Wednesday at the beach: Look at this engineering disaster plunked right in front of a nice beach front cottage. The monstrosity is actually right in front of the cottage, blocking the ocean view, although it doesn’t show in this perspective. Engineers and regulators once again run amok.

Note polished pieces of abalone, and at 10 o’clock (left side), cross section of fossilized bone.

I took off yesterday afternoon around 3 and drove north to a cliffside beach trail. The tide was low, sun shining, and the plan was to see how far north I could get, going around points that would be impassable at lower tides. Since I gave up competitive running, I’ve been exploring my local world way more thoroughly.

They say with age comes wisdom, but this combo seems to have eluded me. I started sliding down the steep trail wearing light Sanuk sandals and ended up on all 4s on parts of the trail. Also, I had a cut on my foot from a barefoot walk on the beach a few nights earlier, and the beach was mostly sloping with rocks that had to be hopped upon or navigated around.

But it was a glorious day, there were clear tide pools brimming with sea life. I started finding bits of polished abalone shells and filling up my backpack with shoreside treasures. In all my 40 years living here I’d never been this far along the beach — going where I’ve never gone before, nothing more exciting. (Same thing driving down a never-before-travelled road — heaven.)

Every Tuesday night, a group of us meet and run. Last night it was raining cats and dogs and 6-7 runners showed up (6PM). No one was complaining about the cold, or being soaked. I was warm in my 5 layers of clothing and sheepskin Ugg boots, and as we talked under umbrellas, I decided not to go. They all took off in good cheer and with headlights and I slunk into the bar and had a Guinness. I felt kinda bad. I know if I’d gone I’d have been exhilarated. Finished my beer and drove home along the coast, wind and water whipping the truck. I knew that if I waited in the bar until they came back, they’d all be bubbling with energy, as happens when you get immersed in the elements, and that would depress me. Why don’t I listen to my own experience, which is that you ALWAYS feel better after doing it. OK, if it’s raining next week I’m going.

Below, the beach in a storm a few days ago.