The page on the calendar flipped to November this weekend and almost on cue the winds on Cape Ann turned to the north. Even the ocean changed into her winter garb with its darker, sparkling blue hues. This was not a day for sitting on the desolate beach at Plum Cove. Not to worry, though, since the beach-goers will all be back after just a few, long months of winter.
I continued my travels clockwise around Cape Ann and planned on meeting a close friend in Lanesville. As is normally my way, I was early. I stopped at Lanes Cove and watched a few folks prepping their boats for the winter. Two were out on the breakwater trying to catch fish. It will take a little more than a wind from the north to stop these two!
For more information about Laneville and Lanes Cove, visit On the Cove and keep an eye on their webcam to see if the two catch anything.
We left Lanesville and made the long, arduous trek (okay, the short, 5 minute drive) to Halibut Point State Park in Rockport. Halibut Point State Park is the site of the former Babson Farm granite quarry and is maintained jointly by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Trustees of Reservations.
The weather had become slightly warmer as the wind died down and clocked to the northeast. We walked along the worn paths at Halibut Point, gazed into tidal pools, and clambered over giant slabs of granite, all the while taking in the ocean vistas of farway places. The juncos were out scurrying around and we were even graced by a quick glimpse of a seal as he passed by the point. My friend wished she could remember the words to the song that calls the seals in closer. (Naturally, if I were to sing the song, they would be swimming as quickly as possible towards Nova Scotia!)
Perhaps it was the coolness of the granite, or the emptiness of a place which was once bustling with the lives and noises of stone cutters, but I drifted into my own quietness. Times like this, I listen more than talk which can make it difficult to have a conversation. I'm blessed to have friends that will wade through my quiet times with me.
The only other animal I saw was a bear resting on the rocks. This was the only picture I captured while at Halibut Point. I'll take more next time. If you look real close and click on the picture to enlarge it, you may also be able to see the bear.
I've touched up the image and painted in the bear's head to make it more visible. Shhhh! Don't wake up the bear!
Thanks again for a wonderful walk, Anne. Will this song call in the seals?
SONG OF THE SEALS
by Jean Redpath
A sea maid sings on yonder reef
The spell bound seals draw near
A lilt that lures beyond belief
Mortals enchanted hear
Coir an oir an oir an oir o
Coir an oir an oir an eer o
Coir an oir an oir an ee lalyuran
Coir an oir an oir an eer o
The wandering ploughman halts his plough
The maid her milking stays
And sheep on hillside, bird on bough
Pause and listen in amaze
Was it a dream? Were all asleep?
Or did she cease her lay?
For the seals with a splash dive into the deep
And the world goes on again
Yet lingers the refrain
Simply gazing.
C_A_B
