Cockerham Sands

Cockerham Sands 2, originally uploaded by Bay Photographic.

This monochrome shot of a stone boundary post, possibly a remnant of the Cockersands Abbey, reminds me how bleak and uninviting this place was when I visited last week. The tide was out, but I was aware it was flooding having bought myself a tide table at Glasson on the way. Even so, I was almost caught out as the water surrounded me on three sides in a matter of minutes with a roar like a distant train. I was only about a hundred yards from the sea wall, and the consequences of my underestimation of the speed of the water were no more than having to retrace my steps briskly rather than lethargically, but I couldn't help feeling that I should have known better.
I am sure that Cockerham is a pleasant and cheerful place on a sunny day, and that a clear blue sky can make it seem less like the surface of Mars, but I am also quite confident that the wildlife in this part of the Bay is safe from the beachfront developer's cement mixer for the time being at least.