A furious off-shore wind picks up distant white crests that look like a wide spread of seagulls. Closer to the shore the surface smoothes in the lee of the rocks, but is heaved by swelling water mountains. The crowns are blown off sideways and are checkered with froth rhombi. As the muck is being blown out, the water turns a light green with a sombre vista against a blackening sky.
Though my apartment provides a luxurious alternative to my humble abode on the meadow and the confined space and primary conveniences of the van, I do keep in touch with its Natural abundance. Only the scarce dry days lend secure foothold to the rocks and apart from the joy of hopping challenges my walks affirm my physical ability and all-over health.
I can't keep a permanent watch over the sea and Dusty's presence now. And in particular her assistance to the lobster boat 'Prue Ester' from Ballyvaughan that regularly checks its pots, wind conditions permitting. Therefore I also visit Pollenawatch at least twice a week. She's not always there, but then again there are fewer distractions like boats and tourist traffic in Doolin which adds to the frequency of her stopovers.
Last Sunday our P'watch began quite typically with Dusty popping up within minutes, but only staying for three as it seemed clear to her we had no intention of joining her in the water. We kept around though and in an hour Jane and Jonathan appeared. They had been at P'watch before, had not seen Dusty and proceeded to Doolin where she wasn't either. After some time Jane thought she had seen a slow-moving fin and changed into her suit. No more sighting though and finally Jane decided to go in, having kitted up anyway.
Again my stance that Dusty is not known to come on land (so better go into the water) proved itself. The same goes for Jamie. In our Dingle days he liked to point out 'that you had to, kind of, put in the hours'.
Jane swam out to where she thought she saw the dorsal fin, but to no avail. She swam out a bit further. Pollenawatch is not much more than a slight dent in the coast line. It's like what it's named, 'a hole for a boat'. Most conveniently the ages have churned out a rounded piece of rock that's slightly thinner at the base. Which makes it ideal to moor a boat. Being out a bit further from this baylet allows sound to spread wider and increases the possibility for Dusty to hear it. Meanwhile Jonathan was throwing stones in the water as if he wanted to build a dam to the Aran Islands. This too is a proven way to attract Dusty's attention.
Then, out of the grey-green Dusty appeared, coming up high out of the water, shining with glee.
Jane stayed in until she was frozen after many curtain calls in which Dusty lured her back into the water again. I think we all just witnessed the official opening of an exciting new Dusty season.