Texture

Andy and I had been planning all week to go to Dungeness today, and I was not sure yesterday if I would want to go. I had a good sleep though so we went. I am so glad we did as it was good to get out in the fresh (very fresh!) air for a little walk. There were lots of strange things on the beach-things that looked like little bumpy brains, very smelly things like soft bones, sabre toothed fish bones, weird giant sea woodlouse remains and lots and lots of starfish. The poor things must have been washed up onto the beach in rough seas. I think some of them were still alive but I am not sure. All of the pictures today are of textures. Soft

Lily gives the seal of approval to the finished blanket-I did have some fleece Anne-thanks for the tip! It was quite hard to sew up as it was very thick and heavy but it'll do.

Spiky
These thorns looked striking in the sun-hurray for the sun. Such vicious points!

Bobbly

These egg sacks were all along the beach-more than I have ever seen before. I still do not know which fish they belong to. I must find out!

It is a whelk egg case. I found out here. It says in this report that if the egg cases are grey then the whelk have hatched, but if they are yellow then there may be eggs still inside. They are found during the January breeding season. They were definitely yellow. I wonder if they can still hatch when they go back into the sea at high tide.

Bumpy

This orange thing and lots more like it-except more yellow and quite brain like-is a mystery to me. It is soft and porous looking. Any ideas?

Grained

This was a lovely shaped piece of wood-it made me think of a foot. I left it behind as it was very damp and I worry that tiny creatures may be living on it, and I will take them away from all they have ever known, and immerse them in soapy water! Terrible!

Ridged

Smooth

Slimy

Stippled

It is encouraging to think that there are lots of creatures living just off the coast-but as Andy pointed out there are less now. I have never seen a real starfish before, but would rather have seen live ones! I had a quick look for reasons for the dead starfish and it could be storms, the fact they have spawned and are exhausted, or they could be moving around to try to find new sources of food-mussels. All these are old stories but it seems it happens and that nobody really knows. Did anyone ever find out why the birds fell out of the sky in Arkansas?

Reflective

Nearly home and we spotted this cab with a great number plate.
I was in a queue and had my camera handy, so no risk was incurred!