Colours and Textures Along PEI's North Shore

There are many reasons I love PEI, two of which are the night sky (sorry, no photos), and the tremendous canvas of colours and textures along the North Shore of the Island.

Like many people my age, I can't help by marvel when I consider the vastness of the universe. And, like many people younger than I am who share my mainly urban lifestyle, I rarely get to see first hand fodder to inspire this consideration.  Light pollution, and lots of it, often rule out even the most amateur stargazing adventures in and around the city.

But on the Island, on any quasi-clear night, thousands of stars are easily admired with the naked eye.
Many times have I put off taking out the recycling or compost bin until after dark, and been richly rewarded with an astronomy display seldom emulated in a planetarium!

During the daytime, it's the palette of the most distinguished artist I admire as I roam the beaches of St Peters Harbour and the surrounding area...

We're lucky enough to have found a spot on PEI's north shore, a walk to the ocean, and in a harbour that looks across to the incredible and ever-changing dunes of Greenwich National Park. There is also an old, land-locked lighthouse within walking distance.

My ideal day on the Island includes at least one walk to the ocean, and so I am often by the water, admiring and sometimes snapping photos of the russets, greens and golds that dance with the clear waters and blue skies to form my most favourite piece of art!

The vastness of the landscape is what impresses me most, I think.  Everything is just so huge, without ever appearing pretentious.

Sneakers the Wonderdog, who seems to love the ocean as much as I do, often accompanies me on these meanderings when she is here, and frequently swims with me in these waters, touted online as the "warmest north of the Carolinas".

Yesterday, we walked towards the lighthouse in old St Peters Harbour, and stopped along the way to admire (chase) some large herons who were doing a little evening fishing in the estuary near the lighthouse "pond". (Whereas I am impressed with big skies, she is impressed with big birds!)

The water was delightfully warm and peaceful, and the view of the old lighthouse from there was astounding.  As I did not have my camera with me, I wanted to come back the next day to take some photos.

Of course, an iPhone doesn't really do it justice, and I am never able to capture the wildlife, though I did manage to take a few pics tonight of two herons who -- rather than flying off when Sneakers and I approached -- made like sticks and sat very still at the top of some old, dead trees. 

My doggie didn't spot them, but I did! :-)

It's my seventh summer on the Island now, and my sixth here in our house on the north shore... I'm frequently amazed at the ever-changing tapestry of the coastline.  It's as if the artist is mulling over the finished product, and keeps adding new bits, or removing what she's changed her mind about: A little less gold here, a little more rust there, some taller grass here to add texture and depth, and some shading there to enhance the appearance of light.....

The result of all this wind- and water-induced shifting about is an endless delight to the eyes as the outdoor gallery constantly features new works by the same artist on a favourite theme!