DRIFTWOOD
Who can resist a lovely piece of driftwood? Driftwood sanded smooth by
salty sea travels, tossed around, washed ashore: myrtlewood, cedar, redwood,
oak, fir, hemlock, madrone, and an occasional misshapen piece of a baseball
bat or 2x4. The beaches yield tangles of roots, species unknown. All
sizes and shapes, most bleached gray by the sea, the sand, the sun. Some
pieces of driftwood will harbor bone or bottle, or any number of flotsam
and jetsam thrown from a passing ship. Fishing nets and ropes snag driftwood
creating artistic sea collages.
During the fierce winter storms, the ocean tosses huge logs, the size of
a bus, against the shore. Driftwood…giant sized. Parts of boats,
crushed by waves, hatches, pieces of masts find their way to shore. Driftwood…a
story attached. Some of the beaches are museums of driftwood. All sizes
and shapes and types of wood. Most too big to carry.
But chances are that you will find a small perfect piece of driftwood,
a few shells, perhaps an agate or two, and bring them home for the perfect
memory of a day at the beach. (Blanco Beach at top, Battle Rock Beach
at right and Hubbards Creek at left.)
Driftwood…giant sized. Parts of boats,
crushed by waves, hatches, pieces of masts find their way to shore. Driftwood…a
story attached. Some of the beaches are museums of driftwood. All sizes
and shapes and types of wood. Most too big to carry.
