Alarm was set.... 3:45am. Meeting place arranged.... Calshot Beach. Clothes laid out ready. In bed at 9:15pm in the hope of some decent shut eye before the early start.
3:45am. Up. Dress... quietly. Brush teeth. Wonder why I'm doing this. Make some tea for the travel mug. Shush the dog (he barked). Coat and shoes on.
4:00am. Lets go.
4:15am. Arrive at Calshot. I'm the first one there. Scroll social media. Sip scolding hot tea. Wonder again why I'm doing this. Oh look, here's my friend and the reason I'm up at this hour. The crazy fool who's idea it was!
4:30am. Sat on the beach snuggled in a blanket waiting for the Sun to rise. It's really calm down here. The water is lapping the shore. There are cruise ships making their way around the Isle of Wight towards Southampton. The quicker Red Funnel ferry from the Island passes along the water.
A few more people have arrived to witness the Sun come up on this longest day. We take some photos and wait.
4:55am. We officially see the Sun peak over the horizon. Ah... here she is! She is glowing an orangey yellow and is moving quite fast... Quickly take some more snaps of this momentous moment.
Oh and there goes my friend into the sea... only up to the knees but still, it's not for me. I'll stay snuggled in my blanket balancing on a beach groin and getting a numb bum!
5:15am. The Sun has officially risen and while my friend stands knee deep in the water, chatting with another of her friend's, who is crazier than she is cos she's in her bikini nearly submerged in the water (nutter!), I'm feeling quite emotion sitting here on the beach. I can't pinpoint why I'm feeling this way but I am. Maybe it's because I'm tired...?
5:45am. Back home. Kettle on for the second cuppa. Let the dog out and feed him. Sit down to share the pics I've taken on my socials and write this piece. Feeling quite content in the fact I've done it. I've witnessed my first Summer Solstice and at a place I love and am naturally drawn to... the water and the beach. Amazing.
Will I do it again next year?
Maybe...
Probably...
Mmm... we'll see what the weather's like first!
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