2009 Sea Glass Challenge Kick-off

It finally came on April 18!

It started off sunny and cold -- with wind. See the video clip (sorry for the rough editing). Then it turned raw when the clouds came in. Tough day for exposed fingers!

The sea glass hunting was amazing. We found 80 pieces of wildly varying sizes (six people). That's double last seasons entire haul! Additionally, there were pieces that the Rules Committee did not accept (too sharp, not "frosted" enough, etc.). Pretty great day in that regard.

While I think there was something to the "winter theory" (get to the winter's deposit before the summer hoards), I think the two usual factors had more to do with it. The geology of the beach that day was unique and the hydrology was just like our best days from last summer. The pebble fields were unlike any I've seen at the beach in my 42 years of going. Also, the waves were the perfect force for washing mid-sized things up and down the strand without burrying them under sand.

The word is we'll be going for another "pre-summer" day soon. We'll see if that day's catch sheds any further light on the winter theory.

Season starts soon!

Not sure if we'll kick off 2009 this coming Saturday or maybe the following. Our hope is that we'll get to the winter's deposit of sea glass before the hoards of sun worshipers. Though, as I've said, I think it really depends of the geology and hydrology of the beach on any given day. We'll see.