Shoreside

I could not believe it. As I rose today the sky was cloudless. Quick coffee, a bowl of cereal, and off to Martinique we headed. Martinique is my favourite local beach because it is long and has interesting points that one can circumnavigate. As well as that, there is a wonderful salt marsh on the other side of the road leading  out the peninsula. I find salt marshes fascinating. This morning the Piping Plovers were busy forging in the sand at the marsh. I heard them first then I saw them. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Piping_Plover/sounds. After delighting in the marsh life we crossed to the sea. It was perfect. Unfortunately on our trek up the beach we came upon a dead seal pup. I was saddened but recognize the wheel of life turns for all. 

Then I found my crab. I do not recall finding a crab with its tail still intact. I was thrilled. I carried it gingerly up the miles of beach protecting this perfect find. My hand was numb this morning and barely functioning and so it seemed like a particularly  noble  gesture to save this crab for drying and display. On the way back I found another perfect crab minus tail and I imagined how I was to position them while drying for optimum effect. 

On our way back I was surprised by the swiftness of the clean up the ravens had done on the seal. 

Once back to the area near where I parked my car I ever so carefully climbed the sand bank cradling my crabs and carrying a now heavy bag of clams. It seemed to be a clam morning for me. Normally I just pass by them but for some reason I gathered a dozen or so this morning. I carefully placed my two crabs on the floor of the back seat so nothing would happen to them. Just before I got home I stopped to talk with neighbours about the glorious weather. Molly woke up— jumped in the back seat and ate my crabs.

There will be other days and other crabs here in Nova Scotia.

The sand patterns this morning were truly lovely