Bruce Mayo is joining me on this adventure. He will certainly add some "color" to the day! Oh, what a gorgeous day it is so we start early on this Sunday morning. I loaded the camera with Kodak 400 film, pack my beach bag and head down to get Bruce. As an added precaution and with some foresight, we stop at the breakfast place in Farmingdale to make sure that we have enough sustenance for this long day. We also stop at Rite Aid for some provisions - Fuji 400 speed film for me and kites for Bruce! Woo Hoo!
As we are traveling down the road, Elvis Costello is filling the car with his magnificent voice. I love his music. He is putting us in the creative mood to do what comes our way.
The views on the way to Popham Beach are just breathtaking. Anticipation is high as to what we will find when we get there. I have not been in awhile so it will be interesting to see the changes in the landscape from the winter storms and the movement of Morse River. As we pull into the parking lot around 9:45 a.m., we noticed only a few cars over to the right of the parking lot. After we unload the car with our necessities, we find that it is certainly high tide. There is not much beach area by the right entrance near Morse River. There are tons of fallen limbs on the beach up close to the land. Oh what a sight we see. The water is raging hard and fast letting us know that it is here to stay. We marvel at the beauty of all that we see.
Prior to our arrival, someone had fastened together a few branches to make an intricate display. Bruce was so excited to see this make-shift structure that I took one photograph of the creative melding by itself and one with Bruce behind it. This became Photograph 1 and Photograph 2. What a way to start the day! Here we go!!
There was so much debris to our right and left after coming out onto the beach that we could not walk very far as we were blocked as a result of the fallen bits of nature and the ocean water at high tide. Photographs 3 and 4 as well as Photographs 9, 14, 17 through 21 depict what we saw as we walked onto the beach.
The ocean waves were just brilliant! Oh how magnificient they are at high tide. What a wonder we behold before us. Who cannot love the sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean? Who cares if there is a breeze. It is just fabulous. Come on down. Take it all in. I know many people do but I wonder about the people who do not experience such a thrill. Photographs 5 and 6 as well as Photographs 15 and 16 shows the brilliance and forcefulness of these waves on this glorious day. I am glad that Bruce is here to watch with me in awe.
Bruce walked ahead of me making a path on the beach to the left of the entrance. He walked as far as he could go, then stopped and sketched the scene. Photographs 7 through 13 (with the exception of Photograph 9) show Bruce's footsteps toward his destination as well as part of the view that he was capturing. You certainly cannot forget all the debris from the fallen trees that lined the shore on this side of the entrance. It is sad but it is nature at work. Who are we to argue?
As we were unable to venture very far, we decided to leave for awhile but come back later. Our next stop was to investigate the left entrance to the beach. We wondered why no cars were parked down that end of the beach. We certainly found out when we walked up the path. The answer? The path ends in a drop-off to the beach. Fencing was put up so that no person or animal would fall onto the beach. The erosion has taken the access to the beach away. There were still picnic tables that you could sit on and admire the view. However, the only access was on the other side of the beach. Photographs 22-27 depict what we saw from this vantage point. I should note that Bruce was an added bonus to Photograph 27 as he is sitting at one of the picnic tables just waiting for Godot.
We walk back to the car to drive to Fort Baldwin but I had to snap another photograph of the entrance to the beach just before we sped away to our next destination. This became Photograph 28.
As my car automatically knows where it is going on its own, we pass the Ocean View Campground and see that they are busy working and preparing for the upcoming summer season. Oh how I wish that my parents could still be here for the summer. It would bring them such joy. The Stonehouse Manor is just beyond the campground. The location is just fabulous for any event. When I was younger, I had always thought I would get married there.
I then maneuver the car up the narrow road to the small parking lot at the entrance to Fort Baldwin. Bruce and I grab our cameras and hike up the trail. This was a new experience for Bruce so I was excited to see his reaction to what was ahead of us.
Fort Baldwin is another childhood adventure with many fabulous memories. I remember it used to be scary when I was younger going into the buildings with its dark spooky rooms. There are three batteries to explore plus the tower at the end of the road. Photographs 29 through 32 as well as Photographs 35 and 36 show just parts of the structures of the batteries including the stairs upwards to the top of the structures that is covered in grass. Oh what a view from up above. It is just breathtaking from up here. This became Photographs 33 through 34 to show what we saw from the top of the batteries. We also explored the inside of some of the rooms and the dark and narrow passages inside the structures. Walking through the buildings is still spooky and not as long of a walk through it as it felt like when I was younger.
After leaving the batteries, Bruce and I headed to the tower. I was so excited to see if the top floor was still open so that we could take in the view from above. Anticipation was running high as we made our way up to the top. A narrow set of stairs led us to the highest point possible. I was so excited. Photographs 37 through 39 show the view from the three sides of the small opening in the tower. As I was taking photographs, Bruce took out his camera to shoot in video format. What a fabulous idea to have a narrative of what sights we were seeing from above. Bruce just makes me smile and laugh. As we descended down, Bruce was ahead of me so when he got to the next level down he had his video running and did his impersonation of Yma Sumac. I could not stop laughing. You got to love Bruce!
Bruce and I slowly meandered our way back down to the parking lot to head over towards Spinney's and Percy's. I was so hoping that Percy's would be open so that I could have one of their fabulous ice cream cones. However, we found out that Percy's does not open until Mother's Day. Oh well, I guess I did not need one anyway.
Our next stop was to park outside of Spinney's to hit the beach with cameras and with the kites that Bruce had purchased earlier in the day. There were several people here enjoying this gorgeous day. Photographs 40 through 43 show the view from the beach including the old Coast Guard Station that has been turned into a bed and breakfast. In addition, it was an amusing adventure to try and fly the kites. However, it was certainly fun trying. Photographs 44 and 45 show Bruce getting his kite ready for flight. Oh, and he had to help me get mine ready as I could not figure it out.
After our kite flying escapade, we drove back to Popham Beach State Park to see what the beach and landscape looked like at a lower tide. There were even more cars in the parking lot now so there were a lot of people enjoying this fine beach day. It was amazing to me the difference between high tide and now. People were walking to the island and walking the beach. A few brave souls were testing the water. We know the water is cold but it is always cold.
Bruce and I set our bags down and admired the view. I could not sit very long so I wandered around looking and taking more photographs. Photographs 46 through 48 as well as Photographs 50, 55 through 60 show what the beach and the landscape looked like dotted with people everywhere. As I was wandering the beach, I looked closely at the shapes that were engraved in the sand from the moving water of the ocean before me. I could not help notice the intricate designs. These designs became Photographs 49, 51 through 54 and 72. Of course, I could not forget the ocean waves that were breaking in a distance. They would not let me forget. What splendor I was beholding before me! Photographs 61 through 63 were what my camera found for me to cherish in those breaking waves. As I was wandering around, I could see a surfer in the distance. I wondered how close I could get to capture this thrilling ride. The waves were just brutal out there. One after the other. The surfer was not daunted by the task at hand. It was a thrill to watch. Photographs 64 through 71 and 73 show the surfer from a distance as well as the waves that were about to be mastered.
As we were packing up and ready to go, I was elated to have come to this beach but sad to go so soon even though it was midafternoon already. The day was filled with excitement and laughter. I was glad that Bruce came along for the ride. His presence added so much to this experience. I am sure we will do it again another day!
No comments:
Post a Comment