High Tide

As the days become more autumnal, the air becomes clearer. The Isle of Man sits on the horizon more often, you can almost reach out and touch Scafell, and you get to count the sheep in the Forest of Bowland way across the Bay and then some.

Today was about as perfect as a Walney day gets. It was warm and sunny but not hot. There was a stiff breeze as there usually is, but not a high wind. The wind out to sea, however, was enough to make the waves rather frisky, and the high tides are very high, it beingh just a day or so past the full moon (the tides, however, are not as extreme as they are expected to be next month.)

This lunchtime I took myself down to Biggar Bank and sat on the pebbles with a book. After an hour or so, however, I abandoned the book and watched in fascination as the waves crashed higher and higher up the beach until they reached my toes. And very satisfyingly did they crash, too.

And here's something you don't see too often:




The high tide covering The Gullies (Tummer Hill Marshes) and washing right up to Ocean Road. Roa Island, Piel Castle and Biggar Village can be seen across the water, with the hills of the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire just showing up behind them.

Will I ever tire of this place? Ask me again during the winter storms - though I'm rather looking forward to them!