March Winds At Home and On The Beach…

Sunshine days provide great opportunities for walking and absorbing some Vitamin D. Good for the bones and for the soul. Strolling neighborhood streets give us a breath of fresh air and allows conversations with loved ones, friends and strangers. A glorious time with calm air, until the wind changes direction.

Howling winds can arrive at any moment, kicking up dust, leaves, limbs and more. In spring, summer, fall or winter, winds can gain speed and surprise us with slaps to the face and punches to the body. Objects can be thrown from here to there at any turn. March winds can come in like a lion, but those type of winds can happen anytime.

Beach walking is healthy and fun. A recent weekend was filled with warm weather and bright sunshine. Alan and I decided to move our daily walk from the local area to the beach on Sullivan’s Island.

Driving to SI ( which is what we locals call Sullivan’s Island ), finding a parking place and making sure we had our sun hats and sunscreen, we set off to find the best entrance to the beach. Chatting with people along the way, the sea air began to fill our lungs. Our steps quickened and our smiles became wider as we anticipated the gentle, relaxing walk on the beach.

A surprise hit us in the face as we crested the top of the walkway leading to the sand.
Strong wind. Not a gentle breeze, but a strong, whipping, grab your collar kind of wind!!! Waves stood high and crashed into each other heading for the shore.

Winds on the mainland and on the island can vary in strength and speed. There can be a huge difference between parking a short distance from the beach, where there is calm to no wind, to reaching the top of the walkway and finding a powerful, windy greeting.

With hats secured and jackets zipped, we placed one foot in front of the other and started enjoying the sights. Seashells, horseshoe crabs, driftwood and plenty of people and dogs made for delightful chit chat.

Walking with the wind was different than walking against the wind. We certainly achieved our attempt at exercising.

Setting out to travel a certain distance, we checked the exercise monitor only to find we had ventured a much shorter length than we thought. The wind had worn us out.
We kept going, giving ourselves a spot in the distance to reach. A large pink house made for a distinct turning around point. Once we found that spot on the beach, we retreated and headed back to the entryway where we had first encountered the beach winds.

On that day, the beach walk was amazing and full of adventures. Visiting with people, laughing while watching dogs jump in and out of the ocean retrieving sticks, we gazed at ships traveling in the distance, heard the pounding waves crashing the shore, and most of all, shared precious time with each other.

March winds, or beach winds at any time, can be enjoyable if we pause and find the fun in the wind. Just make sure your hats are secure and your jacket is zipped. Also, watch out for flying debris. You just might get hit by a horseshoe crab if you aren’t paying attention.

God gives us the wind and the ocean. What a joy to observe His creations! Have you taken a walk on the beach or in your neighborhood lately? What did you experience?

Take a walk and have a blessed day,

Mimi