This afternoon when we came home from work, J and I went straight to the window, coats still on, to survey the scene below. The weather here was crazy all day- sheets of driving rain and hail followed by golden sun (repeat cycle a hundred times) and apparently the wind had whipped the ocean into a furious frenzy. The surf was pounding the sea wall outside, throwing boulders the size of sheep across the bike path, and spraying kelp all the way to the road. It was high tide just as we came home, the peak of action, and it roared and surged, climbing the stones like some kind of nimble, unstoppable animal.
This was even exciting enough to bring out the locals, and the grass behind the path was sprinkled with cautious viewers. One guy was out with sound recording equipment, and J and I watched as he stood right atop the wall, then turned his back to the ocean to fiddle with something. Sure enough, an immense wall of water leaped up behind him, and he scrambled out of the way as the water rushed to surround him.
I'm used to waves like this only lasting for a half hour or so, but now, three hours later, they're still roaring over the wall, with a tone is so low and rumbling that I can press my hand to the window and feel the vibrations as sea meets stones. I think it will be the sound to put me to sleep tonight, tucked high above the flying kelp pieces.
Oh, and if you're curious, all the wild weather STILL has not taken care of the Raven Treasure.
Ship sighting: I took a trip around the docks during my wave inspection, so now you can see Eldborg in partial déshabillé (and don't you LOVE that truck/crane thing?). This boat trio was further down the dock. The one on the left is the Famous Gold Boat discussed in the comments on this post. On the way back, this house, with the peeling paint, the nails rusting through the fence rails, and the strange dogs (the one on the right had a broken leg even) in the window captured my imagination. This house needs a story written about it.
*I am curious to know if ANYONE that didn't go to the same high school as I did knows what this refers to.
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5 comments:
Hi E,
did you know your blog appears oddly in IE
I have to scroll down really far always to get to the text.
I think you've got an amazing eye for colour and shape. The ships in the picture where you have three colours and ships is really nice (remember I'm a photographer/MFA) ;D
Sadly I can't respond to JB's site anymore :(
But I still LOVE it :D
My house is peeling worse than this one... but mine is wood rather than corregated metal... Nice photo.
I love that crashing sea - and the way your descriptions bring it to life.
BTY, regarding Ravens, Magpies, Crows and the like, check out an old post of mine:
http://tsduff.blogspot.com/2005/12/corvid-whimsey.html
I like the damn things...
I can't place the "boisterous deep." But my sausey ship's a beauty.
Away, away on the bright blue sea,MB
Sirrý: may I suggest a new browser, like Firefox? I've never had complaints before, but I don't know of many people who use IE anymore. Also, you CAN comment on JB's site, if you sign up for a blogger account. IT doesn't mean you have to have a blog.
Terry: thanks! I think of you whenever I write about ravens :-)
MB: The line is from an obscure shape-note hymn we sang in high-school called "Ocean 150". I loved the lyrics, and the tune was great fun to sing- I remember one time after rowing to the ocean on the CT River, we sang it on a beach by the sea while waiting for our van to pick the boats up. Plus, the tune was written by someone called "Supply Belcher". Doesn't get better than that. The first verse went like this:
Thy words the raging winds control,
And rule the boist'rous deep.
Thou mak'st the sleeping billows roll,
The rolling billows sleep.
If you want the rest, check here.
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