I took this as I was leaving Par Sands yesterday. Much of the beach is showing, the tide being halfway out, and I snapped it looking over to the left rather than taking in the cliffs again. The ridge of rock showing in the centre with the pole and flag atop runs much further out than is shown here and goes almost back to the beach. Only when the tide is right out can one see the full extent this rocky outcrop and the danger it poses. The flag always shows as a warning to any boats, and it is a much needed signal during the summer when surfboards, rubber dinghies and all things that float or even soar take to the sea! Sadly, it's a warning ignored by far too many and I've seen a few come a cropper on those rocks, mostly from the newish passtime of para-surfing! Further out still you can just about make out a black blob - actually two. One almost invisible, being so tiny. These are helicopters on training excises. This usually involves two 'copters and a boat. I do actually have a couple of images of these, but have refrained from posting because there isn't much to them really. I might just toss one in tomorrow! I actually shot this because of the sky but it doesn't even begin to show just how amazing it was, the colours being far more vibrant than this. However, I really didn't want to hang about longer as that dark cloud over to the right was coming in at a rapid pace and down this neck of the woods, snow means everything - but everything - comes to an absolute standstill. Leastways, those that live up/down a hill - which the majority of Cornwall folk do - stay home! The sanders do come out to the main roads, but the majority of Cornwall isn't main roads! It's tiny, twisting lanes, up hill and down and when one is going down especially, meeting another trying to get up - trying being the operative word here - the crashing of metal oft time ensues! There are passing places of course. This IS the 21st century - even in Cornwall - but they are never ever to be found when needed! The main driving attribute one has to learn very quickly down the South West is the art of reversing. Mainly due the fact that all others on the road can't! So it would seem! ^=^ For those that asked, yesterdays offering was, I was informed by a local, an anchor - or at least the top it it. In the centre is a rusted part and this, I was told, was where another piece was attached, but it succumbed to the power of the water, rusted though, and fell off! Sad - I thought. Well - actually I didn't but one has to show some respect even to a lump of inert metal. Besides, she that informed me of the nature of the image is bereft of the humour gene so when she imparts any information, one has to show the proper air of wonder at her knowledge. Anyway, as I backed out of her presence, head bowed, I was at least happy I could tell those that care what it actually is! Or was...whatever! ^=^ ...and on that note - Thank you for taking the time to look, and for those in the UK I truly hope the weather isn't causing problems for you. ^=^