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Martins Bay Rediscovered

It had been such a long time since I last visited Martins Bay that when I drove down the hill into the seaside community it was like going there for the first time. Nothing looked familiar as I parked at the village restaurant to meet up with other members of BPS for the last field trip of the year, on December 13th 2020.



It had been a year in which the Covid-19 pandemic had placed restrictions on the usual face- to- face meetings and close interaction that we are accustomed to among BPS members. However, this field trip, the final one for 2020, was intended to provide an opportunity to have lunch together and socialize while observing the protocols, and then to roam the area with fully loaded cameras.



Though this Sunday afternoon event was not well attended by members, those of us who came enjoyed the camaraderie and the photographic opportunities on offer. Walking towards the south first, we saw a few boats anchored close to the beach and also the familiar limestone monoliths sitting off shore amidst the rolling surf arriving from the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, a patch of wild flowers brought Andre to his knees as he applied his craft in the usual patient and deliberate style that he is known for.


We noted with interest the number of clear, fresh-water streams in the village that were running freely from the hills and merging with the foaming waves on the sandy beach. There was a fleeting thought that the authorities should consider harvesting this free-flowing water for some use in the community.



On the way back we found a discarded fan coral on the ground and set it up against the light to reveal its intricate veins and textures. That occupied out time for a while as we worked with the subject to capture a few worthy shots.


Pressing on to the northern end of the village, the extent to which the relentless tides and storms from Atlantic had eroded the coast line was very apparent. In less than 200 years, the elevated area on which the old train line had been built is now several yards out to sea and has become a popular fishing stretch for villagers.



But there was some human interest to be seen as well, as we observed the innocence of youth. There was a youngster engaged in the simple challenge of out-balancing his play mate, while standing on a rock. The other lad counted one hundred and ninety-two seconds while waiting his turn to stand like a frozen stork, hopefully, for a much longer time.



When you least expect it, photographic opportunities pop up at times. This was the case of the red sneakers I spotted against a green and yellow wall as we were on the way to leave the area. There was also an aggressive sparrow trying repeatedly to fight with its reflection in the wing-mirror of Dennis’ car.



Looking back at the the sea off the coast of Martins Bay in the rear-view mirror as I drove up hill from the village, I briefly reflected on the kind of year it had been for BPS, Barbados and for the world. The ongoing COVID-19 situation seemed to be suggesting an up-hill ride for the coming year in 2021 as we wait for the arrival of a vaccine and for some form of normalcy to eventually return.

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