Beltane or the End of Winter

Although it hasn't really been too warm, it has definitely been warmer than it was when it was full-on winter. Spring here in the mid-Atlantic has been wet and cool this year. I do not really mind the rain, but I am getting tired of muddy wet dogs. And muddy footprints all over the house. And muddy wet towels. And stinky dogs. Alright, enough of that...

Off I went paddle and camp at the river house for the weekend. I stopped somewhere off the east side of the beltway and picked Mikele up on my way down the peninsula.

It was cold and over cast there, but there was a warm, wet hint of spring, the grass green and the fig tree in full leaf.

My little mango backpack tent was the perfect size for me, alone. With the roomy vestibules I was able to store my clothes bin outside one door and my paddle bin outside the other door. I nestled in under the arms of the fig tree.

The evening was a rather mellow affair. We lit a small bonfire and some of us got up and wrapped ribbons around a May Pole. Later, with not much happening, the rain moved in and I retired early. As the storms swept through I slept snuggled in my bag.

stop animation of waves on the beach

I woke up around 0430 and left my tent briefly in the rain. When I came back I laid in my tent and listened to the surf rolling in and the rain popping off my rain fly. I shot a little video but was sad that the sound quality was not better.

little video of the rain pre-dawn

In any case, when I finally emerged around 0945 I was surprised to discover many campers and all the other boats gone. I tend to linger around the place, almost until I am booted out by my uncle. Mikele and I hung around until 1 pm or so. I used a lot of this time to catch up on family news. Later I hunted sea glass while Mikele helped clean up.

Above, a bit of sea glass already worked into a bracelet.

It is warm and wet here this week. Good bye cold season.