Mid-afternoon is my favourite time to hit the beach. Lowish tide means lots of clean hard packed sand to walk on and tidal pools to wade through. Sometimes, they are shallow. Sometimes, like today, I find myself in water up to my mid-thighs! I walk away from the crowds, towards the golf course and airport. Sometimes, it’s a short walk. Sometimes, I forget that I’ll have to come back and walk far enough that the trip home is a bit of a chore.

Today’s walk was marred by my coming upon two sick or injured pelicans. The first still had a lot of spirit, spreading its wings when I got too close, but unable to otherwise move. What a wingspan it was, likely close to my height (5’6″)!

I was certain the other was dead because it did not react to me at all when I came upon it the first time. On the way back, it opened its eyes slightly, startling me!

Both were surrounded by ATV tracks, so I hope they were merely in shock from fright and not injured.