Why I Enjoy Going to the Beach in Late Fall ...

What I like about the beach at this time of the year is the suspense: you never know what the ocean will look like until you get there. Yesterday we went to Newcomb Hollow at low tide, and the Atlantic was quiet as a lamb. Waves lapped at the shore. Blue water stretched to the horizon. A gentle breeze was blowing. The contrast between the blue sea and the beige sand was striking. The sand had been reconfigured yet again, so that the top part of the beach was higher and almost reached the level of the parking lot, and the lower part sloped dramatically. This new configuration made it difficult to walk along the shoreline, so we did not stay long. We hope access to LeCount Hollow has been repaired after recent erosion. It will be interesting to see how the winter storms affect Wellfleet's beaches. There were a lot of people in town for "Deck This Hall" weekend, mostly non-residents, as far as I could tell, back to check on their summer homes one last time in 2010. Quite a few were out enjoying this rare day at the beach. Tomorrow I will report on the Preservation Hall Wreath Pageant. Stay tuned!