Yesterday was an oppressively hot day and the boy suffered with a massive headache which led to a six hour sleep. As the temperature dropped in the early evening he felt better and asked to go see the lights - bio-luminescence caused by red tide. Saturday night we went and had a look and the rough seas made for a magnificent display but the 'stars' weren't reaching the shore as the massive waves pummelled and crashed them onto the rocky shelf a few waves in.
Last night we walked to the top of The Gap through Lover's Lane to see if the lights were still out there and found it to be even more magnificent than before - on Saturday the magic sea lights were dimmed with the rising of a beautiful fat yellow moon over Ship Rock. We hurtled down the steep dune and as we reached the shore the boy shouted, "look mom, look the sand is glowing beneath my feet, look mom, look when I write my name it glows". Chander Jot (roughly translated as 'Moon Light'), our Border Collie pup wasn't too sure what to make of the fact that each paw print lit up, does he chase his own tracks or ours and then they - boy and dog - decided that digging together was the best way to make the 'sparks' fly.
"Please can we stay a little longer", the boy asked, and we did as it was simply too beautiful not to and besides the boy was so proud to be the one out of the three brothers who has now finally seen the 'stars' on the beach that mom always talks about.
Another little miracle occurred on the way home - the boy, who has always been terribly afraid of the dark - led the way home through the coastal forest, with his little headlamp lighting up the way, occasionally switching if off to experience the solid, deep darkness of the forest enveloping us.
Nature really is truly magical and witnessing the bio-luminescence is quite a surreal experience. As we wandered home, the boy spoke about his fears, how the darkness makes him feel while I held tightly onto puppy's lead and silently expressed my gratitude - for living in such a naturally unspoilt and safe place and being able to share the experience with my young son.
"Please can we stay a little longer", the boy asked, and we did as it was simply too beautiful not to and besides the boy was so proud to be the one out of the three brothers who has now finally seen the 'stars' on the beach that mom always talks about.
Another little miracle occurred on the way home - the boy, who has always been terribly afraid of the dark - led the way home through the coastal forest, with his little headlamp lighting up the way, occasionally switching if off to experience the solid, deep darkness of the forest enveloping us.
Nature really is truly magical and witnessing the bio-luminescence is quite a surreal experience. As we wandered home, the boy spoke about his fears, how the darkness makes him feel while I held tightly onto puppy's lead and silently expressed my gratitude - for living in such a naturally unspoilt and safe place and being able to share the experience with my young son.