Patterns in the Sand

I live in Southwest Florida where I can walk for miles on beaches 

that caress the eastern edge of the Gulf of Mexico.

While I am walking I can't help but to notice the patterns

that develop in the ever-changing seashore sands. 

I interpret the patterns in the sand 

maybe

because I was a geographer

and I remember that

Process

is the key to understanding

the shifting of physical 

earth forms.

But also,

I love wind and waves.

And

who doesn't like

detective work???

     From the subtlety of tidal debris patterns to the unmistakable canine foot print, detecting is just a small part of being there when one strolls the calming zone between the land and the sea,

     While walking I ask myself what happened to leave the many and various patterns in the sand? What is the relative timeline in the scene? Which patterns were made first and by what force(s) of nature?

^^^

Please enjoy puzzling over some of the patterns and the natural forces 

at work in the following iPhoto images from some of Florida's sandy beaches.

 

XXX

FIN

Patterns 1

Walking Around St. Thomas More

Consulting my Weather Bug the other day, I found a break in the everfalling summer rains and decided to take a walk around grounds of the St. Thomas More church nearby.  

I needed a relook at the delicate green vines criss-crossing the fallen pine needles in this nature preserve, 

so I took my little Fuji XP waterproof camera with me.

 

                                     

I love to eat mushrooms. 

These are for viewing only.

           

Small things from a busy world.

Near the end of my walk through this St. Thomas More preserve

I passed this landscaping rock that impressed me

as rather alligatorish.

FIN

XXX

GAZ

Track & Field

USA Track & Field National 
Masters Championships

July 22 - 23, 2015
University of North Florida at Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Is this Amazing or Not ???

87 year old Edward Cox 

(Syracuse Chargers Track Club) 

won the 100 Yard Dash

with a time of 16.87 seconds.

98 year old Champion Goldy, Sr 

(Potomac Valley Track Club)

won the 100 Yard Dash

in 31.83 seconds.

Athletes, from 30 to 99 years old, must qualify for the Masters Track and Field Championships by accumulating points derived from showings in prior sanctioned races held around the country. Qualified athletes compete in four-year age-brackets, starting with ages 30-34, 35-39, etcetera until 78-99 culminates in the last grouping. 

Few people attended this National event.

 

     I got the motivation to go to the meet because my friend, Lucas Faron, ran in the 

35-39 year old bracket of the 800 meter championship race. 

Unfortunately, I failed to get a field pass 

and had to view events from the stands. 

Early Morning Race Time

  Female runners of all ages begin to assemble on the track.

A lot of talking and milling about as runners try to loosen up and shake their pre-race tensions. 

The men enter the track more rigidly, as if under control of pre-race emotions.

              

Officialdom

I assume the officials were Track and Field Athletes at some time during their lives. 

The Runners!

Female 30-35 bracket - Rounding the first turn

First lap for older gents.

Nearing the finish line.

Plenty of Time.

Good for Second Place.

A winner.

An aspirant.

 A battle 

More than winning: Good Sportsmanship and Caring 

Endurance testing. 

 A good run

Going for Gold

------------Some POST RACE VIEWS-----------

Exhaustion

When daddy is a winner.

Who would have believed it?

Second Place
800 Meter
Ribbon winners

Lucas Faron and David Cooke
who

met in high school

meet again at the track.

XXX

I am beginning to wonder how fast 

I can run the 100.

Hummm, could I possibly take a medal in the 75-99 year bracket????

XXX

Lucas and Lisa Faron

proud mother and son