In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning

The bugs have pretty much curtailed my bike riding activity around the campground-no matter how fast I peddle they find a way to catch up and cling to me while sucking the blood out of me like the vampires they are.  Either that or I'm ducking a gathering of love bugs, hoping I don't swallow any as I bike faster to escape the no see ums ! But there is a way around the bug battle and that is to head to the beach-especially in the wee small hours of the morning when no one is around.

I can see everyone is still asleep in the campground as I head out the boardwalk-that's a good sign-means the beach will be deserted. Seriously with the humidity, heat and bugs the campground looks deserted most times of the day until everyone dashes out of their campers and runs to the beach or everyone returns from the beach and heads for the showers !

So far it looks promising-no one else is here yet.  I snuck out about 5:30 leaving Jim behind while he was making coffee.  Hailey looked at me as if to say "You want me to leave this air conditioning to go out there "?  So I was off by myself.  I love this time of morning-there is a light blueness tinged with pink lighting up the sky and a cool breeze coming up off the Gulf Waters.  The waves are so quiet this morning-waking up from their night time sleep and gently lapping against the shoreline.  The white sand is so cool on my feet-I'm wishing it could stay that way all day. I start to wander up the beach and see some movement up ahead-oh what a treat-a single heron standing guard.  

I'm afraid to go any further-I don't want to scare him off.  I slow my pace and move further into the water so that he can see I'm giving him his space.  He trusts me and while he keeps a careful watch over me he's decided I'm harmless and he stands his ground-seems as though there are two of us now enjoying this beautiful spot and this early morning hour.

The sun is starting to peek over the sand dunes, just barely illuminating the waves as they come into shore.  I should start back-coffee is probably ready and it's starting to warm up with the rising of the sun.  

There are no foot prints on the beach except for mine and the shells lay strewn about-soon to be discovered by beach walkers.  It's so peaceful-I forget the bugs and the heat and realize how lucky I am to be here with my feet in the sand. This is the best moment of my life, right here right now. And later today when I'm chasing bugs I'll take a breath and remember the cool breeze and the cool sand and my friend who shared this early morning walk with me.

Here's wishing you peaceful beautiful mornings and Happy Trails to my fellow travelers.