Anticipation

Pacific Beach, Washington

 

Earlier this month I spent a weekend out on the Washington coast. This area is further south and more developed than the wilderness beaches of Olympic National Park, but is still a beautiful section of beach and coastline, and a much shorter drive from home for me. In the area I was staying, the houses are up on a bluff above the beach (out of the tsunami hazard zone that exists on the low-lying areas of the coast), and there is a steep path leading from there down to the beach.

 

The trail begins in the trees, but the alluring sound of the ocean is easily heard and the unmistakable scent of saltwater is carried on the breeze. As the path winds its way lower, the trees thin out and the ocean beyond suddenly comes into view. At the sight of it my heart always lifts with joyous anticipation and I want to hurry down the path to reach the sand below. Although I did stop long enough to take a couple of photos of the view through the trees!

 

[Side note: this area is quite windy and you can see the impact that has on the trees and their branches.]

Done