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Wednesday 28 February 2018

Cavendish Beach in winter

Cavendish Beach is one of my favourite beaches on Prince Edward Island, though I have many. We have never been to this beach in winter so this fine day without the wind was a perfect opportunity to explore this favourite place.


The steps down to the beach normally have sand drifted over them. 





There is more than usual today and one doesn’t sink into it as usually happens. This sand is frozen but safe under foot from the gritty cover.


The beach isn’t as I expected. There isn’t sea ice back near the dunes. 





Rather an ice wall lines the shoreline and the tidal zone is covered in broken ice and snow. 








Closer to the dunes, the sand has ice underneath and the surface makes walking easy. This beach is flooded really, the water frozen, waiting for heat to release it to sink into the sand or flow back to sea.


At first glimpse, open water is beyond the ice wall but a closer look reveals the ice, a thin sheen over the surface.





It isn’t thick yet, though it had been if the ice wall is any indication. The freeze-thaw cycle this winter has been unusual, affecting the ice around the island.


My husband and I walked the beach this day, taking in the winter air and the setting. on a gorgeous winter day.

32 comments:

Tomoko said...

The nature on Prince Edward Island always amazes me. Especially in the winter season.
How powerful those broken ices are!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

What an incredible sight Marie! Anyone who believes that climate change around the world is 'fake news' is kidding themselves. We are the opposite here, our summer has been relatively mild, not one 40C this year. When we first came to Perth it was almost unbearably hot in summer. I think this would have been a most enjoyable winter walk ✨

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Looks cold!

William Kendall said...

The beach looks wild this time of year.

Celia said...

Wow! My kids Dad who came from above the Arctic Circle on the coast of Norway used to tell me about the sea freezing. Your pictures look just like what he described. Amazing.

Down by the sea said...

Wow that ice wall looks amazing! Sarah x

jenny_o said...

It's been far too mild here this winter as well, Marie. It's a sobering situation, especially when added to the hurricane season in the south and the warm air at the North Pole. Our weather is changing.

DJan said...

I would love to walk along that beach with you, but your post about it is a good substitution. :-)

Bill said...

Amazing view of the ice and water. Very cold looking, brrr!

Mage said...

Wonderful pictures. You make me properly cold. :)

Angela said...

Beautiful Winter scene with mesmerizing ocean water in the background. I too would love to take a walk near all of that although it might be a bit cool.

Catarina said...

I love to walk on a beach. I am a beach person. I was born in the Algarve... That says it all! : )

Debbie said...

it is so pretty there, i was not expecting the water to be frozen!!!

and it looks so cold!!!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

It is amazing to see the ice piled up on the shoreline indeed. How wonderful that you were able to cross over the sand covered steps! That wind sure has been busy! As I well remember the winds on the island... and the huge piles of ice in the ocean. Always enjoy your pictures and sharing of your adventures of the island :)

Ginnie Hart said...

I can imagine the beauty you saw with the ice like that, Marie...what I would call a photographer's dream. But the sand covering the steps??? Whose job will it be to clear all of THAT away?!?!

Marie Smith said...

The ice around the island amazes me still, Tomoko.

Marie Smith said...

It was indeed. PDP.

Marie Smith said...

It was mild that day, Debra.

Marie Smith said...

It is, William.

Marie Smith said...

It is amazing how quickly it freezes, Celia.

Marie Smith said...

It is indeed, Sarah.

Marie Smith said...

It definitely is, Jenny!

Marie Smith said...

I wish we could walk together there, Jan.

Marie Smith said...

It was not too cold that day, Bill.

Marie Smith said...

Save on air conditioning, Mage.

Marie Smith said...

I’d love to walk there with you, Angela.

Marie Smith said...

This beach is a bit colder than Algarve, Catarina.

Marie Smith said...

That ice wasn't thick, Debbie.

Marie Smith said...

Thanks for sharing some island memories, Marilyn.

Marie Smith said...

They left the sand on the steps last year, Ginnie.

Catarina said...

I remember how cold that water was in August (that particular year, some 20 years ago) !! Couldn't get in the water. The kids attempted but just for a few minutes.

Marie Smith said...

Islanders don’t mind the water in August, Catarina.