Hughlett Point Nature Preserve

Located along the Chesapeake Bay and Dividing Creek, Hughlett Point Nature Preserve is one of the most beautiful natural beaches in the area.  The preserve is a nesting site for rare shore birds and offers habitat for Bald Eagles and Osprey.  It is also habitat for the federally threatened Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle. 

From the parking area, a boardwalk leads you into the woods towards the water winding through loblolly pines.  It's quiet (except for the musings of the Brat Child about what various monsters mutant spiders animals could be living in tree holes).

The beach is strewn with driftwood trees. 

The sky was gorgeous.

The water was gorgeous.

But the temperatures were hot, so we didn't stay too long.

Looking forward to exploring Hughlett Point more in depth this fall.

Living Driftwood

I love taking photos of this tree at Aaron's Beach.  Every time I see it I think of it as living driftwood.  I imagine one day I will show up at the beach and find it gone- washed out to sea or thrown haphazardly on the shore line. 

I can't say exactly what draws me to it.  Aesthetically the bark is amazing: smooth and graying and twisting.

I think honestly, it appeals to me because I see myself in this tree.  I am this tree.  Standing stoic heedless of the blazing sun, the pounding surf, the impending storm.  Maybe standing a little defiantly because of the impending storm. And perhaps a little weary of facing storms too. 

But despite all the storms its faced, it still stands tall.  And its more beautiful and richer for having faced the storms it has.