Some like it hot

Hello everyone and welcome, a little earlier this month, to August's Photo Challenge. As you know I put a call out for seaside snaps. Coincidentally, by the time you read this I'll be packing my bags ahead of a few days beside the sea - within spitting distance of the North Atlantic Ocean, since you ask. (Whether or not I'll be able to say "Phew, wot a scorcher!" is anyone's guess at the moment.)

And it's another heavily subscribed collection (we're nudging a hundred photos this time around). I'm fast running out of superlatives to describe not only your response to our (what started out as an almost throwaway feature) monthly digital photographically themed gallery, but also the sheer quality of the photographs. The stuff you send me goes way beyond what I generally refer to as point & shoot. And even where it is point & shoot, you good people point & shoot with such passion that I'm continually in a state of amazement! Anyway, enough of me gushing and saying point & shoot over and over. I think Rol's gonna dip his toe in the water first. Rol, what have you got for us? 

"Hello John, too many summer holiday photos to choose from! Here are three: a view from the top of the funicular railway at Saltburn, two years ago." 

"Sunset on a Norfolk beach about five years ago." 

"And finally, my son, much younger than now, chasing after his Mum with a fishing net. Reckon that's somewhere around Scarborough or Whitby. Hope you're doing well. Take care, Rol." Thank you, Rol. The North East features quite a lot this month.

Jo from Cornwall (interestingly once known as Cornubia; Cornwall, not Jo!): "Hi John, the first two are St. Ives."

"The seagulls are notorious for eating the tourists' lunch."

"Polurrian Beach, Mullion - we often stay in the hotel on the cliff and enjoy this beach in the Summer."

Wheal Coates, St Agnes - one of my favourite walks.

"Kynance Cove - the best beach in Cornwall." Thank you so much, Jo. I know things haven't been easy for you just lately but I need to tell you that your photos always put a smile on my face.

I'm getting worried about David Cooper; this is the second month on the bounce he's stayed at home. "Three from me, John and all in this country - Great Yarmouth Pier with some classic end-of-the-pier acts; Ryde Pier - I know you asked for sun, but...! And lastly, on the beach at Ryde, someone playing a didgeridoo! David."  Cheers, Coops. Somewhere I've never been; I must get a ticket to Ryde.

Cee from San Dried sparrows: "Hi John, my old seaside themed photos (you say 'old', C, I prefer 'vintage'! - JM) for this month also have a meteorological connection. First, what started as a clear morning on Brighton seafront changed quite dramatically when a thick fog descended as if from nowhere; these two photos were taken within minutes of each other but you'd think they were different days completely. 

"And then the light here in Padstow, Cornwall was so striking - it was early afternoon and the sun was shining when the sky above blackened significantly. The way the remaining shafts of sunlight caught the masts reflected in the water was beautiful (and then it rained).  Take care, C x." Thank you, C. I love the before and after thing going on in Brighton!

Pete Zab: "Hi John, here's eight pictures - all taken in Cromer last week this month. If that's too many, feel free to remove some. (Not a chance, Pete. They're all staying in! - JM). All the best, Pete." I've got a feeling Adam's gonna like the giant ice cream cones, Pete!

Tim: "Hello John, hope you are well. I’m assuming there will be a plethora of candy floss, piers, amusement arcades etc. (Not as many as you'd think, Tim - JM) so as an antisocial soul I’ve headed down a more peaceful route: Mundesley, Norfolk - huge beach & skies, barely a soul in sight. " 

"Seahouses, Northumberland - Love the light up there."

"Seahouses, Northumberland. I've managed to hit the ‘rock’ brief (what do you mean it's the wrong sort!); the family unwittingly creating what would no doubt be a seminal goth album cover."

"Finally, one from the Costa Del Sol. If you're going to brave the beach then this ticks the crowd avoidance boxes. Oh, and I’m not totally antisocial - these just seem to have a linked vibe. Looking forward to the results. Cheers, Tim." Thank you so much, Tim. Did you instruct the family to get onto height order before the photo shoot?!

Khayem's been to the Koast! "Hello John, here we go. First up, not a scene from The Walking Dead, but Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset c.2017. It’s affectionately known as Weston-super-Mud on account of the long & mucky walk required to get to and from the sea during the day. Then FF to 2019, and a Clan K excursion to Playa Puerto De Santiago in Tenerife - one of many beaches in the Canary Islands boasting beautiful black sand. The final two are from the last family holiday in October 2023 (no wonder I feel so knackered!) and glorious Valencia. Platja De La Pinedo was a (very) short bus ride form the city, with stunning blue sea and sky, and cloud formations, and sand that seemed to stretch on forever. Good work, K. The medikal looking Red Kross building jumped out at me for some reason. There's something about it...

Walter dialling up from Germany: "Hi John, hope you're well. A few pics for August's challenge. The first is from eight years ago when I was last in the US. Taken on a trip to Amelia Island, Florida where we watched the most beautiful sundowns ever. The other two are from Sri Lanka in 2013; a hidden beach on the most southern part of the island." Cheers, Walt.

Alyson has slipped anchor from the Highlands: "Hi John, we don't have beaches up here with seaside paraphernalia. However, I do like sand sculptures and here's one we saw in Puerto Pollensa."

"The following year we created our own sculpture on our favourite beach in Sutherland (for the longest time I was reading this as Sunderland! - JM).Not as impressive but we enjoyed building it." Dolphins in Sunderland - who knew?! Nice one, Alyson.

Charity Chic: "Friday night in Balmacara." (I think I've read the book - JM.)

"Plockton."

"View from the Steam Packet Inn, Isle of Whithorn." Cheers, CC. 'Balmacara' might just get you a podium finish.

Johnny Legs next: "Saltburn by the Sea."

"Giant's Causeway."

" And finally, Fantasy Island, Ingoldmells." An oxymoron if ever I heard one, Johnny.

Lord Harry Harrington Harris and his current bride, Lady Margaret, eschewing the luxury of their private yacht and keeping it real at Butlin's (the common man's playground).

Neil Abdo: "Cuba - before the storm."

"And after..."

Miss Turner and the return of Alfie! In which we see our favourite four legged friend on Annual Leave somewhere on the North East shoreline. MT goes to Cuba next week sans Alfie. I know, what sort of dog owner is she?

Swiss Adam: "There are many things to enjoy at the seaside. Large fibreglass snack food in human form is certainly one of them."

"The wierd baby atop the ice cream? I have no idea what or why. Tho' it was somewhere in Western France."

"The 'Danger' sign is in Scarborough."

"And the pier is in Southport." I think scary life-size fibreglass models advertising food is a blog series waiting to happen; 'Weird Baby' gets you a podium finish, for sure. Thank you, Adam.

Ernie's first attempt (like Rol's) at emailing his photos disappeared into the ether: "I won't try to replicate the amusing but poignant text that I wrote to accompany them and which I had slaved one for several hours. Anyway, here are the photos: Blackpool."

"Portrush."

"Pesaro, Italy." Thanks, Ernie. I'd love to read the 'missing text'.

Riggsby's in California aka the Sunshine State: "Hi John, I'll start with a couple from the Hotel del Coronado. Films made here include ‘Some Like It Hot’ (1959), ‘The Stunt Man’ (1980), ‘K-9’ (1989), and ‘My Blue Heaven’ (1990). The Christmas-season ice-skating rink is at the edge of the beach, overlooking the Ocean."

"Now, a couple of surfing-themed pics. We followed these three down the beach in Del Mar a few months ago. The statue is in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. (I lived there for a year or so. The streets are named after British cities and towns.) Sometimes the statue is decorated or dressed up according to the seasons or holidays. I wanted to include a pic of it decorated for the street art theme, a bit of a stretch perhaps, but the only pics I have are of it bare." 

"This character with his special summer hairdo was dancing around in a pair of shorts near the Newport Pier. He seemed thrilled when I asked if I could take a pic."

"A from a recent stay on the Queen Mary in Long Beach - the porthole pic suggested by Jingyi. It was thoroughly enjoyable to explore the majestic ship and think about the passengers, including Churchill and soldiers during the Second World War. The QM outran the U-boats!"

"High on a craggy bluff overlooking the surf in La Jolla, this weathered sea-green box is embossed with transcendent words and phrases. (And a seagull, inevitably.) Also, a lifeguard-themed Christmas decoration from a shopping center near the Del Mar beach."

"To conclude, one more suggested by Jingyi. Each year in Pacific Palisades, goats were herded through the streets to a fenced area on the bluffs where we used to walk after dinner. They'd graze the area bare and then be moved to the next place, presumably." Thank you Richard (and Jingyi) - a real west coast vibe going on in all those shots.

Claire has bowed to pier pressure. "Palace Pier & West Pier (post-fire) in Brighton."

"West Pier (pre-fire) taken with an old Polaroid camera by a Nottinghamshire Labour councillor whilst at the Brighton Conference c.1990. A print of it now hangs in my bathroom!" (Great stuff, Claire. West Pier has a great back story - JM.)

"Lighthouses of the East Coast: Flamborough Head, Cromer, Whitby and Spurn Head."

"And finally the Farne Islands." Thanks, Claire. An impressive collection, for sure.

Alfa Dave: "Hi John, Hunstanton in December; a long time ago. Both lads now tower over their mum." I can vouch for this having seen them at Dave's 60th earlier this year. Cheers, Dave. Get the clan back to Hunstanton and recreate this photo!

Matthew from Stranraer just sneaked in! "Hi John, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil."

"Bondi Beach, Sydney."

"And at home for the SkiffieWorlds. M x." Cheers, Matthew. Always room for stragglers!

This is the point in proceedings where I thank everyone and wrap things up with a few of my random snaps. Burnham-on-Sea has, since time immemorial, been a town where we break the long journey down the M5 to Devon. 

Torquay a.k.a. the English Riviera, 2024. Note to Alyson - the 'sand art' is not a patch on Sunderland.

Santa Barbara, CA, 2022. Athletic young things playing volleyball. Suffice it to say I didn't offer my services. 

Crosby Beach, Liverpool, where I met my match (c/o Antony Gormley). Taken a couple of years ago. If I said I'd played the Cavern the night before would you believe me?

My paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Medd née Sleightholme (1906-1973) with her sisters in the (choppy looking) waters at Whitby.

Burgh Island, South Devon. Agatha Christie used to write her novels in the fabulous art deco hotel. I've also got loads of sea tractor photos taken down there over the years. Maybe a stand alone blog post at some point...

Lanzarote, 2019. No filters. The sea really is teal.

Lifeguards at Santa Barbara. I love their huts.

Ventura, California. The day we did the Big Sur.

Me and James on Whitby Pier in the middle of Winter.

Skegvegas, 1995. The conceit of this photo being that I was looking on enviously at James (right) and his best friend, Dan, who were both eating ice creams. And I wasn't. 

Nanna and Pop - bottom row, far right - Bournemouth c.1963. As you can see, my pop is in full beach wear.

And there you have it. I hope you've enjoyed this month's collection. There really are some cracking photos in there. I think we're gonna need a bigger podium! Until next time...