Beach Holiday

I spread butter in little pats on crackers, then topped each one with cheese. David and I were preparing a light lunch to eat on the beach, which sparkled enticingly from across the quiet lane that looped in front of our rented holiday-shack.

It was only mid-morning, but already the sun blazed high and hot in the empty blue sky. Clocks and schedules had disappeared, as we luxuriated in the acres of leisure which stretching out before us. Soon we were ready to leave, so collecting together what we needed for the day - our picnic basket, beach-umbrella, bottles of water, sun-hats, towels, novels – we strolled in brightly coloured bathers and bare feet across the road to the stone-steps which led to the beach.

Skipping down the smooth sun-hot rocks, we noticed scores of other holiday-makers had the same idea; they’d sprouted mushroom-like during the morning, under their colourful umbrellas, and were dotting the beach as far as we could see. Their cheerful voices and laughter floated up to us, the words unravelling and evaporating en route.

Sunlight glinted and danced across the marbled water - rippled and swirled in blue, turquoise, green - and further out, sails flicked in and out of the light, while the horizon merged with the sky in a pale blue haze. The ocean boomed with a languid rhythm as it heaved up onto the shore and dragged back out, heaved up again and dragged back out.

We reached the foot of the steps and walked along a short pebbled path between low dunes carpeted in wild grasses and yellow flowers. The worn rocks under our feet massaged and caressed our soles as they shifted and clattered and rolled and collided. Then, emerging onto the hot dazzling sand, we sprinted to the water’s edge to cool our feet and search for somewhere to sit. In long lazy strides, we splashed through ankle-deep water - icy cold and refreshing on our hot legs.

Before long we found a patch of unoccupied beach, so we planted our umbrella to mark our territory, tossed our belongings into the newly formed shade, then turned and ran into the sea: a few leaps across the breaking waves, a few lunges against the incoming surf, and finally a deep determined plunge completely under the water - where blue coolness seeped into every pore and every care was forgotten.

 

                                                                * * *