Friday, June 5, 2020

Rip tide

So strange to hear waves on a still afternoon in an inlet closed to the sea. There is a tide now and the tide is returning, lapping on the shore.



The sea rose up; a king tide, a full moon and a nine metre swell. The sea pushed through the sand bar and into the inlet. "Never before in living memory," said Ms Mer who has netted fish here for half a century, "has the bar been broken by the sea."


My sister sings by the fire, as Ms Mer's boat beetles back from setting over night nets. Owlet nightjars sing their coordinates as they fly across the inlet to roost. Waves lap the shore and the boat's wake arrives to slap against the rocks. Sister sings Riptide by the fire.

 

8 comments:

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    1. This is a once in a lifetime event. What has happened here this week is unprecedented in natural history.

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    2. A nine metre swell. Every meteorological event here seems to break a record now too.

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  2. I have always liked the expression rip tide. It is something you don't argue with.#

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    1. That # appeared because my cat jumped on my keypad just as I pressed publish.

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    2. Yes, you don't argue with a rip tide, or your cat

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  3. Nice post. Yes, climate change is here already. The change in pressure systems has completely destroyed the surf at our local beach. It's been deteriorating for years but the last 2 have clinched it.

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    1. Just heard from another old timer yesterday who said he'd never seen this in sixty years.

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