Moody sky day at the beach

There is something to be said for a moody sky day at the beach. And it was such a day recently when my husband and I headed to Cousin’s Shore for a walk. Overcast with sunny breaks, the wind made it cold enough for gloves for the first time this autumn. The moody sky created some drama as thunder clouds were interspersed with patches of blue, nature unsure of how she felt that fall day.

Cousin’s Pond lies behind the dunes along the north central coast of Prince Edward Island mere metres from the sea. 

A stream from the pond wends its way through the sand into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 

I walked along the meandering stream to the beach and listened for several minutes to the power of the moving water, the constancy of the stream and the rhythm of the sea. The sounds of the water filled the senses. You can see a short video here.

The grey blue cloud over the reflected grey of the sea looked ominous at times. 

However, periodically breaks in the clouds gave a blue sky reflection on the wet red sand. 

We walked the beach which is lined with cottages and summer homes behind the dunes. One, partially hidden by the dunes, resembles a lighthouse.

A dune restoration project of the cottagers and the Island Nature Trust is underway in the area. Several strategies are in use, one involving dead conifers placed horizontally in exposed areas. 

Some driftwood along the beach has characters within depending on which way you look at it. From one angle, a gull appears in the wood. 

From a few feet west, a rodent’s head rests on top..

On the way back to the car, the plants on top of the sand dunes are reminders of warmer days when Goldenrod bloomed against a late summer sky. However, winter is on the horizon!

Exploring Cousin’s Shore

Time for a walk on the beach! The north shore of the island is the first place that comes to mind on such an occasion, so we head out on a sunny day. Though it is 18 degrees C, the wind from the west is high though warm. The golden grand-dog, Georgie is with us. Lunch on the beach is also part of the plan.

                               Georgie smiles during lunch among the dunes

Cousin’s Shore is an area of beach which is bordered on either side by the red sandstone cliffs of Prince Edward Island. Cousin’s Pond empties into the Gulf of St Lawrence along this section of beach. Fishing boats pass by as the fishers ply their trade and head back to ports along the coast.

We are the only people in the area. The cottages along the shoreline are empty this time of year. A colony of seagulls stands facing into the wind at the mouth of the stream from Cousin’s Pond. 

Wind gusts blow around the sand, though not enough to deter us. The wind on the waves sends a spray upward from the shallow water. Swallows play around us, too swift to photograph.

Low tide provides me with the opportunity to explore along the base of the cliffs. 

The sandstone is familiar but this area has never been accessible when we’ve been here before. 

The bank swallows have their nests in the soil layer above the sandstone.

The stone itself is varied in appearance and texture. The layers in the cliff have a story for sure.

This rock surface is at sea level and covered by high tide.

They look like deposits of sand but this configuration at sea level is unusual here.

While I am there, a little visitor comes by to keep me company. It looks like a song sparrow but is much bigger. This beauty stays and watches me for the longest time.

Various coloured fishing buoys sit against the cliffs in this area, having broken from their fishing lines last season and cast ashore over the winter.

The beach draws me back to my companions to continue our walk. Despite the occasional blast of sand, it was a perfect time at Cousin’s Shore.