we were able to do some light spheres on the beach. It’s kinda of a miracle that we didn’t conk each other in the head while we were twirling in the dark with our light balls! Margaret (in red) was obviously a much better synchronized light sphere that me (blue).
I also had some wonderful friends (Judy and Charles Gattis) with me photographing stump beach, which is always magical.
And my friend Perry came to visit. One night we had a lovely camp fire on the beach.
But, I also love the winter isolation on the beach. Sometimes, I don’t see another soul on the coast for days!
It’s fun to shoot star trails on a beach that is a sea turtle habitat. Why? No lights are allowed facing the beach!
Sometimes, on a long exposure, you can catch a lightning bolt from the storm that is brewing off-shore.
And, last night, I swear I saw Pegasus flying in the night sky!
Even a rainy day at the beach is wonderful - the diffuse light and rainy smears turn even the mundane into an oil painting.
So, I’m going to miss my coastal retreat but I think the song for today, based on my travels back home should be one of my favorite John Denver songs. We lost John tragically in a plane accident in 1997 when he was only 53 years old. In his brief but brilliant life, John Denver earned 14 gold and 8 platinum albums. His music was popular worldwide and for me, personally, provided the soundtrack for many of the events in my life. So, this song is my mantra for me and Honu.
) to see how your blog looks