Adam Hahn- Experience in Nature 2: Beach

After only a few steps on the hot sand I quickly realize just how much I missed the beach after a long winter. The sites and smells are overwhelming on the senses. Salt hangs heavy in the air. The cry of seagulls circling overhead reminds experienced beach goers the importance of having an umbrella not just for shade from the sun. The golden sand provides the perfect template for fashioning a day bed. As I sit in my make shift bed I can see people of all ages, races and backgrounds enjoying themselves. The rhythmic crashing of the waves lulls me to sleep and I quickly doze off. Strolling down the beach introduces new sensory details. Horseshoe crabs have assembled on the edge of the bay. Jellyfish float softly in the water yet the memories of being stung hold me back from jumping into the cool water to escape the harsh rays of the afternoon sun. Perhaps the most relaxing part of the trip to the beach is just watching the waves crash on the shore, obliterating the defense of several sandcastles that had been fortified to the fullest extent. The cool water jolts my system and wakes me up more so than I have been all day. The intense heat of the sun has drained most of my remaining energy and the water rejuvenates me for the time being, or at least until I become acclimated to the water and decide to sit on the sand bar in the shallow water. Staring off across the Atlantic, I am overcome with a sense of adventure. The ocean has been part of stories for thousands of years and with every visit I am reintroduced to why people come back time and time again.