A Sabbath walk from Whitby to Sandsend

…three miles along a beach made more interesting because it is tidal. Let us start looking at a wall in Whitby where marine algae appears in a green dense mat withstanding cold air at low tide and being submerged in saltwater at high tide.

White foam curls as it hits the wall then is redirected by another small wave coming in. The 10 am sun lights both the bright green and dark green of the algae. We will see more of this algae as we walk later in the day. Notice the three pebbles each have their own ‘draw down’ lines as water channels back to the sea. A complex, simple combination.

So I take a black pen and some paint. I am amazed at how complex the foam lines are, drawn by the interaction of the defining currents. I enjoy this.

Let us now walk along the three mile beach. Notice the cliffs, not orange, nor yellow sandstone but red soil with large tufts of grass where it has recently fallen. The gutweed with long, hollow tubular and sometimes bubbly looking fronds hang off rocks and then there are those black stones with perfect holes like someone has drilled into them. It is not a someone it is another stone. I saw a red stone imbedded in the hole a perfect fit. I marvelled at all I saw and picked up a few.

Then there is the beginning and the ending. Sandsend a village visited by the wellknown at one end and Whitby Abbey high on the cliffs at the other.

The tumble of the ground close up.

Then a length of cliff.

Long ribbon like plants…

Ripples on the wet sands as water moves with the wind and tide.

Then I had to see those perfect circles as seen where they lay.

There has been no rain only a cold wind to make one hungry for fish and chips. Beware the seagulls! One patted me on my head with its wing as it flew by. I had no food so really it was OK. There are signs up to help us to remember not to feed them.

A day to remember.

Then something else I want to do. I was listening to John C Lennox speaking about his recent book: God, AI and the End of History. He ended his talk by saying:

‘ You exist because God wanted you to be.’

I will start reading it as soon as it arrives.

Take care,

Sandy 🙂