Chris and I rode bikes to the beach this morning for a couple quiet hours at the bike/hike beach. I love this beach because it never gets too crowded; most people drive to the main beach about a half mile south.
The wind had died down, which was a blessing, because when the wind is blowing from the west, as it was yesterday, the flies are blown to the beach from the marshes and are a terrible nuisance. Not today. The sun glinted off the gentle waves, and a stray fly appeared here and there. The water was refreshing after a warm five-mile bike ride but cold enough to force me out after a quick dip.
As I settled into my chair and my eyes adjusted, I started seeing sand crabs everywhere, some a centimeter long and others as long as three inches. They were scuttling about, looking for food, I suppose. Eventually, they all got to work digging out sand from their holes. If something spooked them, like me or a gull, they would either disappear back into their holes or get halfway in, ready to dive if necessary.
As I peered carefully around the area, I noticed many pairs of stalks with eyes atop. Chris tossed a piece of dried sea grass in the middle of them, and four of them ran for it. The boldest picked it up and quickly abandoned it. I took up the game and liked to think we were forming a connection, the crabs and I. I delighted in the stalks peering from the holes, waiting for me to toss the next piece of shell or dried grass.
Our game was interrupted when a family walked by. The eyes quickly descended underground. It was fun while it lasted.
My Corner of the Village 