Anne Sandler of Slow Shutter Speed invites us to go on a journey to shorelines, any place “where water touches land.” Like Anne, I find my mind at peace and my body able to relax whenever I’m near water; lake, river, stream, ocean and even my little backyard waterfall and Koi pond.
Big lakes like Odell in central Oregon, and Priest in northeastern Washington State have been protected from excessive commercial development. Both are surrounded by hills covered in evergreen forests that grow right down to the shoreline.
Even smaller lakes in these rugged Cascade Mountains have trees all the way to the shoreline, like here at Miller Lake. Even so, on both large and small lakes there are stretches of sandy beach and places to pitch a tent, park an RV or rent a cabin.
When I was in grade school, Conconully Reservoir in Okanogan County, Washington USA, is where my parents took their young family to camp, fish and play on our summer vacations. In the early summer there were pollywogs in the warm sands along the shoreline where Salmon Creek enters the reservoir (below). My older brother, sister and I had many adventures with our little row boat here.
When I was 12, my family drove on a ferry from Anacortes WA, to San Juan Island, WA. Thirty years later, my husband and I started staying on Orcas Island, for our summer vacation. I have so many memories of our thirty years touring the islands on our bicycles. After I retired and we acquired a condominium at Long Beach, WA we had one last visit to Orcas. Below, the shoreline at the Anacortes landing, and low tide on the west side of Orcas, with Freeman Island in the distance.
The Long Beach Peninsula features miles of sandy beach to recreate on. Below a group is digging for Razor Clams, a man is riding his bicycle along the shoreline, a king tide spills up toward the berm, and a man is surf fishing in the swirling tide.
Whether day or night, sunny or cloudy, I enjoy listening to the breakers as they roll in, and watching the many shorebirds that frequent the area.
On your walk with life, please honor our earth, encourage dignity and share kindness. 🐾
Thank you Anne for the perfect excuse to virtually visit some of my favorite places on planet Earth!
Lindy Low LeCoq 
So very wonderful my sister! Loved the memory walk along the shorelines too! All my love!
Thank you sweet sister!
It would be hard to choose a favorite shot, they are all so beautiful! I wasn’t familiar with the term “king tide,” although I can guess by context what it means. Wonderful post, Lindy.
Thank you, Jill. The more common name is spring tide which is from the Anglo-Saxon word springan, “to rise, swell burst”, and has nothing to do with the seasons. Since many people get confused, the term king tide is substituted, as these can happen anytime the sun and moon align and the gravitational influence work together on our oceans. (Jonathan White, TIDES)
I’m not too fond of wide scenics, but that last sunset shot is wonderful!
Thank you Ralph. It’s funny, I had selected it and was adding it to my post when I stopped and asked myself “is that horizon straight?” It wasn’t, so I straightened it and then posted. Always in my head I hear Ralph saying “keep your horizons straight”!!!
Lindy, the photos here are gorgeous. The stories you shared were touching and evocative. I thoroughly enjoy reading the stories and marveling at the beautiful photos.
Thank you, Egídio. Sometimes I wonder if people even bother reading the explanations, so it’s nice to know that some of my readers do!
Lindy, I go through the same thoughts when I’m writing a new post. I try to be concise, but sometimes I get carried away.
Beautiful post Lindy. I loved your shorelines. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Anne. My pleasure!
😊
Lindy, there are all wonderful. I enjoyed the ones of the places you went with your family. Thank you for sharing your childhood memories with us. I also really like the Long Beach Peninsula images.
Thank you, Beth. Sometimes I’m reluctant to add much explanation, however this time it seemed important to explain why I including shots of little old Conconully Reservoir!
Excellent. Odell lake, solo red jacket and final expansive sky and sea are among my faves. 👏
Thank you, John. Meant to reply earlier!
I enjoyed lingering over your liminalities.
Thank you, Susan. You have introduced me to a new word/concept – what fun!