Autumn at Horseneck

Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but now is a perfect time of year to visit the beaches of New England.

The crowds of sun worshipers have left. Temperatures are no longer warm enough for those that choose to sit idle in their beach chairs, dressed only in skimpy swim suits. Umbrellas have been closed and removed, blankets rolled up and lounge chairs carried away. Now is the time for me to explore.

Daily high temperatures are currently 50-60F, and a good bracing wind can make itself felt coming out of Buzzard’s Bay, and ashore here in Westport.

The waves roll in with a bit more strength, sometimes capped in white, or leaving a bit of foam and straw at the high tide mark. Dramatic skies and pounding surf invite the landscape photographer to search for images among the windswept dunes.

A good wind breaker jacket and sweater beneath, a simple cap and sunglasses, are ideal for a late morning or early afternoon walk. The two mile stretch, so popular in summer is now almost deserted. For those of us that prefer solitude and the cadence of the sea, it’s a delightful way to stretch your legs on a Sunday.

I often think about how I would feel about being away from the coast. I have lived minutes from the ocean’s edge all of my life. Swimming, boating and walking it’s sandy, rocky shores. Could I leave it behind?