A glorious late Spring day with multi-toned blue skies, dappled cirrus and a brisk wind from the West. The banks of shingle and the dune grass give a wilder feel to this beach, rather than the obvious sand on the opposite side of the river.

We sat sheltered by the wooden boards across the beach and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and watched longingly as the breakers crashed on the shore. The sea was going out and retreated quickly across the sand at the edge of the shingle.

A few seagulls skimmed the breeze and a small flock of plover, gaggles about on the sand, trying to chase off the bigger birds. Many large Cuttlefish bones were strewn across the Flint shingle, washed up by the retreating tide.

A short, but painful walk across the stones ( I didn’t bring my socks..) and a spongy walk across the wet smooth sand, brought me to the waves. They rolled in in all sorts of different directions, and broke as white horses quickly and powerfully. The sand was very soft under foot, and it was pure delight to surf, without a body board, on the waves. The water was cold, but the body acclimatised quickly and I was able to stay in the water for about 15 minutes. The water was shallow so swimming was not really possible, but it was fun to race a as the water with the waves, and get in a few strokes.

It is amazing how we can lift our hearts to Him who made it all. There are so many things God gives us which are just pure enjoyment. I am looking ahead to the Summer and plenty of longer dips in the briny.

“The sea is His for He made it…” Psalm 95:5

“I worship the Creator, who made me, and made me creative..”

A very blustery day with gales incoming from the sea, hence crashing waves, strong enough to knock the body over. Sea also full of a variety of seaweeds washed in by the ferocity of the tide.

Grey skies made the scene inhospitable for swimming. Down at the waters edge, standing upright was almost impossible and only with great difficulty and hands always ready to catch the stones on the beach. It felt like the ground tilted from every angle, like the surface of a balance game at a fairground. Two hours later, the skies lifted and sunshine broke through. The waves still churned, but the turn of the tide had dissipated the weed and the water is pale green, though milky with the dashing breakers.

Once past the breaker line, the water is pleasant and exhilarating with the mountains that build up behind the retreating tide, dictating the ebb and flow.

As the train neared the sea, it made the wait seem monotonous, but the cloudless sky and sunshine brought holiday zephires.

The brown stones of the beach and the voluminous sea-green water called out to enter and swim, with no other encouragement. Casting out into the deep brought a minor shock of cold, like a trouble that doesn’t last. The salt, the foam and the gentle swell swaddled the body, to rock into sleep and rest weary city muscles, for as long as possible.

Diving brought the sea floor closer than expected, and the churning hidden forces, chop up the seabed, so that all vision is murky.

Swimming to the right, away from the Arun estury was easy, relaxing and quick, but to turn back meant effort and small progress for out lay. The current was powerful and the long dyke kept the worst of it from sweeping swimmers away.

Calm, confident and comforting…