A feast for kings in a world full of peace by the sea

In a world filled with noise affronting our senses from all directions—from televisions to radios and even day-to-day banter, there is one place I know I can always go to find peace—by the sea.

It had been more than two months since I last had time to indulge in my favorite activity—doing nothing but sitting in the sand with my dog, a good book and my best friend. This past week I was able to log a few hours doing exactly that.

There is nothing like a slow walk along the shoreline looking for sea treasures with my chocolate lab to clear my head. And boy did I need it.

The last few months have been hectic. My mind, body and spirit needed rejuvenation.

I feel so lucky to live in the one spot in the entire world where I can get all three needs met within a few hours by simply being still and listening to the waves lap the shoreline.

I may have dozed off a time or two while sitting in my beach chair listening to nothing but the water.

This time of year in Brunswick County rivals the way I feel in the spring. The weather is perfect—not too hot and not too cold. The beaches aren’t overcrowded and I feel alive.

My dog appreciates it too because now that Labor Day has come and gone he is welcome to sit on the beach with me any time of day.

Last Friday he got to indulge with me. He dug his spot in the shade behind my chair and took a nap. He chased flies and crabs. He swam.

Swimming with Buddy is an interesting adventure. While he loves the water, he is terrified of the lapping waves. Trying to get him into the ocean is humorous. I am sure it causes onlookers belly laughs, too. Each time a small wave crashes to shore, he bolts. Of course I am attached by the leash and when he runs, so I have no choice but to get dragged to shore with him.

He also has a tendency to want to chase other dogs. So on Sunday afternoon as I sat at the edge of the approaching high-tide line on the east end of Ocean Isle Beach, I am not 100 percent sure which spastic move of his was the cause of the jolt that woke me from my seaside revelry.

I sat in my beach chair thinking he was snoozing behind me. I was lost in thought when all of a sudden I was pulled over backward literally rolling in the sand. Mountain Dew went flying as did my book.

Buddy was on the move.

I laughed as I tried to untangle his leash from around my body. Just as he had bolted, a small wave trickled to shore and covered my feet. It most likely startled him awake behind me. At the same time a friendly golden retriever walked by.

Whichever it was, I am not sure but it awoke me just in time to stand up and wash the sand off my body. As I did, I noticed a lot of movement in the water.

I have seen fish jump before but never like this. The entire shore was jumping as far as I could see in either direction. There were fish flying out of the water left and right. I quickly yelled for my friend to come and look.

We stood with our ankles in the water watching for what felt like an hour. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen.

I had no idea what was making the fish jump, but I figured it wasn’t a good time to go for a swim because if fish that big were jumping then certainly something much bigger was chasing dinner.

I found out via trusty Facebook on Monday, the skyrocketing fish were actually kingfish skyrocketing while feeding in pogy schools. Apparently the kingfish make high, vertical leaps while feeding. And from the looks of it on Sunday, it must have been a feast worthy of kings or at least Thanksgiving for those fish.

It was an amazing sight and a reminder of how lucky we are to call Brunswick County home.

Rachel Johnsonis a staff writer and a columnist at The Brunswick Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or rjohnson@brunswickbeacon.com. Find her on Facebook as Rachel Johnson Brunswick Beacon.