Between sabbaticals to Japan and England, my husband and I returned home for the holidays to see our family. We have a tradition of welcoming the New Year at Popham Beach. This three mile state park is a half an hour drive from our house in midcoast Maine.
The easiest place for a winter walk in Maine is a beach since the tide washes away the ice and snow.
Our family motto is: There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. L.L. Bean started in Maine for a good reason. My blue Bean coat is perfect for subfreezing, windy days and has lasted since college. The company is a big local employer, especially of African immigrants.
It was hard to say who was happier to be back at Popham: our daughter or our dog.
Dogs are only allowed at Popham State Park offseason. We had to leash Scout to keep her out of the frigid sea. For most of our walk, we had the beach to ourselves.
As a photographer, I'm drawn to the winter light and empty landscapes.
The days are short this far up north, but the colors are intense.
Sunset is my favorite time at the shore, despite the chill.
Even the dune grass seemed to shiver in the wind.
Only in winter do you see such dramatic sunsets.
We stayed until the sun had burnt down to embers.
A week after the Popham walk, Henry and I flew to England, where the temperature rarely drops below freezing. University Parks is a fifteen minute walk from our sabbatical home in Oxford.
The crocuses and snowdrops were at peak bloom on February 20th, two months earlier than Maine.
As much as I'm enjoying an early spring, I miss skiing out our back door and the winter light. Most days in England are overcast and often wet. Still, it's good writing weather so I'm making good progress on my novels. I brought waterproof layers and boots. A winter walk is always welcome.
Blogwatch: this post is part of Les @A Tidewater Gardener's annual Winter Walk Off.
