Sometimes when we go down to the sandy beach, it’s absolutely smooth, pristeen, untouched.  Other times we can see there have been others there before us: crabs, dogs, people, and occasionally the deer whose hooves leave their characteristically deep impressions as they bound across the sand.  But today it was a racoon that had been to the beach.

The angled sunlight highlighted the perfection of the clawed toes and foot pads: evidence of  the quiet creature’s leisurely stroll across the sand. He’s out of sight now, but he’s left us  this sign of his visitation.

I wonder who else’s tracks we’ll see today?