Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes

Yesterday morning, I scanned the weather reports, desperate to see a dry day forecast for my trip to the sea. I don’t mind a little rain, but my companions definitely would.

I haven’t mentioned this trip before, mainly because every time one is planned, something always gets in the way, and we end up not going.

The weather looked promising, and the car arrived at the appointed hour. Half an hour later, as we crossed Langstone Bridge, I caught my first glimpse of the sea. The tide was coming in, the moored boats were bobbing about, looking as eager as I was.

I found this image online, as we were going too fast to take a picture…

We parked on the seafront, and I staggered to the breakwater, my eyes fixed on the incoming waves. I had to stagger, as my knees were very stiff from sitting in the back of the car. Not much legroom for a six-footer!

The sound of the waves meeting the shingle, the sea’s salty smell, and the gulls’ constant screaming, all welcomed me. Several species of gull were present, all arguing with each other.

I stood there, absorbing everything, anticipating my walk down the shingle beach to be closer to the sea. Then, I began to notice what the council, in their wisdom, had been doing. They had been replenishing the shingle, building it back up to form a sea defence. The beach I had often walked on to reach the water was impassable.

Maybe someone with mountaineering experience and strong boots could manage it, but it wasn’t for me. I might have had a go, desperate as I was, but my family would have a blue fit.

My heart sank. There would be no precious communion with Neptune for me today.

I took several photographs and a couple of videos, some of which failed to load, trying to ignore the intense feeling of loss. I had waited so long to get here and this far, but no further was unbearable.

There was nothing I could do but smile and carry on. It would have to do for now…

Later that day, we went on a little journey, something Anita had always wanted to do.

Full story and pics tomorrow…