Mid-week Rise

I quietly left town during the darkness of the morn, street lights were still on and a little traffic starting to move. A low mist hung over farms and a thick dark cloud was hovering above Christchurch but out to the East there was lightness in the sky. I drove along country roads where cowshed lights glowed through the dark and trees emerged from the low mist, getting closer and closer to the beach.

Not sure what to expect from the beach, its been a while since I was there. Theres been angry seas, storms and flooding with the elements changing the seascape but as I walked through the pine trees there was the familiar sound of the wind whistling through the trees and the quiet sound of the waves rolling onto the beach. Trudging over sand dunes, up and down sinking into the soft sand, I could see some colour in the sky, wispy clouds along the horizon and the call of gulls, terns and shags rang out as dawn began to break.

I ambled along the beach close to the waters edge where I could see the moon and keep an eye on the sunrise, how I would love to capture both in one shot. Soft colours became more vibrant the moon began to shine with soft pink clouds caressing it, while the light captured the ripples and lines of the wet sand, all as the sun broke through the horizon.

It was so strong and powerful lighting the grasses on the sand dunes, touching the snowy mountains way, way in the distance and telling the rabbits who live at the beach its time to wake and groom while basking in the warm sun.

A warm day followed, 17C, with the odd gust of wind here and there. I noted there is still pollen in the air, a moderate level relating to pine, wattle, alder, poplar, oak, elm, hazelnut and birch trees. A 4.2 earthquake rattled through round lunch, just a little reminder they're still with us.

The mid-week sunrise - just couldn't quite get the moon in for this shot.