On the last two days of our stay in Atlantic Beach, Maggie Muggins and I took strolls along the beach near sunset.  A front had brought cool weather into North Florida, and the wind really whipped along the beach, churning up the surf.  In conditions like that, it's really easy to understand what a crucial role the dunes play in protecting the inlands!  Even in the howling wind -- or perhaps because of the howling wind -- Maggie's senses were heightened.  She picked up scent after scent -- of what, I can only imagine.  She acted as if she would chase the little sandpipers scurrying along the sand.  She actually did try to chase the seafoam that had collected at the tide mark!

My senses were heightened too, especially by the beautiful colors produced by the setting sun.  I was thrilled to see that my camera actually captured some of it:

Notice the setting sun reflected on the wave


Though the waves were not particularly high, they were strong


Turning to the west to look back over the dunes, the clouds were a glorious mix of pinks and yellows and oranges