Springshine

It may not technically be spring here yet, but we are getting days of what I like to think of as Springshine.  A little bit of sun and a few hints of summer showing up equals springshine.  It cancels out the cloudy days.  The rainfall has been pretty major in February, but it is at least waiting until after dark before unleashing the torrents of rain, allowing both us and the flowers to turn our faces to the slowly warming sun in the daytime.

It is not yet hot, in fact it is not yet even always warm.  This makes the ocean blues just a little bit darker than in summer photographs.

The "Winter Blue" shade of the ocean in February

I know a few friends are in much colder places as I type this and are probably screaming at their screen to move the camera to the right so they can see more beach and less foliage.  I kinda like the effect of the foliage, but in anticipation of your request, here is a beach only shot of Warwick Long Bay.

"Beach porn" as Margaret calls my photos

On this particular day (it was actually the same day that started in the Botanical gardens many posts ago), I decided to scoot about the island like we all used to do when we arrived.  Just drive and pull over when something catches your eye.  It had been a few months since I had driven up to Southampton.  It's only 10 km away, but it feels like a lot more when you are used to short 2 and 3 minute drives to get everywhere you need to get in your daily life.  I will miss the smallness of Bermuda when I go.  As I was driving, er scooting, down the road I wondered what would there be to photograph that I had not already photographed many times.  As if to refute the thought in my mind that nothing changes, I was treated to the views of several things in the process of change.  The first thing I noticed was the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, the subject of much local banter last summer for looking rusty and worn down, has somehow quietly begun the process of a makeover.

The Gibbs Hill Lighthouse surrounded by scaffolding.

The next thing I noticed is that an old hotel sight which has been abandoned since before I arrived on the island appears to be starting construction.  I am not sure what hotel used to stand here, I suspect it may have been a Sonesta hotel.  I am also not sure if it is being developed by the nearby Fairmont hotel, the even closer Reef's hotel, or a new entity, but I think it will be one of the most desired vacation spots due to its location.

I think I see a future awesome ocean side outdoor tanning and bar location

I had to drive up the hill to take a closer look at the Lighthouse, as it isn't every day that you bear witness to such sudden and undisputed change happening on the island.

|I do believe a new paint job o get rid of the visible rust is underway

After that, I carried on a little further down the road to Church Bay.  The days are often windy in Bermuda winter, as the trees in this picture show even though it is a springshine type of day.

It almost seems like the colder weather gives the shrubbery a little more "texture" than in summer

Church Bay is a smaller beach, but has good snorkeling and normally very pink sand.  On this day however, it was covered in a mass of seaweed, that could be seen washing in to the shore on the waves.  The seaweed has a distinct red tinge to it.  I have virtually no botany skills as you well know by now, so whether this is truly red algae or just reddish algae that is actually under the brown algae family, I don't know.  But if it is red, I find it interesting because red algae tends to come from the colder deeper waters, which might explain its presence on this February day.  For all my Microbiology nerd friends, red algae is also the stuff we use to make agar base, although perhaps I shouldn't admit that or my current job description will entail collecting weeds to save a buck on supplies.  For the rest of you, red algae is also used for chocolate milk and puddings.  Everyone has reason to love red algae.

Church Bay showing some unusual spring colours

While it made a very pretty picture, the algae tends to attract swarms of bugs and lets of a pretty pungent odour as it dried out in the sun (and not a good odour), so fortunately it is not present later in the summer.

The ocean shows the tinges of red beneath its surface

A nice new view on a familiar scene

The last treat I enjoyed on my stop at Church Bay was to meet up with another kindred spirit who also wanted to bask in the springshine.  Normally these little chameleons dart away from people very quickly, but this guy was content to pose and share the warm rays of light with me.  I like to think we shared a moment, but he was probably just happy not to be eaten, squished, or maimed.  We take way too much for granted as humans.

All of us in Bermuda are happy to see the sun shining again