To be honest, we’ve been avoiding the beach these past few days as the wind has been bitter. With the ‘real feel’ factor, there is a difference of as much as 8º taking into account the wind chill.
We have nice thick coats, woolly hats and gloves, but even burying our faces in the collars up to our noses still results in a frozen face.
Photo taken last November when we renamed the beach White Sands. It was actually warmer then!
Poor Maggie was poorly last night, and we think that was because she got a chill on her afternoon walk because we didn’t put her little jacket on. We didn’t go up on the beach, but turning the corner at the end of the road, the wind hit us full in the face and there was little shelter from it as we walked round the park.
Today we have been a bit more sensible and considerate, all of us donning our outerwear for our morning walk.
The sun was out, but then again so was the wind, but at least it’s not quite as cutting as it has been. Reports say we are due for a cold snap they have labelled The Beast from the East, and the real feel temperature is due to drop to minus 9 tonight. We may even have snow, all 1 to 3 cm of it.
Photo: beach left October 2017
We started off along the beach by the flats which was extremely pleasant, until we saw a loose dog and knowing how twitchy Maggie has been lately, we turned off towards the park, walking up along the side road. Maggie was off lead and behaving herself, so we had no issues.
Coming out by the amusement arcades, we turned right up towards the beach cafe only to come face to face with the loose dog and no sign of his owner.
Playing safe, we put Maggie on her lead and headed for the sand. The owner appeared and both went trotting off in the opposite direction to us.
Maggie decided to stay on the sand, but as we were walking along the prom, didn’t make any effort to go towards the water. We noticed that on sand she walks in a straight line, though like Barney, walking on pavements she tends to ‘crab’ sideways. Must be a collie thing.
Deciding we were not going to join her, she bounced up the steps and seemed content to sniff and trot slightly ahead of us.
Photo: Maggie on the beach October 2017
Then we came to a rampway and she started down it, expecting us to follow.
We did this time, and suddenly she was walking towards the water to dip her toes, but not before chasing a black headed gull first!
Her speed may be gone, but the heart’s still willing, though sadly her joints and age are now playing against her.
The bird got away of course, but she was happy and for us, that’s all that matters really.
We finished our walk, again through the park, meeting up with a neighbour and their retired greyhound who were just about to brave the wind on the beach.
Photo: Park taken October 2017
The distance covered was almost 2 miles, so a good start to the day.
pensitivity101 
Your beach is A LOT different from our – but one thing is the same – it’s a bit cooler there. When it’s 80, this is quite pleasant.
It’s good to keep walking – but that is jolly cold! 🙂
We have a real feel of minus 10 today!!! (and it’s snowing)
Very hot here today!
Getting colder here! 🙂