A wet and stormy weekend

The sun is out this morning and the wind has died down. The sloppy sea is the only remainder of a wet and wild weekend. The storms over the last week or two have affected many parts of the globe and the horrifying loss of life, especially in the typhoons in Asia, demonstrate again and again the power of nature.

Image: Waves breaking on cliffs with 'stormy weather' written in corner

Compared to many others our experience of the storms was nothing but it was still very unpleasant.

The boat was shaking with every gust and the rain hammered down on the roof. Winds off Rame Head at the entrance to the Sound reached over 60mph. When the weather is like this the skipper sleeps (or at least tries to) upstairs in the saloon and we keep the radio or netflix (if internet allows) playing as a distraction from the noise.  

Image: small boats on swinging moorings, bucking and rolling

Looking out the window this morning the sea is heaving and raging, throwing itself at the shore. I know the beach will look different next time we go there, I can see that the little earthen pathway down to the water is being scoured by the waves breaking up over the bank. 

Image: rocky coastline, crashing grey waves, lots of white spray

Beaches always change in weather like this, changing shape, moving large rocks or fallen trees that in the summer look like they will be there, part of the beach for ever. When we arrived here after the stormy winter of 2013/14 the beach was pebbly, we were told that it had been a long stretch of sand until the winter storms had swept it all away. Other days the shingle or sand on a beach can be sculpted into amazing shapes.

Image: Pathway beside water, covered in pebbles from the beach

I recently read the story of the Penlee lifeboat crew, a deeply sorrowful tale of the loss of so many lives from one tiny village. A quick internet search shows just how much the loss of a life boat affected such a tiny community, leaving long shadows. We are safe inside during storms but out there are commercial shipping and others who have to face the weather and our thoughts are often with them as wind and rain buffets the boat. The heroism of the lifeboat crews however leaving the safety of their homes to go out into storms to rescue others is truly humbling.

Image: Grey waves breaking on shoreline beneath red and white lighthouse

Some other stormy blogs from the past:

 Winter storms

Safe harbour in stormy weather

 Tempete