Moody Beach Day

 

Moody Beach Day

The first full day we were in Galveston was a very cloudy day.  We decided to drive down Galveston Island and, on our way, back, we noticed a beach access sign (there are many, but this was the first we saw on our way back).  When we got to the beach, the adventure began, because on Galveston Island, large portions of the beach are open to all, including vehicles!

The first thing we saw was this seagull sitting atop the post blocking off the non-access portion of the beach.  He was very intently looking into the wind, almost, it seemed, gauging how hard he’d need to flap his wings to get where he wanted to go!! 

The facing into the wind action seemed to be a common thing for seagulls to do!!  I loved how perfect their formation was.  It was a good thing I captured this photo, because…

…Once they noticed me, their attention quickly became laser-focused on me!!  My assumption is that regular beach visitors brought them tasty treats (bird seed, etc.), and once they notice a person standing on the shore, they naturally assumed that person was there to feed them!!

Here’s a scene I’ve often seen in magazines and talked about in books, but not one that I’ve seen in person!!  Someone riding her horse (my assumption) on the beach.  The sand was very well packed down, so there really wasn’t any danger of the horse slipping or losing his footing.  She did wave as she passed us by but kept on her very lovely solitary ride.

This might have been the first time we saw someone camping down on the beach, but it certainly wasn’t the last.  It seems like it would be very peaceful, and, if you choose the right spot, like this one, it is.  However, further up the beach, we would see several campers almost close enough to rival a traditional campground!

The day began to look angrier, and the water was churning so much sand, it turned a rather muddy or dark sandy color.  The motion of the sea seemed to match the clouds and I’m guessing, Mother Nature’s feeling about that day!!

A bit further up the island, the sky didn’t look quite so menacing, and so we got out of the Jeep and walked along the dunes at the back of the beach.  This path was such a lovely way to get back to beach after exploring the dune and its grasses.

As we wandered along another portion of the beach, we saw this large piece of driftwood, perfectly positioned, from a photographic perspective!!  I decided to have a bit of fun with this image and converted it into a painting.  A different take on the subject!

And, finally, here’s an image of one of my favorite things – the patterns created in the sand by the wind.  The bit of a dune and some beach grass adds just the right amount of contrast and texture.

Enjoy!!