Charley's day at the beach

From the time she was a little pup, Charley has always loved to gaze at the water. Whether out camping and fishing with me, or visiting my sister in her lakeside home, or sharing fish and chips with my mom on a beach, Charley was always happy to hunker down and gaze at the water for as long as I cared to let her. Never a swimmer, not one to chase balls or frisbees, and not even much of a hiker, her favourite pasttime by far is gazing at a natural body of water on a pleasant spring or autumn day.

Charley has been having a rough week and  so I wanted some special one-on-one time with her.  This morning after taking Sadie for her walk I grabbed a warm jacket, bundled Charley into the car, and drove her down to Crofton Beach Park. It is a relatively secluded little park with a small white sandy beach just a few minutes from home.

Crofton Beach Park, looking back towards town

At the moment the park is only accessible by road or by walking through a very, very mucky section of beach at low tide, but this will soon change as construction is about to begin on an extension of the Sea Walk which will take Croftonites and tourists all the way around the bay and connect the main beach area to the park. But I digress.

It was my favourite type of morning - a chilly autumn day, air crisp and leaves colourful, with the sunshine promising to break through the clouds and the birds calling raucously across the bay. I lifted Charley from the car, she tottered across the grass and down to the sand, where she spent a few minutes investigating the myriad of smells.

We walked a short distance along the twisting shore, discovering beautiful scenes at every turn.

Soon Charley gave the beach her nod of approval, and settled down on the sand where we watched the oystercatchers converse with the ducks,

Excuse me, but I think we were here first!

Well, I'm outta here! 

and a seagull with a clam fly high in the air and drop his find to the rocks below, then swoop down again to claim his prize.

Charley's ears told me she was taking it all in - the birds, the soft lapping of waves on shore, the occasional crack of a clam shell falling, the rustle of autumn leaves in the trees above us.

Could ya get that camera outta my face?

We sat there for a couple of hours, just Charley and I, just as we have done on so many shores for so many years. A young pup, a middle-aged collie, and now an old dog and her human companion, still enjoying quiet moments together with nature.

Just me and my dog, enjoying the beach