Frozen Shore

[alanajoli]

Just about to head to bed after a long and lovely day of Dungeons and Dragons (and train rides, and an excellent brunch at Grand Central Station). But (as per my goal of blogging every day), I wanted to write just a bit about how wonderful the shore still is, even in winter, when it's too cold to be comfortable outside for very long. Tonight, the sky was clear enough above us and to the north to see stars normally hidden from the naked eye: the sword of Orion, the cloud of the Pleiades. As we drove back from the train station, I asked if we could stop by the beach, where the sky is bigger, and we gazes overhead, just taking in the little points of light. Just over the wharf, we could see small chunks of ice, floating in the water, from where it has frozen over. It's been particularly cold this year--colder than it's been since I've lived on the Shoreline--but there are photographs of when the Sound froze so thoroughly, people drove their cars out onto the Thimble Islands. Money Island in particular had roads where people could actually use their cars in the summer; the story I've heard reports that the people who drove out that winter just left their car there for the duration, because it was cheaper than figuring out how to ferry it. I don't know, however, if that story is true. Looking at the ice in the water and the stars in the sky, I had a moment of just appreciating being here.

And then, I remembered it was cold, and we got back in the car and drove home.

Comments

[meepodeekin.livejournal.com]

I've always loved the way the shore looks in winter. But then I'm a sucker for large bodies of water pretty much without exception.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

But then I'm a sucker for large bodies of water pretty much without exception.

*g* Me too.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

The Pleiades are my favorites.

The stars on a cold winter night are absolutely entrancing. That's what my current short story is about. I got the idea last year, during a cold snap, but only started writing it up this winter.

I've heard of people taking shortcuts across frozen bodies of water, in their cars. That scares me, but then, I have a terror of falling through ice and getting stuck below. And yet, I love to skate on natural bodies of water (rather than ice rinks).

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely post behind your link. :)

I wonder if I can find an old picture in the public domain of the Thimbles and the frozen Sound and the old cars. It looks perfectly safe to me! *g*

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Oh, if you can find a photo, that would be wonderful!

[pmoc.livejournal.com]

I remember playing on the pond at Simon's Rock. When the ice seemed a little thin, they poured more water on the ice, and waited till it froze. This I trusted my 98 lb self on. Not a car!

On the other hand, The Polar Express movie had a train on an iced over body of water. This I am sure was based on a true story. So it's no doubt one of those things that you really have to grow up with to really have confidence in doing.

Anyway I love the way the morning after snowfall feels, or at night when the moonlight bounces off virgin snow. So thanks for the imagery!

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

The ice on the Sound could totally hold a train. I'm sure of it.

And thanks for your imagery right back!