Walking along the beach is one my favorite things to do in Nome. When summer was in full swing, people were always swimming or soaking up the warm sun on the rocks. During the the first fall storm, the surf was dramatic, waves high and white with froth.
No matter the weather, though, it’s always beautiful. And it always looks a little bit different than the last time I went.
On a walk last weekend, I caught low tide for the first time, and the beach became a brand-new landscape. With muck boots on, I waded out to the sandbars instead of just strolling along the shore. And rather than simply looking for sea glass, I saw countless starfish and the odd sea jelly.
It was a wonderful way to enjoy what may be one of our last warm weekends. In the not-so-distant future, snow will blanket the beach, and the water will freeze over.
But as much as I love a long walk in the sun, I’m really looking forward to the sea ice — and all of the new walkways it provides. There may not be many starfish or bonfire cookouts come winter, but I also won’t be bound to just one stretch of beach. I can’t wait to get out on the ice and explore what I’m sure will be a whole new kind of beautiful.
