the muddiest and the most inspirational place

two days of exceptionally mild and sunny October weather, after heavy rain on Wednesday. yesterday I took the dogs to Morston to check out the mud levels after the wind-driven very high tides at the weekend. it is beginning to look more its winter self, although there are still seal trips.

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we walk up the edge of the creek in slippery mud, the tide on the ebb. Elsie has gone to her winter storage already.

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the unnamed Mirror is still there, nestled amongst banks of saltmarsh, I will be interested to see what happens to her, though I am sure she must have a home for the winter.

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the mud, with its sheen of puddled water, reflects the light; sky and sea and land become intermingled.

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brent geese picking along the edge sway in the wash when boats go past.

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we slither and slide around the edge of the marsh, trying not to step in the deeper mud. there is a boat sailing in and I am hoping for a closer look.

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but she lowers her sails and moors in the channel. we turn and hop from one lump of harder mud to the next until there is shingle mixed with the mud underfoot and then onto the path around the edge and over to the Stiffkey where it threads its channel through.

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in this light the mud banks of the creeks are reptilian shapes of cold menace.

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the tide has washed a boat right onto the marsh by the coastal path.

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soft low broken cloud and the marsh dark against the gleam of the mud.

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they are repairing the marsh bank and have stripped off the vegetation, it will be a few years before it regains its old untamed look.

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the crab boat, Harvester, has come into her winter berth. I think she is my favourite boat here at Morston. she seems a lot bigger out of the water.

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at nine this morning I am making my way up the creek, sitting very still so as not to dislodge the wind from the sails. it’s a dew-drenched morning after a clear night and there is only a very small amount of wind, from the South. down in the creek – the tides are not as big now – there is even less. I am out on my own for a slightly scary practice, promised a tow back in.

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the clouds are burning off in the sunshine. it’s the most beautiful day – enough wind to sail and get up a bit of speed out in the lagoon – enough wind to make this neophyte sailor rather nervous too, with no chaperone. the camera doesn’t come out again until the tow back in, although the tow-er shows me how to lie-to, which allows all sorts of non-sailing activities to take place, such as refreshments, change of clothing, and probably, photography.

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