Our time at Atlantic Beach came to an end, and after an unusually rainy and windy winter, warmer spring-like weather finally arrived. We planned to leave on Sunday morning, and the forecast was for rain most of the day on Saturday – a good time to finish packing – so we considered Friday our last day to enjoy all of the things we love about this area. Even though I had run two miles and gone to the Sports Center to work out with weights the previous day, I awoke early and was able to witness a beautiful sunrise only partially blocked by eastern clouds. I decided to go for a final run before the 500-mile drive back to Highlands.
I ran to the
Fort Macon Picnic Area, then back on the trail through the maritime forest,
then through the Sea Dreams residential area up and down steep hills, and
finally out onto the beach – road-running, trail-running, hill-running,
and beach-running. Martha was on the beach
just starting out for a walk to the Oceanana Pier and back, and we walked
together for awhile, watching several kites being launched on the beach.
Then Martha said, “Look, dolphins!” and pointed out to the ocean, where we could see the dorsal fins of several bottlenose dolphins breaking the surface – our first dolphin sighting since we had arrived.
It has been a good Sabbatical this year – as much outdoor activity as the weather permitted, plenty of books read, and some poetry completed for my upcoming book. We bid farewell to the unceasing sound of the surf every night, and look forward now to the silence of nights in Clear Creek valley and the pleasure of seeing friends and loved ones again.
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