The immediate provocation this morning was the annual filing of government forms with the US Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (“Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens“). The incitement to the local post office where we purchased a 58¢ stamp conveniently took us adjacent an ATM and the purveyor of freshly fried donuts glazed in glistening white sugary syrup. We opted to linger at Lowcountry Produce Market & Café as was our wont. There at the service of Robert (an erstwhile long-haired English teacher who instructively approves of the vernacular rather than the mechanical fiat of grammar) we indulged our further appetite. In short, an indescribably satisfying detour from our customary ambitions! Thus enlivened we afterwards regained our balance. I launched my traditional outing upon the trusty two-wheeler.

The North Atlantic Ocean on a fresh day in January is not to be disregarded.  Especially when as today there was a fairly violent wind from the northeast at 19 Km/hr. As is my custom I had earlier examined the Tide Chart. By my calculation I would easily be enabled to stretch upon the white sand in the upper end of the Island and thereafter swirl effortlessly to the south towards Sea Pines Beach Club to square my circle.

While laying upon the edge of the dunes in virtually solitary isolation I snatched forty winks. There is indubitably much to be said for off-season visits to the Island! My ascent into the vapours was preceded by a ritual marvel at the fortuity of circumstances. The fine grains of powdery white sand circulated unforgivingly about me, haunting the unprotected crevices of my clothes and my corpus. My face was burnished by the heat from the sun.

There was hardly a soul upon the beach from Marker 67 to Coligny Beach Park where I exited briefly to connect with my email and to void my bladder.

The lapse of time since I left Harbour Town before noon was already nearing two o’clock. There is nothing hurried about my repeated daily adventures upon the shore of the North Atlantic Ocean from which I profit endlessly and always with astonishing novelty. I rejoiced at the luck of being able to sail on my bicycle today contrary to yesterday’s bended exertion into a brazen southerly wind.