And Away We Go

Written October 8, 2023

We are at the beach. This is the view from the little cabin we rented.

This morning, when I just got up and sat down in the wonderful chairs provided, there were whales! Five gray whales hung out for at least half an hour before two swam off. Three stayed for another half hour or so. We saw their fins, heads, bodies and tails. We watched them moving around each other, their blowholes shooting spray into the air. We went whale watching from our front window! Hadn’t even had that as an event on our flexible vacation plans. Free of charge, no boating involved. How lucky are we?

Fast forward – today is September 1, 2024: I didn’t just post the little missive above because I wanted to add the pictures and write more than one paragraph. At that time last year, I wasn’t capable of doing more. That trip occurred in the midst of great conflict and turmoil with my terminally ill mother that I didn’t understand, which came at me like a freight train, just days before we left to celebrate my birthday at the ocean. Wanting a redo this year, my husband looked into it but October dates were already full. I was beyond bummed. Instead, we looked at end of February/beginning of March when odds were better we’d get some days of okay weather than if we went in the winter. This was an unfortunate turn of events. I need something to look forward to a little closer in time.

On our original visit in 2021, we’d read in the guestbook about some people staying during ‘King Tides,’ noting “What a show!” Looking into what King Tides were, we learned they are a few days during which monster high tides come in, happening once, twice, or three times a year, primarily in the winter months. We’ve always thought it’d be cool to be there. The little cabin sits beachfront about 15 feet above the sand. A huge plate glass window looks out at the waves. Front row seat, baby! Mid November it is. I’m excited again with the getaway in sight! So excited, in fact, that I came onto my blog to write about revisiting our seaside escape. Before I began, I scanned my drafts and found this! Adding the pictures and posting today. 🌊